Columbia Regional Business Report - February 1, 2021

VOLUME 14 NUMBER 2 ■ COLUMBIABUSINESSREPORT.COM

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FEBRUARY 1-14, 2021 ■ $2.25 Janie Campbell (far left and inset) explains historic photos related to Smoked, a new project planned for 1639-1643 Main Street.

(Photo/Melinda Waldrop)

Still cooking

S.C. chef ambassadors to serve a second year.

Page 2

Work rewarded

Columbia Chamber honors businesses, projects.

Page 8

DETAIL WORK Columbia consultant does the research that leads to the finished product for historic projects

New tenant

Midway Logistics VI leases space to Home Depot.

Page 10

Store closing

Walmart shuttering location on Bush River Road.

Page 11

INSIDE

Upfront................................. 2 SC Biz News Briefs................. 3 In Focus: Architecture, Engineering and Construction .......................................... 13 List: Architecture Firms....... 14 At Work............................... 21 Viewpoint............................23

By Melinda Waldrop

J

mwaldrop@scbiznews.com

anie Campbell is the woman with the answers — even when they aren’t necessarily what clients want to hear.

Campbell, preservation consultant with Columbia law firm Rogers Lewis, is often the first stop for owners and developers seeking historic tax credits for upcoming projects.

She’s their guide through a labyrinth of painstaking paperwork and bureaucratic red tape, but she also often serves as a dispenser of cold reality.

“I always joke that I am simultaneously the most loved and hated person in any project, because I’m the one who does all the work to get the money, but I also call myself the dream crusher,” Campbell said. “People are like, ‘We want to have exposed brick this and exposed

ceilings that,’ and I’m like, ‘Nope. Historically it had pressed-tin ceilings, so that’s what you have to use,’ or ‘You need to restore the plaster, not remove it.’ But often, what becomes the most problematic part of a project, for whatever reason, ends up being the coolest feature when it debuts.”

The projects Campbell has spearheaded include Hotel Trundle, winner of state preservation awards and featured in Southern Living magazine’s Hotel Collection since its 2018 opening, and the Hunter-Gatherer at Curtiss-Wright Hangar, which transformed a 1,300-square-foot former airplane hangar into the second location of a popular downtown brew pub in 2018. She’s currently part of the team bringing to life the latest vision of Columbia developer Scott Middleton, the man behind the transformation of the 1600 block of Main Street into an enclave of enter-

Room to grow

Boyd Foundation Building to expand Sandhills School’s capabilities.

Page 18

tainment and dining options.

Smoked, a restaurant which will offer smoked oysters and meats as well as microbrews, is being carved from the circa-1872 buildings at 1639-1643 Main St. It will join Middleton properties including restaurant and boutique bowling alley The Grand and Main Course, which features a live music venue and immersive gaming bays.

“This is kind of our first venture into just a solo restaurant,” Middleton said during a December sneak peek at the property. “The 1600 block is becoming a destination place for entertainment and also for food. These buildings here have been in need of renovation and in need of repair for a long time.”

The upscale casual restaurant, slated to be completed in early August, will occupy three See RESEARCH, Page 17

Upfront

BRIEFS | FACTS | STATEWIDE NEWS

M

ost rental rates across South Carolina increased during the past year in the state’s largest markets, with Moncks Corner, Conway and Columbia showing the biggest year-over-year growth, a Census data analysis from RentCafe shows.

The national apartment rental listing service notes that Charleston’s rental prices are among the highest in the state at $1,434, but you can still find a few markets in the Palmetto State under $1,000, including Spartanburg, West Columbia, Anderson and Aiken.

One of the most expensive places to rent is Conway, which is seeing a surge in pricing even higher than the more touristy area of nearby Myrtle Beach.

Average rental prices in Charleston metro area

Moncks Corner continues to be an economic development story for the Lowcountry of South Carolina along with nearby Goose Creek, which is reflective of the year-over-year percentage change in the rental market.

Average rental price in selected cities

Conway’s average rental rate went up by the same percentage as much larger Columbia at 6% year-over-year, though the Grand Strand city is half as large as the state capital, with 66,000 people compared to 133,000.

City

Average rent

% change

City

Average rent

% change

Moncks Corner

$1,042

10%

Conway

$1,745

6%

Ladson

$1,266

8%

Columbia

$1,129

6%

Summerville

$1,213

4%

Greenville

$1,174

5%

Charleston

$1,434

3%

Rock Hill

$1,077

5%

Goose Creek

$1,201

2%

Lexington

$1,176

4%

Anderson

$876

4%

North Charleston

$1,092

1%

Charleston

$1,434

3%

Hanahan

$1,040

1%

Spartanburg

$947

2%

Mount Pleasant

West Columbia

$966

2%

$1,486

>1%

North Charleston

$1,092

1%

Myrtle Beach

$1,131

0%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, RentCafe, Yadri Matrix

HEARD IN THE

REPORT

“That’s always a fine line and a tightrope to walk, of pushing the envelope just enough to please the developer and the architect but still following the guidelines and the standards for historic rehabilitation.”

— Janie Campbell, preservation consultant, Rogers Lewis

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S.C.’s robust rental market

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South Carolina Chef Ambassadors to serve 2nd year The 2020 class of South Carolina Chef Ambassadors will serve a second year after the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed hospitality events.

The program, established in 2014, promotes the state as a culinary destination, highlighting talented chefs, creative recipes, authentic cuisine and locally grown produce. Gov. Henry McMaster, the S.C. Department of Agriculture and the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism extended the term of chefs chosen last year.

“Our Chef Ambassadors help us learn about our culinary heritage and promote Certified South Carolina,” S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers said in a news release. “Now more than ever, it’s crucial that South Carolinians and visitors support the state’s chefs and the local farmers they rely on.”

The four Chef Ambassadors, from Aiken, Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Sumter, represented the state in 2020 at the Charleston Wine + Food festival, Upstate food festival Euphoria and the South Carolina Congressional Cup. Many other appearances, however, were limited or canceled.

South Carolina’s Chef Ambassadors are: • Chef Kevin Mitchell, chef instructor, Culinary Institute of Charleston • Chef Raffaele Dall’Erta, executive chef, Hamptons, Sumter • Chef Jason Tufts, executive chef, Malia’s, Aiken • Chef Jamie Daskalis, executive chef, Johnny D’s Waffles and Benedicts, Myrtle Beach

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CHARLESTON

Charleston Regional Business Journal

Trident Tech’s $1 million Truist grant to develop new transportation and logistics center

T

he Truist Foundation has given a $1 million grant to Trident Technical College, setting plans into motion for the college’s new Truist Transportation and Logistics Center at its Berkeley campus in Moncks Corner.

This is the first part in Trident Tech’s multiphase plan for renovation of its 38-yearold campus into a high-tech training facility. The entire project will cost $32 million.

“This grant is a wonderful beginning of a very large renovation,” said Meg Howle, Trident Tech’s vice president for advancement. “We’re so appreciative that we’ve got this initial funding, and it’ll go a long way, but there’s so much more that the workforce training needs.”

The grant was given on a one-time basis. Truist Market President Mark Lattanzio said Trident Technical College was chosen because its goals aligned with the foundation’s core values.

“We focus ourselves on four pillars, one being building career pathways to economic mobility, which is what we’ve seen Trident Technical College do in the past with its nursing program,…the aeronautical training center,” Lattanzio said. “They’re once again providing education and training for a workforce that, as we’ve seen especially in the pandemic, desperately needs workers.”

In space that has opened up since the creation of Trident Tech’s aeronautical training center, the college will use funds to provide a nine-week course in commercial driver’s license training beginning this fall.

Broken into three segments of classroom learning, practicing on campus property, then driving on the real road, the program aims to start a new cohort of students every three weeks.

The pace is meant to put people to work quickly and immediately, said Cathy Almquist, Trident Tech’s vice president for education. Though rigorous, the program will be offered during the daytime and evenings, with financial aid options available to students, regardless of whether they’re taking it for credit.

“There simply are not enough drivers out there in CDL, so this is going to be a place where we can fill a desperate need on both ends of the spectrum,” Almquist said.

“There are people who need to get a good-paying job as soon as possible, and meanwhile, we’ve got employers all through our three counties that are desperate for CDL drivers.”

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JANUARY 25 - FEBRUARY 7, 2021 ■ $2.25

CEO wants to uncover origins of regional hunger

By Teri Errico Griffis

Moving from health Todd Gallati stepping down as CEO of Trident Health after 12 years.

Page 19

Robust rentals

Moncks Corner’s rental market increases 10% yearover-year.

Page 2

Safety concerns

The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition cancels for the 2021 season.

Page 5

W

tgriffis@scbiznews.com

hen Nick Osborne takes over as president and CEO of the Lowcountry Food Bank, he not only wants to end hunger in the Lowcountry, he wants to find out how it begins in the first place.

On Jan. 25, the United Kindgom native

with more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector will replace former leader Pat Walker, who led the organization since 2012. Walker announced her retirement last February, but with the pandemic, the national search for her replacement has taken more time.

Osborne said the role called to his desire to help address the fundamental problems in the U.S. surrounding food insecurity. A the end

TROUBLED

WINTER 2020

See FOOD, Page 9

Forcing workers to get vaccine comes with risk

WATERS

S.C. Ports and attorney general file federal complaint against longshoremen and national maritime alliance over how the Leatherman Terminal will be operated.

By Bill Cresenzo

bcresenzo@nclawyersweekly.com

W

Page 6

Repurposed site

Half-Moon Outfitters to renovate abandoned property in Summerville.

Page 8

INSIDE

Upfront ................................ 2 SC Biz News Briefs ................ 3 Best Advice .......................... 4 In Focus: Health Care ....................... 19 List: Hospitals ....................26 Bonus List: Urgent Care Centers ..............................27 At Work ..............................29 Viewpoint ........................... 31

of the day, he said, access to food is a “basic right.”

“On the one hand providing food is a solution, but it’s not the only one,” he said. “There are also a number of underlying causes as to why people are food insecure, and it’s important to address those causes as well.”

Though he studied as a civil engineer,

Crew members of the CMA CGM Brazil throw down lines to dockworkers at the Wando Welch Terminal in September to secure the ship as it steamed into port. (Photo/Kim McManus)

ith the first round of COVID19 vaccine shipments landing in South Carolina, employment law attorneys expect to hear from clients with the same questions that law firms will soon have to answer for themselves.

Chief among them: Can they require their employees to get the vaccine?

The answer: Yes, but with caveats that include exceptions to the law, pushback from employees, and the threats of workers’ compensation claims, and EEOC complaints.

S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported nearly 150,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines had arrive in South Carolina by year’s end.

“Operation Warp Speed” will first provide vaccines to health care workers, nursing home employees and residents, and some federal workers. Heading into 2021, availability will extend to the incarcerated, people older than 65, people with chronic health conditions.

By spring, if all goes to plan, vaccines will be available to the general population at doctors’

Home grown Consumer demand for local food surges as pandemic alters eating habits

See VACCINE, Page 9

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Additional federal unemployment benefits begin reaching S.C. claimants in January

A

Staff Report

s the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce began paying a second extended federal unemployment benefit, initial unemployment claims filed in South Carolina since March 15, 2020 topped 825,000.

On Jan. 11, DEW began issuing payments to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claimants who had exhausted their 39 weeks of benefits. The agency began paying extended Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefits the previous week.

The PUA extension, made available through the Continued Assistance Act passed Dec. 27, 2020, will provide an additional 11 weeks of benefits.

Individuals receiving benefits as part of this extension will also get the $300 FPUC weekly supplement, according to the agency.

“After implementing the $300 FPUC payment to South Carolinians in record time, we are now pleased to announce we have begun the PUA extension program less than a week later,” Dan Ellzey, DEW executive director, said in a news release.

“This will provide benefits to people who are self-employed or those who were found ineligible for state unemployment insurance benefits. Knowing that the holidays and expiration of the CARES Act funds have put a strain on people throughout our state, our agency continues to work extremely hard to initiate the new programs.”

On Jan. 22, DEW began paying out Pandemic Unemployment Emergency Compensation benefits, available to those who have exhausted all regular state benefits. Those initial payouts pushed the state past $5 billion, or an average of $500 million every month, in state and federal benefits paid since March 15.

DEW is continuing to receive U.S. Department of Labor guidance regard-

Illustration/File

ing the implementation of Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation.

For the week ending Jan. 16, 6,683 initial claims were filed, down 1,952 from the 8,635 filed the previous week.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in the state in March, 825,538 initial claims have been filed in the state.

For the week ending Jan. 16, Greenville County saw a state-high 589 claims filed, while Horry County had 580 and Richland County 459.

Berkeley County had 401, Spartanburg County 398, Charleston County 344 and Lexington County 290.

Nationally, 900,000 initial claims were filed, down 26,000 from the previous week.

For the week ending Jan. 9, 8,635 initial claims were filed, a decrease of 693 from the previous week.

Last month, DEW launched a new mobile app that will allow users to certify their weekly unemployment claims and monitor their claim status.

The free, downloadable app lets users complete weekly certification requirements from their smartphones. Claimants can also check claim status and payment history as well as see documents and correspondence from DEW. “We are very excited about bringing this app to life,” Ellzey said. “As an agency we are continuously looking for new, innovative ways to allow claimants to feel connected to and invested in their claim’s process.

“This is just one more way the agency is leveraging technology to improve the user experience.”

Ellzey said more features will be added to the app, which can be found by searching for “SC DEW” app in users’ app stores.

Notifications can be enabled to allow updates on program news, deadlines and requirements.

For now, initial claims will still need be submitted and documents uploaded via computer or mobile internet browser at dew.sc.gov, the agency said.

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$5 billion approved in first week of PPP loans

I

Staff Report

n the first week of the reopening of Paycheck Protection Program, approximately 60,000 loan applications submitted by nearly 3,000 lenders have been approved, totaling more than $5 billion.

The U.S. Small Business Administration reopened the program on Jan. 11 to any borrowers that missed the last round of funding and certain existing borrowers.

The First Draw PPP Loans, for borrowers who did not receive a PPP loan before Aug. 8, 2020, and Second Draw PPP Loans, for eligible small businesses with 300 or fewer employees that had previously received a loan, were open only to community financial institutions for the first week.

As of Jan. 19, the program is open to all participating lenders, according to a news release from the SBA. The reported totals represented approvals from Jan. 11 at 9 a.m. through Jan. 17.

The first two PPP rounds, open between March and August 2020, helped 5.2 million small businesses to keep 5.1 million American workers employed, according to the release.

“The SBA continues to help small businesses across the nation access vital funds through the Paycheck Protection Program,” SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza said in the release.

“Data from our first week, which first allowed hundreds of community financial institutions to submit applications, then opened wider to small banks, demonstrate that we have helped tens of thousands of businesses.”

The Paycheck Protection Program will remain open for First and Second Draw PPP loans until March 31 or until funding appropriated by Congress is exhausted.

Second Draw borrowers will have to use the full amount of their First Draw loan for authorized uses and demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020. The maximum amount of a Second Draw PPP loan is $2 million.

With this round of PPP, the SBA is prioritizing support for employees of small businesses through $284 billion in funding allocated toward job retention, property damage costs, operations expenditures, supplier costs and worker protection.

Program seeking partners to assist renters, homeowners

A

Staff Report

new program from SC Housing will provide up to $25 million in funds to help renters and homeowners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SC Housing is seeking government agencies and nonprofits to serve as contractors for the SC Stay program, which is slated to launch next month. Organizations interested in helping the state identify and certify households in need of rental and mortgage assistance were asked to respond to a request for qualifications available on the SC Housing website, www.schousing.com, last month.

The program is being funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program and the CARES Act. Funds were made available to

the S.C. Department of Commerce, which asked SC Housing to lead the program for low-income residents.

Funding will be available for up to six consecutive months of short-term rental and mortgage assistance for individuals and families whose income is at or below 80% of county median income adjusted by family size; have landlord or lender confirmation of their past-due status and are willing to accept payment on their behalf; and can demonstrate that they are unable to pay all or part of the rent or mortgage or are behind on payments because of circumstances related to COVID-19.

Renters and homeowners seeking assistance can refer to the SCH Housing website for resources. For additional program information, call the SC Stay Hotline at 833-985-2929 or visit SC Housing’s SC Stay program hub.

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Illustration/File

Lancaster and Chester broadband networks receive $1.6 million

T

Staff Report

he U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $1.6 million in Lancaster and Chester counties as part of a $16 million grant package for broadband expansion in rural Illinois, Oregon and South Carolina.

The investment package is part of the $550 million Congress allocated to the second round of the USDA’s ReConnect

Program, according to a news release.

The $1.6 million will go to Lancaster Telephone Co. to install a fiber-to-premises network that will link 5,574 people, 20 businesses, 17 farms and three educational facilities to high-speed broadband internet.

“The need for rural broadband has never been more apparent than it is now as our nation manages the coronavirus national emergency,” U.S. Secretary of

Agriculture Sonny Perdue said in the release. “Access to telehealth services, remote learning for school children, and remote business operations all require access to broadband.

“I am so proud of our rural communities who have been working day in and day out, just like they always do, producing the food and fiber America depends on. We need them more than ever during these trying times, and expanding access

to this critical infrastructure will help ensure rural America prospers for years to come.”

The first round of ReConnect loan and grant funding, adding up to $698 million, was deployed after congressional allocations to the program in March 2018.

Applications for round two, in which agricultural department received 172 applications for $1.57 billion, closed April 15, 2020.

S.C. colleges and universities receive scholarship funding

S

Staff Report

outh Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities, a Columbia-based higher education nonprofit, has distributed $60,0000 to private schools statewide through a grant from the Council of Independent Colleges in Washington, D.C. More than $1.5 million in student scholarships were distributed nationally through the CIC/UPA Educational Endowment, started by UPS in the 1970s.

“The UPS Foundation has been a longtime and generous supporter of indepen-

dent college higher education, not only in South Carolina, but nationwide,” Jeff Perez, president and CEO of SCICU, said in a news release. “We are very appreciative of their support and recognize that the lives of many worthy students have been changed for the better.”

S.C. colleges receiving scholarship funds this year include: Allen University, Anderson University, Benedict College, Charleston Southern University, Claflin University, Coker University, Columbia College, Columbia International University, Converse College, Erskine College, Furman University, Limestone Univer-

sity, Morris College, Newberry College, North Greenville University, Presbyterian College, Southern Wesleyan University, Spartanburg Methodist College, Voorhees College, and Wofford College.

“Independent colleges and universities in this country are remarkably effective at educating and graduating low-income and first-generation students in less time, with less student debt,” said Richard Ekman, CIC president. “Helping these students afford a private college education is a truly critical need in our society, and it is rewarding to be a partner with the UPS Foundation and the SCICU as

we help to support deserving students.”

The CIC/UPS program has made a private college education possible for more than 21,000 low-income, first generation, and minority students, according to the release.

“The UPS Foundation is honored to work with CIC to provide scholarships for students at independent colleges and universities,” said Eduardo Martinez, president of the UPS Foundation and chief diversity and inclusion officer at UPS. “Our goal is to fund powerful programs that make a lasting difference to the global community.”

February 1 - 14, 2021

www.columbiabusinessreport.com 7

Staley, Williams begin Richland Library residencies

R

Staff Report

ichland Library has a new artist-in-residence and a new entrepreneur-in-residence.

Tammaka Staley is a Columbia native who runs Talks with Tammaka, a performance art and speaking brand. Staley is also the founder and executive director of Youth Affirming Sex Education LLC. She hosts writing workshops and coaches youth and young adults on poem construction and stage performance and facilitates dialogue about gender, racial and sexuality issues.

Kevin Williams is the founder of Cognizant Leadership LLC and the owner of

Escapology Columbia, an escape room in the Congaree Vista.

Williams has more than 25 years of national and international business experience in a variety of technical and leadership positions.

During their residencies, Staley and Williams will serve as liaisons to area artistic and entrepreneurial communities, working with Richland Library staff to offer fee online programs and online office hours to interact with residents.

They will curate digital content to highlight and share their expertise.

Staley’s residency extends through June, while Williams’ residency extends through May.

Poet and performance artist Tammaka Staley (left) is Richland Library’s new arist-in-residence, while Escapology Columbia owner Kevin Williams (right) is the new entrepreneur-in-residence. (Photos/Provided)

14 projects receive S.C. Commerce Department funding

T

Staff Report

he S.C. Department of Commerce has awarded $670,000 in grants to support technological innovation in economic development throughout the state.

Fourteen projects, which will be implemented this year, received grants as part of the department’s Relentless Challenge program.

Since 2013, the department’s Office of Innovation has awarded more than $7 million in local innovation projects to 41 organizations, according to a news release from the Commerce Department.

“The knowledge economy represents a vital part of South Carolina’s present and future,” S.C. Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt said in the release.

“To ensure our industry partners have access to cutting-edge technology and a high-tech workforce, the continued growth of innovation in S.C. is critical.”

The 14 recipients are: • City of Myrtle Beach: Building Myrtle Beach’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem • Don Ryan Center of Innovation: High-Tech Expansion in the Bluffton Region • Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce: Cultivating the Future

of Hartsville and the Pee Dee • Greenville Local Development Corp.: GVL Starts Program • GrowCo: Project Flywheel • Increasing H.O.P.E.: Accelerator Pilot Program • McNair Institute for Entrepreneurism and Free Enterprise: Connecting Students to Startups: Collaborative Online Programs for Students and Startups • MUSC Research Foundation: Entrepreneurial Support Through Education, Formation and Funding, Networking and Mentoring • MUSC Zucker Institute for Applied Neurosciences: Inspire,

Innovate, Commercialize • NEXT Upstate: NEXT Learning Labs Extension, Office Hours, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Internship Program Extension • People in Partnership: Chain Spark: A Blockchain Startup Launch Program and Incubator • Piedmont Technical College: Workforce Immersion Experiences for Educators • Trident Technical College: Virtual Entrepreneur Center at Trident Technical College • Venture Carolina: Venture Carolina Center for Entrepreneur and Investor Education

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February 1 - 14, 2021

The Oliver Gospel Roastery, which held its grand opening at 1120 Taylor St. in December 2020, is a recipient of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s Golden Nail Award for 2021. (Photo/Melinda Waldrop)

Businesses, construction projects to receive awards

O

Staff Report

ne individual, two business and several new construction projects will be honored by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce during the 2021 Columbia Impact Awards, to be held virtually on Feb. 18.

John Sacksteder, president of Mark Anthony Brewing, will deliver a keynote address at the event, which begins at 11:30 a.m. Mark Anthony Brewing is building a $400 million production facility in Richland County to help meet demand for its products including White

Claw Hard Seltzer and Mike’s Hard Lemonade.

“The Columbia Chamber takes pride in recognizing the outstanding organizations and individuals who work to help the greater Columbia region prosper,” Carl Blackstone, Columbia Chamber president and CEO, said in a news release. “The Columbia Impact Awards recognizes those who go above and beyond in achieving success towards the betterment of Columbia.”

The 2021 awards include: • The Cathy Novinger Trailblazer Award goes to an individual who

has shown exemplary industry leadership, advocates for business and positively affects the community. The 2021 posthumous recipient is Bill Hall, founder of Halls Chophouse, who died in August 2020. Halls opened a downtown Columbia location in December 2018.

• Pendleton Street Advisors, a financial planning firm, will be recognized as the Small Business of the Year for growth and achievement that benefits the business community, while TD Bank will receive an

award for diversity and inclusion.

• The Golden Nail Award is given to businesses or property owners for cosmetic or commercial contributions to the physical character of the greater Midlands region through restoration of a facade or historic building or repurposing of a blighted space in the previous calendar year. 2021 recipients are: the Holiday Inn on Washington Street, Market on Main, Oliver Gospel Roastery, Richland Library, Southeastern Esthetics Institute, and The Woody.

SCBIO 2021 life sciences conference set for Feb. 16-17

S

Staff Report

CBIO’s 2021 life sciences conference, to be held Feb. 16-17, will address how South Carolina and the country can recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The online event is theme “The Power of Us” and will feature national speakers on innovation, partnerships and human resources.

Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, is the first announced speaker and will address how diversity, equality and inclusion are

essential to collaboration and discovery.

McMurry-Heath, a molecular immunologist, is the first Black graduate of Duke’s Medical Scientist Training Program and the founding director of the Aspen Institute’s health, biomedical science and society policy program.

She will be joined by more than a dozen additional presenters and honorees at the annual conference, which will also feature a virtual exhibit hall showcasing life science businesses from across the country. Awards will be presented to the life science organization and individual of the year, and SCBIO CEO Sam Konduros will deliver a keynote address.

Conference registration is available online at www.scbio.org and free to employees of most SCBIO investors and supporters, according to a news release.

Faculty and teachers can attend the conference for $25, while general admission tickets are $75. Limited virtual exhibit space and sponsorships are also available.

Industry leaders participating in the conference include Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corp., Johnson & Johnson, Zeus, Ritedose Corp. and Rhythmlink. South Carolina’s research universities and major health care systems will also be represented.

“Life sciences is a major driver of

South Carolina’s economy, and this conference’s growth is testament to the industry’s surging impact, reach and rapidly rising economic significance in our state and region,” Konduros said in the release.

“Already accounting for thousands of highly skilled jobs in the Palmetto State, this sector has tremendous growth potential, and we’re excited to virtually showcase the top companies, research universities and leaders from across our state and country at SCBIO 2021.”

SCBIO is an economic development organization focused on building and growing South Carolina’s $12 billion life sciences industry.

February 1 - 14, 2021

www.columbiabusinessreport.com 9

15 S.C. communities receive share of $6.4 million in funding

F

Staff Report

ifteen S.C. communities have received more than $6.4 million in funds from the latest round of Community Development Block Grant funding.

The S.C. Commerce Department awards CDBG funds, allocated annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in the fall and spring of each year. Recipients are selected through a competitive process and must provide at least a 10% match in project funding.

Projects must meet at least one of three objectives: benefit low- to moderate-income persons, aid in the prevention or

elimination of blight, and/or meet urgent needs where existing conditions post a serious and immediate threat and where other resources are not readily available.

“The CDBG program is a critical tool in the overall development and growth within our state,” S.C. Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt said in a news release.

“We’re proud to say that these grants will not only attract more investment to our state but will also benefit the everyday lives of the people who live in these communities.”

The selected projects, which will benefit 40,916 S.C. residents, are:

• Anderson County, south Anderson neighborhood demolition, $239,150 • Beaufort County, Detour Road sidewalk extension, $200,000 • City of Beaufort, Spanish Moss Trail extension, $200,000 • City of Bennettsville, west Bennettsville neighborhood demolition, $500,000 • Town of Cheraw, Agerton neighborhood revitalization phase I, $500,000 • Town of Cowpens, South Main streetscape improvements, $521,000 • Darlington County, south Darlington substation fire truck, $451,000 • City of Denmark, fire truck,

$366,300 • Florence County, Timmonsville fire truck, $500,000 • City of Georgetown, West End neighborhood demolition, $375,000 • Hampton County, ambulance purchase, $200,000 • Town of Jonesville, Wellington Mill brownfield clearance, $500,000 • Town of McCormick, North Main/ Augusta streetscape improvements, $750,000 • Town of Pamplico, fire truck, $500,000 • Town of Port Royal, streetscape improvements, $644,490

S.C. maintains high bond ratings with 3 credit rating agencies

S

Staff Report

outh Carolina continues to maintain high bond ratings with three credit rating agencies and is one of 14 states rated in the top category by Moody’s Investors Service.

The state’s triple-A ratings from Moody’s and Fitch Ratings have been reaffirmed, S.C. Treasurer Curtis Loftis announced Jan. 22. Standard & Poor’s

Global Ratings also reaffirmed South Carolina’s AA Plus rating, and all three ratings assigned the state a stable outlook.

“Certainly, the last 10 months have been very challenging for our state, and I am pleased that South Carolina was able to maintain our strong credit ratings,” Loftis said in a news release.

As part of an annual review of the state’s existing bond portfolio, the treasurer’s office staff assessed the potential Net

Present Value savings of each issuance, both in terms of dollar amounts and by percentage, and identified several bond series as good candidates for refunding.

During a bond sale Jan. 13, 11 underwriters competed to buy the state’s bonds, according to the release.

The issue included refunding of $137.7 million of General Obligation State Economic Development, State Air Carrier Hub Terminal Facilities and State Institu-

tion bonds, which generated a debt service Net Present Value savings totaling $14,389,947, or 10.45% of the refunded bonds.

In addition, $74.4 million in project funding for Clemson University, Midlands Technical College, the Citadel and the Medical University of South Carolina was provided through the issuance of General Obligation State Institution Bonds.

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Learn how SCMEP Online can streamline your training program by visiting SCMEP-ONLINE.org COLUMBIA 250 Berryhill Road, Suite 512 Columbia, SC 29210 (803) 252-6976

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February 1 - 14, 2021

Midway Logistics VI lands Home Depot as tenant

T

Staff Report

hree months after its groundbreaking, Midway Logistics VI leased more than 68,000 square feet to Home Depot.

The speculative industrial development is Magnus Development’s sixth in the Lexington County Industrial Park in West Columbia. Colliers International South Carolina’s Columbia industrial brokerage team of Chuck Salley, Dave Mathews, Thomas Beard and John Peebles represented Magnus in the lease of 68,040 square feet of space.

Home Depot also has a distribution center in the industrial park and will use the Midway Logistics VI space as a lastmile delivery location for e-commerce sales, according to a news release from Colliers.

“Home Depot brings the only tiltwall, Class A building under construction in the Columbia industrial market to 35% pre-leased, demonstrating the need for additional availability in this product class,” Salley, vice president and director of industrial brokerage team, said in the release. “Magnus Development has proven their ability to construct a building that delivers on time as seen with their other Midway Logistics developments, and that was attractive to Home Depot.

“Since there is currently zero vacancy in this product type in the market, we expect to have Midway Logistics VI completely leased when it is delivered in the second quarter of 2021.”

The 192,780-square-foot, Class A warehouse has 124,740 square feet remaining for lease. The building features a 32-foot clear height, high-capacity loading and enhanced trailer parking.

“It was a pleasure working with Home Depot’s real estate team and we look forward to delivering this important project to them in June,” Kevin Werner, Magnus Development partner, said.

Magnus Development is a privately held, Columbia-based real estate developer.

Shopping center sells for $4.25 million

A 99,808-square-foot retail shopping center on West Beltline Boulevard has sold for $4.25 million.

NAI Columbia’s Patrick Palmer and Bobby Balboni, along with Furman Capital Advisors Peter Couchell, Robert Schmidt, and Luke Hall, represented the seller, KIMIJO Properties LLC in the sale of Edens Plaza.

“NAI Columbia has been a fantastic company to work with for many years including leasing, property management and now the sale of this asset,” Joe Edens III said in a news release.

The shopping center is anchored by

Three months after its groundbreaking, Midway Logistics VI, Magnus Development’s sixth industrial speculative building in the Lexington County Industrial Park (top), has leased more than 68,000 square feet to Home Depot. The 192,780-square-foot Class A building is now 35% pre-leased. In Sumter, a new 38,700-square-foot SAFE Federal Credit Union Operations Center (below) opened last month. (Images/Provided)

Rose’s Discount Store and Citi Trends.

NAI Columbia previously assisted the seller in the leasing and property management of the center.

In other NAI Columbia transactions: • Jeff Hein and Thomas Wyatt represented the landlord, Decker Plaza Associates, in the lease of 2,800 square feet of retail space located at 1735 Decker Blvd., Suite 60, to Decker’s Jewelry & Pawn.

• John Gregory represented the tenant, Overstock Liquidation LLC, in the lease of 6,000 square feet of retail space at 754 W. Main Street in Lexington from Baker and Baker Real Estate Developers LLC. • Gregory represented the buyer, GSM Properties LLC, in the $100,000 purchase of 0.57 acres of land located at 3509 Phillips Road.

• Tombo Milliken, Tom Milliken and Nelson Weston, III represented the seller, SC Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Church, in the $200,000 sale of 1.19 acres of lakefront land on Golden Ridge Trail in Chapin.

• Hein and Wyatt represented the seller, Julia Anna Rivers, in the $33,500 sale of 1.34 acres of land at 3710 Broad River Road.

• Ben Kelly, CCIM, Patrick Chambers and Jack Springs represented the buyer, Schattdecor Inc., in the purchase of a 61,300-square-foot industrial building at 138 Zenker Road in Lexington from Fiddlers Green Corporation.

is extremely exciting,” Adam James, associate partner and financial market leader for Design Collaborative. “Bringing their team together in a more functional environment and providing the spaces needed in today’s workplace will be a game-changer for their operations, and we’re excited to see the great things SAFE FCU will accomplish in the years to come.”

New credit union opens in Sumter

A new 38,700-square-foot SAFE Federal Credit Union Operations Center opened last month in Sumter. The center brings together leadership, administrative and call center teams in one building.

Design Collaborative worked closely with the SAFE FCU leadership team to address issues with the previous administrative space, including capacity, workflow, efficiency, and growth challenges, according to a news release. The new center includes office and work areas, conference and meeting rooms, multiple training areas and collaborative work spaces.

The building also features a community hub, a large outdoor, covered patio, a coffee bar and lounge area, and a gym with private showers.

“We’ve had the great opportunity to work with SAFE FCU on multiple projects now, and seeing the new operations building come online, knowing how transformative it will be for them,

Colliers International South Carolina transactions

• Chuck Salley Dave Mathews, Thomas Beard and John Peebles represented Gerald L. Stimple in the lease renewal and expansion of 148,983 square feet of industrial space at 809 Bookman Road in Elgin for DSV Solutions LLC. • Salley, Dave Mathews, Beard and Peebles represented North Columbia Ventures LLC in the lease of 30,000 square feet of industrial space at 120 Northpoint Court in Blythewood for JC Dispersions LLC. • Rox Pollard represented Klong Spears Creek Property LLC in the sale of a 10,500-square-foot warehouse on 2.95 acres at 4747 Percival Road in Columbia to Spring Valley Heating and Air. • Tommy Johnson represented Park Place 440 LLC in the lease of 3,405 square feet of office space at Park Place, located at 440 Knox Abbott Drive in Cayce, for LRADAC.

February 1 - 14, 2021

www.columbiabusinessreport.com 11

Walmart’s Bush River Road store to close Feb. 5

By Teri Errico Griffis tgriffis@scbiznews.com

W

almart is shuttering one of its South Carolina supercenters as a result of underperforming sales, but the closing is not indicative of a broader issue with the multinational retail chain, Phillip Keene, senior director of Walmart global corporate communica-

tions, said.

The store, located at 1326 Bush River Road, will close Feb. 5. The pharmacy closed Jan. 22.

The decision was based on several factors, including financial history, but aligned with Walmart’s strategy to close underperforming locations, according to a statement provided by Keene.

In the upcoming weeks, the store will

hold clearance sales to sell off merchandise.

Associates who want to remain with Walmart will have the option to transfer to another location.

“We have been, and will continue to be, supportive of our store leadership and associates at our Bush River Road store.

This decision is in no way a reflection of their hard work and customer service,”

the company said in the statement.

Walmart continues to employ thousands of associates in and around Columbia at 10 Walmart Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Clubs, and the company remains “deeply invested” in the city, according to the release.

Walmart has Columbia supercenter locations on Forest Drive and Garners Ferry Road.

Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic canceled for 2nd year

T

Staff Report

he annual Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic, scheduled for March 26-March 28 at the S.C. State Fairgrounds, has been canceled.

The decision to cancel the event for the second year in a row because of the COVID-19 pandemic was made by the Harry Hampton Wildlife Fund in coordination with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

“The health and well-being of South Carolinians and others traveling to South Carolina’s largest hunting, fishing and

outdoor expo remain our top concern,” Dan DuPre, Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic director, said in a news release. “We must take every precaution to protect the thousands of attendees, vendors and volunteers expected to attend the event.”

Nearly 40,000 people attend the annual event, according to the release, and its proceeds have funded millions of dollars of conservation work in South Carolina. “Organizers of the 2021 Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic did not come to this decision lightly,” DuPre said.

The 2022 event is tentatively set for March 25-27.

Photo/File

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In Focus

ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION LIST: Architectural Firms, Page 14

NEXT ISSUE’S FOCUS: Banking and Finance

By Melinda Waldrop mwaldrop@scbiznews.com

D

A NEW SHINE Mashburn-led project restored 19,000 square feet of S.C. Statehouse tile flooring

rew Coleman will have added motivation to visit the S.C. Statehouse soon.

Coleman, director of Mashburn Construction’s upfit division, oversaw an ambitious project to restore and refinish around 19,000 square feet of tile covering the state capitol’s floors.

The project, which began when the General Assembly recessed last June and wrapped up in December, included replacing about 1,000 feet of stone with new material sourced from its original Georgia quarry and 1,000 feet of grout replacement.

Though Coleman said it’s unusual for Mashburn to work on government projects, he said the S.C. Department of Administration proved a responsive and easy-to-deal with partner, and he looks forward to showing off the finished product to his entire family.

“I’ll probably end up going over there with the kids one day,” Coleman. “It was cool to take my son one day when he was out of school. He’d never been in there before, (and) I hadn’t visited the Statehouse since I was in fifth grade. I’m 37 now.”

Working closely with project architect Pond & Co., Mashburn restored the shine to tile that Coleman said was last redone in the late 1990s. A mockup of the floor Mashburn performed on a 10-foot section showed just how badly the work was needed.

“In relation to what was there prior, it was night and day,” Coleman said. “You can almost see your reflection in the tile now.”

Before beginning the project, Mashburn and Department of Administration officials walked the Statehouse floors and “spent several hours determining what would be replaced,” Coleman said.

All marble in the project scope area of the first and second floor, along with third-floor bathrooms, was ground, honed and polished.

Some tile required patching, or having sections removed and ground to power, then bound with epoxy-based materials to fill cracks or repair corners.

“We did add some scope,” Coleman said. “There were some other areas that were found that had concrete instead of tile. We ended up See STATEHOUSE, Page 15

14

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IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION

February 1 - 14, 2021

Architecture Firms

Ranked by No. of Registered Architects in the Columbia Area Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

SSOE Stevens & Wilkinson 1501 Main St., Suite 730 Columbia, SC 29201

803-765-0320 www.stevens-wilkinson.com/ info@stevens-wilkinson.com

Keith Branham, Robby Aull 1919

13 33

Architecture, engineering, interior design

Garvin Design Group 1209 Lincoln St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-212-1032 www.garvindesigngroup.com msouthern@garvindesigngroup.com

Scott L. Garvin 2003

10 18

Higher education, retail, multifamily, faith-based, commercial, corporate, athletics, historic preservation

Jumper Carter Sease Architects 412 Meeting St. West Columbia, SC 29169

803-791-1020 www.jcsarchitects.com info@jcsarchitects.com

L. Todd Sease, Joel M. Carter 1929

10 24

Architecture, planning and interior architecture

LS3P 701 Lady St., Suite A Columbia, SC 29201

803-765-2418 www.ls3p.com connect@ls3p.com

Mary Beth Branham, Allen R. Taylor 1963

9 20

Architecture, interiors, planning

Watson Tate Savory Inc. 1316 Washington St., Suite 100 Columbia, SC 29201

803-799-5181 www.watsontatesavory.com mail@watsontatesavory.com

Michael S. Watson, Sanders J. Tate, Tom M. Savory 1989

7 8

Architecture, interiors, planning, LEED services

Mead & Hunt 878 S. Lake Drive Lexington, SC 29072

803-996-2900 www.meadhunt.com mailbox@meadhunt.com

Dennis Wiehl, Berry Still, Jeff Burkett 1900

6 98

Architecture, engineering, planning, environmental consulting for aviation, transportation, construction, municipal, water resources

GMK Associates Inc. 1201 Main St., Suite 2100 Columbia, SC 29201

803-256-0000 https://www.gmka.com/ info@gmka.com

Jeffrey L. Baker 1966

5 57

Architecture, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, plumbing design, planning, design-build, construction services and interior design

Goodwvn Mills Cawood GMC 1219 Wayne St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-766-1235 www.gmcnetwork.com/ info@gmcnetwork.com

Marc Warren, Kevin Laird 1947

5 8

Architecture; interior design; landscape architecture, planning; civil, electrical, environmental, geotechnical and transportation engineering

JHS Architecture Integrated Design 1812 Lincoln St., 3rd floor Columbia, SC 29201

803-252-2400 www.jhs-architects.com dfraser@jhs-architects.com

Randy L. Sides, Douglas E. Fraser 1986

5 10

Health care, resort and multifamily, corporate, educational, architecture and interior design

Carlisle Associates Inc. 1015 Gervais St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-733-8030 www.carlisleassociates.com tfailor@carlisleassociates.com

Ted R. Zanders, Ray C. White, Gene Resch 1977

4 16

Site selection; master planning; architectural, interior design; civil, structural, mechanical, plumbing, process, fire protection and electrical

Quackenbush Architects & Planners 1217 Hampton St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-771-2999 www.quackenbusharchitects.com

P. Douglas Quackenbush, Barbara Haller 2004

4 10

Educational, corporate, athletics, commercial architecture and interior design

Studio 2LR Inc. 2428 Main St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-233-6602 www.studio2lr.com admin@studio2lr.com

Wes Lyles, Gretchen Lambert, Tripp Riley 2005

4 10

Architecture, interior design, planning, building model information

Catalyst Architects LLC 212 W. Main St. Lexington, SC 29072

803-358-6565 www.catalystarch.com wrogers@catalystarch.com

Wayne Rogers, Heather B. Stallworth 1988

3 7

Architecture

LTC Associates Inc. 1213 Lady St., Suite 400 Columbia, SC 29201

803-254-9082 www.ltcarch.com wtaylor@ltcarch.com

Wes Taylor 1995

3 7

Architecture, interiors, planning

Michael Baker International Inc. 700 Huger St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-231-4000 www.mbakerintl.com john.walsh@mbakerIntl.com

John V. Walsh 1940

3 76

Urban design and planning, architecture and interiors, landscape architecture

Architrave LLC 730 Blanding St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-252-6636 www.architraveonline.com dalemarshall@architraveonline.com

Dale Marshall, Justin Washburn 1988

2 3

Architectural services for religious, historic preservation, residential and commercial buildings

Pond & Co. 1301 Gervais St., Suite 1300 Columbia, SC 29201

803-799-6502 www.pondco.com reederd@pondco.com

Tom Margle 1965

2 15

Architecture, engineering, interior design and construction for military, government, higher education, commercial, hospitality and industrial

1x1 Design 221 Pickens St. Columbia, SC 29205

803-834-4048 www.1x1design.com astjohn@1x1design.com

Asheley S. St. John 2011

1 3

Commercial and residential architecture and planning services for renovations and ground-up construction

Craig A. Otto, Architect Inc. 5044 Augusta Road Lexington, SC 29072

803-957-9004 www.craigottoarchitect.com craig@craigottoarchitect.com

Craig A. Otto 1990

1 2

Hospitality, churches, offices, dental, clinical, retail, school additions, renovations

Design Collaborative Inc. 1328 Blanding St. Columbia, SC 29201

803-782-4488 www.designcollaborativeinc.com dgolightly@designcollaborativeinc.com

1973

1 4

Architecture, interior architecture, graphics, planning

Heyward & Woodrum Ltd. AIA 3144 Carlisle St. Columbia, SC 29205

803-312-0066 www.heywardwoodrum.com larry@heywardwoodrum.com

Larry H. Woodrum 1965

1 1

Architectural firm

Seed Architecture 2144 Sumter St., Suite A Columbia, SC 29201

803-727-2098 www.seedarchitect.com info@seedarchitect.com

John K. Powell 2015

1 4

Full-service architectural and planning firm providing services for commercial, industrial and faith-based clients

Shepard & Associates LLC 3547 Dreher Shoals Road, Suite 6 Irmo, SC 29063

803-407-8284 www.shepardandassociates.us becki@shepardandassociates.us

William Blount Shepard, Richard C. Parrish 2001

1 8

Roofing and waterproofing consultants specializing in evaluation, design, quality control and contract administration phase services

Studio HTL 130 Sunset Blvd.

West Columbia, SC 29169

855-852-1400 www.studiohtl.com mail@studiohtl.com

Todd Daugherty 2019

1 5

Architecture and interior design services

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.

Architects / Employees

Major Services

Researched by Business Report staff

February 1 - 14, 2021

IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION

STATEHOUSE, from Page 13

removing that and put tile in.”

Concrete was replaced with tile in the House of Representatives antechamber and the library, among other areas, though Coleman lamented the fact that around 50% of the tile work was recovered with previously-in-place rugs.

The Legislature was, for the most part, out of session during the work, but the project did have one notable interested observer.

“There were many times that the governor would walk right up to you and ask how things were going and just chitchat with you,” Coleman said. “That’s not something everyone can lay claim to. … A lot of the interaction we had with the state staff inside that building was extremely positive. They were really, really happy to see a historical piece of the state brought back to life.”

Coleman said the plans were well thought-through before work began and that there were no real surprises in the project — “There were no cannonballs underneath a piece of tile or anything.” Going forward, Mashburn may bid on more government projects down the line, according to Lindsey Culley, Mashburn director of marketing and communications.

“We’re looking into 2021 and coming off a very challenging 2020,” Culley said.

“The good news is that the view is bright and we feel confident that a lot of things are

Mashburn Construction, which oversaw the restoration of the S.C. Statehouse tile floors, also completed Market on Main, a restaurant and entertainment venue blocks away at 1312 Main Street. (Image/Provided)

going to keep moving forward or pick back up where they may have stalled a little bit.”

Founded in 1976, Mashburn has completed numerous recent projects in downtown Columbia, including Market on Main, a restaurant and entertainment venue which opened last year at 1312 Main St. Coleman’s upfit division also oversaw that project.

“These two projects are totally different, but the same division,” Culley said. “It’s a testament to our versatility as a group and as a local contractor. We’re fortunate to be involved in two things that are very different and literally blocks away from each other.”

Culley said Mashburn’s backlog, or future projects the company is contracted

to perform, has grown significantly in the last few years and that 2021 projects look good despite a few slowdowns from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Culley said Mashburn has projects in the pipeline in the hospitality sector and has seen an uptick in industrial and office jobs.

“It may be a different layout of office, but it’s still stuff that’s happening,” she said.

“We have very big, more marquee-style projects in each of the various markets that have kind of been hanging on by a thread.

We’re waiting to see if those can come to fruition. For the most part, they’re still moving forward, just maybe a little slowly than originally anticipated.”

Culley said no projects have been can-

www.columbiabusinessreport.com 15

celed during the pandemic, and while the company may have experienced some delays in the supply chain, there were no significant interruptions.

The Association of General Contractors’ 2021 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook Survey found that 59% of the more than 1,300 respondents reported that projects scheduled to start in 2020 had been postponed or delayed until this year, while 44% reported 2020 projects canceled. Projects scheduled to begin between January and June 2021 had been delayed for 18% of respondents, while 8% reported cancellations of projects set to start in that timeframe.

“Last year was definitely unique in the fact of having projects just get pulled right out from underneath you in a matter of hours,” said Coleman, who said 2021 has brought “an uptick in some prospective work. Typically January through February is kind of slow anyway for us. We are seeing a little bit more, which is good.

“I think we’re all happy to see 2020 go, from a personal and professional business perspective.”

Coleman’s approach to 2021 is to “ride this thing out a little longer. With interest rates the way they are, it’s definitely a prime time to build something,” he said. “The caveat would be that material costs have shot through the roof. Hopefully those things will even out a little bit.”

Reach Melinda Waldrop at 803-726-7542.

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Enhancing the

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Experience

Through a recent acquisition, Stevens & Wilkinson joined SSOE’s national platform expanding its Southeast presence, capabilities, and overall portfolio.

Scan to learn more

1501 Main Street, Suite 730 Columbia, SC 29201 ssoe-sw.com

SSOE | Stevens & Wilkinson creates sustainable environments that are a lasting and positive impact on our communities.

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IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION

February 1 - 14, 2021

Survey finds contractors expect tough road in 2021

A

Staff Report

t the end of 2020, nearly twice as many construction workers were unemployed as the previous year, according to an analysis of federal data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

The industry’s unemployment rate in December 2020 was 9.6%, compared to 5% in December 2019, with total of 930,000 former construction workers unemployed — an increase of 489,000 from a year earlier.

Both figures were the highest for December since 2013.

The month itself saw gains from November, with employment increasing by 51,000 jobs as gains were recorded in both the nonresidential and residential sectors.

AGC officials warned, however, that the organization’s 2021 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook Survey found reason for concern.

The survey, which included responses from more than 1,300 contractors that perform all types of construction other than homebuilding, found that 78% of contractors reported a project had been canceled or postponed, while only 25% reported winning new or additional work as a result of the pandemic. “December’s employment gains likely reflect milder weather than usual for the month rather than sustained demand for projects,� Ken Simonson, AGC chief economist, said in a news release. “In fact, our survey found contractors expect the volume of work is likely to decline for nearly all nonresidential project types, and most firms have experienced project cancellations or postponements.�

Construction employment climbed to 7,413,000 jobs in December, an increase of 0.7% compared to November. However,

Photo/File

employment in the sector remained down by 226,000, or 3%, since its most recent peak in February.

Simonson noted that residential construction has weathered the pandemic much better than nonresidential segments.

While both segments suffered losses from the pre-pandemic peak in February, residential building and specialty trade contractors have now recouped all of the employment losses they incurred. In contrast, nonresidential construction employment — comprising nonresidential building, specialty trades, and heavy and civil engineering construction — had 241,00 fewer jobs in December than in February. “As Washington officials pivot from providing pandemic relief to focusing on rebuilding the economy, infrastructure needs to be at the top of their agenda,� Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO, said. “There is a real chance to come out of the pandemic with a stronger and more efficient economy if we can act now to rebuild aging and over-burdened infrastructure.�

The AGC survey also found that con-

tractors expect demand for many types of construction to shrink in 2021.

The survey, conducted with Sage Construction and Real Estate, found that the percentage of respondents who expect a market segment to contract exceed the percentage who expect it to expand — known as the net reading — in 13 of the 16 categories of projects included in the survey. Contractors were most pessimistic about the market for retail construction, which had a net reading of negative 64%. The markets for lodging and private office construction both had a net reading of negative 58%. “This is clearly going to be a difficult year for the construction industry,� Sandherr said. “Demand looks likely to continue shrinking, projects are getting delayed or canceled, productivity is declining, and few firms plan to expand their headcount.�

Other construction categories with a high negative net reading include higher education construction, (negative 40%); public buildings, (negative 38%), and K-12 school construction (negative 27%).

Among the three market segments with a positive net reading, two — the construc-

tion of clinics, testing facilities and medical labs (11%) and warehouse construction (4%) — reflect segments of the economy likely to grow during the pandemic.

More than half (59%) of responding firms said projects scheduled to start in 2020 had been postponed or delayed until this year, while 44% reported 2020 projects canceled. Projects scheduled to begin between January and June 2021 had been delayed for 18% of respondents, while 8% reported cancellations of projects set to start in that timeframe.

One-third of responding firms reported that business had already matched or exceeded levels from the previous year, while 12% expected demand to return to pre-pandemic levels within six months.

Staff increases were planned by 35% of firms and headcount decreases anticipated by 24%. In the South, 39% of firms expected to add employees.

A majority of responding contractors, or 54%, reported difficulty finding qualified workers, a trend 49% expected to continue in 2021. “The unfortunate fact is too few of the newly unemployed are considering construction careers, despite the high pay and significant opportunities for advancement,� Simonson said. “The pandemic is also undermining construction productivity as contractors make significant changes to project staffing to protect workers and communities from the virus.�

Sandherr said the association is creating a workforce plan focused on continued advocacy, helping chapters and members establish or improve training programs and launching a national workforce recruiting effort. “Our objective is to make sure contractors end the year on a far better note than many are starting it,� Sandherr said.

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February 1 - 14, 2021

RESEARCH, from Page 1

bays. Two were previously home to a wig store and a cigar shop whose slipcover facades rendered the property a noncontributing building, or a structure which did not add to the area’s historic or architectural integrity and therefore made it ineligible for National Register of Historic Places consideration.

“After removing those, we were able to submit a form that made it be a contributing building,” Campbell said. “Sometimes just removing the stucco or removing the aluminum facade or whatever it is that’s kind of obscuring what the historic appearance was, that’s enough to get it eligible again.”

Historic projects usually have to clear a three-stage application process, with approval needed from state and local agencies as well as the National Park Service. The details depend on what tax credits are being sought, from federal incentives to state credits such as the Bailey Bill, a tax abatement measure enacted in South Carolina in 1992 that allows local governments to lock in a tax assessment based on rehabilitated property’s fair market value prior to renovation for no more than 20 years. South Carolina also offers tax incentives through the Abandoned Buildings Renovation Act, legislation passed in 2013 that allows developers of eligible properties to receive a tax credit equal to 25% of the renovation cost against either state income taxes and corporate license fees or property taxes.

Developers often approach Campbell ready to roll, requiring her to once again temper their expectations.

“They’re like, ‘We want to do this now.

We’ve already started this,’ ” she said. “I have to say, ‘Hold the phone. Stop right now. We need to come and do X, Y and Z and make sure we have everything documented beforehand, and then we can get going.’ I have to consult with the architect to make sure the design looks good. I have to go on-site often to make sure the work is conforming. … Each one (application) goes to the state government for 30 days and then to the National Park Service for 30 days. Even in the best of times when all the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed, it’s a 60-day review period before anything can really happen.”

The entire process can take years, as in the case of the current renovation of a building on the former Charleston Naval Shipyard Campbell began working on in 2019 and of Greenville’s Woodside Mill, which Campbell took over when she joined Rogers Lewis in 2016.

“It’s a very complicated and convoluted process,” she said. “On paper, it looks like you just do Part I, Part II and Part III. Rarely does everything just smoothly go straight ahead. ... It’s a lot of logistics and timing and research to pull these things off.”

At every stage of a project, extensive research guides design decisions, from acceptable window pane sizes to the appropriate plaster on walls. Campbell combs

www.columbiabusinessreport.com 17

newspapers, city directories, historic images and Sanborn maps, detailed maps of U.S. cities and towns created in the 19th and 20th centuries to allow fire insurance companies to assess liability, for clues to a building’s historic appearance and function. She has the State Historic Preservation Office, a key player in nominating a structure for National Register inclusion, on speed dial.

“The level of bureaucracy can sometimes be exhausting, but the people that I work with on all levels, from city and Bailey Bill to state and to our Park Service reviewer, are always very helpful,” she said. “They want to see these projects succeed. They very rarely if ever come down on you and say absolutely not. They say no, but here’s a way that you can rectify this and still make it work.”

Once the bureaucrats have spoken, Campbell then has to translate their message to her clients.

“That’s always a fine line and a tightrope to walk, of pushing the envelope just enough to please the developer and the architect but still following the guidelines and the standards for historic rehabilitation,” Campbell said. “I can usually tell the developer or the architect, ‘Look, this is never gonna fly. This is just a no.’ And they usually respect that.”

Campbell said working with developers multiple times makes the process easier, especially once project players have learned to listen to her. Campbell often finds herself the only woman often in a room full of contractors, architects, bankers and government officials, and “trying to have my voice heard can be problematic,” she said.

“A lot of people — my word is gospel and they listen, and then a lot of people like to do the runaround and then cause a lot of extra hours and extra work to just get back to square one.”

Campbell takes care to make sure projects accurately reflect all aspects of their history, whether they are in a Jewish neighborhood or a building that once housed families with slaves. Hotels she’s worked on Myrtle Beach tell stories about how Black travelers were once shunted to a few specified areas. And honoring a project’s history is also a responsibility Mashburn Construction, Smoked’s contractor, takes seriously.

“It’s much more than a renovation when you’re dealing with these historic buildings,” Brian Johnston, Mashburn vice president of operations, said. “It’s really more of a rehabilitation, a revitalization.”

Campbell derives the most satisfaction from helping the public see a once-dilapidated property in a different light.

“A year ago, people would’ve looked at that cigar shop and wig shop and furniture store (on Main Street) and been like, ‘What an eyesore. Let’s just bulldoze it and build something else.’ Same with mom-and-pop Myrtle Beach hotels,” she said. “So many of them have been lost to these 25-story developments. It’s rewarding to see people go from ‘That’s worth preserving?’ to ‘This is really cool.’ The change in perspective is always the most rewarding.”

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IN FOCUS: ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION

February 1 - 14, 2021

Sandhills School students welcome expansion

By Melinda Waldrop

T

mwaldrop@scbiznews.com

he curriculum at Sandhills School in southeast Columbia recently took on a new wrinkle.

A $2.1 million expansion is adding a 9,000-square-foot educational wing and exterior courtyard, and nine classrooms are being renovated. The project, funded by the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation, has generated excitement among faculty and students, some of whom have taken a very hands-on interest.

“Kids are measuring and planning.

They really feel like this is an investment in them,” Erika Senneseth, head of school, said. “It’s been really empowering for our students.”

The private, nonprofit school serves children in first through 12th grades with diagnosed learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and ADHD. The Boyd Foundation building, which will also include a science lab, will feature designated Orton-Gillingham reading intervention rooms and a flexible-use community space.

The Orton-Gillingham approach is

Students at the Sandhills School participate in a December 2020 groundbreaking for a new 9,000-squarefoot education wing. The project, expected to be complete by the 2021-22 school year, is funded by the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation. (Photo/Provided)

a multisensory, structured method of teaching literacy. The Sandhills School, which has been housed in a church and a basement since its founding in 1975, now has 110 students on a 23-acre campus complete with wilderness trails, sports fields and a recreation and arts center.

Boyer Construction Co., the contractor on the Boyd Foundation building, also

worked on the arts and recreation center.

“We really enjoyed getting to know the Sandhills folks back on the previous project and appreciate their mission and what they’re doing for children in the community that need a little bit of extra help,” Clay Sharpe, Boyer senior vice president, said. “We consider the Sandhills folks family and look forward to hopefully con-

tinuing a long relationship with them.”

The project is Boyer’s first with Boyd Foundation and its president, George Bailey. The foundation, created by late Columbia developer Darnall Boyd and his wife, supports Midlands educational and outdoor projects such as the Columbia Museum of Art’s Boyd Plaza and renovations at Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens.

Bailey has a personal connection to Sandhills. His son attended the school around 15 years ago.

“We feel like they provide students such a unique opportunity for children that need a different learning method,” Bailey said. “We see these kids go to Sandhills and learn how to learn in their own ways, and they come out leaders.”

A project groundbreaking in December featured a parade complete with students wielding shovels. The expansion is scheduled to be finished by the start of the 2021-22 school year.

“It will help us offer intervention for more students and also more space to do it in,” Senneseth said. “Especially this year with COVID, we’re using every square inch of the cafeteria and the library.

“It will help us serve more students and just really be an investment in the future.”

COLUMBIA UNDER CONSTRUCTION SPONSORED BY:

Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering Headquarters 110 Midlands Court, Columbia Developer/owner: Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering PLLC Architect: Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering PLLC, Columbia General contractor: Mashburn Construction Co., Columbia Engineer(s): Mabry Engineering Associates, West Columbia (structural); MECA, Columbia (mechanical); Belka Engineering Associates, Columbia (electrical) Estimated completion date: Winter 2021 Project description: Mashburn has been selected to construct the new headquarters for Infrastructure, Consulting & Engineering in West Columbia, SC. The project will consist of concrete, masonry, structural steel, casework, membrane roofing, doors and frames, storefronts, metal framing and drywall, acoustical ceilings, flooring, paint, specialties, elevator, fire protection, plumbing, HVAC and electrical. The building will be two-stories with an open concept and built with room for future expansion.

The Karate Dojo 2225 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia Developer/owner: Brian Pena Architect: Architectural Concepts, Columbia General contractor: Hill Construction Co., Columbia Estimated completion date: Fall 2021 Project description: This project includes new construction and site work for a 16,000 square foot facility. This two-story complex will have indoor and outdoor training areas for karate and Karate Kamp.

February 1 - 14, 2021

COLUMBIA UNDER CONSTRUCTION

www.columbiabusinessreport.com 19

The Courtyards at Lowman 2101 Dutch Fork Road, Chapin Developer/owner: Lutheran Homes of South Carolina Inc., Irmo Architect: RLPS Architects, Lancaster, Pa. Project manager: Columbia General contractor: McCrory Construction Co. Columbia Engineer(s): Snell Engineering Consultants, Sarasota, Fla. (structural); Reese Hackman Engineering Inc., State College, Pa. (electrical, mechanical, plumbing); Civil Engineers of Columbia, Columbia (civil) Project description: McCrory is building a new pocket apartment concept located at the Lowman Homes in Chapin. Arranged around a central courtyard with lush landscape design, the apartments feature livable porches to enhance outdoor recreation and interaction among neighbors. The pair of pocket neighborhoods include seven, one-bedroom and three, two-bedroom apartments ranging from 740 to 1,018-square-feet.

QuikTrip 111 Millennial Drive, Orangeburg Developer/owner: QuikTrip, Tulsa, Okla.

Architect: Tobin PLLC, Charlotte Project manager: Columbia General contractor: McCrory Construction Co., Columbia Engineer(s): Norton & Schmidt, North Kansas City, Mo., (structural); Hoss & Brown, Lenexa, Kansas (electrical, mechanical, plumbing); Freeland & Kauffman Inc., Greenville (civil) Estimated completion date: Fourth quarter 2020 Project description: McCrory recently completed one of QuikTrip’s larger models, a travel center just off Interstate 26. This 7,946 square-foot store is a welcome addition to the Orangeburg area, with neighboring proximity to the Orangeburg County City Industrial park. The project included both gas and diesel canopies, industrial kitchen facilities, high-end finishes throughout, and a full landscape package.

Cambria Hotel 1000 Lady St., Columbia Developer/owner: Hillside, Denver, Colo.

Architect: LS3P, Columbia General contractor: McCrory Construction, Columbia Engineer(s): ADC Engineering, Irmo, SC (structural); Buford Goff & Associates, Columbia (electrical); LeBlanc Welch Inc., Greenville (mechanical, plumbing); Cox and Dinkins, Columbia (civil) Estimated completion date: Second Quarter 2022 Project description: McCrory is excited to have recently broken ground on a new design-build hotel in the heart of Columbia’s Vista District. Cambria Hotels are modern, approachable, and stylish, offering an experience tailored to the needs of business travelers and the wants of leisure guests. Their guest rooms are simple yet sophisticated. Each restaurant menu is inspired by the city’s local flavor, and local craft beers are on tap at the bar.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport Checked Baggage Inspection System & Ticketing Improvements 3250 Airport Blvd., West Columbia Developer/owner: Richland-Lexington Airport District, West Columbia Architect: Miller Dunwiddie Architecture, Minneapolis, Minn.

Project manager: Foth Infrastructure & Environment, West Columbia General contractor: Boyer Commercial Construction, Columbia Engineer(s): Chao & Associates, Columbia (structural); Foth Infrastructure & Environment, West Columbia (civil); MECA, Columbia (mechanical); The Ohmega Group, Columbia (electrical) Estimated completion date: January 2023 Estimated total cost of project: $18.2 million Project description: This project consists of a 20,000-square-foot building addition to house a new baggage handling system. The project also includes renovations to the existing ticketing areas.

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COLUMBIA UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Net Zero Learning Lab 411 South Maple St., Columbia Developer/owner: Montessori School of Columbia, Columbia Architect: Studio 2LR, Columbia Project manager: Studio 2LR, Columbia General contractor: Don Blackstone Construction, Columbia Estimated completion date: May 2021 Estimated total cost of project: $600,000 Project description: The Montessori School of Columbia begins construction of Columbia’s first Net Zero commercial building for the school’s STEAM Learning Lab. Net Zero has the goal of operating a low-energy building and generating enough power through the use of photovoltaics (conversion of light to electricity) to offset energy requirements over the course of a year. The design minimizes the power required by the building so that all of its power can be supplied by energy generated by solar panels.

Local business news updates... as they happen!

February 1 - 14, 2021

1639–1645 Main Street Redevelopment 1639–1645 Main St., Columbia Developer/owner: LTC Hospitality Solutions / The Middleton Family Architect: Garvin Design Group, Columbia Project manager: Mashburn Construction Co., Columbia Engineer(s): Mabry Engineering Associates, West Columbia (structural); Swygert & Associates, Cayce (mechanical); Belka Engineering Associates, Columbia (electrical) Estimated completion date: August 2021 Project description: This project involves the historic renovation of three interconnected buildings on Main Street. Approximately 11,200 square feet will be converted into a restaurant and brewery space and 1,500 SF on the second level will become apartments. The building will also include a roof top bar. The restaurant will be an upscale facility offering meats, oysters, libations, and a microbrewery. The team will work to preserve historic features of the building including arches, brick and plaster.

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Nephron Pharmaceuticals/Kennedy Innovation Center 4500 12th Street Extension, West Columbia Developer/owner: Lou and Bill Kennedy Architect: Jumper Carter Sease Architects, West Columbia General contractor: W Construction, West Columbia Engineer(s): Alliance (civil); Swygert Associates, (mechanical); MECA (process); SIMS Group, (electrical); Timmerman Engineering (structural) Estimated completion date: September 2021 Project description: A 310,00-square-foot Innovation Center with flexible spaces to accommodate bio and life science manufacturing, office space, research labs and distribution.

Construction includes tilt up concrete wall panel, corten steel wall panels and translucent panels for ample natural light with this facility.

At Work

PEOPLE, PLACES AND HAPPENINGS ACROSS THE MIDLANDS

Engineer’s goal: Change the face of STEM

By Teri Errico Griffis

G

tgriffis@scbiznews.com

rowing up, Wysheka Austin loved drawing, and excelled in math and science. But she had no idea how to translate those skills into a career. She considered architecture.

With few resources at home to guide her, Austin, while a student at Easley High School, turned to her career center.

Her principal, Pernice Adams, offered a life-changing intervention. Adams encouraged the teen to apply her skill set toward pre-engineering classes and connected her with a teacher that could provide hands-on experience.

Austin admits she’d never heard of engineering before then.

“You don’t necessarily have to see where you’re going in order to go, though,” she said of taking that first class.

She described the moment she fell in love with engineering as a literal light bulb moment — connecting wires and batteries in class to make her first bulb illuminate.

Today, Austin has carried that passion into a senior operations manager at General Electric and is one of two Clemson alumni being honored at the BEYA STEM Global Competitive conference — an annual event that recognizes Black engineers of the year.

On Feb. 12, she will receive the Science Spectrum Trailblazer Award, while Oliver Myers, an associate dean at Clemson since 2020, will accept the Dr. Eugene Deloatch Legacy Award.

“It’s okay to not really know what you want to do. I can’t say I had it figured out on day one or even day two,” she said. “But don’t limit yourself in your ability because you’re a woman or underrepresented, because you have an identity that’s different from most or any other identifying factors that aren’t the standard.”

A first-generation college graduate, Austin earned her Bachelor of Science in engineering in 2011 and, right out of college, she was accepted into GE’s Operational Management Leadership Program. Austin remains with the company today as a combustion repair cell leader at GE Power Systems in Greenville.

Through GE, she earned her master’s degree in supply chain management from Penn State and is now pursuing her Ph.D. in engineering and science at Clemson — a degree she said not enough Black women pursue.

She hopes she can serve as an example for other students of color, including those from low-income areas who lack early exposure to STEM opportunities and/or

Photo/File

Wysheka Austin (left) is the recipient of the Science Spectrum Trailblazer Award from Clemson University, while Oliver Myers is the Dr. Eugene Deloatch Legacy Award honoree. (Photo/Provided)

resources to connect their skills and interests to careers.

Rev. Bill Stanfield, CEO of Charleston-based nonprofit Metanoia, a housing and economic equality organization, sees a booming STEM economy and a capable population of filling those jobs. But he also encounters a lack of connectivity between the two.

“Charleston for so long has had two education systems: one that works for whiter, wealthier residents of our district and one that really, by any measure of data, is not working for people of color, low-income folks in our region. … There’s plenty of unmatched, unacknowledged, undiscovered potential within communities of color in our region, and we’re all suffering from that not being brought forth and discovered,” Stanfield said.

As part of her commitment to bring

more representation to the field, Austin helps GE recruit underrepresented talent.

She regularly visits colleges, providing personal insight into what it’s like working as an engineer and how she made the transition into leadership. Her hope is to inspire other women of color while also pinpointing weaknesses in the education system and demonstrating how small interventions can produce big changes.

“I look at where I am and where I’m positioned in this industry and also in academia with a Ph.D. and I think about, how do I bridge that gap?” Austin said. “How do I give my community someone to look up to or at least have a futuristic idea of, ‘Hey, that’s what an engineer looks like. I can ask her about engineering things, versus just how to get a standard job.’ ” Stanfield said it’s on everyone to fix educational systems and better prepare young

people of color to discover opportunities.

To get there, however, he said there needs to be a stronger will to change and a desire to listen to those who aren’t being served by the current system.

Stanfield said his own North Charleston backyard, where good students struggle on standardized state tests in underperfoming schools, is an ideal place to start.

“It all goes back to school and resources… This is why early exposure is so important and why it’s important to capture children in that middle-school range,” Austin said.

S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster’s recent emphasis on early childhood education is encouraging for Stanfield, but it takes more than just exposure to make an engineer, he said. “I can go to an NBA game once a week, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to play professional basketball,” he said. “We need to get serious about building the educational progress pipeline for students so that even as we create opportunities for them to be inspired by and think about those STEM careers, they have the right environment that is going to give them what they need to move into those careers and be successful.”

As the only female Black student in her Ph.D. classes, Austin thinks there is still more progress to be realized. But she is proud to be an example for young students — girls especially — who, like her at one time, have no idea what an engineer is.

“Anyone can tell a child they can be what they want, but it carries more weight if that person to looks like them,” Stanfield said.

“And that goes for any of us.”

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February 1 - 14, 2021

People in the News BUSINESS SERVICES

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FEBRUARY 15

BANKING AND FINANCE

List: Banks Advertising Deadline: February 1 MARCH 1

HEALTHCARE: THE BUSINESS OF ELDERCARE

List: Hospitals Bonus List: Retirement Communities Advertising Deadline: February 15 MARCH 15

EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT List: Colleges and Universities Advertising Deadline: March 1 APRIL 12

ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION (AEC) List: Home Builders Advertising Deadline: March 29

For advertising information, call Lucia Smith at (803) 726-7547

New board members at City Center Partnership are Jonathan Harvey (Colliers International); Sara Middleton (LTC Health Solutions); and James Smith (University of South Carolina, representing Robert Caslen, USC president). Re-elected officers are John Griggs, chair (Synovus Bank); Sharon Bryant, vice chair (First Citizens Bank); Jason Caskey, treasurer (USC Foundations); and Heather Mitchell, secretary (Boudreaux Group).

Performance Matters added Blake Montgomery to its staff and promoted Steve Royals to president. Royals had been the company’s chief strategy officer. In addition, Troy Lovins, company founder, has retired. Lovins and wife, Nanette, recently founded Hope 4 His Children, a 501(c)(3) focused on mentoring young boys.

CONSTRUCTION Melvin C. Williams, vice president and senior business developer with S&ME, was elected by his peers to the Society of American Military Engineers Academy of Fellows, which recognizes members for dedicated and outstanding service to the society, military engineering, and the A/E/C profession.

EDUCATION David W. Matolak, a professor of electrical engineering at the University of South Carolina, was elected a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers for his contributions to wireless channel modeling and applications. Matolak has conducted research in the field of wireless communication for over 15 years, using combinations of mathematical analyses, computer simulations, and extensive measurements.

FINANCIAL SERVICES Bauknight Pietras & Stormer has appointed shareholder Beth Bauknight, CPA, to lead its tax department and David Ward, CPA, to lead its audit/ assurance department. As tax director, Bauknight is responsible for implementing the firm’s strategy,

directing team members, and overseeing operations, client relations, and quality assurance. Ward, a partner, was previously assistant director of the audit department.

He shares the same duties as Bauknight for the audit and assurance department.

Jessica Callahan, McCauley Frierson, Austin Mizzell, Robert Allen Pope, and Liza Wilson have joined Ag South Farm Credit as loan officers. Pope and Wilson, in the Batesburg office, serve Lexington, Newberry, and Saluda counties. Mizzell, in the Walterboro office, serve Beaufort, Colleton, and Jasper counties. Callahan and Frierson, in the Anderson office, serve Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, and Pickens counties.

First Reliance Bancshares has appointed Robert F. Dozier Jr. to the dual roles of president of the holding company (First Reliance Bancshare), and chief operating officer of First Reliance Bank. In addition, the bank promoted Charles H. Stuart to president of the mortgage division.

Dozier had been First Reliance’s chief banking officer. Before joining First Reliance, Stuart was senior vice president of mortgage banking at Harbor National Bank.

Wilson Kibler senior associate John Metts received the Certified Commercial Investment Member designation by the CCIM Institute. The designation Metts was awarded during this year’s fall CCIM comprehensive-exam testing session. He was among 133 commercial real-estate professionals who earned the designation.

First Community Bank has promoted Elizabeth Middleton from retail banker in its West Columbia office to commercial banker for the Gilbert community.

Middleton

HEALTH CARE Bauknight

Ward

Lamikka Purvis Samuel is the new director of Family Solutions. The South Carolina Office of Rural Health proSamuel gram aims to improve birth outcomes for the African American population in six rural counties designated as primary-care Health Professional Shortage Areas.

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Viewpoint

VIEWS, PERSPECTIVES AND READERS’ LETTERS

America has health care crisis, not economic crisis

T

he coronavirus continues to spread rapidly. Both the labor market and the economy softened somewhat in recent months but that hardly seems consistent with the economic crisis described by President-elect Joe Biden.

We understand that he is trying to enlist support for an additional $1.9 STEPHEN trillion fiscal stimSLIFER ulus/coronavirus relief package, but he is grossly exaggerating the degree of economic weakness. The economy may endure a couple more months of soggy-looking data, but GDP growth for the year seems likely to be 5.5%, or more depending upon how much of his proposed stimulus plan is actually adopted, and the unemployment rate could fall toward the 4.5% mark by year end because a vaccine is making its way across the country. The economy is not in a dire economic crisis. We clearly have a health crisis, but not an economic one.

Initial unemployment claims rose at year end. But people are taking what is, thus far, a single-week’s increase and extrapolating that into a leading indicator of significant weakness in the weeks and months ahead. We doubt that will happen.

Retail sales have declined in the last couple of months as consumers cut back on Christmas spending. But much of that softness will be reversed as the vaccine becomes more widely distributed in the spring.

The doomsayers seem to ignore the fact that, spurred by record-low 2.7% mortgage rates, the housing sector is on fire with existing home sales at the fastest pace since 2006.

Also, driven by rapid growth in orders, the manufacturing sector continues to climb. Industrial production rose sharply in each of the last three months of the year as orders surged and forced manufacturers to step on the gas. Furthermore, production would have been faster if their suppliers had been able to keep pace.

In addition, consumers have plenty of cash on the sidelines in the form of an elevated savings rate to allow them to spend at a reasonable pace for the rest of this year and beyond.

Finally, if the economy were on the brink of an economic slowdown the

stock market would be one of the first places where such fear would become evident.

Instead, the stock market is at a record high level.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is one of the cheerleaders for the significant economic weakness theme.

But that seems odd since in December the Federal Reserve predicted 4.2% GDP growth in 2021 and indicated that the unemployment rate would decline to 5.0% by the end of the year, versus 6.7% currently. Where exactly is this economic crisis that he is describing?

Our sense is leaders in Washington — including Biden and the Democrats in charge of the House and the Senate, and even the chairman of the Federal Reserve — are describing an economy that is in dire need of assistance.

If a second economic stimulus/coro-

navirus relief bill had not been passed late last year, and a vaccine had not yet been developed, we might have more sympathy for that view. But just two weeks ago, Congress passed such a bill and a vaccine is already being distributed.

For that reason, everybody — including the pessimists — anticipate a quick upswing in growth that will lead to respectable GDP growth for the year and a further decline in the unemployment rate. We find it hard to believe that a scientific community that shortened the normal vaccine development cycle from 10 years to one year cannot quickly find a way to accelerate the production of that vaccine and improve its method of distribution.

The proposal for still more government spending seems to reflect a notion that policy makers cannot overstimulate the economy. In the very near term that

may be true. But there are consequences in terms of far larger-than-expected budget deficits in the years ahead.

In September, the Congressional Budget Office anticipated a budget deficit of $1.8 trillion this fiscal year, but that was before the recently-enacted $900 billion spending package. It now seems likely that we will see a second consecutive budget deficit of at least $3 trillion and a debt to GDP ratio that surpasses the postWorld War II high of 106% and climbs to a record-breaking 110% of GDP. While Congress should boost spending to help the economy when it dips into recession, like it did last year, it should also cut back on spending when the economy returns to normal. We have absolutely zero confidence that will happen.

Then there is the almost inevitable acceleration in the inflation rate. Growth in the money supply of 25% in the past year almost guarantees that inflation will soon begin to rise. Indeed, signs of a higher inflation rate are becoming increasingly evident. Commodity prices have risen sharply in recent months. The dollar has been falling, which will boost the prices of imported goods. Crude oil prices have climbed to $53 per barrel and OPEC is cutting production in an effort to push them higher.

Prices at restaurants, bars, hotels, and airfares were all cut last year in the midst of the recession. But once the vaccine becomes more widely distributed and consumers feel more comfortable going out to eat and travel, those prices are also going to climb.

Our leaders in Washington completely dismiss these longer-term consequences or feel comfortable they can control them once they begin to emerge. While we hope they are right, we remain unconvinced.

Daniel Island economist Stephen Slifer served as the chief U.S. economist for Lehman Brothers in New York City from 1980 until his retirement in 2003. Slifer directed the firm’s U.S. economics group and was responsible for forecasting and analysis of the U.S. economy. He also served as a senior economist at the Board of Governors for the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C. Contact him at steve@NumberNomics.com.

We want to hear from you Write: Melinda Waldrop, Editor Columbia Regional Business Report, 1612 Marion St., Suite 301 Columbia, SC 29201 Email: mwaldrop@scbiznews.com

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www.columbiabusinessreport.com

February 1 - 14, 2021

THE NEWEST ADDITION TO THE SC BIZ NEWS FAMILY What’s new on SCBIZtv this week?

Check us out on YouTube. With more than 100 archived videos (and counting), you’ll find a wide variety of businessrelated content, including: Virtual awards shows, Power Events, interviews with high-level business executives and several ongoing video series, including Coffee With…, 120 Seconds, Industry Trends and Coping with Covid.

Here’s just a taste of what you’ll find on SCBIZtv this week

VIRTUAL AWARDS SHOWS

120 SECONDS

COFFEE WITH…

COPING WITH COVID

From Women of Influence in the Upstate to Forty Under 40 in the Lowcountry to Icons and Phenoms in the Midlands, you’re sure to find executives you know being honored in a variety of ways.

Business executives sharing insight about their business, the industry in which they work and the community in which they live.

CEOs answering as many questions as they can in two minutes. You’ll definitely learn something personal about the executive and get a thoughtful answer on a serious topic to boot.

Explores the impact the Coronavirus is having on our daily lives, both at home and at the office.

This is just a sampling of what you’ll find on SCBIZtv. Check us out on YouTube to find a complete library of archived videos.