Special Advertising Section
Orangeburg
(Photos/Courtesy of the city of Orangeburg)
Orangeburg
Well-positioned for success
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hen it comes to promise, Orangeburg County has been more blessed than most. The linchpin between the Midlands and the Lowcountry, the community and its leaders believe in taking the county’s economic fortunes into its own hands. In spite of the recent recession, leaders saw their dedication rewarded with deals involving both domestic and international companies. “The mission of OCDC, as codified by the Orangeburg County Development Commission, is to be the recognized leader in the South for recruitment of quality manufacturing, research and development, and distribution firms, as well as those who may be considering relocating their headquarters,” said Jeannine Kees, OCDC chair. “Our philosophy really comes down to two things: value and profit,” said Gregg Robinson, executive director of the Orangeburg County Development Commission since 2005. “If we add value to our key manufacturing organizations, they make a profit.”
“One is the mission, and the other is what we are targeting when we try to recruit new businesses to our county specifically, and the region in general,” he continued. “The way we do that is by showcasing the amenities of our state and region,” Robinson said. “Once we have done that, we then get down to the business of showing them that Orangeburg County is the best location within the region for them to locate their facility, and is the place where they will make the most profit.” Another aspect of the mission is positioning the county as a value-added resource for a company considering relocation or opening a new plant. “That’s because if you’re not adding value for the companies that we are sitting down to talk to, then you are wasting their time,” Robinson said. Many times the conversation boils down to problem solving: How can the county help solve problems or resolve challenges within the prospect’s business plan to make a difference to their suppliers and their customers?
And while Robinson said it would be difficult to pick just one example, he said as a general rule, the problem solving comes down to helping the firm with three fundamental issues: qualified labor, logistics and access to low-cost utilities. “It’s all about making sure they can be as successful as they can be,” Robinson said. The payoff for the county is that successful companies will invest more in their location and pay their people a higher wage. “If they are a smart company, a good growing company, they know that the best way to continue that profit for the shareholders is to reinvest in the building and its people,” Robinson said. “Therefore, it’s a mutually beneficial philosophy.” To understand the success Orangeburg County has enjoyed in recent years, a good place to start is a map of the eastern United States. South Carolina is located in the middle of the Interstate 95 corridor, and Orangeburg County is located in the center of the state at the intersection of I-95 and I-26. It is just 70
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Orangeburg
Special Advertising Section economic development is priority No. 1,” Wright said. County Administrator Bill Clark said U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, state Sen. John Matthews and the Orangeburg Legislative delegation have been dedicated to rural South Carolina and improving the quality of life along the I-95 corridor. “Our leadership has been key to positioning us for available opportunities in rural South Carolina,” Clark said.
Recruitment tools
Husqvarna North America announced it will invest $105 million in its Orangeburg County plant over the next 13 years. (Photo/Provided)
miles from the bustling Port of Charleston and about 100 miles from the Port of Savannah. The locals refer to this area as the Global Logistics Triangle, where U.S. Highway 301 connects the two major interstates. “Our existing road infrastructure is a major asset to our county and region,” Kees said. “The ability to receive goods and ship product is why
our county has over 13 million square feet of industrial space and is home to close to 100 manufacturing and distribution companies.” Johnny Wright, chair of the Orangeburg County Council, said the legislative delegation and commitment of the municipal mayors has been unprecedented in the county. “We have one team and all believe that
Orangeburg County leaders also understand that the quality of the local roads, the utility network, the people and the incentives that come back to companies on a performance-based basis all contribute to a company’s success. “It comes down to being realistic, being honest and really, relying on our strengths of what we know we can deliver,” Robinson said. “If we recruited a company and they failed, then we really wouldn’t have done ourselves or the company a service. “Like I said earlier, in business, if you are not adding value to their process and to their product, you are truly wasting their time and
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Tri-County Regional Chamber of Commerce www.tri-crcc.com 1-800-788-5646 or 1-888-568-5646 14
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Orangeburg Chamber of Commerce www.orangeburgchamber.com 1-800-545-6153
Special Advertising Section money, as well as our own,” he said.
Working together For years, Orangeburg County has marketed its Global Logistics Triangle (I-26, U.S. 301 and I-95) as the region’s premier transportation hub. But businesses have found a lot to like throughout the county. They quickly discovered the Orangeburg difference — that when you become a part of the Orangeburg business community, you literally become a part of the fabric of future growth efforts. “It’s critical,” Robinson said. “Every company we bring in talks to local businesses. We want to have a strong partnership with our existing industry and businesses. “A long time ago, companies wouldn’t talk to each other because they were afraid they were going to steal their forklift operator,” he continued. “Now they see the importance of clustering — more breeds more.” The Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park, which is located at I-26 and U.S. 301, is a good example. The park was first developed in 1998, and by 2010, 1 million square feet of space had been developed, resulting in the creation of more than 1,000 jobs, Robinson said. Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller said, “The
Jafza recently completed the first building on its more than 1,300-acre site along I-95. (Photo/Provided)
partnership between the city and the county is essential in order to win projects. Our leadership is on the same page when it comes to jobs and economic development.” “Let me tell you, the Development Commission is standing on the shoulders of a lot of great ladies and gentlemen that placed economic development at the forefront of what we do in Orangeburg County,” Robinson said. Robinson also said that economic development is not an overnight success story by any stretch. It is about creating a foundation — the organizational structure that supports industry. “It’s also about having the continued commitment, year-in and year-out, from county
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Orangeburg
council, from the cities, from the utilities, and from the community that understands we want to add more to the community,” Robinson said. “Even though the county faces unprecedented challenges, we are very optimistic that a team approach to economic development is absolutely vital,” Kees said. Robinson added, “... Government doesn’t create jobs. Government creates the groundwork, the infrastructure, the allocation of resources — our tax dollars — and an environment that cultivates the ability of companies to be successful. That’s what creates jobs.” In turn, a strong business base helps provide for better the amenities, including schools. They also support what economic development leaders refer to as “derived externalities” — things like restaurants, movie theaters, gas stations, grocery stores and other businesses that spring up to serve the work force and their families.
Work force strategy When it comes to work force development, Orangeburg County has placed an emphasis on working with primary and secondary educational professionals to try to create
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Orangeburg
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an emerging group of young workers who have both technical skills and the ability to take on management-level roles at their future employers. Wright is confident Orangeburg County has a competent, dedicated work force. “OCtech, SC State and Claflin have over 10,000 students ready to work. If they don’t find a job locally, we have missed an opportunity to keep quality students in our state and county,â€? he said. The average age of a worker in Orangeburg County is 34 years, with 13½ years of education.
HAVING IT ALL IN
“That means they have some college, that they are not right out of school, and that they are usually working somewhere else when they apply for a job at one of our newly arrived companies,� Robinson said. “These are individuals who want to find a better opportunity locally, and not have to drive 45 minutes to go to work.� Among the skills Orangeburg tries to promote are trades, like welding, plumbing, electrical, truck driving, fork lift operation — the bedrock skills of manufacturing and distribution.
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Recently, the Anne S. Crook Transportation Center opened on the campus of Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. Certified welding programs as well as truck driver training will be the focus of this stateof-the-art facility. More than 400 drivers will be certified annually in Orangeburg. “Now, to get back to the importance of primary and secondary level education, along with those technical skills, we recognize that our work force also needs a solid grounding in arithmetic, comprehension, attitude, all of the fundamentals, and these are things we constantly re-emphasize,� Robinson said. Orangeburg County also strives to be a community of character, he said, adding that it comes down to the way the county, its workers and its citizens accord themselves on a daily basis. “It’s the fundamentals. It’s showing up on time. It’s being honest. It’s things we take for granted sometimes, but it’s something we constantly try to remind Orangeburg County’s young people of. After all, these are our future leaders, and they need to understand that they have to have these core principles for our community to continue to move forward. These are core principles that companies are looking for. They don’t want to be just anywhere and to have just any employee.� “Mr. Don Tribble, executive director of the Community of Character Initiative, has done a fabulous job integrating core principles into the youth as well as establishing programs with existing industry,� Robinson said. “Not many communities in this state have the commitment to our future leaders like we have. Our Chamber has done a great job promoting this program.�
Orangeburg County = Success An example of Orangeburg’s success in the economic development arena is the recent $105 million expansion of Husqvarna, which allowed the company to bring a new product line to its facility, the county’s largest employer. “The fact that they’ve continued their commitment here is tremendous,� Kees said. “It shows that what we provide them here in Orangeburg is an important part of the longterm vision and planning.� The county’s other successes stem from its capital sales tax initiative, which has allowed it to develop key industrial parks. Orangeburg County is currently in the process of providing significant infrastructure, water and sew-
Special Advertising Section er, to the Global Logistics Triangle, and it is also building an industrial park in the western portion of the county. In addition, Jafza South Carolina LLC, a subsidiary of Dubai-based Economic Zones World, recently completed the first building on its more than 1,300-acre site along I-95. Plans eventually call for millions of square feet of warehousing and distribution space. “What with the recession we just went through, this activity is a real sign of their continued commitment to the county,” Robinson said. Jafza has prepared about 185 acres of the Jafza property, getting the first phase ready for additional development. “We are very pleased to be opening our first facility on the site, the Jafza Enterprise Center,” said Drue Fitzgerald, Jafza South Carolina’s Business Developer. “It will house Jafza’s operations, two industrial training schools, and we are looking for additional tenants.” The company has retooled its Phase I development Plan. “The global economic crisis has affected everyone,” Fitzgerald said. “However, we have used this as an opportunity to redesign our phasing plan. This has significantly reduced our costs and will make the development more competitive. Phase 1 can accommodate over 1.5 million square feet.” Jafza is currently marketing plots along the north and west sections of their site. The sites are available for light manufacturing, warehouse and logistics space.
burg County Chamber of Commerce, said the county’s biggest win will be when a business commits to occupying space in the Jafza Magna Park. “Long-term, the future is excellent for Orangeburg,” Coleman said. “The communities and the county have changed considerably in recent years. We have taken on ownership of our communities, thus improving the quality of life for our citizens.” Robinson said the county had a record number of site visits — 123 — in 2010. Having a variety of inventory to show
Orangeburg
prospects is crucial, Robinson said. MillerValentine Construction Group partnered with the county to build a 150,000-squarefoot spec building in the Orangeburg County/ City Industrial Park. “You know, I often say, economic development is a lot like baseball. We may not bat a 1,000 — and really, who does? But at least we are getting a shot at the plate,” he continued. “So if we are getting that kind of activity, that tells me that our reputation as a community and our marketing efforts are working,” Robinson said. “They are at least considering
Connecting to the world Jafza plans to be a hub for warehousing, assembly and the transportation of goods shipped through the Port of Charleston and the Port of Savannah. The fact that the ports’ volume has been down over the last couple of years doesn’t concern us, he said. “We feel confident the Port of Charleston and Savannah are ready for the additional volume expected at the completion of the Panama Canal’s expansion in 2014,” he said. “The team at the Port of Charleston under Jim Newsome is doing a phenomenal job. Our focus is on decreasing the time and costs involved in delivering top-quality space to our customers. Logistically, Jafza Magna Park is uniquely positioned to be able to serve markets from Washington D.C., to Tampa, Fla., in under eight hours.” David Coleman, president of the Orangew w w. s c b i z m a g . c o m | S p r i n g 2 0 1 1
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Orangeburg
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Reflecting on the recent economic downturn and slow national recovery, Robinson said the downtime gave them a chance to focus on infrasctructure. “It gave us the ability to spend time and effort to develop a coordinated network of utilities in the Global Logistics Triangle and in key industrial parks to make sure that when the economy turns around we had the available product.� “You can get a lot of looks from companies, but if you do not have the product they need, when they need it, you will not win the project,� Kees said. “So as a community, you have to have an available menu of options for prospects to consider. You’ve got to have sites with rail connections, sites without rail. We’ve got to have a variety of buildings. We have to industrial parks that are located in isolated locations, and also have industrial parks that are adjacent to the interstate.� “Each company you talk to has a distinct product, and a distinct set of needs,� Robinson continued. “What we are trying to do is widen the net enough to capture the quality companies our community needs and wants.� “Diversity in our portfolio of available buildings and sites must be ready for development if you want the next big project,� Kees said. “That’s why Orangeburg County is and will continue to be a great opportunity for quality companies considering South Carolina. We truly want your business.� SC
BIZ
Where People Who Work in Orangeburg County Live Orangeburg County.................................. 52.20% Richland County........................................ 9.60% Charleston County..................................... 5.90% Lexington County....................................... 5.00% Dorchester County..................................... 2.70% Berkeley County........................................ 2.70% Bamberg County........................................ 2.20% Calhoun County......................................... 1.90% Aiken County............................................. 1.60% Greenville County....................................... 1.60% All other counties..................................... 14.60% Source: U.S. Census Bureau (Local Employment Dynamics) 18
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Orangeburg
Special Advertising Section
Employment by industry
Labor Force – December 2010
Industry Sectors
Labor pool..................................................41,464 Employed...................................................34,515 Unemployed.................................................6,217 Unemployment rate....................................... 15% Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Hunting Utilities
Establishments
Workers Avg.
Weekly Wage
60
542
$549
5
144
$1,381
Construction
112
606
$725
Manufacturing
78
5,920
$731
Wholesale Trade
73
702
$665
Commute patterns
Retail Trade
370
4,931
$397
Transportation and Warehousing
63
759
$579
Top Five Commute Destinations Richland County......................................... 3,510 Charleston County...................................... 2,155 Lexington County........................................ 1,837 Dorchester County......................................... 996 Berkeley County............................................ 994
Information
12
285
$560
Finance and Insurance
88
729
$743
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
41
177
$478
Professional, Scientific, Technical Service
95
389
$769
Management of Companies and Enterprises
6
19
$649
Administrative and Support and Waste Management
65
775
$342
Educational Services
13
653
$585
Health Care and Social Assistance
199
2,469
$528
Arts, Entertainment, Recreation
21
247
$335
Accommodation and Food Services
157
3,206
$238
Other Services (Except Public Administration)
192
517
$371
Top Five Commute Origins Calhoun County.......................................... 1,529 Richland County......................................... 1,366 Lexington County........................................ 1,326 Dorchester County...................................... 1,044 Bamberg County............................................ 869 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008 Commuting Patterns
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