Press Release
Contact: Florence County Economic Development Partnership – Kyle Edney
Phone: (843) 676-8796
For Release March 16, 2009 EST
Florence, South Carolina
Florence Named on of the Top Metropolitan Areas in the United States by Site Selection Magazine
Site Selection magazine’s 2008 ranking of top metropolitan areas for new and expanding facilities placed Florence 5th in the United States for communities with a population between 50,000 and 200,000. The community announced eight projects in 2008 that will create over 1,500 new jobs and bring $161 million in new capital investment.
“2008 was an outstanding year for both job creation and capital investment for Florence County and it’s citizens” said Florence County Council Chairman K.G. “Rusty” Smith. “As I have repeatedly stated, the number one priority of Florence County Council is economic development. We will continue working diligently to build on this positive momentum and further enhance a pro-business climate that encourages both new and existing businesses to grow and flourish in our community.”
Announcements from 2008 include new corporate citizens H.J. Heinz Company (pre-packaged frozen entrees), Monster.com (customer care facility), Dunline Rubber Products (endless preshrinking rubber belts), and Wellman Plastics Recycling (engineering resins/plastics). Expansions were also announced by existing businesses McCall Farms (canned and frozen foods), International Knife and Saw (knife and saw blades), Assurant Specialty Property (insurance processing center), and GE Healthcare (MRI machinery).
“We are excited and pleased to receive this positive recognition,” stated Florence County Economic Development Chairman Dr. Charles Gould. “This is further evidence of the strategic advantages our community offers businesses, and is also a testament to the teamwork and collaboration exhibited by Florence City and County Councils, our elected officials, the State of South Carolina, Florence County Progress, and our many other economic development allies that contribute each day to help us accomplish our mission of creating quality jobs for the citizens of Florence County and continuing to diversify and expand the tax base.”
Florence finished just behind Danville, VA and Decatur AL, who tied for third with nine total projects. Springfield, OH was second with ten. The top ranking was awarded to Sioux City, SD.
For more information on Florence County Economic Development Partnership, please visit www.fcedp.com or contact our office at 843-676-8796.
