Spartanburg County announces 2 new projects totaling $193 million heading into 2023

Bob Montgomery, Herald-Journal
·4 min read

Spartanburg County is ending the year as strong as it began with two economic projects announced on Dec. 12 totaling $193 million in investments and 103 new jobs.

"These two announcements brought our astonishing and record-setting total (for the year) to $4 billion and 2,145 new high-paying and opportunity-driving jobs to Spartanburg County," said County Councilman David Britt, chairman of the county's economic development committee.

"That is by far the biggest record we have ever had in the history of Spartanburg," Britt said. "Looking ahead, a number of opportunities in the pipeline are exceptionally strong."

The expansion is expected to be complete by October 2023. The company makes and distributes bread products, including buns and sub rolls, for restaurant chains.

More jobs on the way in 2023No shortage of jobs of all types in Upstate heading into the new year

Through November, Spartanburg County Council has backed tax breaks for a record $3.83 billion in projects from new or expanding businesses and 2,042 new jobs.
Through November, Spartanburg County Council has backed tax breaks for a record $3.83 billion in projects from new or expanding businesses and 2,042 new jobs.

Two Spartanburg County projects announced in November

Last month, two new projects were announced by companies.

Project Copper is a planned $64 million investment with no jobs, and Project Dough (Highland Baking Company) is a $35 million investment with 80 jobs projected.

Highland Baking Company, at 7001 Asheville Highway in Spartanburg, plans to upgrade its existing building to support a new full production line to meet increasing supply demands, according to Highland Baking's CEO Stu Rosen.

"Our home in Spartanburg, South Carolina, has been a central part of our success over the last decade," Rosen said in a statement. "This additional investment demonstrates not only our belief in the business moving forward but our confidence in the staff at our Spartanburg bakery and the community in which it resides."

Oshkosh Defense plans to hire 1,000 workers to manufacture up to 165,000 Next Generation Vehicles for the U.S. Postal Service at the former Rite-Aid distribution center in Spartanburg County. Production is set to begin in the summer of 2023.
Oshkosh Defense plans to hire 1,000 workers to manufacture up to 165,000 Next Generation Vehicles for the U.S. Postal Service at the former Rite-Aid distribution center in Spartanburg County. Production is set to begin in the summer of 2023.

Oshkosh Defense jobs to ramp up in 2023

Last year saw 44 new projects with $1.9 billion capital investment and 4,045 new jobs made their way to Spartanburg County.

Many of those jobs are 1,000 planned by Oshkosh Defense to manufacture up to 165,000 Next Generation Vehicles for the U.S. Postal Service at the former Rite-Aid distribution center in Spartanburg County. Production is set to begin in the summer of 2023.

Gloves off Spartanburg fights to keep Oshkosh Defense postal fleet project, 1,000 jobs

Spartanburg County began 2022 with record-setting pace for economic growth

January started the year with a record-setting pace with four new projects totaling $89.4 million and 82 new jobs.

And Spartanburg's continued job growth did not go unnoticed.

In February, California-based GoodHire, a background screening software company, named Spartanburg among the top 10 places to live and work in the nation, according to its recent analysis of 155 U.S. cities and metro areas.
In February, California-based GoodHire, a background screening software company, named Spartanburg among the top 10 places to live and work in the nation, according to its recent analysis of 155 U.S. cities and metro areas.

In February, California-based GoodHire, a background screening software company, named Spartanburg among the top 10 places to live and work in the nation, according to its recent analysis of 155 U.S. cities and metro areas.

In March, California-based logistics company Ingram Micro announced it is investing $37 million and will create 203 new jobs as it expands in Spartanburg County with a new regional fulfillment center.

Record-setting growth continuesSpartanburg leaders aim to keep building as county sees record-setting business growth

Located at 6670 Highway 221 in Roebuck, Ingram Micro expects the new fulfillment center to be operational by early 2023 and serve customers in the Southeast, expecting to ship about 2 million packages annually.

In April, Magna International announced its new 170,000-square-foot mirror manufacturing facility in Duncan that will employ roughly 255 workers. The plant opened its doors Thursday, Dec. 8

Magna Mirrors produces high-tech exterior mirror systems for automotive customers including BMW, Mercedes and Volvo.

Gov. Henry McMaster in April helped Magna International celebrate the opening of a new 170,000-square-foot mirror manufacturing facility in Duncan that will employ roughly 255 workers.
Gov. Henry McMaster in April helped Magna International celebrate the opening of a new 170,000-square-foot mirror manufacturing facility in Duncan that will employ roughly 255 workers.

Highlighting 2022 Spartanburg County project announcements

In June, seven new economic projects with a total investment of $257.6 million and 78 new jobs moved forward by Spartanburg County Council.

In August, eight new economic projects totaling $775 million in investment and 903 new jobs were announced. One company, TTI Consumer Tools Inc., plans to invest $200 million and create 470 jobs at the Fort Prince Industrial Park in Lyman.

In October, three companies planning to invest a total of $20.3 million and create 178 jobs announced plans to locate operations in Spartanburg County, according to Gov. Henry McMaster.

Boysen USA has expanded its South Carolina presence from a manufacturing plant in Gaffney to the opening of a new location at 404 Centura Court, near the intersection of Interstate 85 and Business 85 and off North Blackstock Road in Spartanburg County. A specialist in automotive exhaust technology, Boysen plans to invest $4.5 million and create 88 new jobs at the Spartanburg location.

BMW announces $1.7 billion investment in electric vehicles

Also in October, BMW Group announced a $1.7 billion capital investment to begin building all-electric vehicles for the U.S. and world markets at its Spartanburg plant.

In October, BMW Group announced a $1.7 billion capital investment to begin building all-electric vehicles for the U.S. and world markets at its Spartanburg plant. The investment includes $1 billion to prepare the Spartanburg plant for the production of electric vehicles, and $700 million to build a 1 million-square-foot high-voltage battery assembly plant with 300 new jobs in Woodruff.

The investment includes $1 billion to prepare the Spartanburg plant for the production of electric vehicles and $700 million to build a 1 million-square-foot high-voltage battery assembly plant with 300 new jobs in Woodruff.

"The $1.7 billion capital investment is the largest in the history of South Carolina," McMaster said.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Job growth momentum expected to continue in 2023 in Spartanburg County