Attorney Sidney Evering has been named Orangeburg city administrator.

Council voted 5 to 1 in favor of Evering during Tuesday’s virtual council meeting.

“All of the candidates were good, but after much discussion, and interviews, and questioning, the council decided to elect Mr. Evering because he comes with a great deal of experience that we feel would move Orangeburg forward,” Mayor Michael Butler said after the decision.

He said, “We have had extensive discussions, and we’ve had first and second interviews, and the council did this to select a person that will move us forward with the vision of the city. We tried to select the person that we thought would move us in that direction.”

Evering will replace former administrator John Yow, who retired last year after 29 years on the job.

Evering is a practicing attorney with Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, LLP. Evering served as director of diversity and inclusion at the law firm from 2010 to 2017.

He also worked as a law clerk for the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2000 to 2001, and staff attorney/lobbyist for the South Carolina Association of Counties from 2002 to 2006.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina and a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

The Orangeburg native graduated from Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School in 1992. In high school, he worked as a “runner” for attorney Charles Williams. While in college, he served as a legislative aide for Orangeburg Rep. Jerry Govan and as a Senate page for the late Orangeburg Sen. Marshall Williams.

Councilman Richard Stroman was the only council member to not vote for Evering. Stroman voted in favor of interim City Administrator John Singh, who was also one of the finalists for the job.

Singh began serving as the interim administrator in August 2020. He has served as the assistant city administrator since 2009.

Butler praised Singh’s work during his time as the interim administrator.

“He has done a wonderful job in his interim period. He has got the ball rolling, and we appreciate him,” Butler said.

Claflin University has been awarded $525,000 from Gilead Sciences Inc. to support initiatives and programs conducted by the university’s new Center for Social Justice.

Claflin is receiving the grant from the company’s Racial Equity Community Impact Fund and was selected because of its recognition as a high-impact organization that is working to tackle racial inequities affecting Black communities across the United States.

“Claflin University has been at the vanguard in the struggle for social justice since it was founded more than 150 years ago as the first college or university in South Carolina to admit students regardless of gender, ethnic origin, race or religion,” Claflin President Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack said. “We are profoundly grateful for this partnership with Gilead Sciences Inc. This is historic because their financial contribution is the largest the university’s Center for Social Justice has received since it was established in May 2020.

“The partnership provides critical funding for the center which will serve as a resource to unite, educate, and advocate against social injustices. The center will work across disciplines, communities, and demographics, to create significant change in our region, the nation and the world.”

Gilead Sciences Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company strives to transform and simplify care for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world. Gilead has operations in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California.

“Gilead is committed to creating equitable opportunities for the patients we serve, our employees and the communities in which we live and work,” said Daniel O’Day, chairman and chief executive officer for Gilead Sciences. “The Racial Equity Community Impact Fund will provide resources to groups that are working on the frontlines to combat social inequities directly impacting the health and wellness of the Black community. This program is one of the ways that we are delivering on our commitment to promote racial equity and social justice.”

The Racial Equity Community Impact Fund will support organizations focused on three areas:

• Community Advocacy and Mobilization: Groups that organize and mobilize communities to join the quest for racial equity and social justice, working toward an equitable distribution of resources for Black communities.
• Social Justice: Organizations and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) training the next generation of leaders.
• Educational Innovation: Institutions focused on providing educational advancement and career development services for Black students, young professionals, and families from cradle to career.

Claflin University has received a game-changing $20 million investment from philanthropist and writer MacKenzie Scott, which is the largest gift in the history of the university.

In announcing the donation, Claflin on Tuesday evening stated: “For more than 150 years, Claflin has had a proven track record of strong leadership, academic excellence and student success. We remain committed to providing access and opportunity to students of tremendous promise and potential.

“This gift will further advance our mission to develop visionary leaders equipped to advance social change regionally, nationally and globally. Beyond the borders of our campus, this gift will be transformational for the greater Orangeburg, S.C., community.”

Construction will begin soon on Lake Edisto Road for a new canoe park and campsite.

“It’s out for bid now, and it’s going to be done. As soon as the bid is open, they’re going to start construction. That’ll be on Lake Edisto Road,” Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young said.

“It’ll be a canoe park. There will be a place for camping, a boardwalk to the river for access, and there will be a building to have stuff in, and also there will be a small building for a (S.C. Department of Natural Resources) officer. It’ll kind of be like a playground and a camping area, and there will be a kayak launch,” Young said.

Young said the project is estimated to cost $1.5 million.

It will be a tourist attraction, he said.

“We’ve got a large group of people throughout the Lower Savannah region and the Orangeburg County region that do canoeing on the Edisto River, and this just gives them another place to access and have a destination point so they can canoe safely from Lake Edisto Road down to the Gardens, and back and forth,” Young said.

“It’s something that can be done even in the COVID-19 environment, it can be socially distanced and used for recreation, but it’s also a way to get individuals to come to visit Orangeburg County and use the amenities of the lakes and the rivers as a way to have fun,” Young said.

He noted the park and campsite will be located near the City of Orangeburg’s new North Road recreational park complex. The city’s complex has two clusters of baseball and softball fields, restrooms, walking and biking trails, picnic tables, playground equipment and open green space.

“When we have travel ball and teams that are looking for stuff to do in the downtime, that will be another location you can have to do stuff like that,” Young said.

Young stated the project is scheduled to be completed by the first part of 2021.

Sigmatex Carbon Textile Solutions announced plans Wednesday to expand operations in Orangeburg County. The more than $4.5 million investment will create 50 new jobs.

Sigmatex’s facility at the John W. Matthews Jr. Industrial Park will become the British company’s North American headquarters.

“The creation of one large, agile and efficient operational base that embraces true manufacturing excellence practices will strengthen our value proposition and enable us to better meet the needs of our current and future customers,” Group CEO Paul McMullan said. “Such decisions are always incredibly difficult to make, but we must adapt and evolve to the changing market situation.”

“Our mission to be the market leader in the supply of carbon fibre textiles remains steadfast and with our commitment to innovation, quality and service level, we will continue to be positioned at the forefront of our industry,” McMullan said.

Sigmatex’s expansion will include immediate investment in machinery and equipment – increasing capacity from 750,000 yards per year to three million yards per year.

Sigmatex’s Orangeburg facility employs five but the expansion in the short term will increase employment to 50. Over the next five years, employment is expected to grow to over 100 jobs.

“The majority of jobs will be skilled positions. This will cover both professional and managerial roles as well as technical machine operator-level positions,” McMullan said. “We will be supporting all associates with a detailed and comprehensive training program to bring them up to the skill level required.”

The consolidation will mean a $4.5 million investment over the next five years, which includes extending the Orangeburg County building and adding additional equipment.

Sigmatex has already invested about $10 million in the building and plant located at the industrial park at the corner of U.S. Highway 301 and U.S. 176.

The majority of the company’s work is currently being done in its Benicia, California, facility.

“We have chosen Orangeburg County to be our sole manufacturing base for the North American market due to the many advantages it offers in terms of access to a skilled workforce, a favorable cost base (vs. California) and proximity to many of our customers,” McMullan said. “The plant is also advantageous in supporting our growth as it is a large, purpose-built facility and is well positioned for expansion over the next 5-10 years.”

Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright Sr. praised the announcement.

“I am really excited about that,” Wright said. “It will be a great thing for Orangeburg County.”

Wright said he understands the coronavirus has impacted the company, but is thankful the county has proven a good place for the company to continue to expand and call home.

“Orangeburg County is very appreciative of them doing that to keep employment going,” he said.

Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said Sigmatex’s announcement is good news.

“We are excited to continue to partner with Sigmatex,” Robinson said. “This is proof that South Carolina and Orangeburg County can answer the call of business. We are excited to have a North American operational headquarters.”

“I thank Paul McMullan and the team at Sigmatex for their confidence in our community,” Robinson said.

“Orangeburg County enthusiastically welcomes this expansion of Sigmatex!” Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young said. “We are excited to have this cutting-edge facility grow in our community, especially during this pandemic.

“The additional 50 jobs will give our citizens another great opportunity to enhance our combined workforce,” Young continued.

The company’s products are used in several industries, including the space, military, automotive, aerospace and renewable energy sectors.

The change was prompted, in part, by the change in demand linked to the coronavirus. McMullan said the coronavirus has impacted its commercial aerospace market.

“COVID has drastically changed the demand for new commercial aircraft, at least in the short term,” McMullan said. “However, many other industries are now embracing the many benefits that carbon fibre composites offer, and so whilst demand in aerospace has reduced today (but will recover), those other markets are where we see stronger growth over the next two to three years.”

One of these projected growth areas will be in the automotive industry.

“Car builders respond to consumer preferences for improved fuel economy or a switch to electric vehicles. Carbon fibre composites is an enabling technology to reduce vehicle weight,” McMullan said. “Similarly, renewable energy is one great hope in our fight to reduce global warming.”

“Wind turbines are now economically viable as a source of power. This is driven by the possibility of making turbine blades lighter, stiffer and longer thanks to the use of carbon fibre technology,” he said.

The consolidation will take place gradually, prioritizing customer requirements and transitioning manufacturing in a controlled and coordinated way.

To support the consolidation, Sigmatex will introduce regional distribution hubs to ensure short lead-times are available.

Sigmatex broke ground on its 75,000-square-foot Orangeburg plant in 2015.

McMullan praised the support the company has received from the Orangeburg County Development Commission.

Commission Chairman Kenneth Middleton noted the company’s Orangeburg County site opened only five years ago.

“That’s a good sign for both the company and for 50 families who hope for a brighter future,” Middleton said.

Sigmatex, which was established in 1986, also has plants in England and China.

Other comments

• “It’s always exciting when a company expands its footprint in our state. Sigmatex’s decision to further invest in Orangeburg County and create 50 new jobs is exciting news for South Carolina and we look forward to their future growth.” – Henry McMaster, Governor, State of South Carolina

• “We’ve worked hard to create a pro-business environment in South Carolina, and Sigmatex’s new expansion is further evidence that our strategy is paying off. I congratulate this great company on their incredible commitment to our state, and we look forward to watching them continue to grow for years to come.” – S.C. Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt

• “The expansion and consolidation of Sigmatex’s domestic operations is exciting for Orangeburg and Tri-County. When an existing company is able to increase its presence in the local area it is a win for the community. It means that they have confidence in the community and want to make a long-term investment. Tri-County is proud to have Sigmatex as a member-owner.” – Chad Lowder, CEO, Tri-County Electric Cooperative

• “When companies invest and grow because they see the value in the local people and support network, it reinforces that we have something amazing beating in the hearts of our communities. As a newer company with its original location in the county, Sigmatex’s announcement today is proof that existing industries can find great success in Orangeburg’s Global Logistics Triangle. Thank you Sigmatex for your dedication, and congrats to you and Orangeburg on many more successful years ahead.” – W. Keller Kissam, Chairman, Central SC Alliance