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Aiken
& Edgefield Counties, South Carolina
With
the combination of work force, transportation amenities, and
ready-to-go sites, Aiken/Edgefield wins the "Triple Crown."
By John
L. Tobiah
History, tradition, and rich southern charm make Aiken &
Edgefield Counties in South Carolina extremely alluring. Framed
by Columbia, SC and Augusta, GA, this graceful community has
been a racehorse- training site and playground for the wealthy
since the late 1800s. But when it comes to providing the right
location for corporate success, the area exchanges its genteel
ways for a direct, determined approach.
As a result
of this decidedly pro-business attitude, Aiken/Edgefield has
ranked among the top three small markets in the South for
five of the last ten years, according to Southern Business
& Development magazine. Amid intense competition, Aiken/Edgefield
has earned this distinction for its proven record of drawing
new companies along with continued investment from its existing
industry base.
The combination
of a well-trained work force, low construction costs, outstanding
tax incentives, a solid transportation infrastructure and
a great quality of life have made Aiken/Edgefield the frontrunner
in so many corporate decisions. Together, the two counties
are home to a diverse industry mix. Local Fortune 500 companies
include Kimberly Clark Corporation, Carlisle Tire & Wheel,
Automatic Switch Company (Emerson Electric), and Pepperidge
Farm Corporation (Campbells Soup Company), and United Defense
LP (FMC).
A strong
global presence has also emerged in the area. Many companies
with international parents, such as Bridgestone/Firestone
South Carolina (Japan), GlaxoSmithKline (United Kingdom),
SKF USA (Sweden), UCB Chemicals (Belgium) and Rieter (Switzerland)
call the community home as well.
Believing
that the strength of a community lies within its existing
industry base, Aiken/Edgefield is committed to providing "service
after the sale" to all of its companies. "There
are no more important companies than the ones that already
call our community their home," explains Fred Humes,
director of the Aiken-Edgefield Economic Development Partnership
"Over two-thirds of new capital investment and job creation
originates from expanding industry, indicating a strong sense
of satisfaction from our existing companies."
Newcomers
and companies that have been in Aiken/Edgefield for decades
attest to the exceptional productivity of local workers in
relation to other areas of the U.S. With an area-wide population
of 500,000 (in the Aiken,SC -Augusta, GA MSA), Aiken/Edgefield
offers a work force of 73,000. Another 250,000 workers are
within a 45-minute drive.
Aiken/Edgefield
also boasts a particularly large number of highly skilled,
educated workers for a community its size. The presence of
the Savannah River Site, which has been charged with developing
technology for the U.S. government since 1950, provides a
constant flow of technology-oriented individuals.
In addition
to the large, technically skilled work force, most plant managers
cite the community's concentrated transportation grid as a
primary reason for locating in Aiken/Edgefield. More than
two-thirds of the U.S. population is within a one-day drive
of the area. And, this South Carolina location sits directly
on Interstate 20, making it particularly ideal for companies
that serve the growing Southern Automotive Corridor.
With its
tradition of excellence, Aiken/Edgefield is also preparing
for 21st Century growth sectors. For example, an initiative
at the nearby Savannah River Site involves applied research
with medical isotopes. The opportunity for commercialization
of this burgeoning technology opens superb opportunities for
nuclear medicine companies, pharmaceutical firms, cryogenics
companies and similar endeavors. In addition, the Savannah
River Site is home to the world's leading experts on hydrogen-powered
fuel cells, a technology that also has strong future-potential.
Clearly,
Aiken/Edgefield is leveraging its brainpower and its technology
to drive its future. In addition, area leaders are actively
developing sites to house the diverse and growing industry
base. In Aiken County, Sage Mill Center for Advanced Technology
offers a perfect location for companies using robotics or
other sophisticated manufacturing processes. Edgefield County
is home to the area's newest industrial park, an ideal site
for most types of manufacturing
In the
end, it's the combination of work force, transportation options,
and industrial sites that put Aiken/Edgefield in a "photo
finish" for so many deals. However, quality of life is
where the community makes one of its strongest showings. If
your company is looking for the opportunity to be close to
two major metros, but out of the busy lifestyle; to have all
of the big city amenities, but at a quieter pace, look no
further than Aiken/Edgefield, South Carolina.
For more
information on Aiken & Edgefield Counties, visit www.edpsc.org
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