Fall 2014
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County Spotlight: York | Special Section: Cities Mean Business | Best Place to Work in S.C.
county spotlight
York
Runners and walkers enjoy the Rock Hill Outdoor Center at Riverwalk, which offers 250 acres of public recreation including kayaking, walking and biking trails.
On the map
York County sees a surge in economic development By Jenny Peterson, Staff Writer
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une 16, 2014, was the largest single day of employment announcements in South Carolina’s history – nearly 7,000 new jobs and $800 million in investment on the way. The South Carolina Department of Commerce announced that much of that investment would come to York County, an area tucked in the northern part of the state along the I-77 corridor marked with picturesque lakes, rivers and other natural beauty.
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About York Coun ty 4.3%
Economic output grow th rate from 2012-13
2.8%
Jobs growth rate fro m 2012-13 Population: 239,36 3 (2013) Average county wag e: $41,496 (2013) Unemployment Ra (May 2014): 6.4% te
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County Spotlight: YORK
YORK COUNTY, from page 12
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With a high quality of life, top-rated schools and a lower cost of doing business, investors who are looking to move to the Charlotte area are finding that life in York County is as attractive as the business incentives. The announcements included LPL Financial LLC, the nation’s largest independent broker/dealer, moving its headquarters from Charlotte, N.C., to Fort Mill, in York County, bringing 3,000 jobs and a $150 million investment. That same day it was announced that Lash Group, a health care service provider, will locate its new national headquarters in a 250,000-square-foot space in Fort Mill, with a $90 million investment and 2,400 new jobs. That followed the announcement that Giti Tire, the tenth largest tire company in the world, will establish its first North American manufacturing facility in nearby Chester County, bringing 5,400 jobs and $560 million in investment along the I-77 corridor. In York County, the Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill and the many recreational amenities along picturesque Lake Wylie make the community a tempting site for relocation. “In the past, our tagline has been that we are the best of all worlds,” said Manning Kimmel, chairman of the York County Economic Development Board. “We have access to a large metropolitan area in Charlotte, rapidly growing cities in Fort Mill and Rock Hill, and a rural setting in the western part of the county.” Situated just 20 minutes from the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport and in close proximity to the Port of Charleston, the S.C. Inland Port and the new Norfolk Southern intermodal facility in Charlotte, York County is in a prime location for moving products into commerce. York County also benefits from having plenty of room for development – an issue that limits the potential for growth in larger urban areas. Historically, York County was seen as a See YORK COUNTY, Page 16 Special Advertising Section
During a visit to York County on June 16, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley announced that Lash Group, a health care service provider, will locate its new national headquarters in a 250,000-squarefoot space in Fort Mill with a $90 million investment and 2,400 new jobs. (Photo/Nancy Pierce)
Capital Investment, 2013-14 2013-14
$102.7M
Distribution
$512.2M $127.3M Total
$242.2M Headquarters
Other
$40.0M
Manufacturing
Jobs, 2013-14
431
Distribution
6,760 Total
443
Other
356
Manufacturing
5,530
Headquarters
County Spotlight: YORK The SouthCross Corporate Center is a 40-acre mixed-use development in Rock Hill, one of many sites available for quick relocation. (Photo/York County Economic Development)
YORK COUNTY, from page 14
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quiet suburb of the bustling financial hub of Charlotte. But a recent push for strategic partnerships has put York County on the map. With an active economic development department enticing new companies with incentives and speculative building space
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for immediate move-in, there will likely be more business announcements to come. “While we focus on capital investment and job creation, our ultimate goal is to raise the quality of life for York County citizens” said Kimmel. “We try to keep the pipeline as full as we can, and so far 2014 has been a fantastic year.”
Build it and they will come A big push in helping to attract and land big clients for York County is speculative buildings. By providing a shell building with all the utilities immediately available, York County is able to accommodate companies with tight deadlines. Construction of these spec buildings is
County Spotlight: YORK
made possible by the contributions of grant funds and local utility providers including the York Electric Cooperative. The buildings provide companies the opportunity to finish out the space to their specific manufacturing requirements in a timely manner. Kimmel said the first spec building was a 40,000-square-foot shell building in Rock Hill that brought in nearly 40 interested companies to take a look at it. Coroplast Tape, a German manufacturer that makes adhesive tapes for the automotive industry, moved into that first spec warehouse in 2013, bringing $12 million in investment and more than 150 jobs. Working with private developers and funds from the sale of the first spec building, the county currently has plans for an additional four spec buildings including a 276,000-square-foot building at the Riverwalk Business Park in Rock Hill. “Businesses are calling us, interested in seeing what we have to offer. A lot of it comes down to real estate,” Kimmel said. “We’re lining up tours with people from all over the world. Our inventory of sites and buildings is critical in giving them options.”
York Technical College’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and the Okuma Training Institute deliver world class training to local industries using machine tools, simulators and advanced CAM machines. (Photo/York County Economic Development)
Targeting industries, preparing a workforce York County has a long history in the manufacturing industry, specifically textiles, with a low-cost, pro-business regulatory
environment. Financial and manufacturing companies have come on the scene over the past few decades. See YORK COUNTY, Page 18
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County Spotlight: YORK The Catawba River in York County offers many choices for outdoor recreation including boating, fishing, camping, kayaking and canoeing. (Photo/York County Economic Development)
YORK COUNTY, from page 17
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Economic development officials are now targeting additional key industries – automotive, plastics, machinery, aviation and aerospace manufacturing, distribution, and
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financial services processing – that they hope will usher in a new era of economic growth. “We have the benefit of a manufacturing background, but a population with a very diverse set of skills,” Kimmel said. Currently, York County is seeing a surge
in technology related employment. That includes companies like Shutterfly, an online photo-sharing site, which moved from Charlotte to York County in 2013. That location manufactures photo books, prints and other gifts and employs office workers to support the growing online network. 3D Systems, a cutting-edge technology company, is also headquartered in York County. The company is a global, integrated solutions 3D printing company that specializes in 3D printers, print materials, professional and consumer custom-parts services, and 3D imaging and customization software. Winbro Group Technologies, which manufactures advanced machine systems that produce the cooling holes for aero and industrial gas turbines, moved to York County in 2010. “The fact that these leading technology companies are here makes a strong case for more technology companies looking to relocate,” Kimmel said. On the horizon is high-speed “gigabit” Internet service throughout Rock Hill’s aptly named Knowledge Park. The service provided by Comporium, a local telecommunications company, will bring high-speed Internet service to the downtown area with plans currently under way to add the service to Rock Hill’s five business parks. Officials hope its installation will attract more high-tech jobs. In partnership with Clemson University, Knowledge Park is already home to a technology incubator that is helping connect local entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed. To meet its growing workforce demands, York County is working with its universities, technical schools and public high schools to prepare students. York Technical College and ReadySC are the county’s top partners in preparing students for the technology and manufacturing industries. York Tech’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and the Okuma Training Institute deliver world class training to local industries using machine tools, simulators and advanced CAM machines. York High School’s Manufacturing See YORK COUNTY, Page 18
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County Spotlight: YORK
YORK COUNTY, from page 16 Certificate and Rock Hill’s Applied Technology Center Material Handling Program are industry-led curriculum for secondary school students. The classes are designed and developed by existing companies and speak to real-life job skills. Using the latest technology, students graduate with the skills to work in York County. Students are guaranteed an interview from participating companies if they complete the program. Other higher-education institutions,
including Winthrop University and Clinton College, also help develop students ready to enter the local workforce. Dr. Greg Rutherford, President of York Technical College said, “By bringing the expertise of existing industry into our school system and partnering with local companies to educate students for future jobs available in the county – it’s a win-win for everyone.”
The value of quality of life It’s not hard to sell York County to business executives and potential employees.
With a cost of living lower than Charlotte, yet less than 15 minutes away, and with expansive recreational opportunities and scenic natural settings, it’s an attractive place for all ages. Bounded on both sides by Lake Wylie and two large rivers, the Catawba and Broad, the area offers outdoor recreation such as camping, hiking, boating, fishing, mountain biking and more. Kings Mountain State Park and National Military Park, situated on 6,000 acres in northwest York County, has two lakes, a boat landing, campsites and stables. The Rock Hill Outdoor Center at Riverwalk offers 250 acres of public recreation including kayaking, walking and biking trails. The center boasts the Giordana Velodrome, a 250m cycling venue endorsed by USA Cycling. This month, the Center is opening the Novant Health BMX Supercross Track. The new venue will host the 2017 BMX World Championships with 3,000 amateur and 300 professional riders from around the world. Families also enjoy a public school system that is routinely ranked “excellent” by the South Carolina Department of Education. Students at Fort Mill and Nation Ford High Schools have some of the top SAT scores in the state.
Strategic partnerships build on shared success
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York County’s success depends on the cooperation and success of municipalities and organizations in the Charlotte region and along the I-77 corridor. By pooling resources, the county and its adjoining neighbors have used unique partnerships to capitalize on their shared success. This is most evident in the South Carolina I-77 Alliance — a new economic development alliance including York, Chester, Fairfield and Richland counties — that will work to market the corridor nationally and internationally. “Regionalism is a key part of what we do,” said Dr. Britt Blackwell, chairman of the South Carolina I-77 Alliance Board. “All along the I-77 corridor, we share great infrastructure and access and it’s to all our advantage to work together.”
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