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ORANGEBURG(Photos/Courtesy of the city of Orangeburg)

When it comes to promise, Orangeburg County has been more blessed than most.

The linchpin between the Midlands and the Lowcountry, the community and its lead-ers believe in taking the county’s economic fortunes into its own hands. In spite of the recent recession, leaders saw their dedication rewarded with deals involving both domestic and international companies.

“The mission of OCDC, as codified by the Orangeburg County Development Com-mission, is to be the recognized leader in the South for recruitment of quality manufactur-ing, research and development, and distribu-tion firms, as well as those who may be con-sidering relocating their headquarters,” said Jeannine Kees, OCDC chair.

“Our philosophy really comes down to two things: value and profit,” said Gregg Robinson, executive director of the Orangeburg County Development Commission since 2005. “If we add value to our key manufacturing organiza-tions, they make a profit.”

“One is the mission, and the other is what we are targeting when we try to recruit new businesses to our county specifically, and the region in general,” he continued.

“The way we do that is by showcasing the amenities of our state and region,” Robinson said. “Once we have done that, we then get down to the business of showing them that Or-angeburg County is the best location within the region for them to locate their facility, and is the place where they will make the most profit.”

Another aspect of the mission is position-ing the county as a value-added resource for a company considering relocation or opening a new plant.

“That’s because if you’re not adding value for the companies that we are sitting down to talk to, then you are wasting their time,” Rob-inson said.

Many times the conversation boils down to problem solving: How can the county help solve problems or resolve challenges within the prospect’s business plan to make a differ-ence to their suppliers and their customers?

And while Robinson said it would be dif-ficult to pick just one example, he said as a general rule, the problem solving comes down to helping the firm with three fundamental is-sues: qualified labor, logistics and access to low-cost utilities.

“It’s all about making sure they can be as successful as they can be,” Robinson said.

The payoff for the county is that successful companies will invest more in their location and pay their people a higher wage.

“If they are a smart company, a good grow-ing company, they know that the best way to continue that profit for the shareholders is to reinvest in the building and its people,” Rob-inson said. “Therefore, it’s a mutually benefi-cial philosophy.”

To understand the success Orangeburg County has enjoyed in recent years, a good place to start is a map of the eastern United States. South Carolina is located in the middle of the Interstate 95 corridor, and Orangeburg County is located in the center of the state at the intersection of I-95 and I-26. It is just 70

Well-positioned for success

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Great place to visit...

Tri-County Regional Chamber of Commercewww.tri-crcc.com

1-800-788-5646 or 1-888-568-5646

Orangeburg Chamber of Commercewww.orangeburgchamber.com

1-800-545-6153

Husqvarna North America announced it will invest $105 million in its Orangeburg County plant over the next 13 years. (Photo/Provided)

miles from the bustling Port of Charleston and about 100 miles from the Port of Savan-nah. The locals refer to this area as the Global Logistics Triangle, where U.S. Highway 301 connects the two major interstates.

“Our existing road infrastructure is a major asset to our county and region,” Kees said. “The ability to receive goods and ship product is why

our county has over 13 million square feet of industrial space and is home to close to 100 manufacturing and distribution companies.”

Johnny Wright, chair of the Orangeburg County Council, said the legislative delega-tion and commitment of the municipal may-ors has been unprecedented in the county.

“We have one team and all believe that

economic development is priority No. 1,” Wright said.

County Administrator Bill Clark said U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, state Sen. John Matthews and the Orangeburg Legislative delegation have been dedicated to rural South Carolina and improving the quality of life along the I-95 corridor.

“Our leadership has been key to position-ing us for available opportunities in rural South Carolina,” Clark said.

Recruitment toolsOrangeburg County leaders also under-

stand that the quality of the local roads, the utility network, the people and the incentives that come back to companies on a perfor-mance-based basis all contribute to a com-pany’s success.

“It comes down to being realistic, being honest and really, relying on our strengths of what we know we can deliver,” Robinson said. “If we recruited a company and they failed, then we really wouldn’t have done ourselves or the company a service.

“Like I said earlier, in business, if you are not adding value to their process and to their product, you are truly wasting their time and

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Jafza recently completed the first building on its more than 1,300-acre site along I-95. (Photo/Provided)

money, as well as our own,” he said.

Working togetherFor years, Orangeburg County has mar-

keted its Global Logistics Triangle (I-26, U.S. 301 and I-95) as the region’s premier trans-portation hub. But businesses have found a lot to like throughout the county. They quickly discovered the Orangeburg difference — that when you become a part of the Orangeburg business community, you literally become a part of the fabric of future growth efforts.

“It’s critical,” Robinson said. “Every com-pany we bring in talks to local businesses. We want to have a strong partnership with our existing industry and businesses.

“A long time ago, companies wouldn’t talk to each other because they were afraid they were going to steal their forklift operator,” he continued. “Now they see the importance of clustering — more breeds more.”

The Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park, which is located at I-26 and U.S. 301, is a good example. The park was first developed in 1998, and by 2010, 1 million square feet of space had been developed, resulting in the creation of more than 1,000 jobs, Robinson said.

Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller said, “The

partnership between the city and the county is essential in order to win projects. Our leader-ship is on the same page when it comes to jobs and economic development.”

“Let me tell you, the Development Com-mission is standing on the shoulders of a lot of great ladies and gentlemen that placed eco-nomic development at the forefront of what we do in Orangeburg County,” Robinson said.

Robinson also said that economic devel-opment is not an overnight success story by any stretch. It is about creating a foundation — the organizational structure that supports industry.

“It’s also about having the continued com-mitment, year-in and year-out, from county

council, from the cities, from the utilities, and from the community that understands we want to add more to the community,” Robin-son said.

“Even though the county faces unprece-dented challenges, we are very optimistic that a team approach to economic development is absolutely vital,” Kees said.

Robinson added, “... Government doesn’t create jobs. Government creates the ground-work, the infrastructure, the allocation of re-sources — our tax dollars — and an environ-ment that cultivates the ability of companies to be successful. That’s what creates jobs.”

In turn, a strong business base helps provide for better the amenities, including schools. They also support what economic development leaders refer to as “derived externalities” — things like restaurants, movie theaters, gas stations, grocery stores and other businesses that spring up to serve the work force and their families.

Work force strategyWhen it comes to work force develop-

ment, Orangeburg County has placed an em-phasis on working with primary and second-ary educational professionals to try to create

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HAVING IT ALL INOrangeburg County

SOUTH CAROLINA

- Workforce Training- Pro Business Climate- 7 Industrial Parks- Logistics & Transportation Centers

- Excellent Quality of Life- South Carolina Festival of Roses- Access to 2 Ports- Excellence in Higher Education

an emerging group of young workers who have both technical skills and the ability to take on management-level roles at their future em-ployers.

Wright is confident Orangeburg County has a competent, dedicated work force.

“OCtech, SC State and Claflin have over 10,000 students ready to work. If they don’t find a job locally, we have missed an opportu-nity to keep quality students in our state and county,” he said.

The average age of a worker in Orangeburg County is 34 years, with 13½ years of education.

“That means they have some college, that they are not right out of school, and that they are usually working somewhere else when they apply for a job at one of our newly ar-rived companies,” Robinson said. “These are individuals who want to find a better oppor-tunity locally, and not have to drive 45 min-utes to go to work.”

Among the skills Orangeburg tries to promote are trades, like welding, plumbing, electrical, truck driving, fork lift operation — the bedrock skills of manufacturing and distribution.

Recently, the Anne S. Crook Transpor-tation Center opened on the campus of Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. Certified welding programs as well as truck driver training will be the focus of this state-of-the-art facility. More than 400 drivers will be certified annually in Orangeburg.

“Now, to get back to the importance of primary and secondary level education, along with those technical skills, we recognize that our work force also needs a solid grounding in arithmetic, comprehension, attitude, all of the fundamentals, and these are things we con-stantly re-emphasize,” Robinson said.

Orangeburg County also strives to be a community of character, he said, adding that it comes down to the way the county, its work-ers and its citizens accord themselves on a daily basis.

“It’s the fundamentals. It’s showing up on time. It’s being honest. It’s things we take for granted sometimes, but it’s something we constantly try to remind Orangeburg Coun-ty’s young people of. After all, these are our future leaders, and they need to understand that they have to have these core principles for our community to continue to move forward. These are core principles that companies are looking for. They don’t want to be just any-where and to have just any employee.”

“Mr. Don Tribble, executive director of the Community of Character Initiative, has done a fabulous job integrating core principles into the youth as well as establishing programs with existing industry,” Robinson said. “Not many communities in this state have the com-mitment to our future leaders like we have. Our Chamber has done a great job promoting this program.”

orangeburg County = SuccessAn example of Orangeburg’s success in

the economic development arena is the recent $105 million expansion of Husqvarna, which allowed the company to bring a new product line to its facility, the county’s largest employer.

“The fact that they’ve continued their commitment here is tremendous,” Kees said. “It shows that what we provide them here in Orangeburg is an important part of the long-term vision and planning.”

The county’s other successes stem from its capital sales tax initiative, which has allowed it to develop key industrial parks. Orangeburg County is currently in the process of provid-ing significant infrastructure, water and sew-

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er, to the Global Logistics Triangle, and it is also building an industrial park in the western portion of the county.

In addition, Jafza South Carolina LLC, a subsidiary of Dubai-based Economic Zones World, recently completed the first building on its more than 1,300-acre site along I-95. Plans eventually call for millions of square feet of warehousing and distribution space.

“What with the recession we just went through, this activity is a real sign of their continued commitment to the county,” Rob-inson said.

Jafza has prepared about 185 acres of the Jafza property, getting the first phase ready for additional development.

“We are very pleased to be opening our first facility on the site, the Jafza Enterprise Center,” said Drue Fitzgerald, Jafza South Carolina’s Business Developer. “It will house Jafza’s opera-tions, two industrial training schools, and we are looking for additional tenants.”

The company has retooled its Phase I de-velopment Plan.

“The global economic crisis has affected everyone,” Fitzgerald said. “However, we have used this as an opportunity to redesign our phasing plan. This has significantly reduced our costs and will make the development more competitive. Phase 1 can accommodate over 1.5 million square feet.”

Jafza is currently marketing plots along the north and west sections of their site. The sites are available for light manufacturing, ware-house and logistics space.

Connecting to the worldJafza plans to be a hub for warehousing,

assembly and the transportation of goods shipped through the Port of Charleston and the Port of Savannah. The fact that the ports’ volume has been down over the last couple of years doesn’t concern us, he said.

“We feel confident the Port of Charleston and Savannah are ready for the additional volume expected at the completion of the Panama Canal’s expansion in 2014,” he said. “The team at the Port of Charleston under Jim Newsome is doing a phenomenal job. Our focus is on decreasing the time and costs in-volved in delivering top-quality space to our customers. Logistically, Jafza Magna Park is uniquely positioned to be able to serve mar-kets from Washington D.C., to Tampa, Fla., in under eight hours.”

David Coleman, president of the Orange-

burg County Chamber of Commerce, said the county’s biggest win will be when a business commits to occupying space in the Jafza Magna Park.

“Long-term, the future is excellent for Or-angeburg,” Coleman said. “The communities and the county have changed considerably in recent years. We have taken on ownership of our communities, thus improving the quality of life for our citizens.”

Robinson said the county had a record number of site visits — 123 — in 2010.

Having a variety of inventory to show

prospects is crucial, Robinson said. Miller-Valentine Construction Group partnered with the county to build a 150,000-square-foot spec building in the Orangeburg County/City Industrial Park.

“You know, I often say, economic develop-ment is a lot like baseball. We may not bat a 1,000 — and really, who does? But at least we are getting a shot at the plate,” he continued.

“So if we are getting that kind of activity, that tells me that our reputation as a commu-nity and our marketing efforts are working,” Robinson said. “They are at least considering

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Where People Who Work in orangeburg County Live

Orangeburg County ................................. 52.20%Richland County........................................ 9.60%Charleston County .................................... 5.90%Lexington County ...................................... 5.00%Dorchester County .................................... 2.70%Berkeley County ....................................... 2.70%Bamberg County ....................................... 2.20%Calhoun County ........................................ 1.90%Aiken County ............................................ 1.60%Greenville County ...................................... 1.60% All other counties .................................... 14.60%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (Local Employment Dynamics)

us in one way, shape or form, and are willing to spend the time and the money to evaluate all that we offer.”

InfrastructureReflecting on the recent economic down-

turn and slow national recovery, Robinson said the downtime gave them a chance to focus on infrasctructure.

“It gave us the ability to spend time and ef-fort to develop a coordinated network of utili-ties in the Global Logistics Triangle and in key industrial parks to make sure that when the economy turns around we had the available product.”

“You can get a lot of looks from compa-nies, but if you do not have the product they need, when they need it, you will not win the project,” Kees said. “So as a community, you have to have an available menu of options for prospects to consider. You’ve got to have sites with rail connections, sites without rail. We’ve got to have a variety of buildings. We have to industrial parks that are located in isolated lo-cations, and also have industrial parks that are adjacent to the interstate.”

“Each company you talk to has a distinct product, and a distinct set of needs,” Robinson continued. “What we are trying to do is widen the net enough to capture the quality compa-nies our community needs and wants.”

“Diversity in our portfolio of available buildings and sites must be ready for develop-ment if you want the next big project,” Kees said. “That’s why Orangeburg County is and will continue to be a great opportunity for quality companies considering South Caro-lina. We truly want your business.” SC

BiZ

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Industry Sectors Establishments Workers Avg. Weekly Wage

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Hunting 60 542 $549

Utilities 5 144 $1,381

Construction 112 606 $725

Manufacturing 78 5,920 $731

Wholesale Trade 73 702 $665

Retail Trade 370 4,931 $397

Transportation and Warehousing 63 759 $579

Information 12 285 $560

Finance and Insurance 88 729 $743

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 41 177 $478

Professional, Scientific, Technical Service

95 389 $769

Management of Companies and Enterprises

6 19 $649

Administrative and Support and Waste Management

65 775 $342

Educational Services 13 653 $585

Health Care and Social Assistance 199 2,469 $528

Arts, Entertainment, Recreation 21 247 $335

Accommodation and Food Services 157 3,206 $238

Other Services (Except Public Administration)

192 517 $371

Employment by industry

Commute patterns

Top Five Commute DestinationsRichland County......................................... 3,510Charleston County ..................................... 2,155Lexington County ....................................... 1,837Dorchester County ........................................ 996Berkeley County ........................................... 994

Top Five Commute originsCalhoun County ......................................... 1,529Richland County......................................... 1,366Lexington County ....................................... 1,326Dorchester County ..................................... 1,044Bamberg County ........................................... 869

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2008 Commuting Patterns

Labor Force – December 2010Labor pool .................................................41,464Employed...................................................34,515Unemployed ................................................6,217Unemployment rate ...................................... 15%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics