Since its founding in 1984, the Western SC Economic Development Partnership has been committed to driving growth and opportunity across its four member counties—Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick, and Saluda—in South Carolina. Representing a combined population of approximately 230,000, the partnership supports both current residents and newcomers seeking to establish businesses in the region. Over the decades, the organization has continuously refined its strategies and strengthened relationships to meet the evolving needs of these communities.
In the last few years, Western SC has undergone intriguing and important changes. Marketing and Development Director Kelci Green says that, after adding McCormick County to its fold in 2017, the partnership underwent marketing and branding refreshment in 2019, officially enacting the Western SC name in 2023 after a successful test period.
Then, in fall 2024, Western SC moved into an office facility built specifically for its operations. For 40 years prior, the University of South Carolina provided the organization space on its campus, but as it and the university grew, the space was no longer conducive to carrying out its mission. After finding a building in downtown Aiken and retrofitting it to the needs of Western SC, it now has a dedicated operations space.
One of the biggest steps forward for Western SC this decade has been adding the position of director to represent existing industry, a role that Kell Anderson has been fulfilling since 2022. Before Anderson’s involvement, President and Chief Executive Officer Will Williams was responsible for tackling work in existing industries. The role has proven greatly successful in building relationships.
The goal is to serve as a concierge to existing industries and provide any type of support services not related to production such that these businesses can cut out any noise and focus on what they do best, which is earning revenue and providing jobs in the area. Anderson acknowledges that Williams, Green, and others ensured that he had a robust framework to work with and put strong relationships in place prior to his involvement, making the transition into the role effortless. Strong relationships “are a testament to the organization,” Anderson says.
Williams adds that Western SC continues to develop its prospect pipeline of existing industries and recruit new opportunities to the region. Currently, the organization is in the process of developing a new industrial park for Aiken County on its eastern edge, since the current park is on the western edge. The western park is also 30 years old and is nearly at capacity, so the new property has been identified and infrastructure is being acquired. Similar work is also being undertaken in Saluda County with its industrial park.
Indeed, new and burgeoning business sectors continue to find their way to the area. At the end of August 2024, it was announced that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, will be constructing a data center in Aiken County. This has spurred ongoing interest in the area from other advanced manufacturing companies and data centers, which Williams says is due to the county’s proximity to infrastructure and available land. Changes in artificial intelligence are creating an increased demand for these types of data centers and the capacity to handle that kind of information, as well as the capacity and opportunity for low-latency, high-capacity dark fiber in the Myrtle Beach area.
Among the many favorable circumstances that Western SC can offer companies in its member counties are opportunities for training workers. This is advantageous for both prospective and existing businesses, and made possible thanks to two local technical school and partnerships with local school districts and other training providers. In cases like these, Western SC acts as both the catalyst and connector between industry and these training providers, and the group is excited for new developments in this area.
The team members at Western SC are seasoned experts in the corporation’s represented counties and are happy to talk about the many benefits to doing business there. The geographic locations of the counties are a big bonus for incoming businesses and clients, with many locales a mere two hours away from hubs like Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina, and within similar proximity to the mountains, which are ideal for a day trip or weekend getaway.
Meanwhile, a regional airport hub in Augusta connects Atlanta and Charlotte. The area boasts many opportunities for sports like golf and polo, with the Masters Tournament golf championship hosted every April. Two freshwater lakes, Lake Murray and Clark’s Hill, allow for outdoor recreation like fishing and boating.
Green highlights the area’s many festivals, which cater to diverse populations and age groups, a welcome change over the past five years. She noticed, upon her arrival in the area, that a lot of events catered largely to families, and the scope has only broadened since then. South Carolina has “something to do for everyone,” she says, from seasonal festivals like Oktoberfest to peach festivals in Edgefield County, family-friendly wineries, and more. The Augusta GreenJackets, a local minor league baseball team, frequently rent out their North Augusta stadium to host a litany of events. All these local events, attractions, and festivals add up to an inviting business hub that Western SC wants more people to be aware of.
In the 40 years Western SC has been active, there has been strong continuity of members among the partnership’s board of directors, which, combined with a strong staff, has always been of utmost importance. Williams says that there have only been two other people in his position in history, and he is happy to keep that continuity going. Green adds that, across 40 years, Western SC has seen $10.4 billion in investment so far, and is always looking to add more capital investments.
When it comes to economic development, Anderson points out that these operations are all about building and maintaining relationships. He says the great thing about economic development is that the highs are higher than in other professions, and it means a lot for Western SC to bring its relationships to fruition every time. One never knows when opportunity will knock, so business owners and operators in the member counties must be aware of who to call to help things take off and go smoother.
When it comes to manufacturing, Western SC isn’t focused on just one type of manufacturing; many of its counties are specialized in areas including food and beverage, wood products, medical-grade tubing, tires, fiberglass, and more. “We’re a master in any industry,” Green says, and this is clearly evident in the considerable ongoing success of Western SC.
