Project Global: Forest products company to invest $6 million in Orangeburg County

The company will operate in Orangeburg County as UFP Cameron LLC and is expected to come online in the fourth quarter of 2018.

The facility will be dedicated to manufacturing products for the industrial market.

“We are excited about this opportunity, which has been made possible, in large part, through the assistance and cooperation of the S.C. Department of Commerce and the Orangeburg County Development Commission,” Universal Forest Products Regional Vice President J.F. Granger said.

Of its investment, $4 million will be spent on buildings and $2.17 million will be spent on machinery and equipment.

The company had been identified only as Project Global up until Tuesday.

“As the nation’s leading manufacturer and distributor of wood and wood-alternative products, we are grateful to be part of UFP’s continued success,” Orangeburg County Councilman Johnnie Wright said. “We also want to thank Santee Cooper and Tri-County Electric for their vision in helping us establish a speculative building program at Matthews Industrial Park.”

“Orangeburg County is becoming recognized as the perfect place for companies to grow even more successful,” Orangeburg County Development Commission Chairman Kenneth Middleton said. “We pride ourselves in creating great partnerships.”

“We are grateful for the opportunities that will be provided to our citizens and the value that UFP will add to our community,” said Harold Young, Orangeburg County administrator.

Orangeburg County Councilman Johnny Ravenell, whose district will be home of the company, praised the announcement.

“We want to thank Universal Forest Products for investing in Orangeburg County and its people,” Ravenell said. “We welcome you and look forward to a long, successful partnership together.”

The county has provided the company with a fee-in-lieu of taxes agreement. A fee-in-lieu of taxes agreement is a tax incentive counties can provide to attract industrial investment.

The company has also been placed in the multi-county industrial park with Dorchester County, which is another mechanism that allows the county to provide incentives to industries.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved job development credits related to the project. Additionally, a $500,000 Rural Infrastructure Fund grant was awarded to Orangeburg County to assist with the costs of building improvements.

The announcement received statewide praise.

“As we continue to work to make South Carolina the best place to do business, we are encouraged by global companies like Universal Forest Products that choose to come here. We’re grateful for this new partnership and look forward to strengthening it in the years to come,” Gov. Henry McMaster said.

“Manufacturing continues to be a source of wealth creation throughout our state,” Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt said. “Universal Forest Products’ investment adds to South Carolina’s manufacturing portfolio, and I’m excited to see what the future has in store for this new partnership.”

Universal Forest Products Inc., is a nearly $4 billion public company (NASDAQ: UFPI) that was founded in 1955, supplying the retail, industrial and construction markets. The firm has approximately 130 facilities in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America.

Those interested in the Universal Forest Products jobs can visit http://www.ufpi.com/en/careers.