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.
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