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| Timber firm to open Bowman operation |
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2005/12/31
BOWMAN — A Florence County timber company will locate a plant in Bowman for removing bark from trees that will be used for utility poles, the Orangeburg County Development Commission announced Friday.
Florence Pole and Piling Inc. will operate on a 110-acre site off of Highway 178 at the intersection of Two Church Road and Lockwood Road.
The company will initially invest approximately $250,000 in machinery and equipment, as well as the land and building. The company will begin operations during the first quarter of 2006.
Florence Pole will employ between four and seven individuals over the next five years. It will employ lift truck operators, contract haulers, pole machine operators, inspectors and management. Salaries will range from $8 to $10 an hour, not including management positions.
“Orangeburg County provided an excellent location as well as proximity to customers,” said Danny Caison, owner of Florence Pole and Piling Inc. The site is close to the intersection of Interstate 95 and Interstate 26.
OCDC Executive Director Gregg Robinson said interstate access is a prime reason for the company’s decision to locate in Orangeburg County.
“This announcement helps to prove that Orangeburg County’s location in the Pine Belt of the Carolinas ... makes it a great location for business ... especially the timber industry,” Robinson said.
The timber company joins approximately a dozen other county industries related to the timber/lumber industry, including Cox Wood Preserving and Dempsey Wood Products.
Robinson said the timber industry has always been a “strong cluster” in the county.
OCDC Chairwoman Jeannine Kees also touted the area’s timber supply.
“Industries have use for the timber in Orangeburg County,” she said, noting the investment shows Orangeburg County is moving in a positive direction. “Every job is important. It will provide a good living and a good quality of life in our county.”
The announcement brought words of praise from local government officials.
“We are very pleased to see this new development in Bowman,” Orangeburg County Council Chairman John Rickenbacker said. “This announcement reflects the pro-business government that welcomes new companies to our fine county, as well as supports the growth of The Global Logistics Triangle.”
“Florence Pole and Pilings’ decision to locate here again demonstrates that Orangeburg County is right for business,” Sen. John Matthews Jr. said. “Manufacturing and distribution are key to the future growth in this region.”
The Orangeburg County plant will be Florence Pole and Piling’s second in the state. The company is based in Effingham, S.C.
The arrival of the timber company is the latest in a string of economic development announcements made by the OCDC during the past few weeks.
Earlier in the month, it was announced that Vance would become home to a 231-slip marina consisting of a $3.5 million, three-year investment and 15 new jobs.
Also, the OCDC announced the construction of a $2 million, 35,000-square-foot distribution facility at the Carolina Regional Park and the receipt of $125,000 for the development of the John W. Matthews Jr. Industrial Park.
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| Source:http://www.thetandd.com |
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