Joe Wilson

Bricks and mortar and Working Joes.  That’s what the Joe Means Jobs tour focused on Monday in West Columbia at the new SC State Farmers Market Monday afternoon.

Rolling up his sleeves and grabbing a trowel, Joe helped lay bricks alongside other “working Joes” on one of the sheds that will soon house farmers throughout the state.

Joe told workers he has traveled to all 10 counties in his district lately and the biggest concern he hears is about jobs, jobs, and more jobs.  Joe says a unique private-public partnership like the new SC Farmers Market will have a big ripple effect on jobs in many areas of the economy, ranging from construction, trucking farming and other assorted retail opportunities.

The new SC State Farmers market is slated to open later this summer and will be three times larger than the current facility in Columbia.  The Lexington County site is located on U.S. Hwy. 321 and is within 1.5 miles of both I-77 and I-26, with over 2,500 feet of frontage on I-26.  Private markets are in the process of building facilities that will compliment state-owned buildings.

Joe has a personal connection to the market, telling workers about how one of his sons drove a truck for one of the produce companies that is putting up a building here.

“This is just one example of jobs being created in the Second District,” Wilson said.  I can’t wait when I drive by and see the market busy, remembering the role each person here today played in the success of this wonderful place,” Joe said, referring to the bricks he helped put in line.

Joe Means Jobs is an ongoing effort by Rep. Wilson to get out and be up close with “working Joes” doing real jobs in the Second District.   Joe says he loves working in the yard, so this is just an extension of the hard work he enjoys, whether it’s at home or criss-crossing the Second District.