2023
ANNUAL REPORT
DEAR COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS: This has been a momentous year in the history of Richland County – one that will impact our community for years to come. As we reflect on the significant announcements that led to this immense success, we also celebrate the hard work invested by many hands through many hours to execute a banner year of achievements. Over the past 12 months, our community welcomed several major corporations and supported the expansion of multiple existing businesses, resulting in a record-breaking total investment of more than $2.35 billion and the best year for job creation since the establishment of our Economic Development Office. These investments are more than just numbers – they embody our goal to make Richland County a place where residents and their families can flourish and build a lasting legacy. They also showcase the future of quality jobs, the transformation of local industry, the advancement of infrastructure, and a wealth of new opportunities for our community to thrive. The Richland County Economic Development team and our partners have been at the forefront of these efforts, working alongside business to achieve collective success. What was achieved in 2023 is not an isolated incident. It is the hard-fought result of a deliberate plan Richland County has been executing for several years. Since the inception of our office in 2011, we have focused not only on growing businesses but on improving our community. Our objective is to give Richland County residents the opportunity to pursue rewarding careers, support their families, and capitalize on all that our area has to offer. Thank you to our supportive partners and community members who have contributed to the success of this year. Together, we will continue to build a more prosperous future for Richland County and the businesses and people who call it home.
Sincerely, Jeff Ruble
Director, Richland County Economic Development Office
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2023 ANNUAL REPORT
MISSION To advance Richland County’s competitiveness by building a dynamic, diverse economy and increasing economic prosperity for all residents.
VISION Richland County will build on its strong economic base and considerable assets to emerge as a global center for innovative businesses, technologies, and people.
HIGHLIGHTS $2.35B+
4,532
INVESTMENTS IN 2023
$5B
INVESTMENTS SINCE RCEDO’S FOUNDING IN 2011
Pineview Trade Center, 350,540 SF
771,740
SQUARE FEET OF NEW SPECULATIVE SPACE
Northpoint Access 77 Spec, 210,600 SF Collett Industrial spec at Carolina Pines Industrial Park, 210,600 SF
JOBS CREATED IN 2023
14,635
JOBS CREATED SINCE 2011
$585M COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN 2023
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SCOUT MOTORS On March 3, Scout Motors and its parent company, Volkswagen AG, announced plans to build a massive $2 billion, 4,000-employee manufacturing facility in Blythewood, South Carolina, resurrecting the iconic Scout brand as a new line of all-electric rugged off-road SUVs and trucks. The announcement is the largest in the greater Columbia, S.C., region’s history and ranks among the biggest deals in South Carolina. It is a significant investment for the local community, transforming what has long been hailed as a government and university town into one driving the future of the electric vehicle revolution. Landing Scout Motors in Richland County was the result of a multi-year collective and collaborative effort. From the County’s forward-thinking vision to secure the 1,349–acre Blythewood Industrial Park in 2019 to the aligned ambitions of local and statewide agencies to recruit innovative global industry, Richland County was able beat out 74 other communities across the nation. Scout Motors' decision to make Richland County its home is not just an economic milestone – it represents our commitment to helping create careers for our citizens and their children, and boundless opportunity for a unparalleled quality of life. It also cements the greater Columbia, S.C., region’s stake in the state’s thriving automotive industry and promises to yield a similarly transformative impact akin to that seen by other regions with an anchor OEM.
1,100-acre campus Largest mass grading project in the Southeast Estimated 200,000 vehicles annually at mass production Production slated for 2026
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2023 ANNUAL REPORT
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PROJECTS Cirba Solutions, LLC U.S.-based company, Cirba Solutions, LLC, is set to establish a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery recycling and reprocessing facility in Richland County’s Pineview Industrial Park. The facility will be a highlight in the battery recycling industry, focusing on processing hybrid and electric vehicle batteries, gigafactory scrap, and end-of-life consumer batteries. With six factories across North America, Cirba Solutions is recognized as the only complete service provider in the battery management industry. This project represents one of the largest single capital investments in Richland County’s history.
FN America
Xerxes - Shawcor Ltd. A U.S. subsidiary of FN Herstal, S.A., FN America is a global firearms manufacturer supplying U.S. armed forces and law enforcement that has called Richland County home for over 40 years. They are embarking on an expansion that will further the company’s research and development efforts, enhance engineering capabilities, and address the increased demand for FN America products.
$18 MILLION 6
│ 102 NEW JOBS
Xerxes, a subsidiary of Shawcor Ltd., is expanding its footprint into South Carolina by establishing operations in Richland County. The company is known for its expertise in manufacturing fiberglassreinforced plastic underground storage tanks, primarily used within the retail fuel, stormwater, and wastewater markets.
$6.3 MILLION
│ 80 NEW JOBS
2023 ANNUAL REPORT Mungo Homes A homebuilder with a strong presence throughout the Southeast, Mungo Homes is expanding its corporate headquarters in Richland County. This expansion includes the construction of a new facility to house marketing, human resources, information technology, accounting, purchasing, and customer service teams.
TMC Transportation Flatbed carrier TMC Transportation announced the consolidation and expansion of its regional headquarters. The company purchased a 44acre site on Shop Road in Columbia where it will consolidate three former locations into a single campus and construct an operation and logistics office and a new maintenance facility.
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COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT Launched in partnership with the City of Columbia in 2017, the Commercial Development Program aims to boost commercial development opportunities in the Columbia, S.C., region through property tax assistance. The program, which provides up to a 50% tax abatement for a maximum of 10 years, unleashed a flurry of new developments that would have otherwise landed in other markets or not been built at all. A combined total of $585 million in investments was secured in 2023.
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Verve Columbia Blossom
2222 Main, LLC
$85,000,000
$50,000,000
Student housing development
Luxury apartment homes; 250 units
2019 Bull Street
Vista Depot
$38,000,000
$181,000,000
Mixed-use development; 193 residential units, 32,000 SF of commercial space
Four-star hotel and apartment complex; 183-units
Huger Flats
OREI Commercial Investments
$100,000,000
$65,000,000
Class “A”, six-story, 514,682 SF multifamily complex
Multi-family housing development; 360 units
Mixed-use developme 32,000 SF of co
2023 ANNUAL REPORT
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Richland County Councilmembers 2023
Jason Branham District 1
Derrek Pugh District 2
Yvonne McBride District 3
Paul Livingston District 4
Allison Terracio District 5
Don Weaver District 6
Gretchen Barron District 7
Overture Walker District 8 - Chair
Jesica Mackey Cheryl English District 9 - Vice Chair District 10
Administration
Staff
Leonardo Brown - County Administrator Aric Jensen - Assistant County Administrator Lori Thomas - Assistant County Administrator John Thompson - Assistant County Administrator
Jeff Ruble - Director Kate Bugby - Existing Industry Manager Carrie Turner - Marketing Manager Terry Wise - Administrative Coordinator
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Chakisse Newton District 11
Photo: AJ Shorter
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