26 new jobs coming; 200 could follow

December 24, 2013 3:00 am • By Gene Zaleski
Gene Zaleski
gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com

Santa arrived two days early for Orangeburg County in the form of two industrial announcements that could bring a total investment of $27.5 million and 226 new jobs over the next five years.

Quality Model South Carolina Inc. announced Monday it plans to invest $3 million into a new product line at its facility in the Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park. It will add 26 new jobs.

In addition, Orangeburg County Council approved incentives for a company which officials are only calling “Project Compute” for now.

The Southeastern aerospace and automotive supplier is involved in metal fabrication. It is planning to invest $25 million and create 200 new jobs paying an average wage of $15 an hour.

“It is an exciting opportunity and an exciting time,” Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said.

Robinson said Project Compute will be located in a 50,000-square-foot facility. He did not say where it plans to locate, except to note it will locate in the Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities service area.

The county and the company are “still finalizing building acquisition or greenfield opportunities,” he said. The two locations under consideration are the John W. Matthews Industrial Park on U.S. Highway 301 and the Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park near the intersection of Interstate 26 and U.S. 301.

“We are still finalizing the package from the state of South Carolina,” Robinson said. “This is one of the necessary steps in recruiting the company.

“This proves aerospace and automotive finds Orangeburg to be a great location.”

Orangeburg County Council approved a fee-in-lieu-of-taxes incentive agreement with “Project Compute” on Monday
The incentive allows companies to pay a fee instead of property taxes based on a 6 percent assessment ratio, rather than the standard 10.5 percent.

In addition, the county will grant the company an infrastructure incentive.

Robinson said the county has been working to attract “Project Compute” for about year.

“This is a lot of work,” he said. “The market is tight.”

County Council also approved a fee-in-lieu of taxes agreement with Quality Model, an Ontario-based company.

“This expansion is a net new product line,” Robinson said, expressing his gratitude Quality Model chose to expand within South Carolina. “This could have gone to a different state.”

Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright praised both announcements.

“I think we have a good opportunity and we are in a good spot,” Wright said, about the potential of Orangeburg County becoming an aerospace hub. “I am very optimistic.

“It does not always come when you want it, but you have got to stay persistent and do all you can to attract them.”

Wright said, “We need to make sure we have a trained set of employees so when the opportunity knocks, we are ready to grab it. We are in a unique area where if Boeing continues to expand, we can’t help but to get something.”

Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler said the Quality Model expansion means Orangeburg has the “resources needed to grow and prosper.”

“We are excited to have the continued opportunity to work with such a quality, international company,” Butler said.

Quality Model South Carolina President Bill Szekesy said, “Since our move into South Carolina in 2005, our Orangeburg facility has become a key business unit within the Quality Models’ group. The expansion of the facility is needed to support our Southeastern U.S. customer base.”

Since the Orangeburg County facility opened in 2005, Quality Model has invested more than $13 million. Today, the company employs about 60, according to the OCDC website.

The company specializes in serving the power sports, industrial, automotive and lawn and garden industries with leading value-added products and services such as design, tool building, manufacturing, secondary assembly and painting.

“We are thrilled another international company is expanding in our state,” Gov. Nikki Haley said. “We applaud Quality Model for continuing to grow their business in Orangeburg County, investing $3 million and creating 26 new jobs.”

“Since 2011, South Carolina has recruited more than $1.7 billion in the plastics, rubber and chemicals industries, creating more than 3,800 jobs and comprising nearly 4 percent of the state’s total economic output,” state Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt said.

“Today’s announcement by Quality Model demonstrates that South Carolina is just right for businesses in this industry to further grow and prosper.”

Wright said, “It makes us feel good not only because of the job situation but it makes us feel that somebody is doing something right and they are comfortable where they are at.

“The economy is picking up and any jobs we can get this time of year are very important looking at our unemployment rate. I am thrilled about it. I don’t care if it is one job, 25 jobs or 20 jobs.”

Contact the writer: gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5551. T&D Staff Writer Martha Rose Brown contributed to this story.