In 2021, Richland County Development Office attracted $359.6 million in new investments, the second-highest on record. In 2020, the county saw $638 million in new capital investment, with $400 million of that coming from the nation’s fourth-largest brewery, Mark Anthony Brewing.
The county’s goal is to build a diverse + dynamic economy to increase prosperity for all residents.
Let’s look at a breakdown of investment dollars and jobs created:
$131 Million
- The amount Westinghouse will invest in coming years for facility development + environmental safety improvements.
$60 million | 702 jobs
- BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina will continue to grow over the next five years. As the top employer in Richland County, it aims to become one of the region’s largest employers through coming expansions.
$55 million | 330 jobs
- Over the next three to five years, Tyson Foods — one of the world’s largest companies — plans to reestablish its facility at 1970 Bluff Rd. for meat portioning and packing operations.
$46 million | 100 jobs
- Operating in Columbia since 1999, American Spiralweld Pipe Company will increase capacity to support demand in the booming utility construction sector.
$20 million | 135 jobs
- Intertape Polymer Group — a protective packaging and protective solutions company located in Blythewood — will invest in expanding its current facility and the curbside recyclable paper mailer operations.
$9.2 million
- Magnus — a developer providing industrial real estate solutions — has partnered with Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) to build 803 Industrial Park, a 204,000 sqft shell building to help the county attract an industrial user.
$4.1 million | 31 jobs
- IMCS — a biotech company that started in the USC-Columbia Technology Incubator — continues to grow to meet the needs of clinical + research laboratories through innovative technologies and custom solutions that increase testing efficiency.
$3.6 million | 17 jobs
- AvanTech — a wastewater and radioactive waste treatment solutions provider — is investing in its Columbia operation to support increased demand for its integrated design, engineering, and fabrication services. The expansion is expected to be completed in stages over the next three years.
The progress:
Since 2012, Richland County has seen 2.3 billion in investments, 50,000 employed in manufacturing within a 60-minute drive, 8,393 jobs created, and 1,970 acres of land controlled by the county.
$400 million | 300 jobs
- In 2020, Mark Anthony Brewing announced it would build the largest state-of-the-art brewing and packaging facility constructed in the US in the past 25 years. Thus far, the company has hired 163 employees.
- The new plant, which began producing products in Nov. 2021, makes White Claw hard seltzer, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, and Cayman Jack cocktails.
- It is constructing a $4.5 million, one-mile rail spur to Mark Anthony Brewing. The rail spur construction will allow the location to load and unload railcars.
The future and top target industries:
For all industries, the median age of employees is 34.5 — the youngest in the state. The goal is to retain young talent by offering great places to work in various sectors.
The Richland County Economic Development Office focuses on high-level development by supporting entrepreneurs in the Midlands.
The technology sector will remain a focus as the county looks to expand seed capital sources, build an infrastructure for IT-related needs, promote growth by creating awareness, develop the workforce, and attract operations to our area.
Top targets the county is looking for in the future:
- Financial Services
- Aerospace
- Software + IT Services
- Medical Devices
- Healthcare IT
- Biotechnology