BISHOPVILLE – A Lee County native and a mainstay in local industrial management was recently honored by Gov. Mark Sanford and the Department of Commerce as part of South Carolina’s 19th Annual Industry Appreciation Week. Bill Hopkins, born and raised in the Cedar Creek community of Lee County, is currently serving as the purchasing manager for REXAM in Bishopville. He has worked at the Reeves Brothers plant and later as manager for the Dorby Frocks Distribution Center. Hopkins is credited for his efforts in the location and expansion of Roller Bearing Corporation of America and PA Packaging, said Lee County Economic Alliance Director Jeff Burgess. He also played a role in the recruitment of Kellve Bulkteknik and Ahlstrom Specialty, Burgess said. Hopkins was recognized recently at a ceremony held at the Governor’s Mansion Complex that singled out 49 individuals from 46 counties for their exceptional efforts to bolster community and economic development activities in South Carolina. “His knowledge of the community and workforce has been indispensable in these industry prospect meetings,” Burgess said. “Bill is on the alliance’s board of directors and he is a valuable resource for us when we have new industry looking at our county,” Burgess said. “He understands the industrial world. He knows how it works. He can tell prospects about the work force in Lee County and what to expect. He’s a good man, and he has the strongest work ethic I’ve ever come across.” Sanford said the state remains committed to bettering the business environment to encourage economic growth among existing business and attract new investments to South Carolina. “Fundamental reforms like workers’ comp reform, tort reform and income tax relief have increased our state’s competitive edge and provided fertile ground for businesses to grow, invest and create jobs here. ” Sanford said. “Our state’s successes could not be achieved without the help and efforts of community and business leaders in every corner of the state and we say thank to these ambassadors for economic development for their efforts to create jobs and economic opportunity in South Carolina.” Secretary of Commerce Joel Taylor said the local ambassadors have given their energy and talents above and beyond to enhance their communities and make South Carolina a better place to live and work. “Businesses small and large have contributed greatly to South Carolina’s economy with investments, job creation and community involvement,” Taylor said. Industry Appreciation Week and its various activities such as naming the local ambassadors is a time for the state to recognize the contributions of businesses, industries and community leaders for their continued commitment to growing economic opportunity in South Carolina, Taylor said. “Each year the Department of Commerce joins local communities to thank business and industry for its vital contributions to South Carolina’s economy,” Taylor said. “The Department of Commerce kicks off Industry Appreciation Week each year by recognizing Ambassadors for Economic Development. These individuals include local leaders from the private sector representing a variety of businesses and economic development organizations committed to securing new jobs and investment in their communities.”

BISHOPVILLE – After operating at its Bishopville plant for about 18 months, Ahlstrom Inc. of Finland is ready to carry out a major expansion at the local facility. The official announcement was made at a ceremony at the Bishopville plant on Wednesday. Ahlstrom Vice President Dan Jonsas said the decision to expand was based upon the performance of the Bishopville facility since it opened in January 2007.

“It’s a miracle what has happened here in less than two years,” Jonsas said. “It’s a big accomplishment.”

The plant produces fiberglass products used in wind energy, marine and transport industries, said Wayne Merritt, general manager of the Bishopville facility.

The company plans to invest about $9.2 million in new knitting and weaving equipment and increase its work force from 68 to 125, Merritt said. The expansion, which will not require additional space, is expected to be completed by the end of the year, he said.

Mike Briggs, president of the Central S.C. Alliance, said the expansion is a credit to both the community and employees of Ahlstrom.

“This is an expansion project,” Briggs said. “Expansions are not granted. They are earned. This is huge … We are blessed to have a world-class company that believes in this community, this plant and the workers.”

State Sen. Phil Leventis, D-Sumter, said Ahlstrom’s decision to expand speaks well for the community.

“You can’t build a reputation on promises,” he said. “Reputations are based on performance.”

In a formal statement issued in a news release by the South Carolina Department of Commerce, Lee County Economic Alliance and the Central S.C. Alliance, officials described the expansion as the result of a cooperative effort of local and state officials.

“Ahlstrom is a global leader in the manufacturing of fiber-based materials, and Ahlstrom Specialty Reinforcements in Bishopville is producing an innovative product with promising future growth potential,” said Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor.

“We are blessed to have Ahlstrom continue to grow in Lee County and provide job opportunities for the citizens of the county and the region,” said Ruby Gibbs-Williams, chairwoman of the Lee County Economic Alliance.

Kellve U.S., Inc. to locate in, bring jobs to Lee County

COLUMBIA, S.C. –  The South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Central S.C. Alliance today announced that Kellve U.S., Inc. will open a facility in Lee County, South Carolina, to manufacture belt conveyors for customers in North America. The company expects to employ up to 50 associates by the end of 2008.

Kellve U.S., Inc. is a subsidiary of Kellve Group headquartered in Sweden with offices and four manufacturing plants in India, Sweden, and now the USA.

The Lee County plant is part of the company’s growth strategy and its first facility located in North America. In announcing the new operation, Kellve President/CEO Daniel Martinwall said, “We are excited about our growth strategy in the U.S., and we are pleased to establish a facility in South Carolina, particularly in Lee County. We have found the economic development team in South Carolina and Lee County to be very cooperative. We have named a Director for our U.S. Operations and he will begin the process of developing the company’s operations in Lee County.”

The South Carolina Department of Commerce, the Lee County Economic Development Group, and Central Carolina Technical College in conjunction with readySC™ – the state’s worker-training program – collaborated to bring Kellve US, Inc. to Lee County.

Kellve U.S., Inc was established with an initial goal to start-up a manufacturing facility for belt conveyors. The plant is situated in Bishopville, South Carolina, and is estimated to be in full operation by April 2008. Responsible for Kellve U.S., Inc. is Mr. Todd Tyner, Director.

“The Kellve Group is a world leader in supplying products for handling bulk material with a focus on logistics including transport, storage, and handling. It is with this expertise that the company will establish a manufacturing facility in South Carolina and become a welcomed addition to the state’s business community. Kellve’s investment is another sign that South Carolina is competitive in today’s global economy,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

Central S.C. Alliance Chairman George Bullwinkel, Jr. said, “More and more international companies are discovering the Central South Carolina Region as a great place to launch operations in the United States. The Kellve Group has a rich history of manufacturing excellence, and we are confident they will find South Carolina to be an effective and strategic location. Today’s announcement by the Kellve Group is another great example of teamwork by the local, region, and state economic development officials.”

Kellve was founded in 1890, and today the Kellve Group employs approximately 250 associates and operates within Bulk Material Handling Solutions. Kellve has been a very fast growing company during the last four years and has a growth strategy that includes the Europe, Asia, and American markets. The group is a focused engineering company with industrialized manufacturing processes and has already taken the leading position as supplier of complete solutions in Northern Europe.

Information on applications for positions will be available at the Camden Workforce Center One-Stop, Bishopville Workforce Center One-Stop, Sumter Workforce Center One-Stop, and the Hartsville Workforce Center One-Stop on Thursday, December 6 and Friday, December 7, 2007. Hours at all locations are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

BISHOPVILLE – New jobs are coming to Bishopville this summer, but no one is saying how many can be expected.

RBC Bearings will open a distribution center on Truman Roadin three to four months, company officials said.

Keith Thomas, manager of RBC’s manufacturing plants in Hartsville and Bishopville, said Wednesday the company has acquired one of the three Dorby Frocks buildings and has begun work on establishing the distribution center.

“We have acquired a 76,000-square-foot building on Truman Road,” Thomas said. “This will serve as the company’s Eastern distribution center. We have started moving equipment into the building.”

The distribution center will be operated by the company’s headquarters and will not be part of the company’s manufacturing operations, he said.

Three workers are currently employed at the Truman Roadfacility, Thomas said. He said he had no information concerning the number of workers to be employed there in the future.

RBC’s manufacturing plant in the James Industrial Park currently has 45 workers, he said.

RBC Bearings manufactures roller bearings, cam followers and rod ends for the industrial and aerospace industries.

Jeff Burgess, director of the Lee County Economic Alliance, said the company has not requested incentives for the distribution center and he has no information on the number of jobs that will be created.

“Depending upon the type of distribution center, the number of employees can range to as few as 10 to 15 to as many as 100,” Burgess said. “We are always happy when an existing industry decides to expand, and this is an expansion of an existing industry. We just don’t know how many jobs this will mean.” Lee County Council Chairman Charles Arthur Beasley said RBC’s announcement is good news for the county.“We’re always looking for new jobs,” he said.

Thomas said anyone interested in employment at RBC Bearings should contact the South Carolina Employment Security Commission office in Camden.

Craig Smith, area director for the Employment Security Commission in Lee and Kershaw counties, said the most recent unemployment rate in Lee County is 8.8 percent.

“Figures indicated the labor force in Lee County is 8,770,” Smith said. “And that is the number of people living in Lee County who either have jobs or are employable. And of that number, 770 people are looking for jobs. Many of those have accessed the services of the employment security commission.”

The S.C. Employment Security Commission Office is located at 205 E. Dekalb St.in Camden. Representatives are available at the Lee County Department of Social Services from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Wednesday. For more information, contact the Camden office at (803) 432-5153 or visit the Web site at www.sces.org.

Ahlstrom, a Finnish company specializing in fiber-based materials, is establishing new production capacity in a 116,260 square-foot building in Lee County’s I-20 Industrial Center near Bishopville.

Investing $16 million in the building and equipment, the company plans to be in production in early 2007. Ahlstrom purchased an existing company, HRS Textiles, in nearby Darlington County last year. That 135,000 square-foot, 130-employee operation produces non-woven fabrics for a wide variety of uses. “Ahlstrom continues to expand operations in North America due to the growth potential in specialty reinforcements and filtration,â€? said Jukka Moisio, President and CEO, Ahlstrom Corporation. “We believe that the state of South Carolina offers us a competitive platform in an ideal location.â€? “We are proud – to say the least – that Ahlstrom will call Lee County home,â€? said Jeff Burgess, Executive Director, Lee County Economic Development Alliance. “We plan to return the compliment by helping them be successful in every way possible. In addition, Lee County offers a sincere ‘thank you’ to the many organizations that helped put this together –among them, Black River Electric Co-op. Special thanks go to the S. C. Department of Commerce’s project manager Will Williams. He was there at every step along the way. â€? Black River Electric Cooperative will provide electric service to Ahlstrom’s new facility. C. H. “Herbâ€? Leaird, Co-Op CEO, notes, “We are pleased to have played a role in promoting the I-20 Industrial Center and the availability of the building. With a world-class company like Ahlstrom recognizing the significance of the park and its location, our hope is that more companies will take notice.”

BISHOPVILLE – Jeff Burgess, executive director of the Lee County Economic Alliance, doesn’t celebrate announcements of new industry coming to town until all the papers are signed and the agreements become official.

On Thursday afternoon, Burgess was happy to talk about Carolina Metal Finishing Company locating in the old National Guard Armory building on U.S. 15 South. In September, the Lee County Council and Bishopville City Council gave approval to an ordinance to sell the armory building to Paramount Metal Finishing Company, headquartered in Linden, N.J. Burgess told council members in September that company engineers would have to conduct an inspection to determine the extent of renovations and improvements necessary to operate in the building. The armory was given “a thumbs upâ€? by the company engineers and the sale became final on Thursday. “The nice thing here is that we’re putting the Armory back to use,â€? Burgess said. “And we’re creating jobs.â€? Charles Arthur Beasley, chairman of the Lee County Council, said the official announcement is great news for the people of Lee County. “The bottom line is this means jobs for Lee County,â€? he said. City Administrator Gregg McCutchen said the location of new industry in the Armory is an example of the effective relationship in effect between the Bishopville City Council and the Lee County Council. “It’s a win-win situation for the city and county,â€? he said. “We have a facility that wasn’t on the tax books, and now the city and county is going to be getting revenue from it.â€? Michael Fuschetti, vice-president of operations, said equipment would be moved in December and he is hopeful the DHEC permitting process would be completed in time for a January startup. He credited the support of Luis Rodriguez, President and CEO of Santee-Lynches Community Development Corporation, in working with the company in meeting the environmental requirements mandated by DHEC. “We have been helping with some of the environmental reviews,â€? said Rodriguez, “and paying for the studies making sure the environmental reviews come back positive.â€? The Bishopville operation will apply coating to sprinkler heads and employ 15 to 20 workers initially. Within a year, the plant would likely have as many as 40 workers “We are going to operate a very clean facility,â€? Fuschetti said. “We are dedicated on being good community members. We are going to be hiring locally.â€? Paramount Metal Finishing, the parent company for the manufacturer, paid $271,000 for three acres and the primary armory building with an option to buy a second building behind the armory and an additional 1.5 acres at a cost of $125,000 during a 3-year period. As many as 75 employees would be needed if officials carry out plans to expand the facility within the next three years, Fuschetti said. The Bishopville plant will be the kind of operation that would be able to “break into the military market,â€? he said. “It’s a powder coating operation and it is environmentally safe,â€? Fruschetti said. “We will run a very clean facility.â€? Fuschetti said the family-owned company wants the Bishopville plant, the company’s fourth manufacturing facility, to stand alone from the New Jersey headquarters. The name of the Bishopville facility, Carolina Metal Finishing, represents the company’s intent to create a new identity for the South Carolina operation, he said. A variety of positions will be needed including finishing technicians, line operators, and maintenance workers. The South Carolina Employment Security Office is accepting applications weekdays at its Camden office located at 205 E. Dekalb St. and on Wednesdays at the Lee County Department of Social Services office in Bishopville. For more information, contact the employment office at (803) 432-5153. Rodriguez said his agency is working with the Santee-Lynches One Stop Workforce Board to assist in recruitment and training of employees. For more information, contact Rodriguez at (803) 436-0020. “You can never have too many involved in something like this,â€? he said. “This is a big-to-do in the community. Anytime you bring new jobs to a community, it’s big.”

The Lee County Economic Development Alliance held an information summit Oct. 30 concerning the work planned for improving the facades of the buildings of many Main Street businesses.

Funds for the work are being provided through a portion of a Department Of Commerce Opportunity Grant. Local building and business owners were introduced to Wes Lyles, president, and Trip Riley, vice-president, of Studio 2LR, the architects and planners overseeing the project. Many chose to schedule one-on-one meetings to further plan and design their facades. Over a two-week period, owners or occupants began the first stage of this redevelopment by first looking at the initial design and then sharing their own ideas with the architects.

In these individual sessions, owners were presented with before and after shots to lay the groundwork for what will become a collaborative effort to redesign downtown. J.R. Logan of Logan’s Appliance Center was “very impressed” with both Lyles and Riley.

Logan’s Appliance has operated in Bishopville since 1972 and has been at its current location 139 North Main Street since 1995.

“I’m happy with the project so far and pleased with how I’ve been treated and the plans they have for the downtown; this is a blessing,” Logan said in reference to the revitalization program. “We are in the people business, the service business and I support the effort to improve Main Street.”

Logan is appreciative of the many Bishopville area residents who take time to shop not only at his store but other downtown businesses.

“We need each other,” Logan said. “And I’m proud of the effort being put forth to make improvements and I’m glad to a part of those working to improve our city. I like what I saw at the first meeting, the summit, and the individual meeting I had this week.”

Logan is quick to point out he’s a service man by trade and feels as comfortable with his hands inside a washing machine working to repair appliances as he is in management. He employs nine workers at his Bishopville store and also has an outlet in Camden. He has a son, a grandson and granddaughter at this store and his son manages his Camden location. He believes in taking care of his family and taking care of the families in Bishopville by providing quality, affordable merchandise and service to back up our sales.

“We try hard to take care of our customers because repeat business is so important, and every effort the city makes to improve downtown will help all the businesses and in the process help our community” Logan said.

Across the street at Ginsberg Ladies Shop, Frances Ginsberg is also pleased. “I am very enthusiastic about the plan” said Ginsberg. “Improving the downtown area will help all the local businesses.”

When asked about her one-on-one meeting, she said “the changes on my building were minor.”

“Some cleaning, a possible sign change, and other small changes, suggestions but still very effective. They (Lyle and Riley) were very professional and very capable. I was impressed with their love of design and their genuine interest in restoring and redesigning our downtown area.”

Ginsberg’s Ladies Shop has been in business in Bishopville since 1929 and at it present location since 1957. The left-handed and outgoing Ginsberg was up beat and encouraged by the future of all main street.

“We are here to serve and make our customers shopping experience pleasant” she said. “My daughter (Nancy Thornton) and I love the downtown area and appreciate our local and out of town customers. We encourage all the building owners, occupants and businesses to be apart of this revitalization plan.”

The façade improvements do not just impact building owners but also impact the occupants of the buildings. Anita’s On Main has been in business since December of last year and it’s owners, Anita and Joseph Tobience fall into that category. They have a lease agreement with Gertrude Copeland and have generous words of praise for their landlord.

“Ms. Copeland has been such a tremendous help since we arrive,” said Anita Tobience. “She has had ideas to increase our business, invited people to visit us and give us a try, and just been helpful in so many ways. We appreciate her and the kindness she has shown.”

Ms. Copeland was a long time downtown business owner herself and understands the important of supporting each other. She and her husband owned and operated a grocery store from the Main Street location where Anita’s now resides.

“We were encouraged by some of my husband’s business contacts and my church family that Bishopville needed a business like ours. We researched the coffee industry and the timing seemed right to venture out and here we are” she said smiling. “The support by local business owners in the downtown area has been great.”

Ms. Copeland attended the summit and is supporting the revitalization plan according to Tobience.

“Just like she has supported me at every turn, Ms. Copeland is behind this revitalization” said Tobience. “We are united in our efforts to make the downtown area a even better place to visit. I will do anything I can to help as an occupant, an owner of a downtown business.”

Henry Carter a business owner for 33 years at the same downtown location had a meeting set up for Monday and thinks it is a “great idea.”

“I am looking forward to hearing all they have to say on Monday” said Carter, owner and operator of Carter’s Liquor Store. “We have been here at 233 North Main for a long time and I am going to listen to the proposals and go from there.”

More meetings were scheduled for this past Monday with other building owners and the architects of Studio 2LR hope that more downtown businesses will become involved in the future. According to Jeff Burgess, the Economic Development Alliance Director, the next step will be a meeting or a series of meetings with the architects and the contractor to further discuss the façade improvements.

Huss Incorporated of Charleston, South Carolina will be the general contractor. Initial discussions will focus on determining which of the blocks or sections to begin working on and what order to follow. Then a bid will be received on anywhere from three to five buildings at a time and after final approval from owners and architects, the project will begin.

“Doing four or five buildings in an area is the way to proceed,” said Burgess. “It is just more practical and also more cost efficient. This will provide a picture for all to see as each section is completed. We are pleased at the progress and the cooperation.”

On a bright November morning with the sun shining on rows and rows of soybeans, nearly 100 people‹most of them in suits or dresses‹gathered to celebrate an alliance they hope will be historic. With traffic on I-95 rumbling nearby, representatives from Clarendon, Sumter and Lee counties grabbed shovels and turned a spade of soil for the groundbreaking of the 1,263-acre I-95 industrial Mega-site. Lee County Council Chairman Charles Arthur Beasley thanked Sumter and Clarendon counties for asking us to be part of this project. It takes a team effort to make things happen and we¹re looking for great things to happen with this mega-site. The three counties will share costs of establishing the industrial park and will also share equal cuts of the revenues. Dwight Stewart, chairman of Clarendon County Council, said the joint industrial site shows we can work together for all our citizens. It shows what can happen when communities work together regardless of who gets the credit. A mega-site is an industrial site of more than 1,000 acres. Because of its size, a megasite allows communities to compete for the largest of development projects, such as a new automobile assembly operation or a warehouse distribution center, industries that could potentially employ thousands of workers and have a huge economic impact on a region. The Department of Commerce presented a $500,000 grant to the participating counties that will be used to extend water and sewer lines from the town of Turbeville to the site. The Rural Infrastructure Fund grant will also be used to put in a short road into the park, and for landscaping and signage. The I-95 Megasite is one of three megasites in South Carolina, and the only one in the eastern part of the state. Its location along the I-95 corridor — which stretches from Maine to Miami — makes it a valuable industrial site for manufacturing facilities as well as distribution centers. The site is a certified industrial site, a state seal of approval that tells developers and corporate executives that the site is shovel ready, a term used to convey that all the environmental, archeological and geotechnical research has been completed. Vivian McGhaney, Chairwoman of Sumter County Council, said the new megasite shows that even competitors can come together for the common good. But she said it¹s only a beginning. I stand here as a witness that it can be done, McGhaney said. And in the words of Henry Ford, coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. Charles Arthur Beasley, Chairman of Lee County Council, said that this new alliance between the three counties will present great new opportunities. It takes a team effort to make things happen, Beasley said. Lee County is proud to be a part of this team and we are looking for great things to happen.

The Lee County Economic Development Alliance held an information summit October 30 concerning the upcoming work that will done on many Main Street building facades. Funds for the work are being provided through a portion of a Department of Commerce Opportunity Grant. Jeff Burgess, Economic Development Alliance Director, welcomed downtown building owners and encouraged them not only listen to the presentation but to be active participants. “I’m pleased to see such a great turnout and it shows how much the citizens of Bishopville are concerned about their city,” said Burgess. “This shows that the business owners care about their buildings and care about Bishopville.” With a slide show set to begin and a backdrop on the screen stating, “Bishopville, South Carolina, Main Street Redevelopment” on display Burgess quickly let those in attendance know that, “Nothing you see here is set in stone.” “These are ideas, beginnings, a starting place to work from and develop what best suits your particular building and needs,” said Burgess. “This will be a collaborative effort to restore and re-design downtown Bishopville. All of us working together can make this a development project that will change the face of these four areas and make all of us proud to have been a part of something that will last for years to come.” The “us” Burgess referred to was not only the owners of the businesses and buildings in the downtown area and other concerned citizens, but the architects and planners at STUDIO 2LR from Columbia, South Carolina. President Wes Lyles and Vice President Tripp Riley were both present at the summit and spent time answering question and discussing the plans they drew up as a starting point. “We wanted to whet your appetite,” said Lyles. “We wanted to show you possibilities, colors and designs to help you formulate your own ideas and wishes for your building. We are here to work with you.” “Obviously, some buildings require more work and detail than others,” Lyles said. “There is some great cast iron work and brick work and other historical land marks we want to preserve and showcase. When and wherever we can we want to bring out the beauty that is already exists.” The basic plan divides the downtown area into four blocks labeled A, B, C, and D. The design team then worked to add new color, change shapes and sizes of business signs, add or rework awnings, and new doors just to name a few of the many possibilities. “Windows will be one of the biggest ticket items and light fixtures,” said Burgess. “Some areas will require extensive repairs while others will need to be tweaked with just a few minor touchups. No two buildings are the same and the needs of each owner or occupant will be different.” All three of the speakers in this revitalization summit emphasized time and again that each individual building owner was the focal point of this process and each could sign up for a thirty minute one on one planning session and more follow up meetings in the future. Reminding those in attendance, nothing they saw was “set in stone and it would be a step by step process.” What was set in stone was the amount of the grant and the monies to be spent. “We have a set amount of funds and when it is gone, it is gone,” said Burgess emphasizing the finality of the approximate $560,000 of the 950,000 grant earmarked for the façade project. “We have some additional funds to preserve or stabilize Andrews Theater, a local landmark building with historical significance, attract new businesses and pay the necessary architect fees, but for the facades, we have a budget and we must work within that dollar amount once it is finalized.” Burgess said. Burgess presented the owners with a Historic District Façade Improvement Agreement for them to review that contained the basic outline for expectations of those participating in the development. The main point of emphasis was that each owner upon acceptance into the program would agree to maintain the new façade for five years. Burgess was quick to point out that this agreement could be amended if need be before signing. STUDIO 2LR is composed of Lyles, Riley, and third partner Gretchen Lambert. Lyles and Riley met with sixteen building owners in one-on-one meetings last week and have another six or seven sessions set up for Monday, November 13. “We’ve already met or have set up meetings with about half of the fifty building owners,” said Riley. “Wes and I showed them before and after shots and we have printed out an 11 by 17 size booklet for each owner to see their building and also visualize an overview of the entire project.” “We are pleased with the response and look forward to getting more owners involved as the project moves forward,” Riley said. “We evaluate each building on a case by case basis. We try to show them that cleaning, paint, re-tooled brick work, and other changes can make a big difference in their façade.” “Each meeting was just the first step in establishing a working relationship with each owner,” said Riley. “We will continue this joint effort until we refine our drawings and have the owner’s approval.”

Lee County Business Leader Honored by Governor NBSC VP active in increasing link between education and industry Columbia, SC – Bishopville NBSC Vice President/City Executive Officer Fred Sandy was honored as an Ambassador of Economic Development by Governor Mark Sanford as part of the 16th Annual Industry Appreciation Week. The ceremony took place in Columbia on Monday, September 18 at the Governor’s Mansion Complex, and highlighted individuals from all 46 counties for their exceptional efforts to boost the State’s community and economic development activities. Fred Sandy has been with National Bank of South Carolina for the last 25 years. He serves on the Lee County Economic Development Alliance (LCEDA), and is a member of its Education Committee and Organization Committee. Mr. Sandy is also an active member of the Social Peace Committee that evolved out of the Lee County Strategic Plan. He has worked tirelessly with both the private and public schools to increase their understanding of the vital linkage between the schools and area industries. His efforts assisted in the first Industry/Teacher Day where representatives from local industries met with teachers from Lee Central High School and Robert E. Lee Academy. When called upon he has made himself available to meet with prospects and entrepreneurs interested in starting businesses in Lee County. He is a member and former Vice President of the Santee Lynches Regional Development Corporation that provides various financial packages available to assist new and existing business owners. “We’ve been focused from day one on building a more business-friendly climate here in South Carolina,” said Governor Sanford. “We’re glad to have this opportunity to thank the companies and industries that help us keep jobs and capital investment in this great state, and we’re committed to keep advancing vital reforms – like we’ve done with income tax relief and tort reform – that will enhance their ability to do just that.” “Taking time out to personally thank the many people who support our economic development recruiting team is just another way we reinforce the importance of teamwork and its role in building a positive business climate in South Carolina,â€? said Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor. “These people often dedicate many hours and personal resources to share the positives of doing business in our state. We appreciate all they do locally to enhance their communities and sell our state.”