The county has owned four parcels that make up the Gateway Technology and Business Park since 2000 when it purchased roughly 110 acres for a proposed highway interchange along SR 316. The interchange which would have been between McNutt Creek Road and Dials Mill Road.

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The two largest tracts are north of SR 316 and west of McNutt Creek Road along Aiken Road. Two small parcels are south of SR 316 to the west of McNutt Creek Road. One is 13 acres and the other is roughly 5 acres. 

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GDOT rejected the county’s plans for an interchange, and the county turned the four parcels over to the Industrial Development Authority for creation of a business park. 

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In 2013 the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) sold 11 acres from the northeastern parcel to Rooker Properties LLC in Atlanta for $300,000. Rooker built two buildings on the property and in 2016 sold it to Alexion Pharma of New Haven, CT  for a parmaceutical production and research operation. Alexion Pharma is the only operating business at the Gateway Business Park as of 2023.

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In 2020 the IDA sold two northern parcels of 24.9 acres and 11.5 acres to Rodwood Investments, LLC. The IDA agreed to spend $150,000 of the purchase price to extend Gateway East Parkway to provide access to the property off McNutt Creek Road.

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52.8 acres remained north of SR 316 in addition to the two small parcels south of SR 316. In August 2023 the IDA approved the sale of the 52.8 acres to IMI Industrial Business Group. 

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In November 2022 the Oconee County IDA agreed to donate the 13-acre parcel south of SR 316 for a new Georgia Department of Driver Services Customer Service Center. The Georgia Patrol will relocate there as well.

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Haygood said the remaining five unsold acreage south of SR 316 “is going to be very difficult for anybody to use because it is cut off from any access.” Haygood said “we might negotiate with the adjoining property owners to see if they want it.”