Economic Development in South Carolina

[CorgiMatt]

It's official. Amazon.com is locating a 1200+ employee distribution center at I-26 and I-77 outside of of Columbia. They cite the region's good location for distribution, the availability of the workforce, the proximity of the site to Columbia Metropolitan Airport, and state and local officials' cooperation as reasons they chose the Midlands. The location will be very convenient for commuters all over the MSA from all directions.

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13632929

[krazeeboi]

In MarketWatch�s recent 2010 annual ranking of the Best Cities for Business, Charleston ranked first in the state (as it seems it normally does) at #24. Columbia came in at 46th while Greenville ranked 62nd. MarketWatch took a hard look at how 102 cities have tried to contain their jobless rates in the past year and how they have done from the time the economic boom reached its apex in 2006 to today.

[krazeeboi]

Pure Power Technologies, a Navistar company, will invest $25 million to expand its operations in Richland County, the company said. The investment is expected to create 200 jobs over the next three years. Based in Columbia, Pure Power Technologies operates a research and development center as well as a manufacturing plant in Blythewood. Pure Power Technologies LLC vertically integrates research and development, engineering and manufacturing capabilities to produce world-class diesel power systems and advanced emissions control systems for commercial and defense markets.

[krazeeboi]

Geocent LLC, a New Orleans-based defense and information technology company, will open its new facility in the Lowcountry Innovation Center in North Charleston in January. The $2 million investment is expected to generate 100 new jobs. The company will provide support to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic.

Huntington Foam LLC, a custom shape molder of polystyrene and specialty foam shapes for the appliance, furniture, consumer electronics and automotive industries, is locating a new manufacturing facility in the Caliber Ridge Industrial Park in Greer. The company is investing more than $5 million and is expected to create 60 new jobs over the next few years.

[krazeeboi]

AQT Solar, a California-based solar company, plans to invest more than $300 million in a Richland County manufacturing facility that expects to hire up to 1,000 people by 2014. The Blythewood facility will be at the Carolina Pines development, sandwiched between Farrow Road and I-77 about 15 miles north of Columbia. AQT plans to hire 60 people by the end of the year and begin manufacturing the cells by 2012.

Au’some LLC, a Hong Kong-based candy company, will establish its new candy production facility in Sumter County. The $6 million investment is expected to generate 120 new jobs over the next five years. This will be the company's first North American manufacturing facility. For several years, it has been selling its products to major retailers in the U.S., including Walmart, Target, Walgreens, and CVS. The company will locate its facility in a former Bosch building at 1 Corporate Way in Sumter, and expects to begin production in the third quarter of 2011.

[goodbye]

Delta Power Equipment Coporation announced plans to invest$ 3.6 million and add 40 new jobs in Anderson County.

Source: http://www.upstatescalliance.com/blog/2011/01/delta-power-equipment-corporation-announces-new-facility-in-anderson-county/

We look forward to establishing our new operations in Anderson County. South Carolina provided us with the positive business environment and market access we were looking for when deciding where to locate. We appreciate all the support we have received from state and local officials.

[goodbye]

Cleveland, Ohio-based Perceptis, Inc. is planning to open a call center in downtown Greenville, adding 200 new jobs to the local/state economy.

Source: <NewHelpDeskSC>

“Perceptis sought out a competitive advantage in their next location and what they found in the Upstate of South Carolina is a pro-business trifecta: a top-ranked business climate, a world-class research environment and a superb quality of life,” said Hal Johnson, president and CEO of the Upstate SC Alliance.

[GvilleSC]

That's awesome for downtown Greenville's office space!

[krazeeboi]

DHL in Lexington County plans to hire 140 people for its shipping facility, which will be an addition to the almost 400 workers hired last year when it opened. The latest hiring wave would bring the number of workers at the facility to more than 500. When first announced in late 2009, officials said then it would hire around 200 initially.

[goodbye]

BMW may build a fourth model at the Greer plant!

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-13/bmw-may-add-fourth-model-at-u-s-factory-to-take-on-lexus-mercedes-benz.html

The rumor is officially spreading...

http://www.goupstate.com/article/20110116/articles/110119836

For anyone wondering, the "Greer plant" and the "Spartanburg plant" are the same plant. The plant is located in Spartanburg County, very near the city of Greer, which is a suburb of Greenville.

According to the article, an official from BMW said the company is considering adding the 3-series and 5-series, and that the plant has plenty of room for future growth. Exciting!

[Spartan]

Thanks for clearing that up Skyliner. I'm sure many people were confused about where Greer is.

[gs3]

Couldn't ask for anything better than this! Kudos to Greenville.

http://www.thestate.com/2011/01/31/1672247/winning-conference-boosts-greenvilles.html

[GvilleSC]

This is a great victory for Greenville! (especially over some strong competition)

[GvilleSC]

GE is planning to hire an additional 150 at their Greenville operations! About 60-65% of the jobs will be hired by GE directly, the others will go through a staffing agency and possibly move to permanent employee status at a later date pending work loads...

In further economic news, Clemson University is moving forward with construction on its new Life Sciences building. The building was put on hold due to budget related matters, but is now joining the other construction projects on campus.

[gs3]

GE is planning to hire an additional 150 at their Greenville operations! About 60-65% of the jobs will be hired by GE directly, the others will go through a staffing agency and possibly move to permanent employee status at a later date pending work loads...

Good news. Any idea what this brings GE total employment to (between the two facilities)? Upward of 3,000?

[Spartan]

This is a very cool article about BMW's Spartanburg County plant, and its impact on the Port of Charleston: In 2010, they exported about 110,000 vehicles totaling $4.4 billion in value.

[GvilleSC]

Verizon Wireless is hiring 135 people at its Greenville office for call center jobs! The jobs will be filled over the next two months, and will be added to the 1,200 already employed at the Regional Headquarters and call center in Greenville.

[CorgiMatt]

Verizon loves South Carolina. They're hiring 500 in Columbia, bringing employment at that call center to about 2,000.

[GvilleSC]

According to the Greenville News, BMW is planning another $100 million investment at the Upstate plant.

Edited March 1, 2011 by GvilleSC

[Spartan]

^ Sometimes, all I really need is a "Like" button for posts like that

[krazeeboi]

Guardian Industries Corp., a manufacturer of glass products, will expand its current operations in Chester County. The $45 million investment is expected to generate 50 new jobs.

[Spartan]

South Carolina's exports increased 23% in 2010. Canada and Germany are our largest export markets.

Herald-Journal

[vicupstate]

ESAB to close Ohio plant for relocation to SC

I don't know if ESAB has any presence elsewhere in SC, besides Florence. Florence could certainly use the jobs.

[krazeeboi]

Be Green Packaging LLC, a manufacturer of “green” packaging, will locate its new manufacturing and distribution facility in Jasper County. The company plans to invest at least $7.3 million and expects to generate at least 175 new jobs over the next five years, with the potential of more jobs and investment added during that time.

[GvilleSC]

Perceptis, who we already knew was opening a call center in downtown Greenville (announced in January to be hiring 200), has now announced that they are in fact moving their corporate headquarters from Cleveland, OH also to downtown Greenville!

A visit last fall during Fall for Greenville sold three execs and their wives on the deal. So much so that at least one of the execs is looking to live downtown, too! This is such a great win for one of South Carolina's great urban cores! It's nice to have some office space continue to fill up as we expect some juicy details on the transformative/"game changing" Washington Square to come out soon.