Florence has been ranked fifth in Site Selection magazine’s 2008 ranking of top metropolitan areas for new and expanding facilities.
The fifth place ranking is for communities in the United States for areas with a population between 50,000 and 200,000.
Florence had eight announced projects last year that are expected to create more than 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 its citizens” Florence County Council Chairman K.G. “Rusty” Smith said in a press release. “As I have repeatedly stated, the No. 1 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.”
The projects include:
- H.J. Heinz Co. (pre-packaged frozen entrées).
- Monster.com (customer care facility).
- Dunline Rubber Products (endless preshrinking rubber belts).
- Wellman Plastics Recycling (engineering resins/plastics).
Expansions also were announced by existing businesses:
- McCall Farms (canned and frozen foods).
- International Knife and Saw (knife and saw blades).
- Assurant Specialty Property (insurance processing center)
- GE Healthcare (MRI machinery).
“We are excited and pleased to receive this positive recognition,” Florence County Economic Development Chairman Dr. Charles Gould said in the press release. “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 Ala., who tied for third with nine total projects. Springfield, Ohio was second with ten. The top ranking was awarded to Sioux City, S.D.
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