COMMUNITY OCCUPATIONAL REDEVELOPMENT, LLC.

Marion County Profile

A Prime Location, with Access to the Global Marketplace

Located between the resort area of Myrtle Beach and Interstate 95, Marion County encompasses 489 square miles of northeastern South Carolina´s coastal plain region. The county seat of Marion is only 22 miles east of Florence, and within an hour and a half of the capital city of Columbia via Interstate 20. Myrtle Beach and the coast are only 45 minutes southeast on U.S. 501, while historic Charleston is located two hours to the south. Access is a great feature of locating a business here, with major interstates, railways, and airports all within easy reach. Click here for more information on location.

A Great Place to Operate a Business

Businesses, such as ArvinMeritor and Blumenthal, that have been in Marion County since 1967 and 1975 respectively, believe that Marion County has an excellent industrial environment. ArvinMeritor, Blumenthal Mills, Inc., Beneteau and Datwyler Rubber and Plastics, Inc. have continuously expanded their operations since locating in the county. Marion County also proudly boasts the existence of two international firms.

An Abundance of Available Sites

Here in the heart of the fast-growing Southeast region, Marion County offers over 4,000 acres of available sites and buildings. For example, the fully-serviced Marion County ´501´ Industrial park encompasses 268 acres. Based on the criteria of your project, we can help you locate the right facility for your company. Contact Marion County Economic Development Commission Exec. Director Frank Jones with your project´s specifications and requirements.

A Large Labor Force, with Access to Impressive Training and Development Programs

The estimated labor force within a 30 mile radius of Marion County was 161,463 out of a total civilian population of 296,332. Over 50.8% of the population in that radius fall into the prime working age group of 25-54. Companies needing skilled laborers will benefit from the fact that South Carolina boasts a higher per capita percentage of craftsmen, operatives, and laborers than the national average. There is an abundant source of recruitable labor in the area, and a wealth of training and development opportunities.

South Carolina´s technical education system continues to serve as a major catalyst for economic development. Here, workers and companies enjoy an impressive network of schools, colleges and universities. Marion County´s Technical Education Center has helped workers throughout the state, with services such as customized courses and industry training.

Higher educational opportunities are readily available to those living in and around Marion County. Area institutions within close proximity include Francis Marion University, Florence-Darlington Technical College, Coker College, Coastal Carolina University, and Horry-Georgetown Technical College.

Supportive Municipalities

Marion County is fortunate to have three outstanding municipalities. The City of Marion, the City of Mullins, and the Town of Nichols provide excellent services and utilities. All have excellent police and fire departments, as well as sufficient water, sewer, and refuse services.

Health Care that is Second to None

The quality of healthcare in this region is among the best in the state. In 1997 Marion County opened its new medical center, which is a 124 bed facility utilizing the latest in medical technology. McLeod Regional Hospital and Carolina Hospital System, located in Florence, are within 30 minutes driving time, and the Grand Strand Medical Center in Myrtle Beach is approximately 45 minutes away.

Quality of Life is the Element that Brings it all Together

Marion County is the kind of place where one visit is worth a thousand words. You´ll find a gracious historical setting with lovely communities, welcoming neighbors, good schools, and family values that will quickly make you feel at home. Residents enjoy a host of activities and festivals throughout the year. Close to great golf and recreation, with the beaches, shopping, and entertainment of Myrtle Beach within easy reach, Marion County´s combination of business opportunity and lifestyle make this an outstanding choice for relocating or expanding your company.

A Rich History With a Vibrant Future

Marion County has a wonderful history, and is a community which works to preserve and enhance this heritage. This region was first settled by Native Americans, who were drawn by its abundant resources, and were followed by English settlers who migrated inland from the coast. By the late 1700´s, the communities that became Marion, Mullins and Nichols began to prosper. In 1798 the County was named Marion in honor of General Francis Marion, the famous "Swamp Fox" of the Revolutionary War.

Long known as a highly successful tobacco-growing and agricultural region, Marion County has evolved through its commitment to steady, diversified economic growth. You can get a glimpse into the rich past at the Marion County Museum and the S.C. Tobacco Museum. The Mullins Golden Leaf Festival and the Marion Foxtrot Festival are two of the many cultural events held each year by Marion County residents.

Access County Data: click here for specific information on demographics, utilities and infrastructure, incentives and benefits, job training, taxes, and labor force.

Business Climate: learn more about the benefits of doing business in Marion County.

Business climate... the right setting for corporate success.

Companies interested in locating in Marion County will find a wide variety of quality services available. We have a considerable labor market with a variety of opportunities for training and education within close proximity. The County´s unemployment rate as of August 2006 was 11.5%. The weekly wages earned by workers in this area are considerably lower than larger metropolitan areas. The incentives and benefits available for qualifying entities locating or expanding in Marion County are the maximum allowed by law. These opportunities allow new and existing firms a lower cost of operation when locating here.

A large number of industries currently operating in Marion County benefit from their immediate access to an excellent transportation network of highways and interstates. The transportation network also gives ready access to railroads, airports and deep-water port facilities.

Electric Providers: Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Inc., and Progress Energy

Natural Gas Providers: South Carolina Electric & Gas

Communications: Bell South has installed a state-of-the-art telecommunications network in Marion County. The deployment of the digital fiber optic network allows residential and business customers to obtain a vast array of voice, video and data communications services.

Water and Sewer: Arrangements for these services are made at each respective city hall or through Marco Rural Water Company. Recently installed new lines provide sewerage treatment for facilities along U.S. 76 from Marion to Mullins. The water capacity is 9.7 million g.p.d. with excess water capacity at 5.3 million g.p.d.. The sewer capacity is 9.2 million g.p.d., with excess sewer capacity at 6.5 million g.p.d..

Persons reaching employment age (18): a continuing increase in the number of high school graduates who choose not to go to college, combined with an already relatively youthful population, will provide large numbers of entry-level job candidates in the future. An estimated 51,207 persons in a 30-mile radius reached employment age between 1990 and 2000. Slightly more than 51% are male. Of those graduating from high school, about 57.5% continued on with their education. The bulk of the remainder enter the labor force.

Ports: The deepwater Port of Charleston, located two hours south, significantly enhances Marion County´s transportation advantages. As the number one container port on the south Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the Port of Charleston handles seven million tons of container cargo and over half a million in bulk and breakbulk tonnage annually. ORION, the S.C. State Port Authority´s computerized document processing system, allows cargo to be cleared before ships enter the port, making it one of the fastest clearance systems in the nation.

Air Transportation: Columbia Metropolitan Airport and Charleston International Airport are each within a two hour drive, the Florence Regional Airport and the Myrtle Beach International Airport give quick access to a wide range of flights, and general aviation service is provided by the Marion County Municipal Airport.

Rail: Mainline service is provided by CSX Transportation, and Carolina Southern. CSX provides rail access to the Marion County Industrial Park and maintains an intermodal yard near I-26 between Orangeburg and Charleston. Amtrak provides passenger rail service in nearby Florence, with daily service to New York and new Orleans, and points in between.

Trucking/Motor Freight: Marion County is served by more than 40 freight carriers, including major freight companies capable of handling shipments throughout the U.S. and North America.

Business/Industry Training

Marion County´s three school districts share the resources of the Marion County Technical Education Center (MCTEC) on U.S.Hwy.76 between Marion and Mullins. The Tech Center is an award-winning regional hub for nursing students and business and industry conferences and seminars. The center works closely with business and industry to provide education and training in interpersonal skills, team building, workplace quality, and many other essential courses. It has boosted the economic development efforts of Marion County by serving as a training center and personnel screening facility for new, existing and prospective industries. MCTEC has allegiances with three area schools of higher education.

The Florence-Darlington Technical College is a commuter college located midway between Florence and Darlington on U.S. Highway 52. Its 100-acre beautifully landscaped campus has a modern, functionally designed complex of seven buildings that house classrooms, laboratories, the library, and student activities. The college offers programs leading to an associate degree, a diploma or certificate in business, health or technology, which prepares its students for an immediate career. Here students can learn the essential job skills that give them a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Francis Marion University, located on a 309-acre campus, is a four-year institution with a growing number of graduate programs. The university awards graduate degrees in business administration, education, and applied psychology. FMU offers twenty-eight majors, in addition to cooperative programs with other institutions and several pre-professional programs.

Coastal Carolina University, located on a 260 acre campus in nearby Conway, offers 36 bachelors programs, 5 masters degree programs, and has a wide-ranging Division of Continuing Studies. It also offers business and professional training programs, Distance Learning programs, and through its Myrtle Beach Information Technology Center, a host of Microsoft-certified computer training classes available throughout the year.

Horry-Georgetown Technical College, with campuses in Conway, Myrtle Beach, Georgetown, and a new center planned for North Myrtle Beach, offers business, industry and government training programs. These programs feature partnering options for program development, and custom programs to meet special training needs. The Computer Training Services Division provides custom-designed options, with classes held either on campus or at your facility.

The Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service of Marion County is an educational network linking research, science and technology to the needs of people where they live and work. Located on Airport Road of Highway 76 between Marion and Mullins, the office provides a broad range of educational programs.

The Pee Dee Workforce Investment Board serves individuals in Marion and other counties through a network of One Stop Centers. They offer fully equipped Internet accessible computer labs for company-specific training, numerous assessment tools for present employees and new hires, reimbursement for on-the-job-training, and employer-related seminars.