Partnership discusses past year’s highlights
September 30, 2010
By CHRIS TRAINOR
In the world of economic development — particularly in the current fiscal climate — many benefits can be attained by examining the past and embracing future opportunities.
Partnership Alliance did a little of both Monday night.
Dozens of local business and political leaders gathered at Piedmont Tech for Partnership’s 2009-10 annual report. Partnership board chairman and Self Regional Healthcare CEO Jim Pfeiffer and Partnership CEO Mark Warner addressed those in attendance.
Among the high points in the presentation were the project “wins” for the economic development firm, which refers to new jobs committed to Greenwood and investments by the respective companies creating those jobs.
For the 2009-10 year, Partnership claimed wins to the tune of 379 new jobs and $35,960,000 in capital investments.
That includes 20 jobs and an $8.5 million capital investment by Fujifilm, 52 jobs and $15 million investment from Capsugel, 57 jobs and an $11.96 million investment from SPF North America and 250 jobs and a $500,000 investment by Sykes.
Of the new jobs committed to Greenwood, 28.8 percent were above the county average wage of $13.65.
Pfeiffer also noted the announcement that Jatco, a leader in plastic molding and manufacturing, would be making a $2 million investment and bringing 39 jobs to the area.
Pfeiffer lauded the Jatco announcement because the company is set to occupy and renovate an existing building on Bond Avenue.
“Jatco is a good story, not only because of the new jobs, but the fact that it is going to a building that was distressed and had not paid property taxes in several years,” Pfeiffer said.
In terms of activity, Partnership enjoyed gains in some areas in 2009-10, while there was less activity in other areas.
The firm worked 58 new projects in 2009-10, as compared to 34 new projects in 2008-09. Partnership made 71 business retention and expansion contacts in 2009-10, as compared to 34 in 2008-09.
Meanwhile, Partnership completed 32 requests for information this year, as compared to 38 RFIs a year ago.
The Partnership website — www.partnershipalliance.com — experienced significant growth, with 6,412 total visits form 81 countries or territories in 2009-10. In 2008-09, the site had only 2,332 visits form 38 countries or territories.
Progress is being made in the Partnership for Tomorrow capital campaign. That campaign has a five-year fundraising goal of $4.46 million and focuses on five initiatives:
- Business retention and expansion.
- New business recruitment.
- Talent recruitment and retention.
- Community development.
- A Clemson University endowed chair on the campus of Greenwood Genetic Center.
To date, Partnership has received pledges in the amount of $3.47 million. That includes a $2 million pledge from the Self Family Foundation specifically to help fund the aforementioned endowed chair in human genetics.
Self Regional joins Health Sciences South Carolina
September 2, 2010
GSA Daily Staff Report
Health Sciences South Carolina, a biomedical research collaborative that includes the state’s largest research-intensive universities and major health systems, has added three new partners.
Joining HSSC are AnMed Health, based in Anderson; McLeod Health in Florence, and Self Regional Healthcare, based in Greenwood.
These organizations join existing members Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center, Palmetto Health, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina, and the University of South Carolina.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome these new partners,” says Jay Moskowitz, HSSC president and CEO. “By contributing their expertise and resources to our efforts, they will add even more strength to HSSC’s drive to improve public health and economic well being in South Carolina through better health care and health research.”
“At AnMed Health, a core part of our mission is to take proactive steps toward optimizing the health of our patients, staff, and community,” says John A. Miller, CEO of AnMed Health. “We have a long-standing commitment to this core value, and as a result we view our new relationship with HSSC as tremendous positive. This new partnership matches our strategic and organizational goals as it relates to research, patient care and quality.”
“This new partnership also aligns with AnMed Health’s belief that collaboration among institutions will be critical to facing the challenging and changing environment we see not only in health care, but across a broad spectrum of arenas in South Carolina,” Miller said. “We are excited to join in the efforts of Health Sciences South Carolina, and we look forward to contributing to the building of a stronger and healthier state.”
“Health Sciences South Carolina is truly to be applauded for their progress,” said Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence. “As the nation’s first statewide biomedical-research collaborative, they are continuing to improve the lives of all South Carolinians.”
“The selection of McLeod Health into this group of research universities and major health care systems is further proof that McLeod continues to produce first-class medical services and professionals. I have no doubt McLeod Health will be a pivotal player in this collaborative, as they seek to further study disease treatment and prevention,” Leatherman said.
“The mission of Self Regional Healthcare is to bring advanced health care closer to home, so affiliating with HSSC and its statewide biomedical research collaborative is another step in this direction,” said James A. Pfeiffer, president and CEO of Self Regional Healthcare. “Our focus on quality care and continuous improvement in patient and employee satisfaction has earned our hospital recognition at the state, national and even global level.”
“Joining forces with HSSC compliments these efforts and places us in the forefront of major efforts to expand information technology for the betterment of our patients. HSSC is also involved in clinical trials networks for cancer trials and other cutting edge advances in medicine,”Pfeiffer said. “Further, the collaboration is actively working on research to improve the quality of rural healthcare and reduction in healthcare associated infections. We see these benefits as an asset to the Greenwood area.”
South Carolina is the only state in the nation in which all major research universities and six teaching hospital systems have joined forces to improve the quality of healthcare. Among its many activities, HSSC is leading efforts to provide better education and training for the state’s health care workforce, to develop a statewide strategic plan for e-health, and to develop a statewide health information technology infrastructure to support research and advanced patient care.
Established in April 2004, Health Sciences South Carolina is a statewide public-private collaborative of research-intensive universities and major health systems possessing the shared vision of using health sciences research to improve the health, healthcare and economic well being of South Carolina. HSSC includes Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina, the University of South Carolina, Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center, Palmetto Health, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, McLeod Health, Self Regional Healthcare and AnMed Health.
Jatco Incorporated announces new facility in Greenwood County
September 1, 2010
The South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Greenwood Partnership Alliance today announced that Jatco Incorporated, a leader in plastic molding and manufacturing, will establish its new production facility in Greenwood County. The $2 million investment is expected to generate 39 new jobs.
“Demand for our products is constantly growing, and this new facility will give our company a broader reach as we seek to increase our market share. We are pleased to locate our new production facility in Greenwood. South Carolina offers us an excellent business environment and we look forward to starting up our operations there. We appreciate all the support we have received from state and local officials,” said Paul Appelblom, CEO and chairman of Jatco Incorporated.
Jatco Incorporated will establish its East Coast production facility in Greenwood, S.C. The company is moving into an existing facility at 210 Bond Avenue, and will be renovating and upfitting the facility in the coming weeks. The company expects to begin production at the facility in the fourth quarter of this year.
“South Carolina continues to be an attractive location for companies looking to expand their market reach to customers along the East Coast and the growing Southeast region. Jatco’s decision to locate its new manufacturing facility in Greenwood is another indication that our state’s exceptional market access, coupled with a business-friendly climate and skilled workforce, is working to attract new investment and job opportunities for South Carolinians. We welcome Jatco to South Carolina’s business community and wish the company much success in its endeavors here,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.
“It is a pleasure to welcome Jatco to the Greenwood business community. This decision is the result of teamwork at the local and state level between the Greenwood Partnership Alliance, Greenwood County, and the South Carolina Department of Commerce. This project has been in the works for quite some time, with many people in each organization involved. This is also a good example of how a lead from an existing company can develop into a new business locating in the county,” said Mark Warner, CEO of Greenwood Partnership Alliance.
John W. Pillman, president of VELUX Greenwood, said, “Jatco has been a valued supplier to our company for the past eight years. We have been very happy with their product quality and their willingness and ability to support us as we have developed new designs. With their expansion to this new facility in town, our delivery of products and ease of communication will be greatly enhanced, allowing us to build on our already strong relationship.”
The company plans to begin hiring for the new positions in mid-December. Employment information will be posted through the South Carolina One-Stop Workforce Center at a later date.
Jatco Incorporated, based in Union City, Calif., is a full service plastic molding, product manufacturing and distribution company with more than three decades of experience. The company’s customers come from a wide range of industries, from printing to the medical sector. For more information about the company, please visit www.jatco.com.
