Orangeburg County has been working to attract suppliers who serve Boeing’s North Charleston facility, a company official says.

But other communities are also seeking the investment.

“Orangeburg, to its credit, … has been very aggressive in saying they are ready for it,” Boeing South Carolina Senior Director for State and Local Government Operations John Moloney said in an interview Wednesday.

“You also have to know you are competing with Myrtle Beach, you are competing with Summerville and other areas of the state,” he said.

Moloney was in Orangeburg Wednesday for Claflin University’s annual Business Community Alliance Luncheon.

During his interview, Moloney cited the efforts of Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson and others who are working to draw industry.

Orangeburg County would be a good location for a Boeing supplier, Moloney said.

“Should they decide it is better to be in South Carolina than to ship it here, that may be when the opportunity presents itself,” he said. “Right now our suppliers’ real responsibility is getting product to us to build the airplane on time.”

Moloney said, “The hopes for a bunch of cities in South Carolina, including Orangeburg, is Boeing’s presence and hopefully its growth will engender jobs throughout the state.

“Will it work that way? Time will tell.”

Orangeburg does have an aerospace provider — GKN Aerospace — which has promised a $38 million investment and more than 250 jobs over the next six years.

The company is located in a 150,000-square-foot facility at the Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park. It is supplying HondaJet fuselages.

During his speech at Claflin, Moloney said Boeing is doing innovative things at its North Charleston plant.

“The last four rows of coach at the very end are made from soup to nuts by South Carolinians here in South Carolina,” he said. “Every 787 that is flying around the globe … every fuselage, every one is made here in South Carolina.”

Moloney said, “You have a lot to be proud of in South Carolina. The outlook for 2013 is positive.”

S.C. Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt, who also spoke at the event, said the state is creating an aerospace task force in an effort to better understand the industry.

“It is an emerging sector for us,” he said. “There are about 200 aerospace companies in South Carolina. I think we will see aerospace expand itself out around the state as we have automotive.”

Institutions of higher education such as Claflin are playing a more crucial role than ever in economic development, he said.

“The nature of what we are recruiting these days is far more complex than what we were recruiting 20 years ago,” Hitt said. “We are going to need people who are smarter and faster at solving problems and more complex problems. There are great hopes and aspirations because of institutions like Claflin that we will be ready.”

Hitt said last year the state recruited about 14,000 jobs and saw about $4 billion in new business, down slightly from 2011.

“We are seeing a trend of companies coming in with greater investment and less job creation,” he said. “We learn that we can do more with less. We have economized.”

As a result, the state needs to adjust to ensure it has the workforce in place that can handle the change, he said.

“The South Carolina worker is loyal and productive,” he said. “That is our secret sauce.”

During Wednesday’s event, Cox Industries Inc. and Courtesy Management received the Henry N. Tisdale Excellence Awards for their support of the university’s School of Business.

Orangeburg – March 7, 2013 – Orangeburg County Consolidated School District #5 Technology Center’s Director, Dr. Cleve Pilot, and staff hosted an Orangeburg County Development Commission (OCDC) board meeting at the Technology Center.

Dr. Pilot took this opportunity to share with OCDC the great things the students are doing at the Technology Center. Its mission is to provide a quality education for a diverse group of students that incorporates challenging academic and technical experiences. There are 14 career clusters available to the students and they are eligible to complete high school with certifications that will allow them to go right to work, if they choose to do so. Dr. Pilot also gave OCDC a tour of the facility.

After the tour Esther Wagner, of PalmettoPride, spoke about its mission to eradicate litter and promote beautification in South Carolina. They accomplish this by leading the effort to motivate and organize groups to clean up existing debris. PalmettoPride focuses on four essential areas, Education, Enforcement, Awareness, and Pick-up resulting in behavioral changes. On behalf of Governor Nikki Haley, Ester presented Joe Rich, owner of Sunshine Recycling with a plaque for his PalmettoPride sponsorship. Prideways give businesses an opportunity to help clean up our state by sponsoring sections of interstate to be cleaned by the Department of Corrections.

Jeannine Kees, Chair of Orangeburg County Development Commission said “The technology center offers unbelievable opportunities to students to enter the workforce with a skill set necessary for the jobs, new and existing, in Orangeburg County industry.”

Gregg Robinson, Executive Director of the Orangeburg County Development Commission said “We appreciate Dr. Pilot and staff for hosting our board meeting and sharing the invaluable information on the educational programs and certifications available to our students and our future.” “We congratulate Joe Rich, of Sunshine Recycling for being the first in Orangeburg County to receive the Prideway award. We hope that this will encourage others to participate with Palmetto Prideways and keep our communities clean.”

See photos on our Orangeburg County Development Commission Facebook page and be sure to like us.

Orangeburg, S.C. – March 6, 2013 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce gathered leaders from across South Carolina for the 23rd annual South Carolina Rural Summit for a program that challenged attendees to improve local communities. The Rural Summit was held at the Municipal Center in Aiken, S.C.

Rural community leaders, economic developers and state officials shared ideas, experiences and practical knowledge to improve rural South Carolina. Governor Nikki Haley spoke at this year’s summit about her vision for the state’s rural areas.

Several of the Orangeburg County Development Commission Board members, Chair Jeannine Kees, Mayor William Johnson, Joey Williamson, Kenneth Ott, and Terry Cook attended the Rural Summit along with Executive Director, Gregg Robinson and Patricia Salley. OCDC’s staff and board members are continuously increasing their knowledge to improve Orangeburg County.

“Rural areas are the heart of South Carolina,” “ It is important that individuals in our rural areas become the drivers of change that can help make their communities successful. By working together, community leaders can help attract new industry to their areas. The future is bright for our rural communities.” said Gov. Nikki Haley at the event.

“The Orangeburg County Development Commission Board takes very seriously our task to assist in creating jobs for the citizens of our county, therefore we embrace the gathering of information and networking to improve and grow. The Rural Summit affords us that opportunity.” said Jeannine Kees, Chair of Orangeburg County Development Commission.

“The Rural Summit is a great venue to communicate with our colleagues and it allows participants around the state to get out and visit with other counties. We acquire great information and are excited to learn what other counties are doing, as well as implement new ideas.” “It is our goal to eventually host this event. This is an opportunity to get our 17 municipalities included in the educational process.” said Executive Director of Orangeburg County Development Commission, Gregg Robinson.

Orangeburg, S.C. – February 07, 2013 – The Orangeburg County Development Commission announced to-day that Jafza has completed the purchase of the 20,000sqft training center. The center is located in Jafza’s Magna Park, Santee, South Carolina.

The first tenant in the training center was Palmetto Training, Inc. Heavy equipment and CDL classes were offered. There have been other inquiries and there is a search for other occupants.

“We are always happy to hear about investments in Orangeburg County,” said County Council Chairman, “ This a statement that Jafza is trying to move forward in developing Jafza”s Magna Park.”

“This payoff is another step in the commitment to Orangeburg County by Jafza in the development of their property,” said Jeannine Kees, Chair of Orangeburg County Development Commission.

“This purchase is an investment that confirms Jafza’s continued commitment to Orangeburg County. There is a significant upside potential through active, quality leasing and management as well as the opportunity to attract industry to Jafza’s Magna Park,” said Gregg Robinson, Orangeburg County development commission ‘s Executive Director.

S.C. State unveils $24.5 M science complex

“It’s a quantum leap,” said Dr. Saliman Isa, an electrical engineering professor at South Carolina State University.

“You are down here,” he said as he pointed to the floor. “Then, all of a sudden, you are up here,” he said, and he pointed to the ceiling.

Isa was comparing the aging Crawford Hall to the university’s new, bright and airy Engineering and Computer Science Complex.

The science and math departments moved from Crawford into the new complex this week. Some final work is still going on at the complex.

Isa said the move has brought about an amazing change in his students.

“You can see the energy,” he said. “They’re relaxed. They’re ready to learn.”

The new $24.5 million, 86,500-square-foot complex includes 10 classrooms, 28 laboratories, 81 faculty offices and a 215-seat auditorium. It houses the Center for Energy Studies and the Center for Modern Manufacturing, as well as the departments of Civil and Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mathematics & Computer Science and Industrial & Electrical Engineering Technology.

Interim Dean Stanley Ihekweazu called the new facility “state of the art.”

“You can conduct scientific experiments anywhere if you have the equipment,” he said. “But when you have it in a building that’s new, that has all the amenities, that has all the space you need … it offers you limitless opportunities to admit students and give them the instruction they need to succeed.”

Having all faculty offices located together is an advantage because it encourages collaboration in grant writing and research, according to Ihekweazu.

In the past, professors were scattered throughout three different buildings, he said.

Professors and students were quick to praise the new building after a dedication ceremony and open house on Friday morning.

Some of them said they loved it just because the complex was new. Others said they loved the many windows, which made the building seem open.

Isa, who collaborates in micro-electronics research with Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee, said the new building provides space for his research.

He said he’s had to turn down equipment that Oak Ridge wanted to give him in the past because he didn’t have anywhere to put it.

The new building “provides us with a lot of opportunity to be able to explore,” he said. “You can bring things in to test – to just be curious.”

Dr. Ali Eliadorani, a civil engineering professor, said he loves having everything new. The many labs are another advantage, he said.

But the thing that he appreciates the most is a solid roof.

“In the old building, we had a problem with the roof and ceiling when it rained,” he said. “When I applied for research equipment, I was afraid that it would get wet when they brought it.”

But Eliadorani said he thinks the major advantage of the new building is that it will attract new students.

“When you’re in those old buildings and a student comes to look around, they may not feel good about coming here,” he said.

Jasmine McKinzie, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering technology, said she feels she’ll do better in her studies because of the improved facilities and supplies.

Senior Caldwell McFadden noted that Crawford Hall offered students opportunities, but “you have everything here.”

Crawford didn’t have enough classrooms and science and math students often had to cross campus to reach other buildings for some of their classes, he said.

Austin Passmore and Desmond Anderson said the thing they like about the new building is that the heating and air conditioning works. That wasn’t the case in Crawford, they said.

“It took a long time to get it built,” said Anderson, who’s a senior. “I’m glad it was before I graduated.”

Shaquaisha Woods said she loves the student lounges located on each floor.

“You don’t have to go back to your room after every class,” she said.

The complex was long overdue, Marcies Wright said.

Like Woods, he loves the many-windowed lounges.

“I’m an outdoor person and it’s very open,” he said. “Three sides are glass, so it’s open and light.”

Dwayne Wilson, president and chief executive officer of Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC, was the keynote speaker at Friday’s dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

He spoke about the value of partnerships between SRNS and the university.

S.C. State interim President Dr. Cynthia Warrick and Dr. Walter L. Tobin, chairman of the Board of Trustees, also took part in the program.

The Fluor Corporation donated $155,000 through the SRS Foundation for the naming of the auditorium in the new complex.

Additionally, SRNS donated $25,000 to develop the Center for Energy Studies, which includes the study and production of biodiesel fuel, hydrogen fuel cells, solar energy initiatives and the production of hydrogen through switchgrass and agriculture waste products.