Columbia Regional Business Report - November 14, 2022

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Benedict College’s new ServiceNow Tech Center, which celebrated its grand opening Nov. 2, aims to broaden the scope of today’s tech workforce pipeline.

The center, located inside Benedict’s Business Development Center at 2601 Read St., is part of a $1 million multiyear strategic partnership between Benedict and ServiceNow, a California-based company that aims to equip traditionally underrepresented students with the digital skills needed in today’s workforce.

The partnership, formed in 2021, also includes five years of ServiceNow-awarded scholarships for Benedict students pursuing science, technology, engineering arts or math degrees as well as access to a ServiceNow HBCU Bootcamp program that uses customized, hands-on learning to help prepare students for tech careers.

ServiceNow offers a cloud-

based workflow automation platform that helps businesses and organizations streamline work processes.

Roslyn Clark Artis, president and CEO of Benedict College, joined ServiceNow’s chairman and CEO Bill McDermott in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new center, and community members and Benedict students walked through the center’s brightly lit spaces decorated with minimalist, fashionable furnishings.

The center includes a stateof-the-art computer lab with a maker space, laptop stations, a pitch room, private study rooms and a student lounge, as well as updated network infrastructure and new devices to provide students with critical access to technology.

Karen Pavlin, chief equity and inclusion officer for ServiceNow, described how the strategic partnership is part of the company’s ongoing mission to bring more diversity to the tech industry as a whole.

“One of my best experiences

was talking with a Benedict student who said she was excited to see someone who looked like her in a leadership position in the tech industry,” Pavlin said. “Serving underrepresented groups and getting them involved in the industry is what gets me up every morning.”

Artis said the center is part of Benedict’s ongoing commitment to preparing its students for the global workforce. In 2020, the school was named one of the Top 10 smaller HBCUs for STEM education by The Hundred-Seven, a national database of information about historically Black colleges and universities.

“Benedict always strives to produce human potential,” Artis told SC Biz News. “We know America has been rapidly diversifying, and this tech center allows us one more opportunity we can provide for our Black and brown students and also offers a chance for us to help diversify the tech industry.”

Reach Christina Lee Knauss at 803753-4327.

Columbia visitors top 15 million in 2021

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

The Columbia area welcomed 15.1 million visitors in 2021, according to a report from Experience Columbia SC, the region’s destination marketing organization.

The numbers were revealed Nov. 2 at a special event at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, according to a news release. Bill Ellen, president and CEO of Experience Columbia SC, said they show that tourism in the area is back in full swing after the pandemic.

“Thanks to a successful recovery strategy and recovery funding from our stakeholders, our region welcomed 15.1 million visitors in 2021,” Ellen said. “That doesn’t happen on its own. We are telling our story in many ways and driving visitors to the destination. Our staff are experts in the tourism industry, staying on top of trends in the meetings, sports and leisure markets, and we couldn’t do it without our hospitality partners, stakeholders and funding partners. “

Tourism in the Columbia area has a $2.4 billion economic impact, generates $120 million in state and local taxes and is responsible for 21,000 jobs, according to statistics compiled by Longwoods International and Tourism Economics. The region also welcomes 5.4 million overnight visitors. All of these statistics are above pre-pandemic numbers from 2019, according to the release.

“Columbia is not a drive-through, fly-over city,” Ellen said. “We’re an experience all on our own and have just as much, if not more, to offer than our competitors when it comes to destination assets.”

Reach Christina Lee Knauss at 803-753-4327.

Center. (Photo/Christina Lee Knauss)

Financial services provide the oxygen for economic development

Money serves as the financial lifeblood for every region in South Carolina. Along with talent, raw materials and commercial real estate, access to capital consistently ranks among the top concerns for entrepreneurs and economic development o icials.

The financial services industry provides that access, including loans, lines of credit and other financial services that give businesses and entrepreneurs the ability to open, stay open and expand to meet increasing demand for products and services.

During the past 10 years, the money flowing into banks operating in South Carolina’s major markets has increased by double and triple digit percentage increases, an analysis of the latest data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. show. Each year, the FDIC surveys the nation’s banks for a variety of economic indicators and reports the data for the fiscal year, ending June 30.

Comparing data from this year to 10 years ago shows that South Carolina’s major metro areas experienced at least a nearly 60% increase in financial deposits compared to 10 years ago, with some regions, including Charleston, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach, showing a more than 100% increase.

Across the Southeast, hundreds of billions of dollars are deposited in financial institutions, with South Carolina banks showing more than $128 billion. With just over 16% each, Wells Fargo and Bank of America hold the majority of those deposits, FDIC data show, with Truist Financial coming in third with 12% of deposits. Those three banks alone account for more than 44% of deposits in the Palmetto State, with more than $56 billion in 2022.

Source: Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Bank deposits in SC metro areas Federal data as of June 30 shows deposits in banking institutions operating in South Carolina’s metro areas. Banks have seen a surge in deposits compared to 10 years ago. Metro area Deposits 2022 % Change vs. 10 years Charleston-North Charleston $22,656,971,000 127.50%

“That vision that was announced here today will only become reality if we

it, if we embrace the future, if we realize that we can’t get there by ourselves.”

— Sen. Lindsey Graham

SC Biz News Briefs

Manufacturer investing $5 million in Upstate operations

EPC Power, a producer of utility-scale power conversion products, will spend $5 million to establish operations in Greenville County, where the company will create 150 new jobs.

EPC Power manufactures American-made smart inverters suited for use in stand-alone energy storage, solar energy storage and data center backup power, according to a news release from the Greenville Area Development Corp. The company’s inverters enable the buildout of battery storage required to support the growth of renewable energy generation and are powered by advanced software and work with electrical grids to increase resilience, reliability, safety and security, the release said.

“EPC Power is very excited to expand our operations in Greenville County,” EPC Power COO Bill Graham said in the news release. “The skilled workforce and excellent supplier base will enable EPC Power to supply American-made inverters for use domestically and around the world.”

The company says EPC inverters feature a compact, flexible design, with a small footprint and performance to provide high power density and ease of integration into any system.

“EPC Power is the type of innovative company we’re excited to welcome to our state,” S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster said in the release. “Their work will not only positively impact the Greenville County community, they are helping to advance our state’s smart energy industry. Congratulations on to EPC Power on their newest endeavor in Greenville County.”

EPC Power inverters have a 10 times faster response time than industry standards to stay online in most mission critical situations, according to the news release. With projects worldwide, all EPC Power products are made in the United States.

“EPC Power’s announcement reflects the rapid growth of the smart energy sector and shows that cutting-edge companies recognize the benefits of doing business in South Carolina,” S.C. Commerce Secretary Harry M. Lightsey III said in the release.

Located in Suite 800 at 360 Old Laurens Road in Mauldin, EPC Power’s new facility is the company’s first East Coast manufacturing and engineering operation and will accommodate additional production capacity if demand grows, the release said.

“EPC Power has a global reputation and proven track record for product innovation and service excellence with customers and is well positioned to support America’s transition to increased use of renewable energy,” Greenville County Council Chair and Greenville Area Development Corp. board member Willis Meadows said in the release. “Greenville County welcomes EPC Power to our community as we work together to expand energy independence for a cleaner, more secure future.”

The company is targeting early November to begin production and has begun hiring key positions, the release said.

With publications in the Upstate, Columbia and Charleston, as well as a statewide magazine, SC Biz News covers the pulse of business across South Carolina. Above are excerpts from our other publications.

MAULDIN GSA Business Report

Power is establishing operations in Greenville County with

million investment. (Photo/Provided)

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Village Idiot owners to be inducted into city’s Restaurant Hall of Fame

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Events

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By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Brian and Kelly Glynn, owners of local landmark Village Idiot Pizza, will be inducted into the Columbia Restaurant Hall of Fame in November.

The husband-and-wife team met at Village Idiot in their 20s while working in the original restaurant in Five Points and purchased the enterprise together in 2003.

They have since expanded to two other locations: 4517 Forest Drive in Forest Acres and Olympia at the Mills off Whaley Street.

The Glynns are also heavily involved in local organizations and philanthropy. Their signature project is Pizza for Preemies, which raises funds and awareness for the S.C. March of Dimes every November. They started the project in honor of their twins, Liam and Willow, and who were born at just 28 weeks.

Kelly Glynn said she and her husband found news of their award “kind of sur-

real.”

“It’s humbling and very exciting just to be in the same category as all these awesome restaurateurs across the city,” she told SC Biz News. “We’re still in shock about it.”

Glynn happily tells the story of the important role the flagship Five Points location played in both of their lives. Both were USC students and both worked at the restaurant – he was a pizza cook and she was a bartender and waitress.

“We went out on our first date after meeting at the restaurant and the rest is history,” Gwynn said.

Both Glynns have tried to create a restaurant atmosphere that combines good food with a welcoming atmosphere over the years, one that Kelly thinks might be the reason they have so many faithful customers.

“I hope they keep coming for the feeling of family and community,” she said. “That is what we try to thread throughout our employee and customer experience. I also think a lot of people have reacted

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well to our outreach in the community. People want to support you when they know that you also support them.”

The Glynns also released a statement about their recent honor.

“To be inducted into the Restaurant Hall of Fame is a tremendous honor for us, especially as we emerge from one of the hardest times that our industry has faced,” they said. “This honor validates our efforts to always try and put our community first and speaks to the incredible support that we receive in return. We strive to serve not just the best pizza in Columbia, but to make our restaurants feel like home.”

The Village Idiot celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2020.

The Hall of Fame awards are presented by the Greater Columbia Restaurant Association chapter of the S.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association. Inductees will be honored at the annual Columbia Restaurant Hall of Fame and Benefit Dinner on Nov. 21.

Reach Christina Lee Knauss at 803-753-4327.

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South Carolina’s Media Engine for Economic Growth

Village Idiot owners Brian and Kelly Glynn will be inducted into the Columbia’s Restaurant Hall of Fame this month. (Photo/Melinda Waldrop)

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SC hotel market softens though occupancy remains strong

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Rising interest rates are causing investment in South Carolina’s hotel market to soften, according to a third quarter report from Colliers South Carolina. However, average daily rates and occupancy remain higher than they were prior to the pandemic.

A combination of interest rates, surging inflation and overall macroeconomic challenges have caused an anticipated wave in distressed hotel assets coming to market not to occur, according to the report. However, that is expected to change in the next six to nine months. Colliers also noted that the conversion of hotel properties to multi-family housing is increasing because of population growth and an increased need for housing statewide.

Columbia hotel occupancy increased to 62.72% to end the third quarter. Average daily rates increased to $103.47 and revenue per available room increased to $80.64. Both rates and occupancy are significantly higher than the same time in 2021, according to the report. The return

of University of South Carolina football

Occupancy in the Greenville market was 64% during the third quarter, while revenue per daily room decreased slightly to $70.71 and average daily rates rose to $109.71, according to the report. The

region’s hotel market increased with the Grand Bohemian and Four Points hotels adding 324 rooms in the Greenville-Spartanburg market.

Charleston’s occupancy rate fell to 68.89% following the busy summer tourism season. The average daily rate decreased to $155.92 and revenue per available room was $107.82. Colliers predicts that an uptick in year-end travel will likely push both rates and occupancy up in the Charleston market at year’s end. New hotel construction and hotel development in the market continues to be strong.

Other coastal markets saw a decrease in occupancy rates and average daily rates as the strong summer tourism season came to an end. The average daily rate in the Hilton Head/Beaufort area decreased to $221.99, revenue per available room dropped to $140.45 and occupancy was 63.27%. The average daily rate in Myrtle Beach decreased to $151.65, while the occupancy rate fell to 63.3%. Activity along the Grand Strand is expected to remain steady for the next several months with a slight year-end uptick.

Reach Christina Lee Knauss at 803-753-4327.

Home2 Suites by Hilton adds 88 rooms to Blythewood market

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

An 88-room Home2 Suites by Hilton is the latest entry in the growing hotel market in Blythewood in northeast Richland County.

The new property at 92 Creech Road has already been open to guests and held a grand opening event last month.

Launched in 2009, Home2 Suites is an all-suite, extended stay hotel designed to accommodate a variety of guests. The pet-friendly hotels feature studios and one-bedroom suites with separate sleeping and living spaces, a saline pool, outdoor spaces, 24-hour business centers and Spin2Cycle combined laundry and fitness facilities.

There are currently 560 Home2 Suites hotels open in the U.S., China and Canada, with 630 additional properties in development, according to information

on the company’s website.

“This is a modern and friendly hotel with convenient access to I-77, and it’s a welcome addition to our town,” said Phil Frye, executive director of the Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce.

Home2 Suites officials in Blythewood were unavailable for comment.

Blythewood is one of the fastest-growing communities in the Midlands, attracting both an increasing number of permanent residents and both business and leisure travelers. Home2 Suites is the fourth hotel within the town limits.

This is the fourth Home2 Suites by Hilton in the Midlands. The chain has three locations in Columbia 1210 Pickens St., 7340 Garners Ferry Road near Fort Jackson, and 550 Columbiana Drive in Harbison.

Reach Christina Lee Knauss at 803-753-4327.

Sisters of Charity award $837K in grants to fight poverty

By Melinda Waldrop mwaldrop@scbiznews.com

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina has awarded grants totaling $837,000 to 100 nonprofit organizations working to reduce poverty throughout the state.

Since 1996, the foundation has awarded 3,300-plus grants to South Carolina nonprofits totaling more than $82 million.

“It is an honor to support this group of nonprofit partners who are working tirelessly to provide hope for people experiencing poverty in South Caro-

lina,” Donna Waites, foundation president and CEO, said in a news release. “Our foundation’s mission could not be fulfilled without these impactful organizations and their loving service to others.”

The grants are awarded to nonprofits working to meet the immediate

needs of people experiencing poverty, breaking the cycle of poverty or changing systems that are drivers of poverty.

A list of grant recipients can be found at https://sistersofcharitysc. com/sisters-of-charity-foundationof-sc-awards-837000-in-grants-statewide/.

and its influx of visitors caused the market to increase second-quarter rates, which is usually considered the most active quarter in the region’s hotels.

The Cambria Hotel in the Vista held its grand opening ceremony Oct. 12. (Photo/Christina Lee Knauss)

An 88-room Home2 Suites by Hilton opened in Blythewood last month. (Photo/Christina Lee Knauss)

or chang-

can be https://sistersofcharitysc. com/sisters-of-charity-foundationof-sc-awards-837000-in-grants-state-

New luxury apartment complex coming to Sunset Boulevard

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

A312-unit luxury garden apartment community is underway on Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia.

The 38-acre development will feature one, two and three-bedroom apartments, some with direct access to garages, according to a news release. Other amenities include a clubhouse, co-working space, resort-style swimming pool, community pavilion, outdoor kitchen, pet spa and a pet park.

Fickling and Co. of Macon, Ga. and Novare Group of Atlanta are the lead developers, with co-sponsor BCDC of

By Jason Thomas jthomas@scbiznews.com

Aprovider of electrical, safety and infrastructure solutions will expand its recently acquired facility in Allendale County with a $7.7 million investment.

Atkore’s investment will add 16 new jobs over the next five years, according to a news release from the South Carolina gov-

ernor’s office.

Located at 147 Airport Loop in Allendale, Atkore’s expansion includes the addition of three high-density polythene pipe extrusion lines used to produce high-density polyethylene (HDPE) conduit, primarily serving the telecommunications, utility, infrastructure and datacom markets, the release stated. The products will support increased broadband access in rural areas and the expansion of 5G networks.

“We’re proud of the investment to expand our recently acquired facility in Allendale,” Atkore President John Pregenzer said in the release. “The addition of HDPE manufacturing lines will help support our company’s growth, better serve

Atlanta. Protective Life Insurance Company is the lender. Classic Plains is the general contractor, and SGN+A is the architect.

The developers were not immediately available for comment.

“We are excited to join Novare Group and BCDC again for our latest multifamily project and to bring a new, Class A residential community to this part of the greater Columbia market,” said Roy Fickling, president and CEO of Fickling and Company. “Our community will be situated between a residential area and retail offerings that will create a convenient and accessible lifestyle for our residents.”

The developers expect the first units to be available by February 2024.

delivers a portfolio of integrated electrical product solutions that deploy, isolate and protect a structure’s electrical circuitry from source to outlet, the release stated. Significant product categories include metal electrical conduit and fittings; plastic

A 312-unit luxury garden apartment complex is underway on Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia. The development, on 38 acres, will feature, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. (Image/Provided)

Jonathan Pent Business Developer

New mixed-use development planned for West Columbia

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Colite City, a new mixed-use development focused on innovation and entrepreneurship, is coming to West Columbia.

The project by West Columbia real estate development company Jams and Stark LLC was announced in mid-October at the Growth Summit event held in downtown Columbia.

Colite City will be located at 228 North Parsons St. on the former site of Colonial-Hites sign company and will incorporate the original brick company building. The site is about a mile from the Congaree River.

The project’s 150,000-square-foot first phase will include an event space, brew hall, food hall, maker and designer spaces, studio spaces for artists and designers, and flex-spaces for offices, according to Wade

“The overall vision of the project can be summed up as a creative, innovative and

entrepreneur campus,” Caughman told SC Biz News. “We want to bring everybody to one campus, whether you’re a candlemaker, a taco vendor or a hot new tech hub.

This is a place where you can come to start, grow and work around other like-minded people and companies.”

Cleanup on the property has started with a goal of beginning construction in early 2023, Caughman said. Jams and Stark is working on finalizing contractors and expects to have them on board in about 90 days. Caughman said the goal is to have the first phase complete by the spring or summer of 2024.

An estimated cost for the project has not yet been determined, Caughman said.

Jams and Stark LLC specializes in renovating historic and unoccupied properties into new, innovative spaces for residences and businesses. The company’s past projects include the Flow Townhomes on Gervais Street in Columbia, Noma Flats apartments off North Main Street, Park Street Lofts in Elmwood Park, and the Meeting Street Office Lofts in the former location of the West Columbia bus station.

Construction begins on Forest Acres commercial building

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Construction has started on a new 14,700-square-foot commercial building at 1514 Brentwood Drive in Forest Acres.

The building, a project by Cason Development Group of Columbia, is the second phase of a mixed-use project at the intersection of Forest Drive and Brentwood that also includes 11 townhomes.

The commercial space will be broken up into two floors, with 8,400 square feet of contiguous space on the first floor and 6,300 square feet on the second, plus a 2,022-square-foot covered

terrace, according to a news release. The outdoor terrace would be suitable as an amenity for a restaurant, wine bar, office tenant or other user. Outdoor dining

options are also available on the first floor.

“We are excited to bring this new project to the Forest Acres market,” said

Frank Cason, president of Cason Development Group. “It’s a great opportunity to bring new upscale retail and boutique office space to the booming market.”

Garvin Design Group is the architect for the project and Boyer Commercial Construction is the general contractor. Engineering was done by LandPlan Group South.

Construction should be completed in about nine months, according to the release.

Four of the 11 townhomes in the mixed-use project have been completed. The townhomes, known as Rigby Square, are being built by Wilson Co., a local infill residential developer, and are marketed by the Moore Company.

2 locations of Michigan-based coffee chain coming to Lexington

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Two new locations of the Michigan-based coffee chain Biggby Coffee are coming to Lexington.

The first location at 1424 Two Notch Road just outside of the Red Bank community will feature drive-thru service only.

It will be owned and operated by Cari Schlager and her husband Joe Schlager, who moved to Lexington from Las Vegas in 2021 for family reasons and decided they wanted to open a business.

“We fell in love with the area instantly and decided it would be a fantastic

(Photo/File)

idea to invest in the people who live here,” Cari Schlager told SC Biz News.

Biggby Coffee will offer a variety of flavored coffees served hot, iced or frozen, as well as hot chocolate and teas and flavored milk. The menu also includes a variety of breakfast sandwiches called “bragels,” as well as muffins and seasonal pastries, Schlager said.

Biggby Coffee was founded in Michigan in 1995 and currently has 280 locations around the country, including one in Charleston.

A second location of Biggby Coffee in Lexington will open at a to-be-determined location later in 2023.

Caughman, director of development for Jams and Stark.

Colite City will be located at 228 North Parsons St. in West Columbia. (Rendering/Provided)

Construction has begun on a new commercial building on Brentwood Drive. (Rendering/Provided)

Lexington

Sephora newest tenant at Trenholm Plaza

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbzinews.com

Beauty products store Sephora, the first of several new retail tenants coming to Trenholm Plaza in the near future, held its grand opening Oct. 21.

City of Forest Acres officials and Sephora employees held a ribbon cutting and cheered as the store opened its doors. A crowd of eager shoppers were waiting in the parking lot well ahead of the opening.

Sephora is one of three tenants taking over space vacated by long-time tenant Stein Mart in 2020. Home furnishings and accessories retailer HomeGoods and Bath & Body Works will occupy the rest of the space.

This is the third Sephora in the Midlands. Other stores are located at Columbiana Center and inside JC Penney at the Village of Sandhill. Sephora is based in France and has 2,700 stores worldwide. The retailer carries a wide variety of cosmetics, hair care products, fragrances and other beauty-related items.

buildingHomeGoods and a fourth new tenant, Duck Duck Goose, a children’s store, are set to open sometime in November, city officials said.

Trenholm Plaza, located at 4840 Forest Drive, is one of the most popular shopping locations in Forest Acres and is

3 SC businesses win awards for ethics

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Ajanitorial company in Columbia and two Charleston-area businesses have received awards for high standards of trust and ethics from the Better Business Bureau Serving Central SC and Charleston.

The announcement came Nov. 2 at the annual BBB Business of the Year Torch Award ceremony held at the Palmetto Club in Columbia.

The BBB presents the Torch Award each year to companies who demonstrate ethical behavior and display integrity in all aspects of their operations, according to a news release.

Powell Roofing LLC of Ladson received the Torch Award for small business. Palmetto Commercial Services of the Midlands LLC was the recipient of the award for medium-sized businesses, and TriMed Services LLC, a supplier of durable medical equipment in Mount Pleasant, won in the large business category.

“This is always an inspiring event,” said Chris Hadley, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Central South Carolina and Charleston. “BBB is committed to its principle of trust and ethics in the marketplace. We appreciate

the ongoing support from all our accredited businesses, and we are especially pleased to highlight the outstanding work of our Torch Award recipients.”

Businesses also were able to nominate charities for the annual Charity Challenge Champion award, calculated by likes on the BBB Facebook page. The winning charity, Providence Home, received a $500 donation from BBB. Located in Columbia, Providence Home offers temporary housing for men in life transition and recovery.

The BBB Serving Central SC and Charleston was founded in 1985 and serves 15 counties.

home to Publix, Soma, Fresh Market, Loft, Lululemon, and other popular chains as well as local and regionally owned retailers.

Reach Christina Lee Knauss at 803-753-4327.

An innovative new chapter.

Robinson Gray is proud to announce our move to WestLawn, in the BullStreet District. The building offers a sustainable, modern space to uphold our standard of excellent service for clients, while becoming a part of Columbia’s dynamic future.

To learn more about our new home, visit robinsongray.com.

Robinson Gray Stepp & Laffitte, LLC 1310 Gadsden Street | Columbia, SC | 803.929.1400

Sephora opened in Trenholm Plaza in Forest Acres on Oct. 21. It’s the first of several new tenants coming to the shopping plaza. (Photo/Christina Lee Knauss)

Sephora is one of three tenants taking over space vacated by Stein Mart in 2020. HomeGoods and Bath & Body Works are slated to occupy the rest of the space.

“BBB is committed to its principle of trust and ethics in the marketplace.”

Chris Hadley President and

CEO,

Better Business Bureau Serving Central South Carolina

and Charleston

City of Columbia launches Rapid Shelter initiative

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Anew initiative aimed at serving the chronically homeless population in Columbia launched Nov. 1.

Rapid Shelter Columbia is a transitional housing project located on city property at 194 Calhoun St. It consists of 50 individual sleeping cabins, 40 for men and 10 for women. The new facility will be open year-round and include 24-hour security, on-site case management services and food services.

The sleeping cabins are manufactured by Pallet out of Everett, Wash., and include a bed, heating and air conditioning, electricity and USB charging ports. The project includes a total of 54 of the cabins, with four set aside for use by staff and security.

Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and other city and community leaders gave updated information about the new project and showed community members some of the completed sleeping cabins at an event Oct. 26. Construction on some cabins is ongoing.

The project is the result of months of work by a city task force on homelessness and is designed to serve men and women who are not good candidates for traditional homeless shelters with congregate housing.

“This is a new era for addressing homelessness here in Columbia and offers these men and women a dignified option to get the help they need,” said City Manager Teresa Wilson.

Officials estimate about 250 people in the city fit the target population for the project. The number of people who are considered chronically homeless has grown in recent months and caused an increase in calls to law enforcement and other officials about crime, public urination and defecation, panhandling and other issues, city officials said. Some businesses in downtown Columbia said customers expressed concern about safety.

Many of those living on the street also have physical and mental health needs that the new shelter can help address, officials said.

“This is a short-term solution to a long-

term problem, and it’s not going to solve the problem of homelessness in Columbia, but it will help reduce it,” Rickenmann said.

The city has also recently hired a new director of homeless services, Kameisha Heppard, whose responsibilities include development of Rapid Shelter Columbia.

Heppard said clients will only come to Rapid Shelter through referral from other services. Case workers will soon begin evaluating applications and hope to initially place 10 people at the shelter once it opens. Clients will be able to stay at the shelter for up to 90 days. The shelter is only open to people who were living within the

city limits.

“I’m excited about doing something here that hasn’t been done before in the Southeast,” Heppard said. “The goal is going to be to provide stabilization for these clients, whether they need mental health services, help with substance abuse, or other issues. We want to help address whatever it was that brought them to homelessness.”

Heppard said the shelter will offer some client services onsite and transportation will be provided to help clients get to doctor appointments, job interviews and other appointments.

The ultimate goal will be to guide clients to some sort of permanent housing, Heppard said.

Safety and security are a big concern with this new project, one the city plans to address with 24-7 security provided by a private firm. City of Columbia Police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook said the department will work with shelter staff and the security firm to address any issues that escalate and require law enforcement intervention.

There will be a strong focus on conflict resolution, de-escalation of situations and addressing mental health needs, Holbrook said.

The congregate sleeping quarters that already exist at the Calhoun Street location will continue to be used to accommodate an overflow population during inclement weather.

803-753-4327.

Northeast shopping center sells for $11.7 million

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Forum II Village at Sandhill, an 83,139-square-foot shopping center in Northeast Columbia, has been sold for $11.7 million in a deal brokered by commercial real estate brokerage firm Marcus & Millichap.

Tenants include HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, Old Navy, Rue 21, and Shoe Carnival. Also included in the sale is the adjacent 1.88acre parcel, according to a news release.

Forum II Village at Sandhill is located at 321 Forum Drive and was built in 2006.

Lori Schneider, the firm’s executive managing director of investments, and investment specialist David Gant had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the seller, a private investor.

“Strong national tenancy and low cost per square foot attracted offers similar to the high-demand grocer anchored centers,” Schneider said in the release. “Even in today’s environment, a prime TJ Maxx -anchored center would generate interest at high levels.”

The buyer, a local private investor, was represented by Marcus & Millichap’s Harrison Creason and Andrew Margulies.

“It is a busy retail area and the tenants

in this center have a solid track record of success in this location,” Creason said. “This was an ideal opportunity for the local buyer as they know this location well and it

Reach Christina Lee Knauss at

Workers put together sleeping cabins at Rapid Shelter Columbia. (Photo/Christina Lee Knauss)

satisfied a portion of their 1031 exchange.”

Benjamin Yelm, the firm’s broker of record in South Carolina, assisted in closing the transaction.

Forum II Village at Sandhill, an 83,139-square-foot shopping center, has sold for $11.7 million to a local private investor. (Photo/Provided)

4 defendants indicted on PPP fraud charges

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Four defendants have been charged for their alleged roles in a fraud scheme related to the federal Paycheck Protection Program that involved nearly 100 people nationwide, including residents of Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

They are Jacob Liticker, also known as “Jay Stunna,” 25, of Houston; Kehinde Mubarak Ladepo, 26, an enlisted member of the U.S. Air Force stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter; Ganiyu Victor Ladepo also known as “Victor,” 29, of Fayetteville, N.C.; and Maxwell Uzoma

Okobi, also known as “Maxi,” 24, a North Carolina resident currently deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

The Payment Protection Program is one of the programs put in place in 2020 by the federal government to help businesses struggling because of the COVID19 pandemic.

The indictment alleges that the four defendants were part of a national scheme, led by Liticker, that attempted to fraudulently acquire $2 million in PPP loans and did acquire nearly $1 million in funds, according to a news release.

Evidence showed that Liticker created false PPP loan applications for nearly 100 people nationwide, typically for amounts around $20,000, and then helped them

to submit the false information to Small Business Administration-approved lenders. In the process, he would also often create false tax documentation to support the non-existent businesses.

In exchange for his services, Liticker would receive a portion of the PPP loan proceeds, according to the release. Liticker also allegedly assisted in getting the loans forgiven.

“PPP loans were finite funds designed to help businesses stay afloat amid unprecedented times and extraordinary challenges,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. “Every dollar wrongly taken from this taxpayer-funded program was a dollar that could not go to a legitimate business in need. This office takes pan-

demic-related crime seriously and stands ready to prosecute fraud related to the coronavirus in all its forms.”

Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, as well as fines and restitution.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Secret Service and SBA’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek A. Shoemake, who also serves as the office’s coronavirus fraud coordinator, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston Marosek are prosecuting the case.

Reach Christina Lee Knauss at 803-753-4327.

Children’s store opening 2nd location in Forest Acres

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Popular Columbia children’s store

Duck Duck Goose is the latest new retailer coming to Forest Acres.

Duck Duck Goose, owned by Sarah Monteith Rama, started as an online retailer and opened its first brick-and-

mortar location at 2800 Devine St. in 2018.

Now the store is expanding to a second location in the Forest Village shopping plaza at 4525 Forest Drive, Suite C. It will share the plaza with Be Beep A Toy Shop and Boca Grande Burritos.

The target date for opening is mid-November but no specific date

Duck Duck Goose’s target date for opening its second location, at 4525 Forest Drive, is midNovember.

has been set, according to Lyndsey Baker, public information officer for the City of Forest Acres.

Duck Duck Goose offers a variety of boutique clothing and shoes for babies and children, as well as toys, gifts and accessories.

Reach Christina Lee Knauss at 803-7534327.

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POWER MOVE

Bosch

By Ross Norton rnorton@scbiznews.com

Bosch Charleston started producing electric motors this month. But the company needs more space and more people.

So Bosch announced Oct. 25 that it will invest more than $260 million to further expand production of electrification products at the North Charleston facility, which the company calls Bosch Charleston, an investment that will add 75,000 square feet and 350 new jobs to the site by 2025.

“We have grown our electrification business globally and here in the North American region,” said Mike Mansuetti, president of Bosch in North America. “We’ve invested more than $6 billion in electromobility development and in 2021 our global orders for electromobility surpassed $10 billion for the first time. Local production helps to advance our customers’ regional electrification strategies, and further supports the market demand for electrification.”

The company already dedicated about 200,000 square feet of an existing build-

in North Charleston expansion

ing on the Bosch Charleston campus to electromobility. The new assembly area includes the production of rotors and stators, and the final assembly of the electric motor.

The company also said it has secured additional electromobility business that makes the expansion necessary. The expansion is expected to be operational by the end of 2023.

The Bosch site in North Charleston supports multiple products from the Bosch Mobility Solutions portfolio, according to the news release. The site produces high-pressure fuel injectors and pumps for internal combustion engines. It also manufactures safety-related products.

The Bosch Charleston facility, which opened in 1974, is the largest manufacturing site in the United States for Bosch from an employment perspective with around 1,500 associates. It covers more than 900,000 square feet of floor space on 118 acres.

The electric motor production space is in a building formerly occupied by diesel components production. Bosch announced in January 2020 that produc-

tion of diesel powertrain components would be slowly ramped down. The company indicated then it would pursue electrification business.

“This launch delivers on a commitment to our associates and to the local community in Charleston,” said Mansuetti, who started his Bosch career as a manufacturing engineer at the Charleston facility. “We are in the midst of major shifts in mobility, and the story of reinvention in Charleston is a model for how electrification production can evolve from within an existing facility. We are building on the longstanding expertise and commitment of the Charleston team with this new production.”

In August Mansuetti also delivered future-leaning news to the Anderson plant he once managed, where the company will invest more than $200 million and hire 350 workers to produce fuel cell stacks to be used in hydrogen-powered trucks.

As part of the Charleston site transformation, called Bosch Charleston, the company has provided reskilling and upskilling opportunities to employees

to prepare for the production of electric motors. Those opportunities include travelling to other sites within the global Bosch production network for training and best practice sharing, according to a news release.

Bosch is also collaborating with local schools to begin implementing fundamentals related to electrification into curriculum. The Bosch Community Fund, the corporate foundation for Bosch in North America, has invested more than $2.5 million in grants related to STEM education efforts in the Charleston area since 2013, the release said.

As its orders in electromobility continue to increase, the Bosch global production network has been ramping up to support the expanding demand for electrification. Local-for-local production supports a robust supply chain approach for local customer needs.

“We have long been believers in the potential of electromobility and we have been investing heavily to bring this technology to market at scale for our customers,” Mansuetti said in the release.

Dorchester County Council Chairman Bill Hearn congratulates Bosch for securing the electric motor business for the company to replace the diesel production line that was phased out starting in 2020. (Photo/Ross Norton)

Graham: Electrification too big for 1 company

By Ross Norton rnorton@scbiznews.com

Amid the exuberance during BMW’s recent announcement of $1.7 billion investment in two Upstate projects, it was Sen. Lindsey Graham who, though full of praise for the automaker, said BMW can’t do it alone.

Electrification of the U.S. automobile fleet is an undertaking too big for one company and too big even for the business sector alone, he said.

“That vision that was announced here today will only become reality if we earn it, if we embrace the future, if we realize that we can’t get there by ourselves,” Graham said as one of the speakers at BMW’s announcement last month, which was hosted by BMW Group Chairman Oliver Zipse from Munich. “That government and business must be partners. You can’t do this, Mr. Chairman, without the help of state and local and federal officials so here’s the one thing I want to pledge to you and all your associates: South Carolina will be there for BMW as you transform your company. What you’ve got (in government support) over the last 30 years, you will get for the next 300 years.”

Graham called BMW’s plans to invest $1 billion in an expansion of the Greer plant and another $700 million in a new battery plant in Woodruff one of the “most consequential announcements in the history of South Carolina, not just because of the money but because when they write the (book) on the electrification of the vehicle in the United States, South Carolina will be in the first chapter.”

He said the plans put the political leaders on the local, state and federal level on the ground floor of the biggest change in industrial policy in modern times, comparing it to the shift from the horse and buggy to the car. The Republican pointed out that it is business, not the government, that has made the move to electric vehicles real even as it saves a place for gas and diesel-powered engines.

“BMW is going to lead the world, not just South Carolina, in the electrification of the vehicles with the understanding that choice will still be important,” Graham said.

Because of what it takes to make electricity and an electric battery, the senator said the role of government has to be large.

“I don’t know who is going to be budget chairman, but if I’m the budget chairman we’re going to have a hearing about what does it mean for America for a car company like BMW to go down the electric vehicle road,” Graham said. “Where do the battery parts come from? Where do the raw materials come from. Here’s the truth; we’ll never be able to make the battery in America without having materials from outside the country. So with

these partnerships, batteries become the new oil. How do you charge the car? In the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which I voted for, there’s a lot of money to accelerate charging stations. How do you build

a battery that goes longer and farther? Where do you get the materials? How do you turn raw material into an actual battery that goes into the car? What happens to the oil industry 40 years from now?”

The role of power companies and fueling stations will change, Graham said.

“The change that’s about to come from an electrified fleet means the power companies are going to have to change their way of doing business. What do you plug the car into? How do you double generation and make it lower carbon? One thing leads to the next thing,” Graham said. “We’re looking at small modular reactors to be developed in South Carolina to provide clean energy, a non-emitting source of energy in the nuclear arena. If we don’t have an allof-the-above approach when it comes to power production, you cannot get there from here. Fossil fuels will be with us for many decades to come and we need to find as much as we can so we don’t depend on people over there who don’t really like us. So we’ve got to do many things at the same time. We need a plan to make it work.”

Graham promised Zipse that he and state elected leaders would be BMW’s partners in the journey to an electric vehicle fleet of American cars. He said the state would become the Detroit of vehicle batteries.

“The vision you laid out today is bold, it’s exciting, it’s transformative. And all those adjectives — none of them apply to Congress,” he said. “So we’re going to have to be bold, we’re going to have to be transformative, we’re going to have to be nimble. This is the one thing that Republicans and Democrats should agree on: When it comes to the electrification of the vehicle, we should be the leader of the world; we should not follow.”

BMW’s investment at the Greer plant will create a battery production line, but the automaker already has a facility, pictured here, where a growing staff produces batteries for electric BMWs. (Photo/Provided)

Sen. Lindsey Graham pledged support for BMW’s transition to electric car production. (Photo/Ross Norton)

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HIGH-TECH BEER BUYING

Local brewery crafting NFT purchasing platform

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Something as simple as buying a beer at one Columbia-area brewery could soon help folks get acquainted with the new digital economy.

By the end of the year, Columbia Craft Brewing Co. aims to announce its first release of a non-fungible token (NFT) collection, a launch that will allow beer lovers and consumers in general to own digital assets that will also give them access to special customer experiences at the downtown brewery, according to Andrew Strauss, the brewery’s co-owner and business development officer.

Strauss and those working with him on the project realize there is a steep learning curve for many people with this

new project, but they’re willing to brave the challenge.

In simple terms, NFTs are unique digital assets based on blockchain technology that can’t be replaced or exchanged because of their distinctive properties. They’re called non-fungible tokens because unlike fungible, or interchangeable, items such as physical or cryptocurrency, NFTs can’t be exchanged. Once purchased, they belong exclusively to the owner.

Ownership of the NFT can be verified through the blockchain, which is a decentralized and secure log on the internet.

Up until now, most NFTs have involved digital art, music or games, but the medium is increasingly being used in the business world.

Columbia recently made news in the NFT world in October when a three-bedroom house sold to a real estate investor for $175,000 as an NFT, according to an article in Newsweek. This was the second real estate transaction in the U.S. using the technology, with the first being a Florida home sold earlier in the year.

Many realtors and others online were confused or outraged by the Columbia NFT house sale, claiming that it wasn’t valid because no physical deed was signed. Others, however, said the sale represents a new future for realworld assets, and could eventually eliminate much of the paperwork and time involved in the sale of property like real estate and cars.

Strauss hopes the brewery’s new venture into NFTs will help to take away the

“great unknown” factor many people experience when talking about the new technology.

“We know that NFTs have a bad rap because of some of the experiences people have had with them, but our idea is to put some real utility behind the NFT so that you get something along with your ownership,” Strauss said.

Strauss realizes that many people might not know what an NFT or the blockchain is, so he plans to create material available online and at the brewery to help customers learn about the program.

“We want to create a road map, a diagram that will show them exactly how to get involved,” he said.

Columbia Craft Brewing Co. will launch its first non-fungible token collection by the end of the year. The project will allow customers to own digital assets that will give them access to special customer experiences at the downtown brewery, which opened in 2016 and recently completed renovations including a new rooftop deck. (Photo/Christina Lee Knauss)

Strauss has been involved in the metaverse, the world of the digital economy, since about 2007, and admits he has had both good and bad experiences with cryptocurrency and other parts of the platform.

His interest in it peaked when he met Columbia resident Chris Thibault, of Merkle Root, a Columbia-based software development company.

Columbia Craft’s NFT collection will initially include about 150-175 unique NFTs that represent most of the beers the company has produced since opening in November 2016. All of the NFTs won’t be available at the same time but will be sold in groups of five or 10 in an auction format.

The NFT designs will relate directly to the “magnet” system already present in the main Columbia taproom at 520 Greene St., Strauss said. Each beer on tap is represented by a magnet with the beer name, alcohol content and creative color and artwork. The magnets are placed on a magnetic chalkboard to illustrate for customers what is being poured at the time. When a beer comes off tap, that magnet is replaced with that of another beer coming on tap.

The design of the NFTs will reflect the design or logo used for each beer on its taproom magnet.

Strauss said the individual NFTs will be available to consumers of legal drinking age who will be able to purchase a limited number of them through the company’s website, with a credit card or through a

cryptocurrency account using Ethereum or Bitcoin.

Each NFT a customer purchases will come with a specific set of special discounts and privileges through Columbia Craft, Strauss said. The specific perks attached to each NFT are still being developed.

Columbia Craft is not the only brewery currently using NFTs to amplify their

brand, and Strauss said the larger goal through his company’s launch is to eventually create an overall platform and application that any brewery can use to release their own specific NFTs related to their brands.

“Products like NFTs and the blockchain need to be looked at right now as a new tool, something like the industrial revolution for not just breweries but

other businesses as well,” Strauss said. “It’s going to take time for this kind of thing to be adopted. What NFTs can do is to help breweries like Columbia Craft create more awareness for their brand and another revenue stream as well.

“This is also going to allow our customers to dip their toes into this new tech space, participate in a new venture and get some added value back as well.”

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Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are unique digital assets based on blockchain technology that can’t be replaced or exchanged. (Photo/File)

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Women in manufacturing share words of wisdom

By Krys Merrryman kmerryman@scbiznews.com

“When one of us wins, all of us win,” said Nika White, president and CEO of Nika White Consulting and event moderator, when she took the stage at the Women in Manufacturing: Leaders and Influencers conference at the annual 2022 South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo on Nov. 4.

Women make up 47% of the total workforce; however, women account for only 30% of the 16 million people employed in manufacturing in the United States, and less than 25% are leaders in the industry, said White.

“As we think of breaking the proverbial glass ceiling, it’s important we celebrate the progress, the wins, the evolution of women showing up every day in this industry, impressing us with their prowess and leadership,” she said. “We have to make sure we are making room for more women.”

A sponsor of the conference, Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corp., said 62% of its workforce is female, closing the gender gap in a generally male-dominated industry. Ellison Murray, Nephron Pharmaceuticals staff development coordinator, said being surrounded by so many inspiring women at the company, led by

CEO Lou Kennedy, is incredible.

“It’s a company that revolves around women uplifting other women,” said Murray. “Having a women-dominated company in a male-dominated industry really brings a family aspect to the culture. I feel comfortable going to anyone — male or female — in the company and asking for help, and I think that’s a really unique experience to Nephron.”

Speakers Monica Johnson, Michelin North America talent acquisition director; Carrie Bonvender, Grand Forest Inc. president and CEO; Laura Bordeaux, Zeus Industrial Products ASC plan manager; Mary Ellen Grom, AFL executive director of customer experience solutions; and Donna Brin, bFIVE40 president and CEO, also took the stage with White in a Q&A-style interview.

Johnson: ‘If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready’

Many people think of us as just a tire company, but we are also in the business of economic mobility. South Carolina is home for us. The world is changing, and the dynamic of the workforce is changing, especially with women in the manufacturing industry. Climbing the corporate ladder was a little different for me. My advice is to be open to different challenges and opportunities and be ready to show up. If you stay ready you don’t have

to get ready.

We do a lot to make sure we are bringing in the right talent that represents the community in which we live and work. We focus on diversifying and having a broad perspective to ensure we are getting the right candidates while also showing the community who we are. We look at leveraging benefit offers so they are attractive to a diverse group of people to make sure our women can work and are taken care of such as our milk program. If you are a working mother who needs milk, we have a program to have milk delivered to their home.

We need to change the narrative that this is what working in manufacturing looks like. The game has changed. The skillsets needed have changed. It’s not your everyday job turning a wrench or wearing a hardhat. We start with young girls and changing the narrative they are used to hearing. Having male mentors is also important, especially when they have the “just do it” mentality and believe in us getting the job done. Reaching out and asking for help as early on as possible is also critical. One of the things I’ve learned, especially during the pandemic, is to take time for yourself and rejuvenate.

Bonvender: ‘I felt the power to say I take ownership of making decisions’

I didn’t anticipate being the change all

of a sudden. I felt the power to say I take ownership of making decisions when I took over the company, and it makes a difference to have that, especially while making a difference in people’s lives.

We have a very diverse group at Grand Forest. When we first started, we had one male on staff. Apparel is typically a women-dominated field, but we also have a lot of roles for men, too. But I love taking people up the ranks who have been with the company for years. That has been a great part of our company to have many people who have worked in many different areas of the company.

If I look back, I wouldn’t tell myself to make it “easier” because meeting the challenges throughout the years have made me who I am today.

Bordeaux: ‘It’s all about the environment we create’

I have been in the manufacturing industry for more than 15 years and was the first female plant manager for Zeus. When I joined the team, I had to dig in and figure out how to build devices. As I progressed, I embraced the culture and learned the culture. Then I started receiving messages from women around the world who said they were proud of me and you are doing this for us. The

A panel of leaders in manufacturing shared thoughts on succeeding in the industry and increasing the number of women in it at the 2022 South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo. (Photo/Krys Merryman)

Change of Superfund status opens Charleston site for development

By Krys Merryman kmerryman@scbiznews.com

Asite that could go on to represent the largest redevelopment of formerly contaminated land in the state was recently removed from the federal Superfund list by the Environmental Protection Agency. The move clears the way for development of the Magnolia project.

Thousands of Superfund sites exist all over the country because of hazardous waste being dumped there, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed, according to the EPA’s website. Those sites include manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills and mines.

Like much of the Upper Peninsula, the Magnolia development site was once home to heavy industry, which polluted the land for decades with lead, creosote, arsenic and other contaminants from the manufacture of fertilizer and wood-treatment products.

The Koppers tract, named for the wood treatment plant that operated there from 1940 to 1977, was placed in the Superfund Trust in 1994, according to the Magnolia developer, Highland Resources Inc.

Environmental cleanup of the site began after a Raleigh-based real estate investor assembled the land in 2002 from about two dozen individual tracts and began to reimage the industrial wasteland as a “new urbanist” community of homes, shops, hotels, entertainment venues and parks, Highland Resources added.

When the Environmental Protection Agency removed the site from the National Priorities List, it effectively gave Magnolia a green light to begin development on the former brownfield site. Two other federal environmental remediation sites at Magnolia, formerly owned by Columbia Nitrogen and Ashepoo Phosphate, previously had been remediated to EPA standards, according to the developer.

Clark Davis, CEO and president of Highland Resources Inc. said with evidence today and word from federal authorities who cleared the site, he doesn’t see recontamination as a concern. Fresh soil has been put down over the span of the property, he said.

“This site has been cleaned up twice, so we have absolutely no concerns about recontamination at all,” said Craig Zeller, EPA Atlanta office project manager. “If we felt differently, we wouldn’t have cleared it for mixed-use development, so it is good to go.”

Overall environmental remediation costs have totaled $75 million to date, which included removing contaminated soil and covering an area the size of 34 football fields with a protective barrier and clean soil, said Highland Resources.

The next phase of the project

It has been a decades-long undertaking to bring the 189-acre Magnolia project

to life. The land is a total of nine parcels combined into one large parcel to build a one-of-a-kind mixed-use town center in Charleston proper. Magnolia is zoned for more than 4,000 residential units, 1 million square feet of office space, up to 200,000 square feet of retail space, more than 1,000 hotels rooms, multiple entertainment venues, a marina and a waterfront park along the marshy banks of the Ashley River.

The first phase will focus on the waterfront area of the property and include 150,000 square feet of retail space, 850 residential units, 300,000 square feet of office space and a luxury hotel.

The Magnolia site has been completely cleared for development, but infrastructure design and permits are in the process with the city of Charleston before construction can be started, which is expected to begin in early 2024.

“There has never been a development of this size in Charleston to this date that can be redeveloped to this magnitude, so it makes sense to use it for a mixed-use development here once the environmental issues were remedied, as close to the city core as possible to make for a sustainable green development,” said Davis “We look forward to moving into the next phase of the project, which will create a strong sense of place through engaging the waterfront with public access to the Ashley River.”

Highland is partnering with Portman Holdings to develop the Magnolia project. The Atlanta-based, private real estate firm has developed projects such as The Line in Charlotte’s South End and other projects out West.

“We are going to joint venture with Portman, because we feel we can bring more to the Charleston area in an efficient and economical fashion working together,” Davis said.

Ambrish Baisiwala, Portman chairman and CEO, said the first phase of construc-

tion will activate the waterfront, creating a public amenity for the entire community to enjoy.

“The first phase will focus on creating at least two public access points along the waterfront,” he said. “In total, Magnolia will include 24 acres of public parks, with neighborhood greens, plazas and public squares, and we will preserve all 48 acres of marshland.”

Magnolia will be a live, work, play community with more than a half-mile of waterfront and the largest open park area in Charleston, “so we want to make sure we are building sustainable designs throughout the project,” Davis said.

This site is a special opportunity to have almost 190 contiguous acres directly on the Ashley River with proximity to downtown Charleston and the historic district, said Baisiwala.

“The (Superfund) delisting is a significant milestone that allows us to move forward with the design and programming of a one-of-a-kind, mixed-use development entirely focused on activating the currently inaccessible waterfront for the community,” he added. “We’re working to transform the site with a master plan focused on walkability, green spaces, local restaurants and residential community to deliver a sustainable waterfront destination that benefits from and contributes to the essential appeal of Charleston.”

What Magnolia means for Charleston

Charleston Planning Manager Christopher Morgan said working with the developers of the site to get it cleaned up has been nearly 20 years in the making.

“This redevelopment will be really instrumental for the city, as it has the potential to be a dynamic part of the city in an area of Charleston that hasn’t contributed much for a while,” said Morgan. “Seeing the site now cleaned up is phenomenal

for our city, and we are excited to see the project move along. It’s an amazing piece of property.”

Morgan also said the Magnolia site is an ideal location to create more activity along the landing with the view of the Ashley River, where Charleston was first settled. It’ll have a transit stop as well, allowing for more connectedness for the region and downtown Charleston.

Market conditions will dictate the completion of phases, said Davis, but the first phase will be the most significant, as it is set to be 20-25% of the entire site. The first phase will include multifamily units, hotels, retail, shopping, dining and the completion of the waterfront park, so residents can start taking full advantage of these amenities early in the development, Davis added.

Portman and Highland estimate the total cost of the project to be about $2 billion when the project is completed, likely in the next 12-15 years.

Once completed, Davis said they expect the development to create many jobs and have a positive impact on the Charleston community.

“We have been working with the city and neighborhood groups to make sure this is a project everyone is proud of,” he said. “The size of the project alone sets it apart, and there is nothing else like it. It’ll have a town center feel. It’ll be a place people will want to stay, live, visit.”

Highland Resources was founded by brothers George and Herman Brown, owners of Brown & Root and Texas Eastern Corp. Houston-based Highland Resources Inc. has a track record of developing residential, industrial, hospitality and office projects. Highland has accumulated and owns, or is developing, more than 32,000 acres of land and 6.2 million square feet of commercial space throughout the Southeastern United States and in Scotland.

Developers want to create a town center with a mix of housing, office, retail and hospitality on a former Superfund site. (Rendering/Provided)

New technology supports defense-related projects

By Jenny Peterson Contributing Writer

Aunique on-demand manufacturing division of North Charleston-based Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic — formerly SPAWAR — has expanded its capabilities to rapidly create complicated prototypes for defense-related projects that support warfighters.

The department has created oddly shaped brackets and rack mounts for military vehicles, reverse-engineered outdated equipment and handled thousands of other requests.

The 3,000-square-foot on-demand manufacturing lab has 15 3-D printers — including one that 3-D prints in stainless streel — and an advanced manufacturing-water jet that can cut titanium up to four inches thick in just minutes. The department hosted media on Oct. 12 to showcase its capabilities.

Created five years ago, NIWC’s on-demand manufacturing division has six fulltime employees providing solutions for NIWC’s approximately 5,000 employees who provide support to naval, joint and national warfighters.

“There are hundreds of projects going on (internally), and if (employees) need to prototype, they can come to us internally in what we call our service center and in just hours we can support the project. It might be something simple, it might be something that takes a lot longer,” said Max Dissington, an electrical engineer in the department. “We might have a picture of something (they need), a design for something. They share information with us and our engineers are often doing (conceptual) drawing and design.”

Before acquiring the water jet a year and a half ago, the department handled requests for 1,000 parts or prototypes a year, Dissington said. After adding the water jet, the department had 3,000 parts and prototype requests. Over the past five years, the department has created tens of thousands of parts, prototypes and conceptual designs.

“The water jet double or tripled orders with the faster turnaround time and (pieces) are made exactly to spec and we can produce a lot more,” he said. “Requests have definitely been increasing with wordof-mouth people realizing we have this in-house.”

Requests span from creating custom parts, laser label engraving, circuit enclosures, metal bracket outfitting, retrofitting, reverse-engineering, metal cutting and more. The department has even gotten patents for items it created.

Aaron Ross, deputy senior competency manager for the 4.7 Production Quality and Manufacturing Competency, said the best part is that the technology allows for precise measuring and testing in the lab, often the same day it’s created. If a part or

protype doesn’t fit exactly, it can be sent back to the department for tweaks and additional testing with no time lost.

“Our biggest role is trying to prototype and get technology to our warfighters faster. This cuts down a significant amount of time,” Ross said.

The department doesn’t fulfill largescale orders; rather it creates prototypes or several dozen parts. For larger orders, it shares its prototype design with larger-scale manufacturers.

“Our bread and butter is low rate production prototype application,” Ross said. “If someone needs 40-60 of something, at a point it doesn’t make sense for our printers to make that much, so if it needs mass produced, we do a little batch and test it and then it can go to a contractor (to produce).”

The department often can find solutions for a fraction of the cost of ordering new products and often bypasses potential supply chain issues for ordering new products.

“Obsolescence is a big issue,” Ross said. “Ships, submarines that are 30-40 years old, the original equipment manufacturer goes out of business, or they don’t make something anymore … for example, an original submarine depth gauge that they don’t

make anymore, we were able to (reverse engineer) and simply reproduce.”

Dissington said other warfare centers around the country have similar capabilities. As an in-house service center, the department can get parts and prototypes created without the need for an additional government contract.

“We’re not dealing with procurement specialists; employees can send us an email,” Dissington said. “It’s a really fast turnaround for the warfighter to make the prototype, put it in a vehicle and get it out to production.”

Successful projects included: Creating accurate cutouts in 40 sheets of foam for ruggedized military cases. Machine laser cutting significantly reduced time and increased quality compared to cutting foam by hand.

Outfitting existing military audio headsets to add a push-to-talk function. The center designed and printed unique housing for the push-to-talk switch along with appropriate cables, then assembled and tested it at the center. A 3-D CAD model was developed to encase the audio components and an onyx filament used to ensure durability. Using the center for the

project eliminated the need to purchase equipment and prevented waste, and saved $8,000 by eliminating the need to purchase new audio headsets.

Quickly addressing a need for personal protective equipment during the COVID19 pandemic. The department printed and assembled 1,444 face masks and 110 face shields in six weeks for NIWC employees.

Supporting projects in military vehicle integration, vehicle battery tactical vehicles and handling IT network installations in vehicles.

Employees in the on-demand department are mechanical, manufacturing, chemical and electrical engineers.

“Most of the people on the team are recent college graduates and 3-D printing is in the curriculum now so most come out of school knowing how to use these machines,” Dissington said, although he added that specialized electronic technician positions are harder to fill.

In addition to the advanced technology, there is also a master machinist in its machine shop, which includes traditional manufacturing machines, like drill presses,

Max Dessington demonstrates how the on-demand manufacturing division of North Charleston-based Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic makes custom parts for aging war machines. (Photo/Jenny Peterson)

Robot dog aims to boost interest in tech careers

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

See Spot dance!

That was the phrase of the moment Nov. 3 at the S.C. Manufacturing Conference and Expo in Greenville as attendees got to witness the dance moves of a bright yellow robotic dog named Spot who will soon be the face of artificial intelligence for thousands of students around the state.

Spot is part of a new approach to attracting young people to the tech workforce from SC Tech, an initiative of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness designed to promote information technology and other tech jobs around the state.

The council sponsored “Artificial Intelligence is a Game Changer,” an event where people got to meet Spot and hear about efforts to get young people interested in the tech skills that will be needed by workers in manufacturing and other industries.

“We’re working hard to get an AI curriculum into all of our schools, and this is going to be a big part of it,” said Kim Christ, director of SC Tech. “South Carolina is the first state that has procured Spot for use as part of an AI curriculum, and we hope this will be a pathway to get more students interested in the technology.”

Spot robots were introduced in 2019 by Boston Dynamics and about 400 are currently in use around the country in a variety of industries from manufacturing to mining. One of the robot canines even explored the volcanic ruins in Pompeii earlier this

DOD, from Page 19

belt sanders and bandsaws for part finishing and modifications.

Expanding services

Ross said the department is looking into adding coatings and plating capabilities in the future. The division now

MANUFACTURING,

year, according to a report in Smithsonian Magazine — an example of how the robot is useful in situations that could be unsafe or difficult for human workers.

Spot won’t be facing any danger in South Carolina, however. Instead, the robot, which weighs more than 100 pounds, will be visiting school districts around the state beginning next year.

While Spot might be a hard worker, he also has rhythm. Techno music blared from nearby speakers at the conference and attendees got to see Spot “dance” by follow-

has the capacity and technology to expand its requests for unique and custom parts beyond the NIWC community to support other companies actively working on government projects.

“We want to work closer with industry,” Ross said.

The department gets the word out through companywide internal spot-

ing moves programmed by a worker with a nearby laptop. The dog performed a series of gyrations and bends, extended its “neck” to look out over the audience, and even jumped into the air a few times.

Christ said once the robot dog is in the classroom, students will be able to learn how to write programs that will enable them to choreograph entire dances for it.

The name Spot is also not going to stick around long. To kick off the program, SC Tech is going to sponsor a naming contest for the dog at the beginning of the next

lights, and every Friday, NIWC employees can dial in on a zoom call to see the department’s capabilities and example parts.

“One of the biggest concerns when you develop new things is how far do you want to push the edge,” said Capt. Nicole Nigro, commander of NIWC. “Having this capability in-house and

school year.

Keynote speaker John McElligott told attendees this type of innovative approach to teaching AI technology is more crucial than ever because too many students lack skills to work with technology that is already being used on today’s factory floors and in other industries.

McElligott is founder and CEO of York Exponential, a Pennsylvania-based collaborative robotics and artificial intelligence company. He has been in South Carolina recently working with the Lakelands Emerging Technology Council in Greenwood and talking with middle- and highschool students.

“Studies show that in the near future, about one-third of the population is going to be unemployable because education and business can’t keep up with the way technology is evolving,” he said. “We have teenagers today that have been told by their parents they were geniuses because they could work a tablet. They’re not. They’ve been told they’re tech-savvy and they’re not. They need to be learning skills to deal with future technology.”

McElligott recently worked with students in the area’s first AI high school art contest. He said tech skills can not only enhance employability but also improve quality of life.

“I’m telling students that in the recent past, Google and Facebook got it wrong with how they used technology because they treated people like data points,” he said. “I want them to be able to use their tech skills to make a difference.”

working on it internally allows us to be innovative, to make sure we stay on the cutting edge and allow us to take a few more risks. We decided five years ago to look at on-demand manufacturing and now we are at the point where we can do it and we are ready to provide this service across the command and continue to grow.”

People

BUSINESS

The International ciation and tial Cleaning sion gave Michelle House Cleaning.

DESIGN

from Page 17

realization came to me that I’m here in my position representing not just me but every woman. Zeus never made me feel I couldn’t do it nor made me feel like it was a barrier to get where I’m at. Our workforce going forward will no longer say ‘I can’t do that because I’m a female.’

In any field, mentorship is important. From a woman in manufacturing standpoint, there is only a small percentage in leadership. The more you encourage and support your staff the more we can lift each other up as we go. Work toward closing the gender gap, building women up from the inside is key, but how do you get them in the door in the first place? It’s all about what environment we create. Young girls aren’t thinking they want to be a manufacturing

leader when they grow up. We open the door and show them these aren’t just things boys do. When I was younger, I always tried to minimize my gender, but then I learned to just be who you are.

Grom:

I wasn’t given an opportunity; I earned it. All of us have a story to tell and have to be proud of our reputation and what we have accomplished. It’s sometimes overwhelming and exhausting but not hard. It’s important to fuel competition instead of fearing it. You want to get ahead of your competition and do something different. The Women in Manufacturing organization is here to inspire all women of all walks of life in the industry. When we talk about normalizing this industry, there isn’t any-

thing abnormal about it now. We just need to adapt to the changing times such as with our younger generations, especially speaking to them on the proper social media channels. We have to use our voices to elevate. We are on a lifelong learning journey and have to continue to invest in ourselves and in others while continuing to learn.

tunities, which is paramount to our success, such as the S.C. Dept. of Commerce, S.C. Council of Competitiveness, and the state government. We can’t imagine being here without it. Being able to leverage the resources available to us is crucial.

Boudreaux

Justin Abrams, on the Center for Technologies, Carolina Florence and Clemson Residential earned both architecture tecture Williams, three licensed architects helping the National Architects bachelor South University EDUCATION The board Carolina and Humanities members: Brian Harris ross BlueShield McDaniel, Jonnika Timken Company.

Brin:

‘You have to make mistakes and fail and pick yourself back up’

With everything we do at bFIVE40, we are changing the status quo by hiring not only women but people with disabilities, using sustainable materials to reduce toxic waste, and having apprenticeship programs with local colleges for the good of tomorrow. Being here in South Carolina, there are incredible amounts of support and resources in addition to networking oppor-

You have to make mistakes and fail and pick yourself back up and learn — then do it all over again. It’s hard to maintain confidence when you make mistakes, but you have to wear it on your sleeve and figure it out while surrounding yourself with people who lift you up. It’s our responsibility to show young girls there are pathways for them in our industry. When a woman finds success, they didn’t used to want to share it because it took so much to get there. But the dynamic is changing, and every woman can have success now with so many opportunities available to them.

First Citizens zens Wealth $20,000 nor’s School over the supported years, contributing in the last students, in under-resourced bring guest ter classes.

Williams

‘I wasn’t given an opporturnity; I earned it’

A robotic dog, named Spot for now, hopes to attract young people to tech careers. (Photo/Ariel Perez)

At Work

People in the News

BUSINESS SERVICES

The International Sanitary Supply Asso ciation and its Association of Residen tial Cleaning Services International divi sion gave the 2022 Chairman’s Award to Michelle Carnahan, of Deserved Comfort House Cleaning.

DESIGN

Boudreaux has two new associates. Justin Abrams, AIA, recently worked on the Midlands Technical College Center for Business and Information Technologies, the University of South Carolina Campus Village, the City of Florence Urban Square Parking Deck, and Clemson University’s Bryan Mall Residential High Rise Renovation. He earned both his bachelor of science in architecture and his master of archi tecture at Clemson University. Tiara Williams, AIA, NOMA, is one of only three licensed African American female architects in South Carolina. She is helping to launch the state’s chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). She earned her bachelor of science in architecture at South University A&M College.

EDUCATION

The board of directors for the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Foundation added four members: Mindie deVeer, arts advocate; Brian Harris, senior IT auditor, BlueC ross BlueShield of South Carolina; Fain McDaniel, retired partner, KPMG; and Jonnika Wilson, senior HR analyst, The Timken Company.

First Citizens Bank and First Citi zens Wealth Management are donating $20,000 to the South Carolina Gover nor’s School for the Arts and Humanities over the next two years. First Citizens has supported the school for more than 20 years, contributing more than $100,000 in the last 5 years to assist the school’s students, fund professional development in under-resourced counties, and help bring guest artists to the school for mas ter classes.

PEOPLE, PLACES AND HAPPENINGS ACROSS THE MIDLANDS

FINANCIAL SERVICES

New to the McGregor & Company account ing staff is Chanell Jackson. She holds a bachelor of business administration from the University of South Carolina and a mas ter of accounting from Strayer University. Previously, Jackson worked as a financial analyst, financial accountant, and payroll manager.

TD Bank has named Jacob Yost as senior relationship manager. The position covers South Carolina’s south coast market. Yost’s experience includes commercial banking, commercial real estate lending, and global payments and foreign exchange. Prior to joining TD Bank, he was a middle-market relationship manag er for JPMorgan Chase. He has also served as a relationship manager for both Bank of America and Wells Fargo.

GOVERNMENT SERVICES

Shannon Chambers, senior director of provider solutions at the South Carolina Office of Rural Health (SCORH), received the 2022 SORH Inno vation Award from the National Orga nization of State Offices of Rural Health during the organization’s annual confer ence. The award goes to a State Office of Rural Health member who demonstrates creative and engaging community out reach, programs, and activities to advance rural health.

LRADAC, the Lexington/Richland Alco hol and Drug Abuse Council, has been named one of the Top Woman-Led Orga nizations in the U.S. for 2022. The honor recognizes the leadership of the council’s president and CEO, Gayle Aycock.

HEALTH CARE

The Columbia World Affairs Council pre sented its 2022 Global Vision Award to Jim Chow, MD, senior partner at Columbia Skin Clinic and retired Air Force brigadier general. A graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Chow went to Vanderbilt Uni versity Medical Center for a wound-heal ing fellowship and dermatology residency

and to Harvard University for an advanced cutaneous laser post fellowship. He com pleted his Mohs surgery and dermatologic surgery fellowship at Johns Hopkins Medi cal Institution. Chow continued his service as a member of the Board of Medical Exam iners and is a clinical faculty member at the USC School of Medicine.

The South Carolina Office of Rural Health honored six rural healthcare provid ers and community members at its 25th Annual Rural Health Conference. The Rural Practitioner of the Year Award went to Trey Moore, MD, a family medicine physician at Abbeville Area Medical Cen ter. The Outstanding Community Health Project or Initiative Award went to Tide lands Community Care Network. The Power of Rural Award went to the Rural Resource Coalition.

The Rural Health Provider of the Year Award went to Allendale County Hospi tal, one of the only remaining indepen dent hospitals in the state.The Award of Excellence went to Dee Robinson, deputy director of the Tri-County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. The Pioneer Award went to Oscar Lovelace, MD, a family medicine physician in Prosperity.

LAW

Grace Babcock has begun to prac tice personal injury law—including motor vehicle crashes, seri ous injuries, wrong ful death, and class actions—at Richard son Thomas. Babcock graduated cum laude from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where she served as staff development editor for the ABA Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Journal and earned a CALI award in trial advocacy. She did her undergraduate work in sociology at North Carolina State Uni versity, graduating magna cum laude.

The McKay Firm’s new associate is Wesley Harkness. Harkness practices in the areas of trucking and transportation defense, premises lia bility, construction defense, government and Section 1983 defense, business and employment litigation, and general lia bility defense. Previously, he served as a judicial law clerk for Debra R. McCaslin, resident judge for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Harkness received his juris doctor from Charleston School of Law.

Gary T. Pope Jr., a public finance attorney with Pope Flynn, has completed a year-long program with the South Carolina Economic Development Institute. Pope has built his practice in the field of public finance, serving as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, and issuer’s counsel for public entities issuing municipal bonds. He holds a bachelor of arts from the University of the South, where he graduated with distinction; a juris doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law; and an international master of business administration from USC’s Darla Moore School of Business.

MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Flock and Rally’s new managing director is Tracy Bender, who also leads the client services division. After graduating from the Universi ty of South Carolina with a bachelor’s in advertising, Bender held a variety of agen cy, corporate, and nonprofit roles in the Midlands. Most recently, she was director of marketing for Terminix Service.

REAL ESTATE

Carolina Sky Real Estate now had an office in Columbia. Founded in December 2021, Carolina Sky Real Estate is an independent, locally owned residential and commercial real estate brokerage with locations in South Carolina and North Carolina.

TECHNOLOGY

Savannah River National Laborato ry has selected Carol Kestin for its 2022 Donald Orth Lifetime Achievement Award, the laboratory’s high est honor for technical excellence and leader ship. Kestin serves as an advisory engineer in the weapons production technology directorate, applying her expertise in mate rials readiness performance evaluations in weapons and gas transfer systems through materials/metallurgical characterizations. Kestin also serves as the lab’s ambassador to the National Nuclear Security Admin istration Nuclear Weapons Complex Sur veillance Program.

Submit items using our online submission portal: www.SodaCityBizWire.com. Publication is subject to editorial discretion.

Williams Abrams

Yost

Chambers

Chow

Babcock

Pope Bender

Kestin

Harkness

Welding supplier celebrates grand opening of Cayce location

By Melinda Waldrop mwaldrop@scbiznews.com

Gas and Supply, a welding supply distributor with locations in seven states, celebrated the ribbon cutting of its new Cayce location last month.

Founded in 1981, the company provides services to customers ranging from international organizations to backyard welders. It has locations in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas, with additional S.C. stores in Newberry and North Charleston.

Columbia-based Hill Construction oversaw the renovation of a former bingo hall at 1148 Walter Price Road into a 14,300-square-foot warehouse and showroom. New flooring, paint and slat walls were installed in the showroom, while existing walls in the secondary building were demolished and the structure converted into a storage building. A new concrete parking lot was also added.

New infill development planned for Forest Acres

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

Columbia-based Cypress Development Partners LLC will build five new homes along Valley Road in the heart of Forest Acres.

“We are excited to be delivering these new-construction homes in an infill location with very little current inventory,” Cypress partner Tyler Baldwin Jr. said in a news release. “These homes include the master bedroom on the first floor, making them a great fit for families, empty-nest-

ers or folks who work from home.”

The homes are currently under construction by Columbia-based custom home builder The Wilson Co. The four-bedroom homes range in size from 2,291 to 2,474 square feet, have two-car garages and feature Hardie Plank siding with a brick skirt exterior. The first home is expected to be completed before year’s end.

The homes include open floor plans with plenty of storage options, along with modern finishes. The master suite offers a large bathroom with a separate show-

er and tub and walk-in closet. Kitchens feature white quartz countertops, shaker-style, white-painted cabinets, an island and pantry, and Samsung stainless steel appliances.

“The quality of the finishes is superb and have been carefully curated to appeal to homeowners from both a high esthetic sense of value and durability,” said Evan Wilson, president of The Wilson Co. “These homes are built to last a lifetime. Any time we build infill projects in high-impact locations like Forest Acres, it’s important that the quality of the offer-

ing meets the standards of existing neighborhoods.”

Calhoun McMeekin of Wolfe & Taylor Inc. is marketing the project.

Cypress Development Partners purchased the 1.5-acre parcel that included a single rental home, which was torn down, and subdivided the property into five lots for the infill project.

Cypress is also part of the development team for St. Anns Alley, an urban infill community of 34 single-family homes in West Columbia’s growing River District.

SC unemployment rate rises to 3.2% in September estimate

By Christina Lee Knauss cknauss@scbiznews.com

South Carolina’s unemployment rate increased to 3.2% in September from August’s estimate of 3.1%, according to data released Oct. 21 by the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.

During September, the state saw a decrease of 1,400 nonfarm payroll jobs, according to the DEW report, with declines reported in trade, transportation and utilities, construction, government, and other services. Industries that reported gains were professional and business services, information, education and health services, financial activities and manufacturing.

The national unemployment rate for September decreased to 3.5% from 3.7%.

The seasonally adjusted monthly survey estimated the number of South Carolin-

ians working at 2,315,768, a decrease from 4,431 from August and an increase of 35,534 workers over Sept. 21 estimates, the report said.

The number of unemployed people in the state rose from 74,539 to 75,424, an increase of 903 people from the September estimate but still 13,958 less than were unemployed in Sept. 2021.

The state’s estimated labor force, which includes people working plus those looking for work, decreased to 2,391,192, a drop of 3,528 from August’s estimate but still 21,576 more than Sept. 2021.

Richland County’s unemployment rate decreased to 3.1% from 3.3%, and Lexington County decreased from 2.6% to 2.5%.

The Columbia metropolitan statistical area added 1,300 jobs from August to September, while the Charleston/North Charleston area lost 400 and Greenville/

Anderson/Mauldin lost 500.

“Wages in South Carolina are at an alltime high and the state is overflowing with job opportunities,” Dan Ellzey, executive director of DEW, said in a news release. “While unemployment has edged up slightly and employment has dropped, overall the numbers have remained steady and strong for the last several months.”

Ellzey noted that there are currently 106,000 open jobs with average hourly earnings at $28.59 posted at SC Works Online Services.

DEW also announced a staff addition, naming Nina Staggers the new assistant executive director of workforce development. In her new position, Staggers will be responsible for the direction and administrative oversight of federal workforce programs, according to a news release from DEW. She will also develop funded

initiatives to address barriers keeping people from obtaining employment in highgrowth, high-demand occupations.

“I’m excited to transition into this new role at the agency,” Staggers said. “From the workforce development team to support staff, everyone at our agency is passionate about assisting South Carolinians in finding work, gaining financial independence, strengthening local businesses and improving communities through our workforce efforts.”

She previously served as the deputy assistant executive director of workforce development at the agency since Feb. 2021 and has worked at DEW for more than seven years. During her tenure at DEW, she has served as a project coordinator, director of grants management and director of special initiatives within the workforce development division.

Gas and Supply celebrated the grand opening of its new location in Cayce last month. The welding supply distributor was founded in 1981 and has locations in seven stores, including additional S.C. locations in Newberry and North Charleston. (Photo/Provided)

Viewpoint

VIEWS, PERSPECTIVES AND READERS’ LETTERS

Minority women key to solving SC cybersecurity workforce shortage

Cyberattacks continue to target our major employers, government offices, healthcare systems, and utility infrastructure. In 2021 alone, cybercrime damage cost businesses in the U.S. more than $6.9 billion, according to noted cybersecurity expert Chuck Brooks, president of Brooks Consulting International.

The threat of a devastating cybersecurity attack remains present across South Carolina. In spring of 2020, cybercriminals infiltrated the computer networks of Blackbaud, a South Carolina-based cloud-computing provider. Ten years after a massive data breach of the S.C. Department of Revenue that exposed the tax returns of 6.4 million residents and businesses, the federal investigation remains open.

Our problem in combating cybercrime is that organizations cannot protect themselves without a talented workforce trained in cybersecurity. Despite the critical need for more talent, a

workforce shortage persists at an alarming rate: there are more than 700,000 cybersecurity job openings in the U.S. — including 7,340 in South Carolina.

If solving this problem was as easy as offering competitive salaries, there wouldn’t be a shortage. There is a lot to be done to fill these vacancies, but one solution is to support and encourage populations who might not otherwise think to enter the IT field to do so. For example, Black, Latina, and Native American (BLNA) women represent approximately 16% of the total U.S. population, yet they make up only 4% of students obtaining bachelor’s degrees in computing. By training and preparing BLNA women to pursue a career in cybersecurity, we are not only alleviating this shortage, but introducing fresh, qualified talent into our workforce.

Nationwide, only 25% of tech graduates are women, with a dropout rate of 37% for tech classes compared to 30% for other programs.

If this trend continues, the number of underrepresented women of color receiving computing degrees will not double until 2052 — by which time they will represent an increasingly smaller proportion of all graduates.

To increase the number of BLNA women pursuing cybersecurity, we need to show them that we want them in this field and will provide the support they need to get here. South Carolina is home to multiple community colleges and organizations focused on entry-level training and career pathways for those

considering a career in cybersecurity. For example, Trident Technical College in Charleston offers certificates and associate degrees in cybersecurity.

Western Governors University (WGU) is providing support to BLNA women pursuing cybersecurity even earlier in the pipeline: Reboot Representation Tech Coalition, a group of 21 leading tech companies that are committed to doubling the number of BLNA women receiving computing degrees by 2025, recently awarded the university a Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers for Women in Tech grant of nearly $1 million dollars to significantly increase the number of BLNA women receiving undergraduate IT degrees at WGU by 2025.

While 61% of WGU students are women, the university’s BLNA enrollment in its College of Information Technology closely resembles the national average. Through the Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers for Women in Tech grant, BLNA women at WGU will have expanded access to peer and coaching support, admissions-process support, leadership development training, and financial aid grants in their pursuit of baccalaureate IT degrees. To find out more about becoming a student via the grant support, visit www.wgu. edu/b4women.

Every day, hackers and cybercriminals launch new, sophisticated computer viruses, malware, and scams that threaten the data our society relies upon. We have seen firsthand the devastating effect cybercrimes have in South Carolina,

which serve a key role in national security efforts with offices for the FBI and IRS, among other federal and state agencies.

We must rise to the challenge of better protecting invaluable data at top organizations and by creating talent pipelines that connect those organizations with homegrown candidates in South Carolina.

WGU recognizes the urgent need to provide more women of color access to industry-relevant technology education to prepare them for thriving-wage, in-demand careers in the technology sector. Doing so not only helps them to support their families but also will be a positive step to protecting South Carolina businesses and residents from cybersecurity attacks.

Dwana Franklin-Davis is the CEO of Reboot Representation. She is a collaborative and compelling visionary leading the Tech Coalition’s pooled philanthropic investments that enable Black, Latina, and Native American women to graduate with computing degrees by 2025 and lessen the diversity gap in tech.

Ben Coulter, Ed.D. is Regional Director for Western Governors University’s Southeast Region.

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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