$53 million investment to create 275 new jobs

ORANGEBURG, SC August 16, 2022 – Pet Supplies Plus, a leading, full-service pet retail company, today announced plans to establish a new distribution center in Orangeburg County. The company’s $53 million investment will create 275 new jobs.

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. Located in 40 states, Pet Supplies Plus has more than 630 stores, the majority of which are independently owned and operated by franchisees.

Located in the Shamrock Commerce Park at the intersection of U.S. 301 and Interstate 26 at Exit 154, the company’s new, state-of-the-art distribution center will increase its distribution capabilities across the Southeast. The new operation will be the company’s fourth distribution center located within the U.S.

Recognized as the largest speculative building in the Midlands at 534,000 square feet, the new distribution center is privately funded by Appian Investments, LLC, NAI Earle Furman in Greenville, Super Land Holdings, LLC in Orangeburg, and Pacolet Milliken in Spartanburg.

Operations are expected to begin in early 2023, and readySC will assist with the recruitment process. For more information on opportunities with Pet Supplies Plus, visit the company’s careers page at www.petsuppliesplus.com/about-us/careers

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved job development credits related to this project.

QUOTES

“The new distribution center is a win-win for the Orangeburg community, Pet Supplies Plus and pet parents across the United States. The distribution center will create highly desirable logistics jobs, as well as allow for efficient distribution of a wide assortment of pet products to Pet Supplies Plus stores in the region.” – Chris Rowland, Chief Executive Officer, Pet Supplies Plus

“Today’s announcement by Pet Supplies Plus that they are investing $53 million and creating 275 new jobs is big news for the Orangeburg County community and all of South Carolina. We applaud Pet Supplies Plus for their continued commitment to our state.” – Henry McMaster, Governor, State of South Carolina

“We are excited to hear that Pet Supplies Plus is opening their fourth distribution in Orangeburg County! Congratulations on their continued success, and we look forward to seeing how they will create new jobs for
South Carolinians.” – Harry M. Lightsey III, Secretary of Commerce, State of South Carolina

“Orangeburg County welcomes Pet Supplies Plus to our community. The company’s decision to locate in Orangeburg County is a testament to our quality workforce, unique location, and pro-business environment. We are truly grateful for your investment in our county and our citizens.” – Johnnie Wright, Chairman, Orangeburg County Council

“Thank you, Pet Supplies Plus, for selecting Orangeburg County as the site of your newest distribution facility. It is a big win for the local community and skilled workers who will benefit from the plentiful number of job opportunities that will become available to them in the coming year. That’s a great outcome for us all.” – Matthew Shaffer, Chairman, Central SC Alliance

“The County of Orangeburg congratulates and welcomes Pet Supplies Plus, a leading full-service pet supply retail company, with open arms for its location to Orangeburg County! Our County team looks forward to building a long-lasting relationship with Pet Supplies Plus and bringing fresh new job opportunities for our citizens.” – Harold M. Young, County Administrator, County of Orangeburg

“Economic development continues to be a priority for Orangeburg County. This announcement of $53M in investment and the creation of 275 for our citizens is a major win for our community. We wish Pet Supplies Plus tremendous success!” – Ken Middleton, Chairman, Orangeburg County Development Commission

FIVE FAST FACTS

• Pet Supplies Plus is opening its fourth distribution center in Orangeburg County.
• The company’s $53 million investment will create 275 new jobs.
• Pet Supplies Plus is a leading full-service pet retail company.
• Located in the Shamrock Commerce Park at the intersection of U.S. 301 and I-26 at Exit 154.

• Individuals interested in joining the Pet Supplies Plus team should visit www.petsuppliesplus.com/about-
us/careers

$17.6 million investment to create 34 new jobs

Pratrivero USA, a division of Pratrivero Nonwovens – a global leading producer of nonwoven fabric using stitchbond technology – today announced plans to establish new operations in Orangeburg County. The company’s $17.6 million investment will create 34 new jobs.

Headquartered in Italy and family-owned and -operated for 14 generations, Pratrivero Nonwovens provides fabrics used in a variety of sectors including furnishings, advertising banners, footwear, packaging and the automotive industry.

Located at 3777 Industrial Blvd. in Orangeburg, Pratrivero USA’s Orangeburg County facility will produce stitchbond, a nonwoven fabric produced by mechanical bonding of fiber layers with continuous filaments. The facility will also include distribution operations.

Operations are expected to be online in September 2022. Pratrivero USA is working with readySC to support future recruitment.

QUOTES

“Pratrivero USA is looking forward to being part of the Orangeburg County industrial family. We are very excited about this new investment and feel by choosing such a great location and working with the wonderful people in this community, we will succeed. The approach that Orangeburg County has taken to include a training program with Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College to help us find and train people specifically for our industry is a wonderful benefit for Pratrivero USA and the people we will be hiring.” -Pratrivero USA President Paolo Barberis Canonico

“Pratrivero USA’s new operation in Orangeburg County is another testament to South Carolina’s pro-business environment and workforce. We are excited to have Pratrivero USA join our roster of global companies that operate within our state.”-Gov. Henry McMaster

“South Carolina has deep roots in the textiles industry, and we are excited to continue that tradition with Pratrivero USA’s new operation in Orangeburg County. Congratulations to Pratrivero USA and the positive impact they are making in the Orangeburg community.”-Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

“We’re grateful for another economic development announcement in Orangeburg County. We value our international diversity as it makes us stronger as a state. This $17.6 million investment and creation of 34 jobs is a wonderful way to kick off 2022. This announcement by Pratrivero USA brings 28 foreign companies representing 17 countries to Orangeburg County. It is indeed a great day in our county. Thank you for your investment in our community. We value you and look forward to a long-term relationship.” -Orangeburg County Council Chair Johnnie Wright

“We welcome Pratrivero USA to the robust community of businesses that have found success in Orangeburg County. The company’s commitment expands the scope of international operations within the county, as well as the growing textile industry. Thank you, Pratrivero USA, for your commitment to Orangeburg, and congratulations to our friends and partners in the county and beyond on today’s announcement.” -Central SC Alliance Chairman W. Keller Kissam

FIVE FAST FACTS

• Pratrivero USA is establishing operations in Orangeburg County.
• $17.6 million investment to create 34 new jobs.
• Pratrivero USA produces nonwoven fabric using stitchbond technology.
• Located at 3777 Industrial Blvd. in Orangeburg, S.C.
• Operations are expected to be online in September 2022.

Edisto Habitat for Humanity will receive $1 million from American author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

“We are extremely grateful to have been so blessed with this generous donation for Edisto Habitat for Humanity,” Executive Director Jessica Burgoyne said.

“Words cannot express the extreme gratitude that we have for the endless possibilities that are now within reach for our very rural Habitat community,” she said.

The gift is a portion of the $436 million Scott is providing to Habitat for Humanity International and 83 U.S. Habitat affiliate organizations.

It’s the largest publicly disclosed donation from the billionaire philanthropist since she pledged in 2019 to give away the majority of her wealth, according to the Associated Press.

“We could not be more excited to get the gift at a time when, in some ways, the state of housing affordability is the worst that it has been in modern times,” Jonathan Reckford, Habitat for Humanity International’s CEO, told The AP.

His group received $25 million from Scott and her husband, Dan Jewett, with the remaining $411 million to be distributed among Habitat’s local affiliates.

Reckford said Habitat for Humanity will use Scott’s donation of unrestricted funds to increase the supply of affordable housing, especially in communities of color. Though they approach the problem in varying ways, most local affiliates will pursue projects in their communities, while the international group will focus on broader advocacy and efforts to build homes for working-class families.

Edisto Habitat says its funds will be used to support its mission and local programs including, but not limited to, promoting new homeownership, cost of home advocacy, disaster preparation and recovery, and maintaining and continuing the Brush with Kindness partnership and aging in place initiative.

The EHFH ministry began its work building affordable housing in Orangeburg in 1991.

In December 2020, Claflin University announced Scott was donating $20 million to the Orangeburg institution. She also gave $4 million to Voorhees College in Denmark.

Scott, who is worth about $48 billion according to Forbes, has signed the Giving Pledge, through which many billionaires have promised to donate more than half their wealth.

Aside from an occasional blog post, Scott doesn’t discuss her donations, which exceeded $8 billion in the past two years after her divorce from Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder, who was then the richest person in the world. As part of the divorce settlement, Scott received 4% of Amazon’s shares.

In December, in hopes that she would reduce the attention she draws, Scott declined to announce how much or to whom she donated money. She said she would prefer to let the recipients announce her gifts.