Western South Carolina is growing as a hub for advanced manufacturing with a skilled workforce, strong business support and major expansions.
From the rolling hills in Edgefield County to the industrial sites in Aiken County, Western South Carolina is emerging as one of the Southeast’s most appealing destinations for advanced manufacturing and business expansion. The four-county region – Aiken, Edgefield, Saluda and McCormick – offers companies a rare combination of affordability, accessibility and community partnership.
“Today, we are doing extremely well,” says Will Williams, president and CEO of the Western SC Economic Development Partnership. “That has accelerated over the last four to five years as we’ve seen more people moving in. We’ve seen other areas of South Carolina reach capacity with the amount of property they have for industrial development. Companies are starting to look at areas like Western South Carolina because of the pro-business climate.”
That welcoming climate, combined with shovel-ready sites and a skilled workforce, has fueled a wave of expansions from both global corporations and innovative newcomers.
Support to Expand
Among the largest investments in the region is Rolls-Royce’s $75 million expansion of its Aiken County facility, which has been a hub of growth since it opened in 2010…