The Central South Carolina Alliance, a 10-county regional public/private partnership that includes Orangeburg and Calhoun counties, helped bring a total of $114 million in capital investment along with about 490 new jobs to the counties in 2007, according to the annual report released recently by the alliance.
Among the highlights of the report in relation to project activity in Orangeburg and Calhoun counties for 2007 are:
• March 15 -- ACO Distribution announced a $3.7 million investment with 14 jobs in Orangeburg County in the former Velcorex Inc. and Greenwood Mills facility on Rowesville Road.
The company offers general merchandise storage, shipping and receiving, import/export services, stretch and shrink wrap services, inventory control and other inventory-related functions.
• April 9 -- Starbucks announced a $71 million investment and 160 jobs in the Calhoun County Tri-County Electric Cooperative Industrial Park off of Interstate 26.
• April 25 -- AT&T announced a $1.6 million investment and 103 jobs at its Orangeburg National Directory Assistance Call Center.
• Aug. 8 -- The Okonite Co. announced a $17.8 million expansion with the addition of 40 new jobs.
About $9.2 million will be invested in production machinery, $8.3 million will be spent on infrastructure related to buildings and about $300,000 of the investment is in support materials such as fork lifts. The floor size will increase by 85,600 square feet.
The Okonite Co. has a two-plant complex in Orangeburg. One is a three-story, 83,000-square-foot compounding plant that produces a synthetic rubber compound to insulate copper conductors. The other is a 368,793-square-foot facility that makes power and control cables.
• Aug. 16 -- Southern Milling and Lumber Inc. announced it would invest $1.2 million with the addition of 50 jobs at its facility 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.
• Aug. 19 -- Quality Models announced a $4 million expansion with the addition of 20 jobs at its plant located at the Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park.
Quality Models specializes in plastic-injection and vac-form production for lawn and garden equipment, as well as the power sports, industrial and automotive aftermarket.
• Aug. 30 -- Sims Bark announced it would invest $8.5 million and add 50 new jobs in the Bowman area. The company, which owns about 138 acres, developed about 70 acres at the corner of Arista Road and Landsdowne Road. Sims Bark makes soil, mulch and bagged rocks.
• Sept. 11 -- Southeast Frozen Foods announced it would add a $3.5 million expansion with the addition of 30 jobs at its Calhoun County plant. SFF distributes ice cream, frozen foods, fruit, vegetables, breads and pastries to 16 states.
• Oct. 2 -- Monteferro USA announced it would invest $3.32 million and bring 25 jobs to a 42,000-square-foot facility in the Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park. The company manufactures steel guide rails and other elevator accessories.
In product development, the Alliance cited the construction of the 150,000-square-foot speculative building at the OC/CIP.
The $5 million building is expandable to 300,000 square feet and is located on about 21 acres across the street from Allied Air and next door to H.T. Hackney.
Orangeburg County joined the alliance in 2002 and Calhoun County in 1999.
Other highlights for the alliance in 2007 include:
• Region hosted 18 Global Site Consultants
• U.K.-based Nasmyth announces plans to locate in Newberry County from the Paris Air Show
• The addition of new spec buildings in Fairfield, Lee and Kershaw counties.
• Marketing trips to California, Florida, Arizona, New York, Missouri, Indiana, Michigan, Texas, Georgia and France.
• Nearly 200 prospect visits and 400 company inquiries
The CSCA, which was established in 1994, describes its mission to encourage, enhance and foster economic development in Central South Carolina.
Since its establishment, the alliance has helped industries invest more than $6.9 billion and creating more than 45,000 new jobs.
In addition to Orangeburg and Calhoun counties, the alliance serves Clarendon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Richland, Saluda and Sumter.
• T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551.