The Charleston Pie Man LLC Announces New Facilities in Georgetown County
Investment expected to create 80 new jobs
COLUMBIA, S.C. – April 14, 2010 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce and Georgetown County today announced that The Charleston Pie Man LLC will locate its new operation in Georgetown County. The $500,000 investment is expected to generate 80 new jobs.
“Demand for the pies has grown quickly, and I expect it to continue to grow as we enter more markets. This new facility will allow us to meet demand and get our pies to our customers wherever they might be. This new manufacturing operation represents an important first step for us, and we look forward to growing here. We appreciate all the support we’ve received from state and local officials,” said Toby Simmons, owner and founder of The Charleston Pie Man.
The Charleston Pie Man will open a new pie manufacturing operation in Georgetown County to assemble and prepare its pies. The company has leased two facilities in the area, one in Pawleys Island and the other in Georgetown. The company plans to build on its regional pie business and enter markets all across the U.S.
“Small businesses are a fundamental driver of employment opportunities for South Carolinians and citizens across the nation. The success of The Charleston Pie Man shows how a kitchen concept can be turned into a thriving business. The company’s growth from a one-man operation into a manufacturing business that will employ dozens of people and have a broad market reach demonstrates that South Carolina provides the foundation fundamental to growing any business. Congratulations to Toby Simmons and The Charleston Pie Man and best wishes for continued success,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.
“We are delighted The Charleston Pie Man has created its home in Georgetown County with bakery locations in both Pawleys Island and Georgetown,” said Georgetown County Council Chairman Johnny Morant. “We are excited they will occupy buildings in multiple locations within our county to provide job opportunities for residents to find a quality job with a growing company. The Charleston Pie Man is an entrepreneurial business with rapid growth potential so it is a pleasure to welcome them to the Georgetown County business community.”
The Charleston Pie Man is in the process of hiring for the positions now. Anyone interested in job opportunities with the company should contact the Georgetown Workforce Center at 843-546-8581 or the company at 843-314-3570, or by fax at 843-314-3571.
The Charleston Pie Man is the creation of Toby Simmons, who went from making his pies at home and selling them at local farmers markets to opening a bakery in Charleston. Even as his success has grown, Simmons has continued to use the freshest ingredients to make his pies. For more information about the company, please visit www.thecharlestonpieman.com.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Company opens Lake City plant, talks with Boeing
By Charles Tomlinson | Lake City News & Post Editor
Published: April 6, 2010
Updated: April 7, 2010
LAKE CITY — Jim Stike, president and CEO of Materials Innovation Technologies, said South Carolina “gets it” when it comes to bringing startup companies into the state.
During the company’s grand opening for its MIT-RCF facility, in Lake City, S.C. Sen. Yancey McGill, D-Kingstree, thanked the company leaders for the “kind gift” to the community.
The Fletcher, N.C.-based company plans for 120 people to be employed within five years at the site, which will reclaim carbon fiber for automotive and aerospace parts at the Godley Morris Commerce Center.
McGill also put some pressure on Gov. Mark Sanford, who also spoke at Tuesday’s ceremony.
“You might make a private call to Boeing and tell them there’s a little business in Lake City,” McGill said to laughter from the audience.
Later, Stike said, “If you’re not busy Friday afternoon, I have a meeting with Boeing in Charleston,” and the audience laughed as he personally invited McGill.
Stike said after the ceremony that he couldn’t elaborate on his company’s dealings with Boeing, which will build its new 787 Dreamliner in a new North Charleston facility.
“We’re working with them, and we’ll see how that goes,” he said.
MIT-RCF will use a patented process to make parts and also will reclaim carbon fiber out of scrap from Boeing jets, Corvettes or the U.S. Department of Defense, among other sources, Stike told the audience.
“(There’s a) positive environmental impact, so how could you not win when you hit on all of those key things?” Stike said.
The governor said the company’s practice of using “what we have” is “not only good for the environment, but it’s good for people’s pocketbooks, as well.”
Florence County Council Chairman K.G. “Rusty” Smith said the company’s patented process could “revolutionize” the automotive and aerospace industries. MIT-RCF will take materials “destined for the landfill” and make something stronger, safer and lighter than the parts they will replace, he said.
Stewart McKenzie, Midlands Zone manager of SC Launch, honored Smith on Tuesday for contributions to the area’s “knowledge economy,” which includes such high-tech industries as MIT-RCF as well as life sciences and alternative energy. SC Launch is a collaboration among the South Carolina Research Authority, better known as SCRA, and South Carolina’s university research foundations.
Materials Innovations Technologies looked at nine buildings in South Carolina, including some in the Upstate, Stike said. The first building the company examined was the Lake City facility, he said.
In October, Florence County Council approved incentive and lease agreements for the company. The county also has allocated $548,333 for the upfit of the MIT-RCF building.
Two weeks after council’s vote, Boeing announced plans for its South Carolina facility.
“I like to say Boeing was waiting to see where we were going to put our facilities,” he said to more laughter from the crowd. Although his comment was humorous, Stike said he wasn’t totally joking, because small companies historically have led the country out of recessions.
“That’s what we’re trying to do here in Lake City and in the future,” he said.
Materials Innovation Technologies has been moving equipment daily to the Lake City site and should be able to begin its cutting process soon, Stike said. He hopes the facility will be fully operational by August or September, he said.
The company, which has 20 employees, has hired a seven-person starting staff in Lake City, he said. It also has put 15 people through 30 hours of classroom training at Florence-Darlington Technical College’s Lake City site and will place additional employees as the necessary equipment arrives, he said.
Stike told the story of one applicant who had recently lost his job and, as a result, couldn’t adopt an 8-year-old girl in foster care. MIT-RCF hired the man, however, and wrote a letter to the adoption agency, Stike said. Now, the adoption is going through.
“Thousands of jobs are great,” but one job also can make a big difference, Stike said.
Published: April 6, 2010
Updated: April 7, 2010
LAKE CITY — Jim Stike, president and CEO of Materials Innovation Technologies, said South Carolina “gets it” when it comes to bringing startup companies into the state.
During the company’s grand opening for its MIT-RCF facility, in Lake City, S.C. Sen. Yancey McGill, D-Kingstree, thanked the company leaders for the “kind gift” to the community.
The Fletcher, N.C.-based company plans for 120 people to be employed within five years at the site, which will reclaim carbon fiber for automotive and aerospace parts at the Godley Morris Commerce Center.
McGill also put some pressure on Gov. Mark Sanford, who also spoke at Tuesday’s ceremony.
“You might make a private call to Boeing and tell them there’s a little business in Lake City,” McGill said to laughter from the audience.
Later, Stike said, “If you’re not busy Friday afternoon, I have a meeting with Boeing in Charleston,” and the audience laughed as he personally invited McGill.
Stike said after the ceremony that he couldn’t elaborate on his company’s dealings with Boeing, which will build its new 787 Dreamliner in a new North Charleston facility.
“We’re working with them, and we’ll see how that goes,” he said.
MIT-RCF will use a patented process to make parts and also will reclaim carbon fiber out of scrap from Boeing jets, Corvettes or the U.S. Department of Defense, among other sources, Stike told the audience.
“(There’s a) positive environmental impact, so how could you not win when you hit on all of those key things?” Stike said.
The governor said the company’s practice of using “what we have” is “not only good for the environment, but it’s good for people’s pocketbooks, as well.”
Florence County Council Chairman K.G. “Rusty” Smith said the company’s patented process could “revolutionize” the automotive and aerospace industries. MIT-RCF will take materials “destined for the landfill” and make something stronger, safer and lighter than the parts they will replace, he said.
Stewart McKenzie, Midlands Zone manager of SC Launch, honored Smith on Tuesday for contributions to the area’s “knowledge economy,” which includes such high-tech industries as MIT-RCF as well as life sciences and alternative energy. SC Launch is a collaboration among the South Carolina Research Authority, better known as SCRA, and South Carolina’s university research foundations.
Materials Innovations Technologies looked at nine buildings in South Carolina, including some in the Upstate, Stike said. The first building the company examined was the Lake City facility, he said.
In October, Florence County Council approved incentive and lease agreements for the company. The county also has allocated $548,333 for the upfit of the MIT-RCF building.
Two weeks after council’s vote, Boeing announced plans for its South Carolina facility.
“I like to say Boeing was waiting to see where we were going to put our facilities,” he said to more laughter from the crowd. Although his comment was humorous, Stike said he wasn’t totally joking, because small companies historically have led the country out of recessions.
“That’s what we’re trying to do here in Lake City and in the future,” he said.
Materials Innovation Technologies has been moving equipment daily to the Lake City site and should be able to begin its cutting process soon, Stike said. He hopes the facility will be fully operational by August or September, he said.
The company, which has 20 employees, has hired a seven-person starting staff in Lake City, he said. It also has put 15 people through 30 hours of classroom training at Florence-Darlington Technical College’s Lake City site and will place additional employees as the necessary equipment arrives, he said.
Stike told the story of one applicant who had recently lost his job and, as a result, couldn’t adopt an 8-year-old girl in foster care. MIT-RCF hired the man, however, and wrote a letter to the adoption agency, Stike said. Now, the adoption is going through.
“Thousands of jobs are great,” but one job also can make a big difference, Stike said.
Sanford visits Marion County to discuss economy
By Naeem McFadden | Marion Star & Mullins Enterprise Reporter
Published: April 6, 2010
Updated: April 7, 2010
MARION — Gov. Mark Sanford, spending most of his Tuesday traveling through the Pee Dee, made a stop in Marion County to discuss the economy with Marion County Economic Development Commission Executive Director Rodney Berry.
Marion County shared the state’s highest unemployment rate in January at 24.3 percent.
Sanford said Marion County‘s unemployment rates are tough numbers, making jobs and investments much more important.
Sanford’s visit was basically a one-on-one discussion in regard to existing investments in the area and what can be done at the state level to help support the Pee Dee, Berry said.
“The state has been so supportive of our efforts and we’re all encourage by his visit,” Berry said.
On Feb. 25, ACAS Landing Gear Services announced a $5 million investment in Marion County that’s expected to create 300 jobs during the next five years.
Several months before that announcement, Sopakco, which has been long established in Mullins, announced the opening of a second Mullins facility. The $10 million investment is expected to provide jobs for 50 people.
On Sept. 29, 2009,Supremes LLC announced a $6 million investment in Marion County for a facility to manufacture disposable baby diapers and create 262 jobs.
“It’s been a tremendous team effort,” Berry said of the turnaround. “We started at the ground level and felt we needed to change attitudes here in Marion County, and our local folk have bought into that.”
Sanford said South Carolina’s labor force growth could be an important factor in the long run when it comes to job creation.
With the influx of new residents, new industries are finding a good place to do business in the state, he said.
Future growth prospects on the job front are another indicator for improvement, the governor said.
Published: April 6, 2010
Updated: April 7, 2010
MARION — Gov. Mark Sanford, spending most of his Tuesday traveling through the Pee Dee, made a stop in Marion County to discuss the economy with Marion County Economic Development Commission Executive Director Rodney Berry.
Marion County shared the state’s highest unemployment rate in January at 24.3 percent.
Sanford said Marion County‘s unemployment rates are tough numbers, making jobs and investments much more important.
Sanford’s visit was basically a one-on-one discussion in regard to existing investments in the area and what can be done at the state level to help support the Pee Dee, Berry said.
“The state has been so supportive of our efforts and we’re all encourage by his visit,” Berry said.
On Feb. 25, ACAS Landing Gear Services announced a $5 million investment in Marion County that’s expected to create 300 jobs during the next five years.
Several months before that announcement, Sopakco, which has been long established in Mullins, announced the opening of a second Mullins facility. The $10 million investment is expected to provide jobs for 50 people.
On Sept. 29, 2009,Supremes LLC announced a $6 million investment in Marion County for a facility to manufacture disposable baby diapers and create 262 jobs.
“It’s been a tremendous team effort,” Berry said of the turnaround. “We started at the ground level and felt we needed to change attitudes here in Marion County, and our local folk have bought into that.”
Sanford said South Carolina’s labor force growth could be an important factor in the long run when it comes to job creation.
With the influx of new residents, new industries are finding a good place to do business in the state, he said.
Future growth prospects on the job front are another indicator for improvement, the governor said.
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