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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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