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| BMW Manufacturing has completed the installation of solar panels. |
BMW adds solar to alternative energy portfolio BMW Manufacturing has completed the installation
and commissioning of solar panels that are providing solar energy to fully power the 24,000 square foot Zentrum Museum, the
plant’s heritage museum and visitors’ center. In addition to the new solar panels, the plant also installed three
new electric vehicle charging stations throughout the main facility.
“Adding a new, alternative energy platform
to our energy portfolio is another step in our commitment to sustainable methods of generating power at our factory,”
said Duncan Seaman, Department Manager, Market Operations USA & Canada. “It is the perfect complement to our existing
landfill gas-to-energy and hydrogen fuel cell program and offsets the fossil fuel requirements otherwise needed to run our
facility.”
Installation of 400 solar modules, each capable of producing 240 watts of energy, now provides power
to the Zentrum Museum, as well as, the new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The solar panels, completed in partnership
with Southern Energy Management, were installed in front of the Zentrum Museum parallel to Interstate 85. BMW invested $500,000
in this installation. Southern Energy Management is headquartered in Morrisville, NC with a regional office in Greenville,
South Carolina. SunStore Solar also served as a consultant to BMW on this project.
Since 2003, methane gas has been collected,
cleaned and compressed from a local landfill and used to power more than 50% of the BMW plant’s total energy requirements.
In 2009, the company invested $12 million in its landfill gas program to further improve overall efficiency. Implementation
of the program has reduced CO2 emissions by about 92,000 tons per year and saves about $5 million annually in energy costs.
More recently, the company announced the addition of a hydrogen storage and distribution center within their on-site 11 Megawatt
Energy Center to facilitate on-site fueling of a hydrogen-fuel cell material handling fleet inside the 1.2 million square
foot assembly plant that completes final assembly of the BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle. Highland Baking Company locating in Spartanburg County Columbia – Highland Baking Company, a wholesale
bread baking company, announced on February 3 plans to locate its new production facility in Spartanburg County. The $9.48
million investment is expected to generate 196 new jobs over the next five years.
“We look forward to opening our
new facility in South Carolina. This is an important step in our company’s growth. Spartanburg County is a great fit
for our business and offers a business-friendly climate and excellent market access,” said Stuart Rosen, vice president
of Highland Baking Company.
Highland Baking Company, based in North-brook, Ill., will locate its new bread production
and distribution facility in an existing building in Spartanburg County. The company specializes in producing custom bread
products for national restaurant chains.
“South Carolina continues to be the place where companies want to invest,
and Highland Baking Company is a great example. We celebrate their decision to establish operations here and create 196 new
jobs in Spartanburg County,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
The new facility will allow Highland Baking Company to have
some additional capacity as well as improve efficiencies. The facility is expected to open in October.
“You’ll
hear me say that we are good at making things in South Carolina, and today I can say we’re also good at baking them,”
said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. “Agribusiness and distribution are strong industries in South Carolina, and High-land
Baking Company’s announcement shows that.”
“We are extremely pleased that Highland Baking chose to
locate a new operation in Spartanburg County. We are excited they will revitalize a former food production facility. The addition
of this investment continues to demonstrate Spartanburg's ability to attract manufacturing operations and highlights the role
our skilled workforce plays in recruiting companies,” said David Britt, chairman of the Economic Recruitment Committee
of Spartanburg County and member of the Economic Futures Group Board.
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development
approved the company for job development credits, which will be available when hiring targets are met.
The company will
begin hiring for the new positions in June. Anyone interested in new job opportunities with the company should contact spartanburgjobs@highlandbaking.com.
As South Carolina’s leading economic development agency, the Department of Commerce works to recruit new businesses
and help existing businesses grow. Commerce received the Silver Award from Busi-ness Facilities magazine, placing second in
the 2011 Economic Development Deal of the Year competition. Commerce has been part of recruiting world-class companies to
South Carolina such as Boeing, Bridgestone, Continental, Monster.com, Heinz, ZF Group, BMW and Google Inc. Commerce also supports
small and existing business, rural development initiatives and offers grants for community development. Spartanburg County Historical Association celebrates Black History Month with symposium In celebration
of Black History Month, the Spartanburg County Historical Association is spearheading a three-day event — Persistence
& Perseverance — that will include a historian sleeping in a local slave cabin, a symposium of guest speakers, and
an evening of recognition and entertainment. The event will be Thursday, Feb. 16, through Saturday, Feb. 18, with most activities
taking place at the Chapman Cultural Center. Locally, it is co-sponsored by the City of Spartanburg, Ballet Spartanburg, and
The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg.
“Celebrating Black History Month has become one of the Historical
Association’s major annual events,” Nannie Jefferies, Director of the Spartanburg Regional History Museum, said.
“Each year, we grow the program creatively and in content. We feel it is important to provide good facts-based information
that people can rely on. In addition, we adhere to the idea that this is indeed a celebration and people should find this
program enjoyable. Black history and American history and even Spartanburg history are all tied together. You can’t
have one without understanding the others. We invite all citizens to these events and hope they leave with a better understanding
of our united heritage.”
The celebration will kick off on Thursday with Joseph McGill from the National Preservation
Trust spending the night in a slave cabin on the property of the Historic Price House. The authentic cabin has not been occupied
in decades, and the only source of heat will be the fireplace—conditions similar to what the original inhabitants had
to endure. McGill has repeated this experience many times throughout the country and in South Carolina. However, this is his
first experience in Spartanburg. He will tell about his experience the next day at the symposium.
During the symposium
on Friday, the following will be guest speakers: Dr. Phillip Racine, Professor of History Emeritus, Wofford College; Dr. Melissa
Walker, George Dean Johnson, Jr. Professor of History, Converse College; Mr. Damon Fordham, Professor of History, College
of Charleston; Dr. Frances Hardy, Instructor of African-American Studies & Language Arts, Spartanburg High School; Dr.
Carmen Harris, Professor of History, USC Upstate; and Dr. Diane Vecchio, Professor of History, Furman University. School teachers
who attend this symposium will receive four professional credit hours. However, the general public will also find the presentations
enjoyable and informative. This all-day symposium (starting at 8:30 a.m.) will teach the historical context of African-American
history and culture since the settlement of the Backcountry (Upstate South Carolina) through today. Topics include Roots to
1800, Antebellum and Civil War Years (1800-1865), Community Building (1865-1940), and 1940 to the Present. The program ends
at 4:30 p.m. The fee to attend is $15. There will be optional $7 lunches and $7 bus tour of African-American sights in Spartanburg.
On Saturday, the three-day program will close with “Inspiring Performances,” an evening in the David Reid Theatre
at the Chapman Cultural Center, featuring the recognition of Community Weavers, a performance by an African-American modern
dance company, and a portrayal of Harriet Tubman by New York-based actress Carolyn Evans. Community Weavers is an annual “recognition
of those who have woven the tapestry of the community with their spirit, vision and leadership.” This year’s recipients
will be Helen Lula Price Proctor and Carolyn Moss Dawkins, both retired teachers and community activists, and Jessie Ruth
Littlejohn, community volunteer. Kyle Abraham.In.Motion will be presented by Ballet Spartanburg. This is a mostly African-American
dance company out of New York City, known for its message-based performances. The evening starts at 7 p.m. and admission is
$22.50 for adults and $17.50 for students.
This program is supported by proceeds from Spartanburg’s United Arts
Fund with a $5,000 sponsorship. Also, it is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission and the National Endowment
for the Arts. Uniscite Inc. announces new operations in Laurens County Columbia
– Uniscite Inc., a maker of plastic films, on January 31 announced plans to develop its operations in Laurens County.
The $70 million investment is expected to generate up to 100 new jobs.
“We are pleased to locate our new operations
in Laurens County and look forward to building our business here,” said Mr. Zhang Long Peng, investor and president
of Uniscite Inc.
“Laurens County offered us an excellent business environment and ready and available workforce.
We appreciate all the support we’ve received from state and local officials, and we plan to create as many job opportunities
as possible for the state,” said Ms. Fang Wang, general manager of Uniscite Inc.
Uniscite Inc. will construct a
new greenfield plant to manufacture the company’s plastic film such as those used in packaging for food products. With
the purchase of up-to-date machinery, Uniscite will produce a high quality BOPP film at exceptional speed. The company currently
operates out of offices in Greenville. The plant is expected to be completed and operational by the first quarter of 2014.
“We celebrate Uniscite’s decision to establish its new manufacturing plant in South Carolina and create 100
new jobs. This announcement is another big win for one of our state’s rural counties. We will continue to build on our
economic development successes and foster job creation throughout our state,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
In the past
year, South Carolina has recruited more than $4.7 billion in investment and more than 13,000 new jobs in the manufacturing
sector.
“Manufacturing companies played an important role in creating new jobs throughout the state last year.
Today’s announcement by Uniscite shows that South Carolina’s business-friendly climate is continuing to attract
job-creating investments in the manufacturing sector,” said Bobby Hitt, Secretary of Commerce.
The project originated
from Commerce’s Asia office in Shanghai, China. Asia Office Managing Director John Ling introduced the company’s
executives to South Carolina and worked with them as the project developed.
“We are extremely excited to have our
first China-based company locate in Laurens County. We are happy to continue to see industrial growth in the area,”
said Laurens County Council Chairman Jim Coleman.
“I am very pleased to have another excellent company locate in
my district,” said District 1 Laurens County Councilman Ted Nash. “Laurens County is good choice for both domestic
and international companies.”
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved a set aside grant for
$400,000 and job development credits, which will be available when hiring targets are met. ReadySC will provide pre-employment
training.
The company will begin hiring for the new positions by early 2013. They will be seeking professionals who have
experience or education in process, electrical and mechanical engineering as well as technical operations. Anyone interested
in job opportunities with Uniscite Inc. should contact Toni Puleo by e-mail, tonipuleo@unisciteinc.com.
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