‘Intentional’: Richland County reports $360 million in economic investment in 2021
While Richland County in 2021 didn’t reach 2020’s record-high totals in announced capital investment for business, officials still felt the county took major steps forward in establishing momentum for economic development.
Richland County’s economic development office on Tuesday released its annual report for 2021 during an afternoon event at 701 Whaley. The report detailed $359.6 million in new capital investment announcements from various companies. That’s the second highest total ever for Richland County, trailing only 2020, when the county announced nearly $640 million in new investment. Those 2020 efforts were anchored by a $400 million commitment from Mark Anthony Brewing for a new facility on Shop Road.
The county noted that 14 companies announced a combined 1,468 new jobs in 2021, which was a bit higher than the 1,377 jobs announced in 2020.
Some of the highlights from 2021 included:
▪ BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina announced a $60 million expansion that will create 702 jobs in the next five years.
▪ Westinghouse announced a $131 million investment for facility development and safety improvements at its Bluff road facility.
▪ Tyson Foods will invest $55 million and bring 330 jobs to the county in the next three-to-five years.
▪ American Spiralweld announced a $46 million expansion that will bring in 100 jobs.
“I think this demonstrates the county’s commitment to improving the community through economic development,” County Administrator Leonardo Brown said of the announced projects in the last couple of years. “I think it is a tangible reflection of some of the policies and decisions made by council and the staff’s efforts to help bring that to fruition.”
While Richland County’s economic development office has just posted two of its best years in terms of announced investments, it still is looking for ways to catch up to some other areas of the state.
For instance, in Spartanburg County, along the bustling Interstate 85 corridor, $1.9 billion in new economic investment and 4,045 new jobs were announced in 2021, according to economic development firm One Spartanburg.
Brown said Richland County needs to be deliberate in how it continues to try to take steps forward to lure industrial business to the Midlands.
“We have to continue to focus on the fact that we have opportunities to look at how we do business in Richland County, and partner with other community agencies, and make that intentional,” Brown told The State. “And I think we will continue to see some of the success we have seen over the last couple years, with that intentionality.”
Richland County Council Chairman Overture Walker said council gathered for a workshop in November to put together a strategic plan to use as a guide for the county’s priorities for the next few years. Economic development was one of the cornerstones of that plan, he said.
“Much of the conversation in that workshop centered on increasing quality job opportunities for our citizens, diversifying the economy and growing our private sector tax base,” Walker said.
Mark Anthony Brewing director of people operations Danielle Diaz was among those at Tuesday’s event. She said the brewing company, which makes White Claw and Cayman Jack, among other beverages, has opened its Columbia facility and is currently running one production line, with hopes of having three lines up and going by spring. She said the company currently has 163 employees and has just made offers to another 45 people. The company is looking to get to 300 employees eventually.
