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I-85 Improvement Project Updates

By LARRY HILLIARD
Ledger Staff Writer
larry@gaffneyledger.com

The S.C. Economic Developers’ Association awarded Jim Cook, executive director of the Cherokee County Development Board, its Local Developer of the Year award during the 2022 SCEDA annual conference, held May 4-6 at the Sonesta Resort in Hilton Head.

Cook has been a member of SCEDA and part of the economic development community for 15 years.

Since 2005, SCEDA has presented an award to the individual who best exemplifies leadership in the state’s economic development efforts, according to a news release. SCEDA’s Economic Developer of the Year Award is given in recognition of the winner’s involvement in leading innovative programs, overcoming obstacles and impactful efforts in the community.

During his tenure as executive director of the Cherokee County Development Board, Cook has played an instrumental role in closing 53 projects and fostering new and existing industries resulting in approximately $1.2 billion in new capital investment and 3,800 new jobs, the release said.

Cook, an Army veteran, says he was shocked to receive the award and felt honored that he was considered.

“I served my country and then continued to serve my county,” he said in the release. “These last 15 years have not been a job; I consider this role a mission and a service that I am extremely proud of.”

John Lummus, president and CEO of Upstate SC Alliance said Cook is highly respected in the Upstate and throughout the state.

“Jim has helped us as local economic developers in the Upstate work better,” Lummus said in the release. “He has challenged us to look at economic development as a team sport, not an individual activity.”

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE INVESTS $3.3 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS TO BOOST TOURISM-RELATED BUSINESS AND JOB GROWTH IN GAFFNEY, SOUTH CAROLINA

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.3 million grant to the city of Gaffney, South Carolina, to create a new Revolutionary War Discovery Center and revitalize the local tourism industry. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.

This project will boost the local tourism industry by bringing new visitors to the city, its businesses, and attractions. This EDA grant will be matched with $2 million in local funds.

“President Biden is committed to harnessing the full power of the federal government to ensure our nation not only recovers from this pandemic but builds a better America,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment will boost Cherokee County’s critical tourism and hospitality industries while building resiliency in the region’s economy.”

“The travel and tourism industry is the linchpin of many local economies across the country,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “We are pleased to support Gaffney’s strategy to bring new businesses and jobs to the region by transforming the former Carnegie Free Library into a Revolutionary War Discovery Center that will highlight the region’s contributions to the American Revolution.”

“Between Kings Mountain State Park and Cowpens National Battlefield, there’s such a rich collection of Revolutionary War history in our region,” said Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05). “This makes Gaffney the ideal location for a new Revolutionary War Discovery Center, and I cannot wait to see this endeavor come to fruition. Not only will it benefit tourism in Cherokee County, but it will also help preserve our nation’s history and story for generations to come.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the South Carolina Appalachian Council of Governments (SCACOG). EDA funds SCACOG to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

This project is funded under EDA’s $240 million competitive American Rescue Plan Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program. EDA awarded $510 million in grants to all 50 states and territories in 2021. The two programs are designed to accelerate the recovery of communities that rely on the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE INVESTS $3.3 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS TO BOOST TOURISM-RELATED BUSINESS AND JOB GROWTH IN GAFFNEY, SOUTH CAROLINA

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.3 million grant to the city of Gaffney, South Carolina, to create a new Revolutionary War Discovery Center and revitalize the local tourism industry. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.

This project will boost the local tourism industry by bringing new visitors to the city, its businesses, and attractions. This EDA grant will be matched with $2 million in local funds.

“President Biden is committed to harnessing the full power of the federal government to ensure our nation not only recovers from this pandemic but builds a better America,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment will boost Cherokee County’s critical tourism and hospitality industries while building resiliency in the region’s economy.”

“The travel and tourism industry is the linchpin of many local economies across the country,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “We are pleased to support Gaffney’s strategy to bring new businesses and jobs to the region by transforming the former Carnegie Free Library into a Revolutionary War Discovery Center that will highlight the region’s contributions to the American Revolution.”

“Between Kings Mountain State Park and Cowpens National Battlefield, there’s such a rich collection of Revolutionary War history in our region,” said Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05). “This makes Gaffney the ideal location for a new Revolutionary War Discovery Center, and I cannot wait to see this endeavor come to fruition. Not only will it benefit tourism in Cherokee County, but it will also help preserve our nation’s history and story for generations to come.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the South Carolina Appalachian Council of Governments (SCACOG). EDA funds SCACOG to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

This project is funded under EDA’s $240 million competitive American Rescue Plan Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program. EDA awarded $510 million in grants to all 50 states and territories in 2021. The two programs are designed to accelerate the recovery of communities that rely on the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

By Dr. Michael Mikota, President, Spartanburg Community College

With just shy of $2 billion in economic development investment flowing into Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties in the last year and an ever-changing and evolving economy, there must be a serious and dedicated focus on ensuring we are providing an education that is innovative and of un-paralleled quality. That said, the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged higher education institutions across the country resulting in the largest two-year decline in undergraduate enrollment in the last 50 years.

At Spartanburg Community College, we’re meeting this challenge head-on.

In May, we utilized federal COVID-19 funding and worked with strategic partners such as OneSpartanburg Inc., Spartanburg Academic Movement and the Bringing Back the Burg Business Recovery Task Force to virtually eliminate tuition for the 2021-2022 academic year — focusing especially on re-engaging individuals who at some point were forced to put their educational pursuits on pause.

As a result, enrollment was up 32% in fall 2021 versus 2019, marking the highest total enrollment in the college’s history with 6,097 students enrolled across our five campuses. To underscore the magnificence of this statistic, it’s important to note the South Carolina Technical College System, made up of 16 technical colleges across the state, saw an 8.3% decline in enrollment this fall while community colleges nationwide experienced a 17.6% decline over the same time period.

Further, SCC saw an unprecedented 66% increase in our students aged 24 and older as well as significant increases in our minority populations.

Our success has not gone without notice. Just one day following the announcement of the success of our free tuition initiative in November, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced he would establish a $17 million scholarship to offer free tuition for the upcoming spring semester at state technical colleges for those looking to go into high-demand fields such as distribution and logistics, health care, computer science and manufacturing.

But simply eliminating the financial barrier to an education is just one piece in the equation. We must remain innovative, relevant and maintain our status as a leader in education in order to foster growth at all facets. In order to do this, we are working to invest in research and development to ensure our students have access to the most up-to-date information and the technology currently being utilized in their prospective fields.

We are also diligently working to strengthen partnerships with the community and K-12 schools specifically by investing in new, innovative positions such as our College Transition Coordinators, who serve as counselors to help high school students in our service area prepare for the next steps in their education and workforce preparation. Through this engagement, we aim to bring the community together and help sustain economic growth by ensuring a well-managed talent pipeline is cultivated and allowed to flourish.

SCC also has a momentous seat at the table when considering the burgeoning opportunities we have in our area for economic development. Presiding over the largest stretch of the I-85 corridor in the Upstate of South Carolina, SCC and our Spark Centers — economic accelerators positioned to help entrepreneurs and businesses launch, build, expand and reorganize — have been a crucial component of driving that growth over the last 14 years.

To date, the Spark Centers have served 128 companies, helped create more than 52,000 jobs generating some $3.5 billion in total wage earnings and, based on their record of performance, projections show they will directly impact the creation of 1,000 jobs annually through the services they provide.

At Spartanburg Community College, with the adaptations we’ve put into place and are continuing to develop, we no longer wish to be considered a “hidden gem.” Instead, we strive to be the shining beacon on the hill that provides the blueprint for educating the workforce of the future and serves as the engine of economic growth for the Upstate.

Dr. Michael Mikota has served as president of Spartanburg Community College since July 2020. A native of Gaffney, Dr. Mikota holds a bachelor’s degree from Wofford College, an MBA from Gardner-Webb University, a Ph.D. from Clemson University, and previously served as a senior analyst for the U.S. Government Accountability Office in Washington, D.C.

The Upstate SC Alliance congratulates Cherokee County Development Board on the following announcement:

Somnus Mattress International LLC establishing operations in Cherokee County

$13 million investment to create 55 new jobs

Somnus Mattress International LLC, a manufacturer of hybrid, memory foam mattresses, plans to establish operations in Cherokee County. The company’s $13 million investment will create 55 new jobs.

Somnus Mattress International LLC produces multi-layer mattresses that combine memory foam with an innerspring system. The mattresses are compressible and roll packable, which leads to more efficient shipping.

Located at 210 Henson Road in Blacksburg, Somnus Mattress International LLC’s Cherokee County operations will manufacture mattresses to serve clients across the United States.

Operations are expected to be online in March 2022. Individuals interested in joining the Somnus Mattress International LLC team should email joe.hassan@westgatehome.com.

QUOTES

“Somnus Mattress International LLC is excited to open its new mattress factory in Blacksburg, South Carolina. We choose South Carolina for our expansion project because of the business-friendly environment and its skilled workforce. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship and will definitely consider South Carolina for all future projects.” -Somnus Mattress International LLC Managing Partner David Li

“South Carolina has proven itself to be an ideal place for businesses to grow, and Somnus Mattress International LLC’s new operations in Cherokee County are further testament to that. We welcome Somnus Mattress International LLC to South Carolina and look forward to their success as they grow to serve their U.S. customers.” -Gov. Henry McMaster

“Today, we celebrate yet another economic win in South Carolina. Somnus Mattress International LLC’s operations in Cherokee County, along with the $13 million investment and 55 new jobs they are creating, will make a big impact in the local community. Congratulations and welcome to South Carolina.” -Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

“This is another win for Cherokee County! We are excited that Somnus Mattress International LLC has decided to locate in Blacksburg. We are looking forward to working with the management team to ensure their continued success.” -Cherokee County Council Chairman Tim Spencer

FIVE FAST FACTS

• Somnus Mattress International LLC is establishing operations in Cherokee County.
• $13 million investment to create 55 new jobs.
• Somnus Mattress International LLC manufactures hybrid, memory foam mattresses.
• Located at 210 Henson Road in Blacksburg, S.C.
• Individuals interested in joining the Somnus Mattress International LLC team should email joe.hassan@westgatehome.com

Landscapes are changing all around from the success in the Upstate but especially in Cherokee County. Jim Cook, the Executive Director for the Cherokee County Development Board, joins Kara Gormey Meador + Burnie Maybank to discuss expansion and growth in the county and the diverse industries it hosts.

 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE INVESTS $3.3 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS TO BOOST TOURISM-RELATED BUSINESS AND JOB GROWTH IN GAFFNEY, SOUTH CAROLINA

 

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3.3 million grant to the city of Gaffney, South Carolina, to create a new Revolutionary War Discovery Center and revitalize the local tourism industry. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.

This project will boost the local tourism industry by bringing new visitors to the city, its businesses, and attractions. This EDA grant will be matched with $2 million in local funds.

“President Biden is committed to harnessing the full power of the federal government to ensure our nation not only recovers from this pandemic but builds a better America,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment will boost Cherokee County’s critical tourism and hospitality industries while building resiliency in the region’s economy.”

“The travel and tourism industry is the linchpin of many local economies across the country,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “We are pleased to support Gaffney’s strategy to bring new businesses and jobs to the region by transforming the former Carnegie Free Library into a Revolutionary War Discovery Center that will highlight the region’s contributions to the American Revolution.”

“Between Kings Mountain State Park and Cowpens National Battlefield, there’s such a rich collection of Revolutionary War history in our region,” said Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05). “This makes Gaffney the ideal location for a new Revolutionary War Discovery Center, and I cannot wait to see this endeavor come to fruition. Not only will it benefit tourism in Cherokee County, but it will also help preserve our nation’s history and story for generations to come.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the South Carolina Appalachian Council of Governments (SCACOG). EDA funds SCACOG to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

This project is funded under EDA’s $240 million competitive American Rescue Plan Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program. EDA awarded $510 million in grants to all 50 states and territories in 2021. The two programs are designed to accelerate the recovery of communities that rely on the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

 

DHL Supply Chain announced on April 7 it will invest more than $92.7 million to establish operations in Cherokee County and create 249 new jobs.

The company provides customized logistics solutions based on globally standardized warehousing, transportation and integrated services components.

“DHL Supply Chain is excited to once again partner with the state of South Carolina to grow our logistics presence in a very desirable market,” said Carl DeLuca, DHL Supply Chain head of real estate solutions, Americas. “We are a firm believer that our investment in the Palmetto State will further solidify our market leadership position in the supply chain and logistics industry.”

DHL’s new 1.3-million-square-foot warehouse, located at 600 Webber Road in Cowpens, is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2022.

To apply for open positions at the company’s Cowpens facility, visit workfordhl.com.