March 13, 2023 Orangeburg, SC – Hounen Solar (Hounen), a global solar panel manufacturer, today announced plans to establish its first United States manufacturing operations in Orangeburg County. The company’s $33 million investment will create 200 new jobs.

Headquartered in Chino, California, Hounen manufactures solar photovoltaic (PV) panels worldwide, serving the clean energy market. In addition to solar panels, the company creates other electrical products. With a commitment to sustainability, Hounen uses innovative power sources to create clean energy including sustainable systems, turbine energy and renewable energy.

Located at 145 Millennium Drive in Orangeburg, Hounen’s plans include leasing a 200, 720-square-foot plant, marking the company’s first manufacturing operations in the U.S and first South Carolina location.

The Orangeburg County facility will allow the company to develop, manufacture and sell one gigawatt (GW) crystalline silicon PV panels in the U.S. Individuals interested in joining the Hounen team should email resumes to the company at christina@hounenus.com.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project. The council also awarded a $500,000 Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) grant to Orangeburg County to assist with the costs of building improvements.

QUOTES

“We are excited to announce our first manufacturing operations in the United States. Our new solar panel assembly plant will allow us to produce one GW crystalline silicon PV panels for markets in the U.S. We are grateful for the help and support of the South Carolina team and look forward to providing more economic opportunities in the state.”
– Jufang Lv, Chief Executive Officer, Hounen Solar

“Hounen’s investment in Orangeburg County not only adds to the state’s growing renewable energy economy but also shows that South Carolina is a place where companies in every industry can thrive. We look forward to creating a strong partnership with Hounen for years to come and seeing the impact of these 200 new jobs.” – Henry McMaster, Governor, State of South Carolina

“This investment by Hounen will further strengthen South Carolina’s growing reputation in the clean energy sector, and we are excited for the environmental and economic opportunities that they will bring to the state. We welcome them to Orangeburg County and look forward to seeing them excel.” – Harry M.   III, Secretary of Commerce, Stateof South Carolina

“We are delighted to welcome Hounen to Orangeburg County. Orangeburg County is a dynamic community on many fronts, from our talented, quality workforce to being the prime location for diverse industries across the globe. Hounen’s $33 million investment and creation of 200 jobs demonstrate how our community and the state work together as a team and support one another for the betterment of all.”
Johnnie Wright Sr., Chairman, Orangeburg County Council

“Hounen Solar’s announcement reflects the County of Orangeburg’s vision to diversify our business portfolio. We are delighted that they have selected Orangeburg County to establish its first US operation. The additional 200 jobs will improve the quality for our citizens. We look forward to working with a tremendous leader in the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry.” – Harold Young, County Administrator, County of Orangeburg

“Hounen Solar is ready for the future and so is Orangeburg County. The new location will allow them to effectively support their growing customer base. We are excited that they have chosen Orangeburg County to launch their operations in this part of the country. Success awaits!” – Ken Middleton, Chairman, Orangeburg County Development Commission

FIVE FAST FACTS
• Hounen Solar (Hounen) is establishing its first U.S. manufacturing operations in Orangeburg County.
• The company’s $33 million investment will help create 200 new jobs.
• Hounen is a global solar panel manufacturer.
• Located at 145 Millennium Drive in Orangeburg, SC.
• Individuals interested in joining the Hounen team should contact the company via email at
christina@hounenus.com

Michigan-based Pet Supplies Plus expects to begin operations at its 534,702-square-foot Orangeburg distribution plant within months.

“We are hoping by early January we would be able to start receiving property into the operation and by February and March we start shipping out our first product,” Pet Supplies Plus Orangeburg Plant Manager William Peay said.

“In the next four months or so, we should be up and running,” he said.

Pet Supplies Plus announced plans in August 2022 to invest $53 million and create 275 new jobs over the next five years. About $37.8 million of the company’s investment will be spent on land and buildings and $15.2 million on machinery and equipment.

It’s locating in the $25 million building in the Shamrock Commerce Center industrial park on U.S. Highway 301 near Interstate 26.

The company will be served by the City of Orangeburg’s Department of Public Utilities with power, water, gas and sewer.

The outside shell of the building has been completed. Wiring and electrical work were being done on Nov. 10.

“After that is done, we will start receiving some of our product and our equipment. We will start to erect the racking that goes inside the building and all the other functions until we have everything set up to start operations,” Peay said.

Harper Contractors out of Texas is the general contractor for the project.

Peay said the development of the building has been on time, although there were early supply chain issues.

He provided a brief tour of the building and explained how racking will be stacked six levels high throughout the building.

“By this time next year, it ought to be pretty much full,” Peay said.

The facility will enable Pet Supplies Plus to increase its distribution capabilities across the Southeast, Peay said. The company will distribute primarily by truck.

The new operation will be the company’s fourth distribution center located within the United States.

It has a 735,000-square-foot distribution center in Seymour, Indiana as well as smaller facilities in Pennsylvania and Texas.

The Orangeburg plant will be its second largest.

“We have different manufacturers that we buy product from and they ship it to us and we ship it to our stores and or our clients,” Peay said.

The company’s customers are its nearly 640 stores across the Southeast and Midwest, Peay said. There are corporate and franchise stores.

The Orangeburg facility was built to accommodate the company’s growth.

The company distributes dog food, cat litter, cat food, pet toys and decorative clothing for animals.

“It ranges – if it is something a dog, a cat or bird or fish or even a lizard can deal with, we sell it,” Peay said.

Orangeburg was in a “close heat” with Douglas, Georgia when Pets Supplies Plus as trying to decide where to locate.

“The decision was made just through the great partnership I think the leadership team had with the authorities here in Orangeburg that brought them here,” as well as the package offered to the company, Peay said. “It was just enough to get us to decide to make Orangeburg a home.”

The company has already filled several local positions, including maintenance and human resource manager positions. On Nov. 10, it was in the process of interviewing for supervisor and department manager positions.

“We expect hiring hourly folks in the early January timeframe,” Peay said. “We are going to have a very competitive wage which will include also some incentive packages that we will put in place. We expect it to be over $19 an hour to start.”

The jobs range from distribution operations-type of jobs such as pick packing, shipping, fork lift operators, stacking, wrapping, loading and shipping jobs.

There will also be information technology jobs available and material handling equipment jobs, Peay said.

“We are hoping folks will find this is a good opportunity to come and work for a very good company that is growing and expanding,” Peay said.

“I liked it personally. I am a big pet lover – had dogs all my life – and this company truly cares about the animal and really cares about the neighborhood and being a part of the neighborhood. All our customers are called neighbors and our associates are called team members. We are very close and want to be a part of the community not just another pet store,” he said.

“Orangeburg County is a special place,” Orangeburg County Development Commission Chairman Kenneth Middleton said.

He said, “Our strategic location, proximity to ports, infrastructure and skilled workforce are all valuable assets. Meeting the accelerating demand for industrial space, our strong partnerships help guarantee your success!”

Founded in 1988, Pet Supplies Plus, a subsidiary of Franchise Group, Inc., is one of the largest pet retail franchises in the United States, offering customers a wide assortment of natural pet foods, goods and services.

For more information on opportunities with Pet Supplies Plus, visit the company’s careers page at www.petsuppliesplus.com.

$1.5 million investment to create 41 new jobs

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Kuntai (North Charleston) Limited Corporation (Kuntai), an automotive parts manufacturer, today announced plans to establish operations in Orangeburg County. The company’s $1.5 million investment will create 41 new jobs.

Kuntai specializes in car floor mats and is a supplier for high-end original equipment manufacturers.

Located at 152 Regional Parkway, Building F, in Orangeburg, Kuntai’s new facility will allow the company to produce floor mats and will be used as a base to further expand its business in the North American market.

Operations are expected to be online by October 2022. Individuals interested in joining the Kuntai team should email resumes to the company.

QUOTES

“Kuntai (North Charleston) Limited Corporation is excited to open its new floor mats factory in Orangeburg, South Carolina. We chose South Carolina as our new facility location because of the business-friendly environment, its skilled workforce and proximity to our customers. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship and will definitely consider South Carolina for all future projects.” – Vincent Zhang, General Manager, Kuntai (North
Charleston) Limited Corporation

“South Carolina is home to more than 600 automotive-related companies, and we are proud to add Kuntai to that impressive roster. We congratulate them on their $1.5 million investment that will create 41 new jobs and welcome them to South Carolina and Orangeburg County.” – Henry McMaster, Governor, State of South Carolina

“Kuntai’s decision to establish new operations in South Carolina is a testament to our world-class workforce. We are excited for these job opportunities in Orangeburg County and look forward to a strong partnership with Kuntai for many years to come.” – Harry M. Lightsey III, Secretary of Commerce, State of South Carolina

“We are grateful that Kuntai has selected Orangeburg County for its cutting-edge manufacturing operations and its state-of-the-art facility. This announcement by Kuntai brings 30 international companies representing 17 countries to Orangeburg County. The creation of 41 new jobs will create significant impact for our citizens and the investment in our community. We thank the Kuntai leadership and investors for believing in our people and location – making this another great day in Orangeburg County!” – Johnnie Wright, Chairman, Orangeburg County Council

“Orangeburg County is proud of the success of our automotive footprint which lends itself to the next era of breakthrough technologies. This announcement demonstrates the impact our County has made as we advance our economic development – spurring a welcome long-term relationship with Project Vincent who chose Orangeburg County to bring their business and its related jobs here. We look forward to working together and wish them every success.” – Harold M. Young, Administrator, County of Orangeburg

“Orangeburg County’s proximity to automotive manufacturers, and the Ports of Charleston and Savannah continue to be of great value to both the suppliers and the manufacturers. We wish Project Vincent tremendous success and growth in the coming years.” – Ken Middleton, Chairman, Orangeburg County Development Commission

FIVE FAST FACTS

• Kuntai (North Charleston) Limited Corporation is establishing operations in Orangeburg County.
• The company’s $1.5 million investment to create 41 new jobs.
• Kuntai is an automotive parts manufacturer.
• Located at 152 Regional Parkway, Building F, in Orangeburg, SC.
• Individuals interested in joining the Kuntai team should contact zhangmingdi@chinakuntai.com.

Premium Peanut announced Monday that it has completed the purchase of the northernmost tract in the South Carolina Gateway Park on Knowles Street in Santee.

The company will begin site preparation this week and anticipates construction of the first structure very soon.

“The purchase of this land is the first step in what we see as a strong partnership that our company will have with the farmers of South Carolina,” Premium Peanut President and CEO Karl Zimmer said in a release.

“Premium Peanut has committed to return more value back into the pockets of peanut growers, and in turn, their local communities, so we are eager to begin construction to do just that. Construction will begin soon, and we expect Phase I of the project to be complete by spring 2023,” Zimmer said.

The company announced plans last year to establish operations in Orangeburg County. The $64.3 million investment will create 130 new jobs.

The new shelling operation will provide additional local shelling capacity and will allow South Carolina peanut growers the opportunity to be a part of a cooperative model, the company said.

Premium Peanut is a grower-owned company with over 400 grower-owners.

It says its mission is to produce quality products for customers while maximizing the value of each peanut through operational innovations and excellence.

Premium Peanut’s customers include major snack, candy and peanut butter manufacturers domestically, as well as customers in more than 30 countries around the world.

Since the company began shelling peanuts in 2016, Premium Peanut has paid out over $54 million in dividends back to its grower-owners.

Premium Peanut said it “is grateful for the strong support from peanut growers and community leaders in South Carolina.”

For more information or to learn about jobs, visit premiumpnut.com.

The S.C. Department of Transportation is seeking public comments on its plans for widening Interstate 26.

The widening project includes the I-26 corridor from Exit 145 (U.S. Highway 601 – St. Matthews Road) to Exit 165 (S.C. 210 – Vance Road.)

The department proposes widening I-26 to address existing congestion, accommodate future traffic volumes and improve geometric deficiencies and freight mobility along the I-26 corridor.

The proposed project includes:

• Preliminary engineering in 2022 at a cost of $60.5 million

• Right of way acquisition in 2026 at a cost of $30 million

• Construction in 2028 at a cost of $570 million

The project will be another step in the state’s effort to widen I-26.

Work on the $320 million widening project from Exit 125 at Old Sandy Run Road to the Caw Caw Road interchange at Exit 136 will begin in late summer of 2023 and will take about three to four years.

The next section of I-26 to be widened runs from Exit 136 to Exit 145, which will begin in summer or winter of 2025.

In the latest step, the SCDOT Commission has agreed to seek public comment on whether the widening of I-26 from Exit 145 to Exit 165 should be included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.

SCDOT will accept public comment through Aug. 11.

A summary of substantive comments will be available to the commission.

Pending the consideration of public comments, the phases of work will be added to a subsequent version of the STIP.

Comments can be submitted in the following ways:

• Mail: Syrees Gillens Oliver, Public Involvement Director, SC Department of Transportation, Post Office Box 191, 955 Park Street, Columbia, SC 29202-019

• Email: scdotpubliccomment@scdot.org

• Online: www.scdot.org/projects/press-releases-CorridorProject-Exit165.aspx