ST. MATTHEWS – A Florida-based lumber manufacturer announced Thursday it will build a new manufacturing facility here.
Southern Milling & Lumber Inc. will build a new manufacturing facility, investing $1.2 million and creating an estimated 50 new jobs.
The company’s new facility will be located on Bridle Wreath Road between S.C. Highway 6 and Murph Mill Road near St. Matthews. The facility will cut lumber to its clients’ specifications and manufacture wood pallets.
Southern Milling & Lumber Inc. is based out of Lakeland, Fla. and specializes in the re-manufacture of lumber and manufacture of wooden pallets and specialty packaging.
Construction of the company’s new facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2007.
A company spokesperson could not be reached for comment Thursday at the Lakeland or South Carolina offices.
“We welcome the investment and new jobs from Southern Milling & Lumber,” Calhoun County Council Chairman David Summers said. “Calhoun County is very pleased with the recent influx of quality companies that have discovered the value of doing business in Calhoun County.”
Summers said the county is well on its way toward achieving its targeted mission.
“Our goal on county council is to grow the tax base while maintaining the appeal of a small rural county that offers close proximity to Columbia and a transportation network that links us directly to the Port of Charleston,” Summers said.
“It has been a busy summer of activity for economic development in South Carolina, and Calhoun County is a vital part of this economic growth and progress,” Calhoun County Economic Development Director Pat Black said. “The company’s investment in Calhoun County shows the diversity of our economic base. The forestry, lumber, wood products industry is a vital part of our agriculture economy in South Carolina and Calhoun County.”
Black said Southern Milling is a key component to the “distribution phase of the transportation industry.”
“Calhoun County is proud to be a part of the good things that continue to happen in South Carolina and in our Central South Carolina Alliance,” he said.
The Thursday announcement was made by the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Central S.C. Alliance.
The lumber manufacturer follows the recent announcement that Starbucks Coffee Corp. will build its new roasting and distribution facility in Calhoun County.
Operations are planned to begin in early 2009. When operating at full capacity, the Starbucks facility is expected to create 160 new, full-time positions.
Thursday’s announcement received praise from state officials.
“As businesses work smarter to develop operations in strategic locations, South Carolina continues to be an ideal choice,” said Joe Taylor, South Carolina secretary of commerce. “Once again, our state’s business-friendly climate, access to markets, quality work force and excellent infrastructure are opening new doors and working to grow our economy.”
“We are very excited to have attracted Southern Milling & Lumber Inc. through our marketing efforts,” Central S.C. Alliance Chairman George Bullwinkel Jr. said. “This region has a great story to tell business leaders, and we are getting the word out to a global audience. We greatly appreciate the partnership that we have with the South Carolina Department of Commerce in the daily quest of moving our region and state forward.”
T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.