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County’s economic efforts praised

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County’s economic efforts praised

Orangeburg County’s efforts to draw jobs and businesses are paying off, Central SC Alliance representatives say.

“All the economic indicators are going in the right direction for this county and that is a result of what you have done to prepare this county for success,” Mike Briggs told Orangeburg County Council on Monday. Briggs is president and CEO of the Central SC Alliance.

Briggs noted that unemployment in county was at 15 percent in 2010. In 2015, it had gone down to 10.7 percent and by March, the unemployment rate was at 6.7 percent.

“In the same timeframe, per capita income has risen from just under $27,000 to just under $31,000,” he added.

Orangeburg County joined the alliance in 2004 and has since, “been blessed with $1.1 billion in announced capital investment and 2,200 jobs,” Briggs said.

From 2016 to the present, the county has seen $248.9 million in announced capital investments and 108 announced new jobs.

Briggs said part of the county’s success in recent years has been due to the county’s investments.

He said the county, “is as busy as I have seen it in the 20 years I’ve been doing this.”

There are 16 active projects which are all new. None are expansions.

The total value of all the projects if the county lands them, which Briggs said is highly unlikely, would be worth $1.4 billion and roughly 3,300 jobs.

Over the past year, there have been 24 project announcements. Fourteen are new projects and 10 are expansions.

Briggs said foreign companies are looking at South Carolina specifically.

“Europe is coming,” he said. “They want to be in this marketplace.”

He noted Interstate 26 is particularly attractive to potential businesses. The interstate connects to Charleston, the new Volvo plant, the Mercedes plant and BMW.

Briggs said along with the U.S., the alliance has made presentations to potential industries in Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

“Our nine counties, that partnership represents about 20 percent of the state of South Carolina,” he said. “Wherever we are, Orangeburg County is there.”

In the next few years, the alliance plans to target automotive and aerospace suppliers such as Volvo, Mercedes, BMW and Boeing.

“We are in a perfect position to generate business with those folks,” Briggs said.

Councilwoman Janie Cooper-Smith thanked Briggs for the alliance’s hard work and showing that the council is “not just sitting on our laurels.”

“We are working very hard to bring jobs to this county,” she said.

In other business:

• Council passed third and final reading of an ordinance rezoning property at 7656 Old Number Six Highway in Santee from Forest and Agriculture to Commercial General as requested by James and Donna Beck.

The property is already in use as an auto repair shop and is located next door to a cement shop.

• Council gave first reading by title only to two ordinances dealing with the county budget for the next fiscal year.

“That’s just the first part of the budget process,” County Administrator Harold Young said.

• Council read a resolution honoring SI Group as Industry of the Year.

• Council read a resolution honoring SI Group Senior Director of Southeast Operations Jeff Prickett as Ambassador of the Year for 2017-2018.

• Procurement requests were approved for two items.

Council approved $189,176 for ATI Systems for an emergency indoor warning system which will give warnings based on weather or any other emergency. The payment is a match that goes with a grant from the Hazard Mitigation Program.

The system will work in the courthouse, magistrate’s building and the administrative building.

There are no service fees such as monthly recurring charges.

Council also approved working with Low Country Billing for EMS collections and billing services.

Young said they use the same type of software and equipment so there will be no need to purchase any new items.

• Council went into closed, executive session to discuss economic development updates for projects currently operating anonymously under the names Project Halo and Project Columbus. They also discussed contractual matters for broadband.