According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), poultry producers hold leading positions in both international and U.S. meat commodity markets. The U.S. is the largest poultry producer and the second-largest egg producer in the world, with the industry heavily concentrated in the southeastern states.

In October 2024, the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation, and United Egg Producers released an updated economic impact study. The report indicated that the industry provides over two million jobs, $132.7 billion in wages, $663.6 billion in economic activity, and $54 billion in government revenue.

Trade plays a huge role in the sector’s profitability by lowering domestic prices. From 2013 to 2022, 17 percent of domestic broiler production was exported, along with 11 percent of turkey production. Mexico is the largest foreign market for poultry, while the largest markets for egg exports are Mexico and Canada.

Meanwhile, according to Agriculture Canada’s industry profile, in 2023, Canada produced poultry and egg products that contributed $6.8 billion to its GDP, with the largest poultry producers concentrated in Ontario and Quebec. While most of the products are consumed domestically, Canada also exports a variety of poultry products. In 2023, Canada exported breeding stock, hatching eggs, and live birds—turkeys, ducks, and geese—along with other poultry meat and meat products worth $61.8 million to 24 countries. The U.S. was the largest market, accounting for 71 percent of the exports.

Included in these figures were over 3.3 million hatching eggs of different species sent to 19 countries, with the U.S. accounting for 64 percent of the market—over 3 million kilograms of processed eggs worth $15 million and over 24.2 million shell eggs worth over $3.6 million.

Bird Flu – a dark cloud
While there is much to celebrate, a dark cloud looms over the industry in the form of the H5N1 virus, which causes Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), a disease lethal to poultry with the potential to devastate the industry and significantly affect food security.

Carried by migrating wild birds, this virus, which has been recognized since the late 1800s, has mutated and spread globally. Spring and fall, when birds migrate, are the optimal seasons for bird flu outbreaks.

In North America, the virus was first detected in a U.S. commercial flock on February 8, 2022, and was later found in flocks across Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean that same year. While the virus is not harmful to humans in thoroughly cooked poultry, it is lethal to the animals and has been shown to be transmissible to farm workers, which could lead to a serious public health issue. For this reason, millions of birds in North America have been culled in the last two years.

To mitigate the risk of reinfection, producers must wait a significant period after the birds have been culled and the facilities have been thoroughly cleaned before starting production again. New chicks are vaccinated at two weeks old. The most recent report (November 1, 2024) from the USDA indicated H5N1 virus outbreaks in nine commercial flocks and seven backyard flocks on the west coast in Washington and Oregon. Agriculture Canada also reported infected zones in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Supply management vs. subsidies
There is a significant difference in the volume of poultry products produced by the U.S. and Canada, which is partly due to the distinctly different approaches taken by their respective governments.

Canada’s supply management program, established in 1972 by an Act of Parliament, is a national agricultural policy encompassing dairy, chicken, turkey, table eggs, and broiler hatching eggs. The policy coordinates production and demand while controlling imports to ensure stable prices for both farmers and consumers. The intent is to keep farms profitable, ensure a steady supply at stable prices, and avoid the need for direct subsidies, unlike in the U.S. and European Union countries.

While supply-managed sectors support this policy, it has become an issue in trade agreements like CETA (the free trade agreement between Canada and the EU), CPTPP (the Trans-Pacific Partnership), and USMCA (the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement), forcing the Canadian government to make some concessions.

In 2021, Agriculture Canada introduced the Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program (PEFIP), a reimbursement-based, cost-shared program offering nearly $759 million over 10 years, with producers contributing at least 30 percent of the costs. The program aims to support on-farm investments that improve productivity, food safety, biosecurity, and environmental sustainability, as well as respond to consumer preferences, such as enhancing animal welfare and adopting alternative housing systems or transitioning to organic production.

In contrast, the U.S. government has long supported and subsidized its poultry and egg industry, much of which is vertically integrated, such as through “The Biden-Harris Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Chain.”

Responding to consumer demands
It’s a bit of the age-old “chicken or the egg” argument: which came first—an increased demand for poultry products as a perceived healthier alternative to red meat, or the improved availability of poultry products at competitive prices? Or did they evolve together?

That’s a tough question to answer. According to USDA statistics from 2000 to 2024, poultry production and consumption steadily increased, with the most significant growth occurring between 2013 and 2022 as producers met domestic and consumer demands. Broiler production grew by 22 percent, and egg production increased by 10 percent.

However, turkey production has declined each year since 2017, largely offset by the rise in broiler production. Turkeys are less commercially viable as they take longer to reach market size—about four months, compared to two months for broilers—and six months or more to become breeders.

Meanwhile, red meat production, which was much higher than poultry production in 2000, plummeted in 2014. It is recovering gradually, but it still remains much lower than poultry.

Breeding a better bird
Poultry production in both the U.S. and Canada enjoys a competitive advantage globally, thanks to an abundant supply of feed—mainly soybean meal and corn. Some processors also add flaxseed to the feed mix for layer hens, producing omega-3 eggs, which are seen as a healthier choice.

Commercial research in poultry genetics in the U.S. has seen a “dramatic increase in poultry feed conversion overtime, requiring less feed and shorter duration to produce market-ready birds and eggs, resulting in highly competitive prices.”

A key event in the industry’s development is the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), held annually in Atlanta, Georgia. As the world’s largest annual poultry and egg, meat, and animal food industry event, IPPE is one of the top 25 largest trade shows in the U.S. The 2025 edition, set for January 28–30, will showcase the latest technology, equipment, and supplies used in egg, meat, and poultry production. Industry experts will discuss topics like grain management, food safety, genetics, breeding, and health.

Industry focus for 2025
Dr. Gabrielle House, who holds a Ph.D. in Poultry Science from Purdue University, surveyed employers, vendors, and other industry stakeholders to identify trends shaping the industry in the coming years. At the top of the list is the need to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint in response to growing consumer demand for sustainability. This can be achieved through more efficient production methods, waste management, and energy use.

Greater efficiency in producing eggs and chicken meat is essential to feeding a world whose population is expected to grow by nearly two billion people over the next 30 years, according to the UN. House highlights technological advancements such as innovations in genetics, feed formulation, and ongoing research aimed at improving efficiency, which translates into higher output with fewer resources.

Another focus is sustainable broiler production. House cites research by Seong W. Kang and colleagues at the University of Arkansas, published in Frontiers in Physiology in February 2023, which found that variable (gradient) artificial lighting reduced the number of birds culled for leg issues, improved feed conversion ratios, increased daily weight gain, and enhanced bird activity while reducing biological stress indicators.

House also predicts that regulatory changes will impact the industry in 2025 and beyond, with stricter regulations on greenhouse gas emissions and animal welfare standards. Producers will need to adopt more sustainable practices and technologies to comply with these changes. Additionally, ongoing adjustments in international trade agreements and biosecurity measures will continue to shape the industry. Most of these topics will be discussed at the IPPE event in Georgia in early 2025.

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The area remained a single colony until 1729, when the British divided it into two—and further changes were to come. On May 23, 1788, South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, and earned the nickname the Palmetto State, a reference to the sabal palmetto, the state tree. On November 21, 1789, North Carolina became the twelfth state. Nicknamed the Tar Heel State, the expression refers to pitch and tar used to coat the hulls of wooden ships.

Historic economic drivers
Bordering the Atlantic Ocean, both states historically had different industries. Until the 20^th century, South Carolina was known for agricultural products like cotton; this later shifted toward manufacturing, textiles in particular. North Carolina was, and remains, the leading tobacco producer in the United States, with an estimated production volume of 260.1 million pounds. Like South Carolina, North Carolina shares a climate and fertile soil conditions ideal for agriculture.

In the 1920s, North Carolina’s industries expanded to include furniture, textiles, chemicals, and other manufactured goods, and these soon surpassed farming. By the late 1990s, other sectors emerged including tourism, government, commercial and financial services, and handicrafts and pottery, especially in the Blue Ridge and Piedmont regions of the state. For years, other key industries in the state have included farming (chickens and hogs in particular), and growing peanuts, corn, soybeans, and potatoes. These sectors, along with fishing, mining, forestry, and manufacturing, have helped support North Carolina’s economy for decades.

South Carolina emerged as a prominent manufacturer of nondurable goods and became home to U.S. military facilities, including Shaw Air Force Base and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) at Parris Island. Like North Carolina, the state also has an active fisheries industry, along with forestry, tourism, transportation, mining, and manufacturing.

While many of North and South Carolina’s long-time industries remain, others have joined them over the years, including aerospace, biotechnology, transportation, information technology (IT), business and financial services, and many others. Both North Carolina and South Carolina are right-to-work (RTW) states, with workers given the choice to join a workplace labor union or not.

Strategic development
According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, “Many of the world’s best-known brands across a range of future-focused industries call North Carolina home.” While mindful of the state’s legacy industries such as tobacco, textiles, and furniture, North Carolina is fast becoming home to the next generation of industries, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, energy, plastics, and chemicals.

With an estimated population of about 11 million, a median age of 39, and an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent, North Carolina is increasingly attractive to a range of business sectors, both established and emerging. A few years ago, the Department of Commerce issued its Strategic Economic Development Plan for the State of North Carolina: Goals, Strategies, and Tactics for the New Economic Landscape. A comprehensive, 19-page document, the Plan outlined critical areas. These encompass fundamentals from decreasing childcare costs for working families and ensuring North Carolinians possess high-quality post-secondary credentials to workforce recruitment, supporting local businesses and industries, and building vibrant communities.

Since 2018, North Carolina has seen over 73,000 new jobs created, and has attracted more than $19 billion USD in private business investment. What makes this figure even more remarkable is that $6.3 billion was announced in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when much of the American economy stalled. In recent years, the state has also invested about $200 million into its rural communities, renovated buildings slated for re-use, extended public infrastructure to industrial sites, and revitalized entire neighborhoods.

“These and other conventional economic development activities continue to be important to the state’s economic development initiatives and have contributed to our success,” states the Plan. “North Carolina is now in a solid position to remain competitive for economic development opportunities in our key targeted industry sectors—aerospace, automotive, clean energy, information technology, and life sciences.”

This fall, North Carolina State University Professor Emeritus Mike Walden called North Carolina’s economy “a powerhouse of growth in recent decades.” Citing that the state has been recognized at a prime location for economic development, Walden noted that North Carolina continues attracting top firms, “especially in industries that are leading in both national and international economies.” The downside, he says, is that much of this growth has taken place in urban areas, with smaller cities and rural areas being left behind, despite the state attracting approximately $42 billion in capital investments from 2021 to 2024.

Growing strong
Not to be outdone, South Carolina is also experiencing considerable growth. As of this year, South Carolina’s gross state product (GSP) achieved an impressive $271.8 billion, with 2.7 percent growth over the five years prior to 2024.

According to global industry research leader IBISWorld, “Businesses in South Carolina employed a total of 2,333,124 people in 2024, with average annual employment growth over the past five years of 1.4 percent.” Sectors leading the way in total employment are real estate and rental and leasing, manufacturing, and retail trade. This year, the state’s top three biggest industries by revenue included new car dealers, health and medical insurance, and hospitals, which generated $19.8 billion, $17.8 billion, and $14.7 billion respectively. This was followed by other sectors including supermarkets and grocery stores, pharmacies and drug stores, commercial banking, and gas stations with convenience stores.

Many companies operating in South Carolina read like a who’s who of the business world. The largest (by employment) in the state include Walmart, employing 1.5 percent of South Carolinians with 36,148 staff; Prisma Health (the state’s largest private non-profit health organization), with 28,761 workers; and the world’s leading premium automobile and motorcycle manufacturer, the BMW Group, with 11,000 employees. Other giants in the top ten include Lowes Companies Inc., the United States Postal Service, Home Depot, and Target Corporation.

While both South Carolina and North Carolina remain powerhouses in time-tested industries like agriculture, mining, and manufacturing, the Carolinas continue to welcome newer sectors, including technology and finance, making both North and South Carolina ideal for business growth and development.

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We spoke with Robert Long, Chester County’s Director of Economic Development, at his office in Richburg, SC, located 13 miles east of the county seat of Chester City. Long shared his proactive strategies for attracting business investment to the county, which is situated in a highly competitive and business-friendly state.

One key strategy is active participation in the SC Interstate 77 Alliance, a regional marketing organization that includes five counties stretching from Columbia to the state line. The Alliance builds relationships with European and Canadian investors, leveraging Chester County’s proximity to Charlotte’s international airport, which offers direct flights to cities like Munich, Frankfurt, Toronto, and Montreal.

“We’re a small county and we can’t be everything to everyone, but having those international flights has put us in play for Canadian and European investments,” Long tells us.

A thriving manufacturing community
“Our goal is direct investment and business attraction,” he shares. “We are a thriving manufacturing community which accounts for approximately 50 percent of the jobs in the private sector, and that is something that distinguishes us. There are lots of communities here close to the urban core like Charlotte, Columbia, and Greenville that aren’t quite as into manufacturing as they were decades ago, but we still are.”

Chester County was once part of a belt of textile factories lining the I-77. Although most of them have gone, a few have remained, while the manufacturing industry has diversified to include lumber and wood products, metals, chemicals, plastics and rubber, and an emerging food and beverage sector, which all benefit from the short-line railroad, originally built to accommodate the textile manufacturers.

Last year, Long says, the State of South Carolina made three billion-dollar announcements, with all three on the I-77 and one of them in Chester, “so we are very proud of that.” In March 2023, Albemarle Corporation, which maintains offices in Charlotte, North Carolina, announced plans to build a $1.3 billion state-of-the-art “Mega-Flex” lithium hydroxide processing facility to produce EV batteries in Chester County for the growing EV manufacturing industry elsewhere in the state. This project will result in 300 new jobs, with an average salary over $90,000.

This year, Princeton Energy, a company that came out of Princeton University in New Jersey, announced an $11 million, 40-job project to recycle lithium batteries in a more efficient process. “It’s a pilot project for small-scale production, but we are hoping that it will go to full-scale production in the next few years,” says Long.

Then there’s IKO Industries, a leader in the roofing, waterproofing, and insulation industry throughout North America and Europe, which announced a $360 million investment in February 2023 to open two plants in Chester County. One will be a fiberglass manufacturing facility, and the second will use the output to manufacture fiberglass mats, a vital component in asphalt shingle production. The project will create 200 local jobs.

International investment is not new to Chester County. In 2021, the E & J Gallo Winery, a global wine and spirits company, announced a $423 million investment to build a state-of-the art production and distribution facility that will create 496 jobs over the next eight years, allowing it to meet customer demand on the east coast. Its proximity to the Port of Charleston will also serve as a hub for Gallo’s import and export business.

A business-friendly environment
“South Carolina as a whole is listed among the top five business-friendly states in the country,” according to Long. “We’re referred to as the ‘handshake state’ because we are small and nimble enough to be able to do what we say we are going to do.”

Chester County has moved from being a Tier 4 county, meaning underdeveloped, to Tier 3 status, “and because of the success we’ve had in the last few years, the statutory incentives we are able to offer projects is substantial,” Long explains. “One of the big things South Carolina offers are discretionary incentives, so now Chester County can offer fees in lieu of property taxes. On top of that, we can layer grants that for the first five or 10 years can further lower the tax bill, which levels the playing field and makes us competitive with North Carolina or Georgia.”

Chester County has reliable infrastructure, with a local natural gas authority that allows businesses to negotiate rates, excellent water and sewer systems, railways and highways, and hydroelectric dams on the Catawba River, managed by Duke Energy. As a result, power outages are rare, small, “and more of a nuisance than a disruption,” and because the county is two and a half hours inland from the Port of Charleston and Myrtle Beach, a popular tourist destination, “we don’t usually get hurricanes here.”

Manufacturers looking to open or expand in Chester County can rely on a well-trained local workforce. The SC Technical College System, comprising 16 colleges and two statewide programs, readySC™ and Apprenticeship Carolina™, plays a key role in educating and training the workforce for in-demand, high-skilled jobs. The system works, in partnership with the SC Department of Commerce and Economic Development agencies, to attract new companies to the state by providing skilled workforce solutions to assist with initial start-up and early production goals, and comprehensive training solutions to meet companies’ long-term growth strategies to ensure they stay.

Quality of life
Anyone relocating to the area will enjoy a pleasant climate year-round, with real estate prices considerably lower than those found in Charlotte or its suburbs. “The price of a house in Rock Hill, a Charlotte suburb, jumped by $150,000 last year to $400,000,” says Long, “but you can come 20 minutes further south and buy that same house for $300,000.”

Until recently, housing stock had not been keeping up with the population growth, “but we have had 400 new houses built recently and six new developments to accommodate 3,300 homes have been approved,” says Long. These will include a mix of detached homes, townhomes, and multifamily residences.

While excited about the growth in housing stock, Long says the agency is concerned about maintaining local green spaces, so a minimum of 20 percent green space is required in new developments, with some developers offering to do 25 percent for further considerations. “We have also increased our buffer for waterways, which historically has been only 50 feet; we have doubled that to 100 feet,” he says.

“We have a lot of water, both flat water and white water, on the Catawba River for rafts, kayaks, or canoes. The outdoor lifestyle is where we shine,” he says, referring to opportunities for hiking in the National Forest, golf, agritourism businesses, and farmers markets.

The county seat of Chester, often called the “Pretty Little City” for its historic downtown, has a population of 5,500. Like many small communities, it experienced some business losses when companies relocated closer to the highway bypass. However, there is now growing excitement and momentum around revitalizing the downtown area. Chester County Economic Development helped a developer purchase two large buildings for renovation, “and I am excited about that because it will contain street-level commercial space with a residential component,” says Long. “In my mind, for a downtown to be successful, you need people living in it.”

One of the buildings is now complete and features Heybo Outdoors, a leading outdoor apparel company; a women’s clothing boutique; and a storefront operation for Hazelwood Farms Dairy. Now, Long has partnered with Retail Strategies, a company based in Birmingham, Alabama, to conduct a “retail gap” analysis to find out what people are looking for when they shop and what they go to urban centers to purchase.

“Most of my work has been focused on the bread-and-butter part of economic development, on manufacturing and logistics, but we need retail too,” which is the reason Long has gone for the first time to the ICSC show in Atlanta, Georgia.

“My prediction is that we are set to become one of the hotspots in the metro Charlotte region on the radar of national retail,” he says. “And hopefully we can move on this momentum and excitement. We are at the right place and the right time, and we are set to be the fastest growing county in the state.”

The post Choose Chester. For Business. For Life.<p class="company">Chester County, South Carolina</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

“Rural doesn’t equate to isolated,” Ann Broadwater, Director of Economic Development, points out. The county may only have 20,000 residents, but employers are able to draw from a workforce of around 1.3 million people from the surrounding area, which is easily accessible by Interstate 77. There are plenty of development spots—many of which are empty parcels owned by the county—within a mile of an interstate exit.

Indeed, “ease of access is one of the biggest selling points for us,” says Fairfield County Public Information Officer Gene Stephens.

Local leaders are taking an active role in attracting and supporting incoming employers. “Fairfield County is actively engaging in site preparedness and can offer a plethora of incentives in addition to a sense of place along with the pro-business attitude of the state,” Broadwater says. “We are active participants within the state’s Launch to Legacy program, helping businesses that locate in South Carolina continue to grow here. In fact, we had the first economic development announcement of the year, with Capital Concrete choosing a location that is currently undergoing construction in our Walter Brown II business park. We have had numerous industries expand within our county, showcasing how our county and state are ready for business,” she shares.

“Our community is coming together to invite growth—our council and administration and the community as a whole,” adds Stephens. “We’re just in the position where we want to welcome growth with open arms, and we want to be smart in how we navigate and direct the growth here in Fairfield County.”

One of the county’s most exciting new developments is the SCOUT Motors facility currently under construction. “Since the announcement of SCOUT, Fairfield has been launched to the top of mind of site selectors and prospective investors alike,” says Broadwater. “With the announcement of a potential 4,000 jobs nearby, there is a lot of interest in industrial and residential development within our county.”

The county is developing a 1,500-acre megasite that will include rail access and a new interchange for easier access to Interstate 77. “The I-77 megasite sets Fairfield apart because of the access a company would get from locating there,” Broadwater says. “It could also increase revenues for the county in an area that has room for manufacturing growth.”

Recently, the County completed a speculative building located in Fairfield Commerce Center. This 91,000-square-foot tilt-up structure is designed to expand to 250,000 square feet and has four dock doors, one of which is drive-in. Located in a class A, County-owned and controlled industrial park, the site is just three miles from Interstate 77 and has one-day ground access to 70 percent of the United States market. The facility is ideal for a single user looking to purchase a ready-to-go facility. “We built that so a company could come in and go ahead and start doing what they need to do,” quickly and efficiently, says Stephens.

Fairfield County has already had great success filling available spaces. “We have managed to bring over six manufacturers within the past few years because of our commitment to product development, ensuring that we have sites ready for build-out or up-fitting,” Broadwater says. “Companies have a need for speed-to-market and when they find an existing building in an attractive market ready for occupancy, it helps get product out to customers faster. When companies come for site visits, we ensure that they have everything they need to make an accurate decision on whether they can be successful in their operations. We ensure that all our sites have due diligence completed, removing risk from the decision-making process.”

The County markets available sites through the Palmetto Sites program and through Locate SC, South Carolina Commerce’s database of available industrial spaces. “By participating in these programs, it allows maximization of visibility while demonstrating that industrial use is the best possible use of the land that we are developing, with proven strategies offered by a professional opinion and analysis,” Broadwater explains.

Local leaders are staying a step ahead by ensuring there will be enough housing for the County’s predicted growth. Designed to recruit and retain teachers, the rent-controlled Village in Winnsboro is a new housing development for faculty and staff of the County school district. “The Village in Winnsboro gives teachers a chance to live close to work, spend their money locally, and save for a down payment on their own house,” says Broadwater. “This project shows how corporations, local government, school boards, and state legislature can work together to provide adequate housing to those in need.”

The community has been an enormous success. “We had way more applications than we could have possibly filled with those 16 homes,” says Dillon Pullen, President and CEO of the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce. In response, the County plans to build additional houses within the community as soon as possible. In addition, local leaders have also put notable effort into developing the Lake Wateree area.

Fairfield County is also improving its downtown areas, which will make the area even more attractive to newcomers. The State of South Carolina has provided $2 million for downtown revitalization projects in the town of Winnsboro, to include building renovations and landscaping. In addition, a private company has purchased the old country club, which includes a hotel, and an old bank building for development as a multi-use facility. The town of Ridgeway is currently developing a museum that will welcome visitors soon.

Fairfield County isn’t just a location for incoming business and development; it is also a destination for tourists, particularly for its pristine natural landscapes. “When we look at statistics that we get from our regional tourism agency, when we get statistics as far as local sales taxes and A&H taxes, they all tell us that people love coming to Fairfield County to enjoy the outdoors,” says Pullen. “And that’s wonderful for us because it’s sustainable.” In fact, the number of visitors is expected to continue to grow. “I see that number rising and rising and rising, and I don’t see a plateau anywhere in the future,” he says.

The county boasts two large lakes with amenities and a wide range of outdoor experiences and trails, including the most popular access point for South Carolina’s cross-state Palmetto Trail, and Carolina Adventure World, one of the leading ATV parks in the southeast with over 100 miles of trails. In 2023, Carolina Adventure World added an outdoor concert venue that will host a three-day music festival this month that expects to bring in 20,000 people.

Tourists and locals alike flock to Lake Wateree State Park, the only self-sustaining state park in South Carolina. “During summer months, reservations for camping spots are usually made a year in advance,” says Broadwater.

The South Carolina Railroad Museum is another popular destination. The only train museum in the state where visitors can ride a train, the museum offers barbeque dinner rides, Santa train rides, Easter bunny rides, pumpkin patch rides, and open-air cars, as well as basic train rides.

The Fairfield County Museum, too, is an active part of the local community. “They specialize in conserving history and telling the story of our county since its inception in 1785,” Broadwater says. “In doing so, the museum has worked to increase the signage of all of our historical land markers.” The museum is home to The Fairfield County Genealogy Society, which improves access to genealogical information by maintaining an educational research center and sharing cultural, genealogical, historical, and biographical information.

With so many assets already in place, as well as a wide range of development underway, there is plenty for Fairfield County to look forward to. “The future of our county is bright,” Broadwater summarizes. “We see a growing and prosperous economy that will stand the test of time.”

The post Ready to Grow<p class="company">Fairfield County, South Carolina</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

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.

The post Masters in Any Industry<p class="company">Western SC Economic Development Partnership</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

An additional 10 to 15 percent of the county is owned by private timber growers. “So, as you can imagine, lumber and the agricultural sector is one of our largest industries in the county. That also creates outdoor recreation tourism opportunities.”

The county boasts three state parks, each with their own extensive campgrounds for visitors and residents to enjoy. All but six miles of the county’s western edge border Lake Thurmond, the second largest Army Corps of Engineers impoundment east of the Mississippi River, with about 71,000 acres of water surface. The lake attracts about 4 million visits a year to the South Carolina and Georgia sides combined. “So, recreation is a huge draw,” says Warner.

Plenty of people don’t want to leave once they experience all that McCormick County has to offer, and luckily, the community has the housing to accommodate them. Local leaders began planning Savannah Lakes Village back in the late 1970s. The 5,000-acre, recreation-inspired anchor residential development is located on the Savannah River and has two 18-hole golf courses. “All the roadways, all the electrical lines, water lines, sewer lines, and fiber are all in place,” Warner says.

Savannah Lakes Village has plenty of lots for sale and continues to grow at a rapid pace. “Since 2016, there have been 704 new house permits issued in that development, in a county with about 9,300 residents, which is pretty phenomenal for a little community like this,” he says. “Part of the draw is a lot of the lots are either lakefront or golf course lots.”

The development was originally intended to attract retirees from the upper Midwest, the Northeast, the West Coast, and Florida. “And it’s doing that,” Warner says. But the growth doesn’t stop there. “The average age of the population is actually decreasing, which means we have a lot of people who are pre-retirees, or they’re people that have figured out how to work remotely and can live in a nice quiet community on the lake or on the golf course with a lot of other amenities. And one of the things that makes that possible is our broadband fiber provider. They have invested a little over $25 million in broadband fiber throughout this county. We have less than half a dozen addresses within the county that do not have access to broadband fiber. So, you can be in a very rural, very remote area, but still be able to conduct business over the Internet right from your deck, looking at the lake.”

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kennetta-Renee’ Robertson, D.Min., Ph.D., knows firsthand what McCormick County has to offer. “I’m a native of McCormick who recently came back,” she says. “I had to ask myself, why would I want to come back to McCormick? Beyond the fact of this being my home, what’s the feasibility of me being able to live and grow a business, be sustainable?”

The answer to that question quickly became clear as she considered her return. “It’s a good balance,” she explains. “I have likened McCormick to the iconic Hilton Head from the perspective that we have a lot of the natural resources that the low country [has]. Where they have an ocean, we have a lake. The demographics are somewhat similar. I really believe that McCormick is a well-kept secret. We are like a quintessential Hallmark town. We literally have a Main Street.”

Robertson came back after years of living in larger metro areas to take over her father’s 45-year-old plumbing business. She also bought the oldest historic landmark in the county, which was once known as the McCormick Hotel, built in 1884. “There are so many other opportunities,” she says. “Come in with some fresh eyes. Look at the potential. We’re a town that’s literally built on a gold mine. So you can find your gold mine.”

This figurative gold mine “doesn’t have to be monetary,” Robertson adds. “This is a place you can smell the roses… You can have peace of mind.” She encourages people to come with that potential in mind and ask, ‘What can I do to give back? What can I do to start a business? What is missing?’ then act on that gap in the market. “Be the solution,” she says. “Take the leap.”

MRCOOL is one company that has recognized McCormick County’s potential and made the leap. Based in Kentucky, the business imports and distributes HVAC units. “They located in McCormick to get closer to the southeastern market,” says Warner. This location “gets you to almost 60 percent of U.S. consumers.”

Previously, “They were bringing their products into Long Beach, California, putting them on railroad cars, railing them to Memphis, and then putting them on trucks and trucking them to Paducah, Kentucky,” Warner says of MRCOOL. “And they wanted to eliminate that long rail trip, 1,800 miles across the U.S., and putting them in McCormick did exactly that. It’s a significant savings on every container load of mini splits they bring in. And that’s one of the reasons that makes a county like McCormick attractive… From our industrial properties, you can be in Augusta in 30 minutes. You can be in Atlanta in under two hours. You can be in the Port of Charleston or Port of Savannah within about two and a half hours. It’s a prime location.”

The county expects to announce the addition of another company soon, and the community is well prepared for these, and future, newcomers. “We just finished rough grading a 210,000-square-foot building pad in our industrial park and we’re doing about a $6 million upgrade to our airport,” Warner says. “We’re adding to our infrastructure for those industrial jobs. We’re working on the infrastructure at the airport, so we’ve got the ability for people to fly in and visit, fly in and do business, or fly in and recreate.”

The county is also preparing future workers to fill jobs. “We have the only residential high school focused on agriculture in the U.S. located in this county,” Warner says. Located on a 1300-acre property, the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe welcomes students from throughout the region. “I think we have somebody from virtually every county,” says Warner. “We have a couple from out of state.” In addition to receiving an education in math, science, English, and other basic requirements, students “can focus on horticulture, on bovine programs, on equine programs, on environmental land stewardship,” he explains.

“There are so many wonderful young people that will love to stay here,” Robertson says of these students, and area employers can support these future employees for a win-win outcome. “If someone wants to, or is considering coming to McCormick, [they can] reach out to the school system, be a part of the programs that they already have existing, whether it’s with John de la Howe or the public school system. Come in, be the solution, find out what we need in McCormick. Go to the schools, find the resources, maybe start an apprenticeship program.”

Overflowing with opportunities for launching and growing a business, McCormick County is ready to welcome newcomers who are eager to take advantage of all the community has to offer. “We are good soil to build on,” Robertson summarizes. “We’d love for you to come and plant and build on it.”

The post A Well-Kept Secret<p class="company">McCormick County, South Carolina</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

Located on the interstate just south of the city of Greenville, Laurens County enjoys an ideal spot within this booming hub, with access to all of the region’s amenities as well as abundant outdoor recreation. “Within 45 minutes, you can be hiking in the mountains, boating on a lake, playing golf on a world-class golf course, kayaking down a river, you name it,” says Coleman. “We’re right in the heart of all of that.”

With so many people eager to take advantage of all the area has to offer, Laurens County, which currently has a population of 69,000, is planning ahead to accommodate the newcomers. “We’ve got over 6,000 new rooftops that have been approved by the County Planning Commission over the last couple of years,” Coleman says. “We’re looking at a 30 percent population increase just in our county. There is a lot of residential growth.”

The county is also welcoming plenty of commuters. “You can be a lot of places in 30 minutes,” he points out, which makes it easy to work in Laurens County while living elsewhere.

Residential projects are not the only developments underway. “We’ve got several larger infrastructure projects that have been completed or are in the planning stages,” says Coleman. “There is a lot to do to get to where we want to be, but we’re trying to do it in a smart way, a sustainable way, and not ruin the reason why people are moving here.”

This means keeping Laurens County’s small-town advantages while accommodating an increasing population. “There is a certain quality of life being in a more rural area compared to a larger metro area,” Coleman points out.

Whitney Lagrange, Director of Marketing for Laurens County Development Corporation, knows this firsthand. “I live in the metro area, but I try to do my shopping and running around while I’m in my office here in Laurens, just because I appreciate less traffic, the slower pace,” she says.

“We want to make sure we can sustain and maintain a certain element of that because that’s why people want to be here,” Coleman agrees. “It’s a balancing act for sure, because everybody wants growth until it’s in your backyard. We’ve got to do it in a smart way.”

Manufacturing is booming in Laurens County, creating the bulk of the opportunities for incoming workers. “50 percent of our workforce in our county works in the manufacturing sector, which is the highest percentage for any county in the state of South Carolina,” Coleman says. “We make things and we’re proud of that.” This diverse manufacturing base has a large automotive presence, including the Tier 1 automotive supplier ZF Transmissions, which is the largest employer in the county.

Local leaders understand the importance of developing the workforce to meet the needs of these employers. They have a number of workforce initiatives in place, from recruiting out-of-town talent to training students at the county’s high schools and technical college, “to keep that talent pipeline flowing,” Coleman says.

These training opportunities give secondary students a head start on their future career. “We work closely with our high schools, and they partner with the technical college to do a lot of dual enrollment classes, whether it be in mechatronics or robotics or welding or machine,” Coleman explains. “These kids are taking these college level classes in high school, so they are ready to go to work when they graduate.”

Students who want more training can access the Laurens County Future Scholarship to cover the cost of technical school, which puts them on a path to additional opportunities as well. “We have a private nonprofit that pays for any student that graduates high school in Laurens County,” Coleman tells us. “They can go to our technical college for two years tuition-free and then transfer to Presbyterian College, which is a liberal arts college here in the county. They can go there and finish up a bachelor’s degree if they want to. So, there is opportunity here for free education that’s not available in a lot of places.”

Through the Higher Opportunity Initiative, residents learn about the employment opportunities in Laurens County and “how you can succeed right here at home,” Lagrange says. “We’ve got jobs right here in Laurens County.” To be sure that everyone has access to information about these opportunities, Lagrange created the website higheropportunity.com which features the tagline, ‘Students don’t have to leave to achieve.’ Users can browse by category or by company, “and when you click ‘see opportunities,’ it will list whatever jobs are available here in Laurens County,” she says. “And then there’s a resources page which has tons of information for students and parents. We did that [to put information] all in one place to try and help build the workforce.”

The team also maintains a presence in schools, speaking directly to students through career showcases and other educational initiatives. The goal is to “get these students thinking about careers and what they may want to do,” says Lagrange. The most recent career showcase, hosted at Piedmont Technical College’s Newberry County Campus, introduced eighth graders to opportunities within 16 different career clusters. “We encouraged [companies] to come and set up there and speak with students,” Lagrange says. This exposes students to opportunities within the manufacturing sector that they may not have realized existed. For example, “you wouldn’t normally think there are marketing jobs at a paper mill, but it’s not just manufacturing; there is also a finance department, there’s this, there’s that.”

When it comes to job creation, local leaders plan to maintain current recruitment strategies for the long term. “For right now, we’ve got more jobs than we do people, but at some point, that’s going to change,” says Coleman. “And so we’re going to have to keep up recruiting, bringing in investment jobs so people, as they move here, will have a place to work.”

The team will also continue to focus on workforce development and upskilling local employees. “I think, as we move forward, manufacturing—and not just manufacturing, but any kind of business really—is becoming more and more automated, with less people,” Coleman explains. “And with that comes a higher skill level. And so, our goal is to recruit for those high-skill jobs, but also be able to provide those employers with employees that have the skills to succeed. And with those higher skilled jobs comes higher pay too, which helps our whole economy in our county.”

Moving forward, local leaders will continue to be discerning about which industries to bring into the county as they advance their recruitment efforts. “We don’t incentivize industries that don’t pay at or above the current county average wage, because if we recruit jobs that are going backwards, our economy is going backwards,” says Coleman. “So, when you look at a macro sense of our economy, we want the wage rate to grow; we want more money in our community for people to spend in our small businesses that help the whole county succeed.”

With a booming job market and local leaders strategizing for the future, Laurens County is well placed for ongoing success. The community will be one to watch as the Upstate of South Carolina continues to grow.

The post South Carolina’s Manufacturing Hub<p class="company">Laurens County, South Carolina</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

When it comes to growth, Brunswick County is growing both in terms of its population and its economy. The fastest growing county by percentage in the state and one of the top 10 in the country for growth, major investments are taking place to sustain and grow this impact.

“Our workforce age population is growing faster than the state’s average of 3.7 percent, which is pretty significant growth for our area,” says Brunswick Business & Industry Development Executive Director William (Bill) Early. “Our unique advantages include the fact that we have very heavy infrastructure that can support large industry, but we also have a quality of life here that helps these companies attract and retain key workers. We have an awful lot to offer.”

Part of the value proposition offered is the unmatched quality of life that the beautiful beaches, quaint and idyllic towns, a temperate climate, and a peaceful way of life affords to those who call Brunswick County home. This, paired with a strong business climate and robust local infrastructure, is exactly what Brunswick Business & Industry Development is mandated with leveraging: the goal is to share and showcase all that makes Brunswick County a locale on the radar of many.

Brunswick Business & Industry Development has been mandated by Brunswick County to facilitate economic development, particularly in terms of industrial and manufacturing opportunities that are well suited to its capacity. With this development comes large capital investments and well-paid jobs that further contribute to the area’s quality of life. Seven years in, Brunswick Business & Industry Development has enjoyed great success in this realm. Recently, a massive investment by Epsilon Advanced Materials, a leading manufacturer of graphite which is essential to the production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, demonstrated the scale of investments the organization is after.

Epsilon, drawn to the region’s rail-served, power- and infrastructure-equipped mega sites, is investing $650 million to establish its first manufacturing site in the United States in Brunswick County. The investment will create around 500 new jobs and will transform the growth of the region from a high-tech industrial standpoint.

Further to creating jobs, Epsilon partnered with Brunswick Community College for a specialized training certificate program to support the plant with essential skills when it commences operations in the first quarter of 2026, which will bring economic benefits to the region long-term, a testament to the work of Brunswick Business & Industry Development and its partners.

Indeed, one of the biggest draws for companies like Epsilon is the robust infrastructure Brunswick County has on offer. It is home to two mega sites (greater than 1,000 acres), the Mid-Atlantic Industrial Rail Park, and the International Logistics Park of North Carolina, which are located adjacent to one another and are investment-ready.

The sites are designated North Carolina Certified Sites, which offer investors a streamlined development process with many of the pre-qualification measures already completed and zoned industrial general (IG), which permits typical manufacturing and industrial uses. They also carry Foreign Trade Zone advantages that can add value for internationally positioned businesses.

The Mid-Atlantic Industrial Rail Park, specifically, offers connectivity and transportation access thanks to its proximity to U.S. Highway 74/76 and what will be the future Interstate 74, offering a connection to Interstate 95. Interstate 140 is also proximate and offers connectivity to Interstate 40. There is also a main CSX rail line that runs through the site and connects directly to the Port of Wilmington, in addition to access to both Wilmington International Airport and Myrtle Beach International Airport.

The International Logistics Park of North Carolina also enjoys the same access to major transportation routes and shipping infrastructure and is equipped with the power and infrastructure needed, including three transmission lines bringing power to the site, water and wastewater capacity, buildings, and a commitment to making the necessary investments to ensure they are development-ready. According to Early, “We put a lot of effort into trying to get those developed with infrastructure access—all the services and utilities that a company would need to be able to move in and begin construction. The International Logistics Park is one where we’ve been fortunate to have investors that have built a 286,000-square-foot spec building. On phase one of this, which was 150,000 square feet, 100 percent of it was leased prior to completion of the construction.”

These kinds of investments position Brunswick County to take full advantage of the fast-growing electric battery market that is gearing up to meet the push in demand for electric vehicles. Located in what has been referred to as the “EV battery belt,” the county is strategically positioning itself for the future for the collective benefit of the region.

Partnership has been paramount to achieving economic growth in Brunswick County and Brunswick Business & Industry Development is the linchpin of many of those relationships. The organization bridges the gap between people and resources and ensures that the area’s many assets are taken full advantage of.

The list of development partners is long and includes the North Carolina Department of Commerce, North Carolina Southeast Regional Partnership, North Carolina Economic Development Partnership, North Carolina Port Authority, North Carolina Railroad, CSX Rail, local utility partners, educational institutions, and many others who work to strengthen the value proposition Brunswick Business & Industry Development can showcase to prospective investors.

Director of Business Development Jason Semple acknowledges, “For a fast-growing county, I’d like to give a plug for our commissioners who have done a really good job of staying ahead and forecasting the needs of our county on the water and sewer side. With our growth, they’ve done a good job of staying ahead of the curve and it’s allowed us, in many respects, to keep growing.”

Though Brunswick Business & Industry Development spearheads many of the local economic development efforts, its greatest strength is the ability to get the right people at the table to leverage their respective strengths to ensure those who are investing in the community have everything they need to be successful in the best interests of regional prosperity.

“That’s part of where we come in: we try to bring all of these resources together to meet the client’s needs,” explains Early. “Our role is to bring the partners together.”

This sentiment is reiterated by Semple who notes, “It takes a large village—not just a village, a large village—to make these things happen.”

That village will be just as important in the future as Brunswick Business & Industry Development makes sure that it has the property inventory, the resources, and the capacity, including water and wastewater, to sustain the future growth that will undoubtedly take place.

Acknowledging that one day the mega sites will be full, Brunswick Business & Industry Development remains focused on ensuring that the evolving needs of the local economy that it is building in the present continue to be met in the future. “I think one of the strongest long-term goals is to always be looking ahead and trying to focus on product development. You know, we’re blessed right now to have these two large mega sites. One day they will be full, so where are we going next? What do we need to be focusing on to develop for future needs?”

Whether those needs are related to infrastructure or workforce development, Brunswick Business & Industry Development will continue to work to address the needs of the economy to ensure that the necessary resources are available and supply chains remain uninterrupted, building bridges and facilitating collaboration between its stakeholder partners and prospective investors to sustain the growth and prosperity the region enjoys.

The post Growing Opportunities for a Growing Population<p class="company">Brunswick Business & Industry Development</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

However, five years ago, with the opening of Inland Port Dillon, the notion that Dillon County was merely a drive-through on the way to somewhere else changed. The manufacturing and distribution communities sat up and took notice when rural Dillon County emerged as the place to be, a direct result of the huge opportunities the inland port offers for businesses to succeed.

To learn more, we spoke with Rodney Berry, the county’s Economic Development Officer. Originally from Dillon County, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps and enjoyed a career in the publishing industry before pivoting to economic development because of the significant positive impact it has on families’ well-being. In this capacity, Berry has served as Mayor, county administrator, and congressional director.

Inland Port Dillon – a game changer
Located in the county seat, Inland Port Dillon, which opened in 2019, is the South Carolina Ports Authority’s (SCPA) second inland port, with the other in Greer. It is the result, Berry says, of a bi-partisan effort. “We had a lot of people working at the federal, state, and local levels to make this happen.”

Now the inland port is inviting manufacturers, distributors, importers, and exporters to enjoy the benefits of connecting with the Port of Charleston, one of the U.S.’s largest and busiest deepwater ports, serviced by nearly a dozen ocean carriers.

“The Port of Charleston is a huge economic driver in the State of South Carolina,” Berry explains, “and here in Dillon, the inland port is our flagship. You can unload anything from anywhere in the world in the Port of Charleston and it can be directly railed to Dillon via CSX’s Class 1 Rail.”

Dillon could be the product’s destination if it is fulfilling a manufacturer’s supply chain need, or it could be transported across the country from a distribution center, either by rail or road. Alternatively, anything can be shipped out, from manufactured goods to produce, such as the grains and soybeans grown in the state.

The inland port has given a competitive edge to the region because of the substantial freight savings associated with rail—anywhere from 10 to 35 percent—over the cost of transportation by truck, and business has grown every year. In addition, the Match Back program offered by the SCPA in Dillon matches empty containers with exporters, streamlining the process so that when the product leaves Dillon via rail for Port Charleston, it is ready to be loaded aboard the ship.

Berry explains that when he receives calls at the Economic Development Office, they are almost all inquiring about the inland port and what kind of savings can be realized by locating in Dillon. Exporters receive one Dillon-origin rate from the ocean carrier which includes all terminal fees in Dillon, CSX rail transit to Charleston, delivery to the container terminal, plus international shipping to the destination. Importers also receive one rate from the ocean carrier, which includes shipping to Charleston, SCPA-provided dray to a local CSX intermodal ramp within 24 hours of becoming available (assuming the box has been released by Customs and everything is in order), rail transit to Dillon, and handling and facilitation fees at the inland port.

Dillon Inland Port is in a fully-serviced industrial park, ready to receive manufacturing and distribution industries, with all the necessary infrastructure in place—gas, electricity, water, sewer, high-speed Internet, and several available buildings and space to build others. “We have developed the area around the port and done our homework,” Berry says.

There are other areas available for development in proximity to the industrial park as well. Just a mile away is Harbor Freight’s 2 million-square-foot retail and distribution center for high-quality tools, which more than doubled in size after the inland port opened. It provides over 500 jobs and ships tools by rail to retail locations across the nation.

Manufacturing companies located in the area and listed by Dun & Bradstreet as having sales figures over $1 million include The Herald Publishing Company, Herald Multiforms (office equipment), Perdue Chicken, and Wyman-Gordon. But Berry is determined to recruit more companies, and to that end has founded the Dillon County Public-Private Partnership, based on the idea that “even the best planted seeds need a push to grow in the right direction.”

Through a series of monthly informational and educational presentations from leaders in business, education, and public service, Berry has developed an ambassador program to educate a core group of citizens who will be ambassadors for the county, prepared to speak knowledgeably about the advantages of doing business here and to welcome new businesses when they arrive.

More reasons to do business in Dillon County
While having an inland port seems reason enough to open or expand a business in Dillon County, there are even more sound incentives. The county, says Berry, “has been unwaveringly supportive and fiercely proactive in driving economic development, demonstrating a relentless commitment to fostering growth and opportunity in the region.”

Indeed, the State of South Carolina has a strong pro-business attitude and is ranked among the top five most business-friendly states in the nation. The state-wide incentives and grants available to businesses, based on the size of the investment and number of employees, is something the county can leverage, along with the advantages of the port, to attract investors.

In addition, company owners and managers can rely on a well-trained local workforce. “We work closely with Northeastern Technical College,” Berry says, describing college administration as nimble and able to pivot to offer programs that meet the needs of employers. “They work with our local industry, and they know what needs to be done and they do it.”

Northeastern Technical College is one of the 16 colleges within the SC Technical College System along with two statewide programs, readySC™ and Apprenticeship Carolina™, all of which combine to play a key role in education and training the workforce for in-demand and high-skilled jobs. Even though the population of Dillon County is relatively small at an estimated 27,649, employers have an available workforce of nearly one million to draw from within 60 miles of its geographical center.

A healthy, balanced lifestyle
Dillon County offers residents a relaxed, rural lifestyle, something many urban dwellers long for and are seeking out, says Berry. But with urban amenities only a short drive away in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and rich tourism offerings just two hours south in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, newcomers don’t feel isolated from the things they are used to having or doing. Housing costs are generally lower, and Berry says his department is aiming to keep it that way by recruiting developers to build more housing to accommodate middle-income families, as he expects the population to grow.

The county is especially fortunate to have excellent healthcare services through McLeod Health, a non-profit organization that purchased and manages the hospital and offers services typically only found in larger centers. “The hospital is a gem,” according to Berry. “It is extraordinary for a county our size to have such a robust health facility.”

And last but not least, there is the inviting climate, where temperatures range from 73°F to 95°F in July, the hottest month, to lows of 40°F to 60°F in January, and make outdoor recreation—hiking, fishing, boating in the rivers, and barbecuing and dining al fresco—possible year-round. With snow rarely seen, except at higher elevations, a location 60 miles from the coast so that it is not affected by storm surges, and 216 days of sunshine per year—combined with exceptional business opportunities in a pro-business state—Dillon County, South Carolina is truly the ideal place to be.

The post Connected to the Nation and the World<p class="company">Dillon County, South Carolina</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

Over the years, the company has grown from a small distributor of industrial equipment to a provider of cutting-edge manufacturing solutions. From its early days of selling simple spray guns and sanders, Air Power now offers highly advanced automation systems and a range of services including equipment repair, project coordination, and custom solutions designed to increase efficiency for manufacturers across various sectors.

On the grow
Since its inception, Air Power has strategically expanded its presence, leveraging both organic growth and acquisitions to serve customers across a broader geographic area. From its central hub in High Point, North Carolina, the company began expanding into nearby states, adding branch locations in Virginia, South Carolina, and beyond. In the late 2010s, Air Power made its first major acquisitions, purchasing companies in Georgia and Florida, which further solidified its presence in key regions.

In recent years, Air Power has continued to grow, acquiring a company in Baltimore during the pandemic and relocating it to Pennsylvania to better serve its expanding customer base. Recently, the company strategically expanded into Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, a move that strengthens Air Power’s commitment to driving manufacturing innovation in these key regions. “We are thrilled to expand our reach and bring our comprehensive range of solutions to these new markets,” said Dan Senff, President of Air Power, in a news release. “This expansion represents an exciting opportunity to provide our customers with unparalleled service, innovative products, and an enhanced experience. Our team is ready to hit the ground running, delivering the same high-quality service our partners know and trust.”

Today, the company operates across a number of states, from Pennsylvania to Florida and westward to Texas, with international operations in Monterrey, Mexico serving clients in the industrial hub of Saltillo.

The company’s reach goes beyond just geographic expansion. With its services not restricted to any one sector, Air Power serves a wide array of industries, including aerospace, military contracting, off-road and on-road vehicle manufacturing, and the truck and bus sector. Through this diversification, Air Power has built a robust foundation that allows it to provide versatile solutions for customers worldwide.

A commitment to service
The team’s commitment to providing comprehensive solutions is reflected in its range of key services, all designed with the customer in mind. The company’s approach to customer service starts with its account managers, who are paired with specialists that have deep expertise in specific areas such as paint lines, assembly cells, dispense applications, and robotic automation. This unique combination allows Air Power not only to sell equipment but also to actively help customers solve their operational bottlenecks and enhance their manufacturing processes.

Indeed, the company goes above and beyond the initial sale with its robust bench and field service offerings. These services ensure that equipment remains in optimal condition, minimizing downtime and maximizing uptime. Whether it’s routine maintenance or urgent repairs, Air Power’s commitment to service ensures that customers experience the least amount of disruption to their operations.

A key differentiator for Air Power is its in-house engineering team, which designs custom solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing manufacturing systems. This capability is particularly valuable for businesses looking to enhance their production lines with automation and specialized equipment tailored to their needs. The company’s engineering team works closely with clients to develop and implement solutions that drive efficiency and productivity.

Another crucial aspect of Air Power’s service offering is its project coordination team, which ensures that every customer project is executed flawlessly. From the moment an order is placed, the team manages everything, including equipment procurement, staging, assembly, testing, and installation. This high level of project oversight ensures that customers enjoy a smooth, seamless experience throughout the entire process.

To maintain industry standards and ensure that equipment operates within required specifications, Air Power also provides calibration services both in-house and on-site. This commitment to calibration and compliance is vital for manufacturers who need to meet stringent operational standards.

The company offers three specialized customer labs at its High Point, North Carolina facility, which provide a controlled environment where customers can test equipment before making a purchase. With dedicated spaces for dispensing, finishing, and fastening, the labs allow clients to ensure that the equipment they choose is the best fit for their specific needs, giving them confidence in their purchasing decisions. Together, these services showcase Air Power’s dedication to not only selling equipment but also providing comprehensive, customer-centered solutions that support long-term success and operational excellence.

Embracing automation
As the manufacturing industry continues to evolve, Air Power has embraced digital automation and data-driven solutions. In today’s competitive market, repeatability and profitability go hand in hand, and data plays a crucial role in achieving both. Air Power utilizes cloud-based systems and MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) to track, monitor, and analyze data, allowing customers to make more informed decisions about their operations.

One key advantage of automation is its ability to improve efficiency and reduce waste. As Jai Armitage, Marketing Director at Air Power, says, “Repeatability is profitability.” Automation, combined with data analysis, enables manufacturers to consistently achieve the same high-quality results, improving productivity while minimizing the cost of operations.

Air Power’s ability to provide automation solutions, ranging from robotic spray applicators to complete finishing systems, has made it a trusted partner for companies looking to streamline their operations and increase their production capabilities.

A strong team
At the heart of Air Power Manufacturing Solutions is a team of dedicated professionals, each contributing to the company’s ongoing success with their unique expertise and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. As President of Air Power Manufacturing Solutions, Dan Senff plays a key role in setting the overall direction for the company. With a focus on people, partnerships, and products, he emphasizes the importance of a culture built on trust, transparency, and customer-centricity. Under his leadership, Air Power has maintained long-standing relationships with customers since its founding in 1967, a testament to the company’s commitment to always doing right by its clients.

“We hire for character and train for skill,” says Senff, reflecting on the company’s hiring philosophy. This approach ensures that its teams are composed of individuals who align with the company’s values, fostering a strong sense of community and dedication. Senff also highlights the importance of staying true to the company’s mission statement: “We don’t grow just for the sake of growth. We grow because we can be a partner in the community, ensuring sustainability and long-term success.”

Kevin Averette, Operations Leader, oversees both the operations and competencies within Air Power, managing several critical teams that support the company’s broader goals. His responsibilities span warehouse operations, inventory management, and purchasing, ensuring that the day-to-day operations run smoothly while maintaining a focus on the customer experience. “Having application engineers on each team is like having subject matter experts at the core of our strategy,” Averette explains. “They are the ones who really make a difference when it comes to delivering solutions that align with the customer’s needs and manufacturing process.”

The application engineers play a pivotal role in providing deep product knowledge and expertise. With 20-plus engineers within these teams, they are instrumental in creating lasting value by consistently applying the right equipment and resources to customer projects.

Kyle Crawford, Sales and Marketing Manager, emphasizes the company’s culture, stating, “We all work for a living, but we also don’t live to work.” The company places a strong emphasis on work-life balance and the well-being of its team members, creating a positive and supportive work environment where employees are motivated to go above and beyond.

In addition, Air Power fosters a culture of continuous improvement and learning. The company invests heavily in training for its employees, ensuring that account managers, engineers, and customer service teams are always up to date on the latest technologies and manufacturing trends. This commitment to training is reflected in the company’s growth and its ability to remain at the forefront of innovation.

Standing apart
The key to Air Power’s success lies not only in its depth of expertise but also in its collaborative approach. Application engineers work closely with the sales teams to ensure that each solution is tailored to the customer’s process, and the close-knit nature of the company ensures that all employees, from engineers to account managers, are aligned in delivering superior value to the customer.

“We’re different from our competitors because we can provide a comprehensive solution, pulling together multiple competencies to address complex manufacturing needs,” says Averette. “Customers don’t have to deal with multiple vendors; they can rely on us for all their needs.”

The company’s strong culture, centered around family values, trust, and employee well-being, plays a critical role in this success. “We focus on people first,” says Senff, underscoring how internal relationships and the well-being of employees directly contribute to the company’s long-term partnerships with clients.

As the manufacturing industry becomes more interconnected, Air Power’s vision is to expand its reach both geographically and technologically. The company is exploring expansion into new regions, including the western U.S., while continuing to grow its presence in key markets such as Mexico. As the global economy becomes more integrated, Air Power is well-positioned to support manufacturers anywhere in the world.

Certainly, Air Power Manufacturing Solutions has come a long way from its humble beginnings, and its growth reflects the company’s dedication to customer service, innovation, and a strong, supportive culture. With a focus on providing complete, tailored solutions from equipment sales to engineering and field service, Air Power has become a trusted partner for manufacturers looking to enhance their operations and embrace automation. It stands out as a company that understands the importance of both expertise and culture in driving lasting success, and continues to thrive because of its strong, cohesive team and its focus on delivering exceptional service.

As the company continues to expand its capabilities and geographic footprint, it is clear that Air Power is poised for continued success in the evolving manufacturing landscape.

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