Reaching the globe: Orangeburg County has prime opportunity

In fact, 44 percent of the companies considering Orangeburg County as a business location last year were from outside the United States, a remarkable figure for a community our size.

Attracting new companies

Increasing our international appeal is the fact that Orangeburg County, for the first time in history, will have two major international auto manufacturers and an international U.S.-based aerospace giant less than an hour’s drive away. Proximity to Volvo, Daimler and Boeing makes Orangeburg an ideal location for supplier companies.

Recognizing this prime opportunity, the Orangeburg County Development Commission is working hard to attract automotive and aerospace suppliers. In partnership with the South Carolina Department of Commerce and Central SC Alliance, we recently have met with more than 10 new companies and we’ll be meeting with many more in the days ahead. We’re going after industry with high-quality jobs and it’s an exciting time.

Orangeburg County already is seeing success in the aerospace industry and has attracted international companies like Sigmatex, which has invested $12 million and created 50 jobs, and GKN Aerospace, which has invested more than $50 million and created 350 jobs. We’re especially proud that GKN has chosen our area to make the fuselage for the HondaJet, as well as sections of the floor grid for the Boeing 787, along with other Boeing parts.

Our international footprint continues to grow and we’re only weeks away from another special economic development announcement on May 5. I can’t wait to share more good news with you!

Supporting our existing industry

While we attract new industry, we continue to see our existing companies thrive as well.

This past year saw $97.7 million in capital investment announced and 164 net new manufacturing jobs, partly from existing industry growth.

Okonite, Bimbo Bakeries USA and GKN Aerospace all announced major expansions. Additionally, Brazil-based Inbra Chemical Co. chose Orangeburg County for its first international expansion and entry into the North American market.

These companies have not only brought jobs, but also great corporate leaders and fresh energy.

Along with our pro-business climate, our existing companies thrive because of our outstanding transportation access.

As the Global Logistics Triangle, Orangeburg County provides an import and export gateway to the world with easy access to the Port of Charleston, rail, and interstates. In 2016, we’ll see the completion of the new I-95 exit at Highway 301. The $50 million project and the land it opens for industrial development already are capturing national and international attention.

Building for the future

By the end of this year, Orangeburg County will have under construction or will have completed more than 900,000 square feet of industrial space, a massive amount for a rural area.

We also have eight strong industrial parks and a new 75,000-square-foot spec building under construction in the John W. Matthews Jr. Industrial Park. This spec building will give Orangeburg County an edge in attracting companies that need to get up and running quickly.

Strengthening our community

With positive momentum and global reach, OCDC also is looking at ways to make our community more attractive and ensure that people working in Orangeburg County want to live here too.

With that goal, OCDC is supporting The One Orangeburg County Initiative (TOOCI) that’s bringing together people from every walk of life — elected leaders, agency heads, educators, executives, citizens  and others — who are passionate about improving quality of life.

We’ll be prioritizing projects that can have the most significant impact such as improving the perception of public schools, improving the appearance of interstate gateways and much more.

Please visit our website at www.ocdc.com or call us at 803.536.3333 to learn how to get involved. You also can watch our new community videos at Welcome toOrangeburgCounty.com.

Differentiating our workforce

Recently, Orangeburg County officially has become a certified “Work Ready” community under the S.C. Workforce Readiness Initiative, reaching 100 percent of our goals in workforce development. This certification proves our workers are enhancing skills to be more competitive and many of them hold ACT National Career Readiness certificates.

Ultimately, having a certified workforce means more of our workers are qualified for jobs and it shows companies we have employees ready to succeed.

All this effort and energy, coupled with our community’s excellent location and infrastructure, are leading to our global reach and a very bright future for the people of Orangeburg County. So many factors make our area great and it’s exciting to see businesses from around the world take notice.