Berkeley Means Business
Berkeley County Economic Development
That’s what Governor Henry McMaster said at the Salute to Manufacturing Awards Luncheon today to honor industries around South Carolina.
Two industries in Berkeley County were among the 20 statewide that were celebrated at the luncheon. Both JW Aluminum and W International received awards. JW Aluminum received The Carlisle Associates Smart Move SC Award for its expansion. W International received The Carlisle Associates Smart Move SC Award for its new plant.
JW Aluminum is located in Goose Creek and manufactures flat-rolled aluminum. They announced a $255 million expansion investment in 2018. This landed them in the state’s top economic investment announcements for the year.
W International moved into its new facility in Bushy Park earlier this year. The industry is a full-service manufacturer of metal fabrications for the aerospace, specialty commercial, defense sector, energy, and marine industries. They announced 600 new jobs and a $32.5 million investment in the County.
Berkeley County leadership was thrilled to honor and recognize these remarkable industries.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Investment creating 26 jobs
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sapience Automation, a full-service integrator of robot systems, is establishing operations in Berkeley County. The $500,000 investment is expected to create 26 new jobs.
Focusing on the integration of industrial robots for manufacturers and supporting existing users of robots, Sapience Automation also works with automation, paint, system integration and various other operations.
Located at 2079 Wambaw Creek Rd., Suite 5 in Charleston, S.C., Sapience Automation’s new facility will allow the company to grow current operations and increase collaboration with educational systems and local schools to help encourage and train students for jobs in the automation industry. To support workforce initiatives, the company launched a nonprofit to enrich mechatronics and robotics programs on the high school level and identify students who could excel in the area of automation.
Operations are online, and continue to ramp up. Individuals interested in joining the Sapience Automation team should visit https://sapienceautomation.com/contact.
QUOTES
“Sapience Automation has a lot of experience with advanced automotive and aerospace manufacturing systems but is also designed to work efficiently with smaller shops that may require less complex automation. That is one of our main focuses, and we’re excited to be in Berkeley County because we are surrounded by many customers in each category.” –Sapience Automation President and CEO Martin Rola
“The investment that Sapience Automation is making in our people and our state shows the world that our workforce and competitive business environment can lead to success for companies in every industry. We congratulate Sapience Automation on its decision to establish operations in Berkeley County, and look forward to watching the company continue to grow here for a long time.” –Gov. Henry McMaster
“We pride ourselves on the pro-business climate we’ve cultivated in South Carolina, and this announcement today is yet another testament to that environment. We celebrate Sapience Automation’s investment in our state and commend the company on its focus on training the next generation of automation professionals.” –Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt
“We are thrilled that Sapience Automation has chosen to expand into Berkeley County. This announcement is continued proof that Berkeley County is a top choice for companies in the manufacturing industry to setup, or expand, their operations. We are also confident that Sapience will create high-quality, cutting-edge job opportunities for our local workforce.”—Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb
“Sapience Automation is a welcome new advanced industry asset for our region’s STEM-based economy. Advanced industries led the post-recession employment recovery and are America’s best opportunity to support innovative, inclusive and sustainable growth. Sapience Automation’s decision to locate in the Charleston region demonstrates that this market offers the competitive advantages innovative companies need to succeed, including a skilled, adaptable and enthusiastic workforce.” –Charleston Regional Development Alliance Board Chair John Hagerty
FIVE FAST FACTS
• Sapience Automation is establishing operations in Berkeley County.
• The $500,000 investment is expected to create 26 new jobs.
• Sapience Automation specializes in robot system designing, optimizations and integration.
• Located at 2079 Wambaw Creek Rd., Suite 5 in Charleston, S.C., Sapience Automation’s new facility will allow the company to grow current operations and increase collaboration with educational systems.
• Individuals interested in joining the Sapience Automation team should visit https://sapienceautomation.com/contact.
In response to industry demand, Trident Technical College is exploring the development of a new Manufacturing Apprenticeship Alliance for industry sector partnerships to create in-demand, adult manufacturing apprenticeships. These unique programs will be employer-led and designed for industry needs based on feedback from members of the alliance.
The first alliance apprenticeship in consideration is Industrial Maintenance Mechanic. If your company would benefit from an Industrial Maintenance Mechanic apprenticeship program, we encourage you to join the conversation now.
NEXT MEETING: Thursday, October 31st at 2:30 pm, at the College Center (Building 920, Room 101) at Trident Tech Thornley Campus.
WHAT’S HAPPENED SO FAR: Trident Tech is using the Industrial Mechanic Certificate as a base for the program. From the 2 meetings conducted thus far, 7 companies have already committed to support 9 apprentices.
ADDING ELECTRICAL: The Industrial Mechanic Certificate apprenticeship is designed as a 3 year program attending class just one day a week. However some of the companies in attendance at previous meetings expressed an interest in adding some electrical courses, specifically AC/DC circuits and PLC’s to the class schedule. This will add a year to the program and make it 4 years long instead of 3. These classes will be added it to the end of the program so if you don’t want PLC’s and AC/DC, you can just opt out of them and be done earlier.
TWO PROGRAM DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM: Welding was also discussed so TTC decided to create two different schedule options which are attached. One that has No Welding and one With Welding.
MOVING FORWARD: To move forward with the alliance and begin classes in January, TTC needs 16 apprentices committed by October 31st.
For more information, contact:
Mitchell R. Harp, MA, MT(ASCP) Dean of Apprenticeships Division of Apprenticeship Programs 1-843-574-6979 Mitchell.harp@tridenttech.edu To learn more and apply for the Charleston Regional Apprenticeship Programs go to https://trident-technical-college.breezy.hr/
WHY IT’S UNIQUE:
* Employer designed
* Class meets only once a week, instead of 2-3 nights a week making it easier for you and your employee.
* Employer will get regular communications from TTC on the progress of their apprentice.
* Employer will receive regular summaries of class topics so mentor can cover those same topics during the On-The-Job training sessions.
* Apprentice will only be short 5 core classes from receiving their Associates Degree so there is incentive to continue their education.
* Apprentice is automatically enrolled in all classes so they don’t have to worry about missing registration dates.
* Employer can fill the apprenticeship internally with a current or new employee or TTC can help advertise and recruit for the apprenticeship on the employers behalf.
* Employer is eligible for $1,000 tax credit for every apprentice, every year, up to 4 years.
BEST PART!
The estimated cost of this program is around $4,000 so your tax credit almost covers all the cost of tuition!
The County recently celebrated 31 graduates of the ManuFirst SC program in St. Stephen. “We sat with Volvo and some long hours when they came to Berkeley County because they said they wanted to do something for Berkeley County; and they came up with this course,” said LaRone Murphy, business consultant services with Trident Technical College.
Kristen Lanier, the county’s workforce development manager, explained further.
“This was something that Berkeley County did for our residents,” she said. “When we bring in these new companies, it means a lot to our residents to have the opportunity to fill these jobs.”
Berkeley County worked in partnership with Trident Technical College, South Carolina Department of Commerce, Volvo Cars, and Ready SC to pilot the program in June of 2017. More than 150 people graduated from the Lean Manufacturing course, which put them on the path to employment opportunities at Volvo Cars in Ridgeville. Since then, neighboring counties have emulated the training program to provide opportunities for residents around the state with more than 900 graduates in the Tri-County area, including 400 Berkeley County residents. SC Department of Commerce has rebranded the program to ManuFirstSCTM and has begun to roll it out across the state’s technical college system by industry demand.
Berkeley County provided scholarships to residents who met the following criteria:
At least 18 years old
Able to legally work in the United States
Provide documentation of Berkeley County residency
Have a high school diploma or GED
Provide proof of a Bronze WIN/WorkKeys score
Pass a SC SLED background check (paid for by the scholarship)
Pass a basic panel drug screen (paid for by the scholarship)
Incumbent Worker Training grants allow employers an opportunity to upgrade the skills of their current workforce through reimbursable training services and expenses. An eligible employer must be current on all South Carolina state tax obligations, have at least one full time employee, and document that potential trainees have an established employment history with the employer for six months or more.
Training entities and city, county and state governments are not eligible for IWT funding. Businesses receiving services through ReadySC™ may be eligible for IWT so long as the training funded is not a duplication of services. IWT funds are not available to a business that has relocated, if that relocation resulted in the loss of jobs at the original location, until the company has operated at that new location for 120 days.
BUSINESS MATCH
Businesses/consortia participating in IWT are required to pay for the non-Federal share of the cost of providing training to their employees. The non-Federal share must not be less than:
- 10 percent of the costs for a business location with no more than 50 employees
- 25 percent of the costs for a business location with more than 50 employees, but no more than 100 employees
- 50 percent of the costs for a business location with more than 100 employees
IWT funds are awarded on a competitive basis.
APPLICATIONS ARE EVALUATED AS FOLLOWS:
- Characteristics of the employees to be trained: Priority given to frontline staff
- The relationship of the training to the competiveness of both the employer and employee: Training allows the employer and/or employees to be competitive with comparable employers/employees in similar are related positions.
- Per Participant Cost: priority given to those with lower cost of training per employee
- Credential and Skills gained as a result of the training: priority given to trainings that lead to a state or national certification such as NCCER
- Trainings in one of the in-demand sectors in the Trident area: Diversified Manufacturing, Transportation, Distribution & logistics, HealthCare, Information Technology, Construction Trades, Hospitality & Tourism.
- Employers Size: This is determined as the employer size defined in the application.
- Small: no more than 50 employees
- Medium: 51, but no more than 100 employees
- Large: 101 or more
Please list trainings in order of priority for your business because there are times that all training programs on an application may not be approved due to funding availability.
Please submit only one application per business. Please submit a training curriculum with application.
The deadline for submission of application is November 18, 2019 by 4:00 pm. Please submit applications to sharong@bcdcog.com.
No reimbursements can be made for expenditures that occur prior to the agreement period. This includes ordering trainings, paying for trainings and/or beginning trainings etc.
You can direct businesses to contact Sharon Goss, Workforce Development Director, SC Works Trident, for more information and /or assistance with the application process at 843-529-2582 or via email at sharong@bcdcog.com. You can also direct them to our website at http://www.scworkstrident.org/ or http://www.bcdcog.com for information and a copy of the application.
CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION
$60 million investment creating over 60 jobs
OCT 21, 2019 – MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – A&R Logistics, Inc., a leading supply chain services company providing dry bulk transportation, warehousing, packaging, third-party logistics (3PL) and export solutions to the chemical industry, is establishing a new state-of-the-art export facility in Berkeley County. The $60 million investment is expected to create over 60 new jobs.
Founded in 1969, A&R Logistics, Inc. provides a variety of bulk transportation and logistics solutions to multinational customers in the chemical industry. A&R Logistics, Inc. has more than 1,000 employees, with a large fleet of trucks and trailers across its extensive, nationwide network of terminals and warehousing and packaging facilities.
Located in West Branch Commerce Park in Moncks Corner, S.C., A&R Logistics, Inc.’s new 615,000-square-foot facility will use cutting-edge equipment to offer an array of packaging solutions and complete logistics services for customers shipping product out of the Port of Charleston.
The new facility is expected to be complete in the fourth quarter of 2020. Individuals interested in joining the A&R Logistics, Inc. team should contact Brenda Barnhart at bbarnhart@artransport.com or visit http://www.ardoingitright.com/.
QUOTES
“A&R is thrilled to partner with the great state of South Carolina and the Port of Charleston to expand its operations to the East Coast. We believe combining the Port of Charleston’s efficient operations with A&R’s deep experience in packaging and premier customer service will offer unparalleled service to the chemical and plastics industry.” –A&R Logistics President and CEO Mark Holden
“South Carolina’s logistics sector continues to impress, and today’s announcement by A&R Logistics, Inc. is a further testament to that. Not only do we have everything we need to make high-quality products in South Carolina, but we also have the resources to move those products all over the globe. Congratulations to A&R Logistics, Inc. for establishing operations here in South Carolina.” –Gov. Henry McMaster
“Today’s announcement by A&R Logistics, Inc. is a testament to the logistics advantages and pro-business environment that South Carolina offers. We’re excited to have such a dynamic company locate its operations in the Lowcountry, and look forward to their success in our state for many years to come.” –Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt
“S.C. Ports Authority (SCPA) is thrilled to have A&R Logistics invest in a new facility in the Lowcountry to provide warehousing and packaging services for the chemical industry. Proximity to the Port of Charleston gives A&R Logistics access to global markets for exports, as well as the ability to handle growing import volumes bound for Southeast consumers. SCPA excels at meeting companies’ supply chain needs with excellent customer service, reliable operations and efficiently run port terminals. We are excited to welcome A&R Logistics as a customer, and we look forward to the opening of their state-of-the-art facility.” -S.C. Ports Authority President and CEO Jim Newsome
“Berkeley County is pleased to welcome A&R Logistics to our corporate family. This company is a good fit for a unique location. Much of A&R Logistics’ product will be moved utilizing existing rail, limiting the number of additional trucks on roadways. The county looks forward to seeing the many opportunities ahead for A&R Logistics.” -Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb
FIVE FAST FACTS
• A&R Logistics, Inc. is establishing operations in Berkeley County.
• The $60 million investment is creating over 60 jobs.
• A&R Logistics, Inc. is a leading supply chain services company providing dry bulk transportation, warehousing, packaging, 3PL and export solutions.
• Located in West Branch Commerce Park in Moncks Corner, SC.
• The expansion is expected to be complete by the fourth quarter of 2020.
(October 18, 2019) – The $500,000 welding lab is a result of the collaboration of the Berkeley County Economic Development, W International, Pacolet Milliken /Cooper River Partners and Berkeley Electric Cooperative.
With the help of local business/industry partners, a space on the campus of Timberland High has become a state-of-the-art welding lab set to prepare students in Berkeley County for one of the Lowcountry’s most in-demand jobs.
The collaboration of Berkeley County Economic Development, W International, Pacolet Milliken / Cooper River Partners and Berkeley Electric Cooperative resulted in an approximate $500,000 investment in the students and community members of St. Stephen and surrounding areas.
On Thursday, October 17, community members, local business leaders and Timberland High students gathered at the new welding lab for a grand opening celebration that included a traditional ribbon-cutting and a first look for many at 16 modern welding stations, a virtual welding simulator and other metal fabrication devices.
“Berkeley County is blessed to have many dedicated partners focused on providing opportunities to train our future workforce,” said Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb. “This program is a testament to the many paths to success in South Carolina. Berkeley County Council and I have fought for this program and other training opportunities, to help build promise for County citizens and industries. We look forward to celebrating this effort and seeing its success.”
In addition to regular welding classes at Timberland High, there is an adult community education program that will provide attendees the training needed to pursue opportunities with W International and similar manufacturing companies.
“The commitment from our local business and industry partners to outfit this lab in just one year is amazing,” said BCSD Superintendent Dr. Eddie Ingram. “We have a commitment to ensure our students are career ready, and with the support provided to the Timberland welding lab, we can say what our students receive will be cutting edge and timely. Our partners have shown a devotion to the community by providing talent, time and financial investments to better aid students and community members with learning skills and earning credentials in this area of high demand.”
The welding lab at Timberland High is one of two supported by the aforementioned business partners. A second welding lab at Cross High will open in 2020.
[September 23, 2019] – Berkeley County Economic Development, The City of Goose Creek, and SC Works Trident will be hosting a Community Job Fair on Friday, Oct 18, 2019. The event will be held at The City of Goose Creek’s Fire Department Headquarters located at 201 Button Hall Avenue, Goose Creek from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm. Employers from various fields throughout the Tri-County area will be on-site to meet potential employees.
Career Seekers
Come Prepared – Please bring copies of your resume and come prepared for an interview. Computers and printing services provided by the Berkeley County Library System will be available for you to immediately apply online or make copies of your resume. There will also be a number of community organizations present so you can learn more about the available resources for workforce development and how to enroll for training that equal employment opportunities including the new ManuFirstSC certificate and SC Wins programs at Trident Technical College.
Employers
Please Register – There is no fee to participate. Space is limited, however, and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tables and chairs will be provided. Please feel free to bring your company’s table cloth and other marketing materials.
Employers must be registered with SC Works and have active posted jobs on the SC Works website in order to participate. All jobs must be direct hires. We will contact you approximately one month following the event for feedback regarding those hired by your company.
If your company is interested and has positions available, please complete a Job Fair Participation Form and return it by email to scworkstrident@dew.sc.gov, no later than 2 pm, Friday, Oct. 11, 2019.
We look forward to seeing you at the job fair!
Sign-up and information session scheduled Thursday, September 5 at 6 p.m.
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Thursday, August 22, 2019) Berkeley County will host an information meeting to provide training for manufacturing positions on Thursday, September 5, 6 pm. The meeting will be held at Cross High School. It is open to Berkeley County residents looking for manufacturing jobs.
When: Thursday, September 5, 6 p.m.
Where: Cross High School, 1293 Old Hwy 6, Cross, SC 29436
Why: Help connect Berkeley County residents with the necessary training for manufacturing positions
Attendees will have the opportunity to sign-up for the upcoming ManuFirstSCTM, formerly known as Lean Manufacturing, course that will begin on Saturday, Oct 19, on the Cross High School Campus. This 3-week course, concluding on November 12, will provide the necessary training to qualify candidates for positions at industries around Berkeley County and throughout the state of South Carolina. Graduates of the program will have an opportunity to connect with local employers and community partners.
The course is free for candidates who are Berkeley County residents who meet the following requirements:
- be at least 18 years old
- be able to legally work in the United States
- provide documentation of Berkeley County residency
- have a high school diploma or GED
- provide proof of a Bronze WIN/WorkKeys score
- pass a SC SLED background check (paid for by the scholarship)
- pass a basic panel drug screen (paid for by the scholarship)
About ManuFirstSCTM – Berkeley County worked in partnership with Trident Technical College, South Carolina Department of Commerce, Volvo Cars, and Ready SC to pilot the program in June of 2017. More than 150 people graduated from the Lean Manufacturing course, which put them on the path to employment opportunities at Volvo Cars in Ridgeville. Since then, neighboring counties have emulated the training program to provide opportunities for residents around the state with more than 900 graduates in the Tri-County area, including 350 Berkeley County residents. SC Department of Commerce has rebranded the program to ManuFirstSCTM and has begun to roll it out across the state’s technical college system by industry demand.
Participants are asked to register for the information session online at http://bit.ly/CrossManuFirst
To register for the Cross ManuFirstSC class and apply for a scholarship:
Application: Must be submitted by Oct. 5, 2019.
Program Details: Including requirements for scholarship, class dates, and more.
By Jenna-Ley Harrison jharrison@journalscene.com
Aug 19, 2019
Thirty-two Berkeley County residents celebrate graduating from the ManuFirst SC program on Aug. 13 at St. Stephen Elementary School.
Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb (left) shakes hands with program graduate Daylon Singleton as he receives his certificate.
Graduate John Jenkins proudly shows off his certificate of completion.
For 62 hours across three weeks, they endured classroom instruction and hands-on performance in general manufacturing skills and safety training for such positions.
Now, 32 Berkeley County residents boast completion of a unique certificate equivalent to a year’s worth of manufacturing experience in an industry-rich county and state in need of filling its manufacturing workforce. The program also includes a certificate from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
“It does my heart good to see the graduates in this program,” said St. Stephen Mayor John Rivers. “I hope you all have great success.”
Called ManuFirst SC, the program was first established in the state in Berkeley County, after Volvo Cars Inc. located its North American headquarters in Ridgeville. The program is an expedited and condensed manufacturing course to better train—and do it quickly—the local workforce to not only increase area job opportunities but also meet a need of local manufacturing plants seeking skilled workers. While its free to qualified residents, the program requires 100 percent attendance.
“We sat with Volvo and some long hours when they came to Berkeley County because they said they wanted to do something for Berkeley County; and they came up with this course,” said LaRone Murphy, business consultant services with Trident Technical College.
Kristen Lanier, the county’s workforce development manager, explained further.
“This was something that Berkeley County did for our residents,” she said. “When we bring in these new companies, it means a lot to our residents to have the opportunity to fill these jobs.”
Trident Tech, the state’s largest tech school, and Berkeley County School District also partnered with Berkeley County Economic Development Department on the ManuFirst SC program. BCSD even offers the program to senior at five of its eight high schools.
“We need to tell the stories of what’s available here, what opportunities are available here, what companies are available here,” said Sonya Addison-Stewart, with the Career and Technical Education Department for BCSD. “Our students need to hear that, and they also need to hear how to get to that next step. It is not all the time going straight to a four-year college. It could be doing an opportunity like this (course) that leads to another opportunity.”
David Sweat, a Cross High School teacher who served as one of two instructors for the ManuFirst SC course, agreed that college isn’t the only path to a career and expressed his passion for showing students different options.
“College isn’t for everybody, but if I can give them something to get their foot in the door,” he said. “This (course) is just an extra push.”
But the course isn’t the end. It’s merely just the beginning, according to Addison-Stewart, who celebrated graduates but also urged them to continue striving for more.
“I applaud you…but don’t just stop here,” she said. “Challenge yourself to always grow; learning is lifelong.”
Barry Jurs, economic development director for the county, echoed the BCSD official’s thoughts.
“It’s a long journey to get from one end to the other; life is a long journey; a career is a long journey,” he said. “Getting that certification is the start of a new path; it’s the first step on one that leads somewhere. …We’ve got new opportunity in Berkeley County; we have a lot of companies here looking for good people that they’d like to have come into their employ, not to just to work for them; they’re asking you to come and be part of a career opportunity—a life-changing moment.”
While Trident Tech has hosted the ManuFirst SC program since its inception in 2017, the most recent class—the eighth one in the county—was conducted in St. Stephen, offering a closer option to home for residents on the county’s northern end.
And after getting their golden certificates, graduates didn’t waste any time networking with local industry representatives—several local ones on hand for a mini job fair the county conducted after the ceremony.
“They’re looking for folks that have these skills that you’ve acquired,” Lanier told graduates.
And industry experts agreed.
“We’re always looking to expand our workforce,” said Kevin Elliott, assistant plant manager for Feralloy Corporation—a Huger-based company that produces steel coils.
Other job fair participants included DAK America, Thorne Research, Ready SC and Acutec Industries LLC.
“We are committed to the community,” said Dan Bras, general manager for the Acutec plant in St. Stephen.
According to Bras, the local plant—the company’s only other U.S. site outside its Pennsylvania headquarters—is looking to grow its South Carolina workforce by more than a dozen and needs skilled machinists to build parts for the aerospace sector.
But new graduates Phillip Pittman and Andre Myers have their sights set on the Mercedes-Benz plant in North Charleston—where Murphy said there’s also a need for additional workers.
“I was at Mercedes this morning, working with some more training to bring some more people there,” he told graduates. “So this is growing really fast; we have other companies coming on board.”
According to Pittman, a former chef and worker for years in the local restaurant industry, it was his mom who first told him about the course, which he applauded for the amount of manufacturing knowledge he acquired in such a short amount of time.
“It was incredible for packing in four hours a day, four days a week,” Pittman said. “Our brains were full. So literally every day we learned something new.”
Myers said his background working on cars at local paint and body shops prepared him for a potential career with Mercedes.
