Mattress storein Florence, SC

FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — A groundbreaking ceremony is set for Wednesday morning for a Japanese battery plant along the 1300 block of Estate Road near Wilson High School in Florence.

The plant will employ more than 1,100 workers with an average salary of around $65,000 a year, according to officials.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, South Carolina Secretary of State of Commerce Harry Lightsey, Managing Director of AESC Jeff Deaton, as well as other state, city and county leaders will be on hand for the event.

UPDATED GALLERY: Gov. McMaster, other officials break ground for Japanese battery plant in Florence

Florence County Economic Development CEO Gregg Robinson calls it one of the biggest economic development projects in the county's history.

"For the North Eastern section of the entire state, this is the biggest economic development project that we have ever had. It ranks in the top three for economic development projects for the state of South Carolina. For the Northeastern strategic alliance in our region, this is an opportunity for us to grow our tax base. To advance qualities of life. And employ future generations in a brand new technology. It’s a milestone," said Robinson.

The state will provide water, sewer and a newly built road from Highway 327 to Estate Road, as an incentive, for the plant.

SEE MORE: Behind the scenes: CCMF set up underway in downtown Myrtle Beach

"Incentives are the critical part of the package. But it’s not the only part. But you have to have it ready. And so, our infrastructure is being provided by the state of South Carolina. With water and sewer upgrades. Directly behind us, you see the water tabs that are going in from the city. We will have a new road that’s coming from 327 back all the way to Koppers. So, we are dedicating all of this infrastructure to developing 950 acre industrial Park. Where AESC will be the anchor tenant. And that's very important. We will have a number of suppliers. And a number of companies that will support AESC in the next 20 years," said Robinson.

AESC will supply technology-leading battery cells to be used in the next-generation electric vehicle models produced at the BMW Group’s Plant in Spartanburg. The advanced battery format will result in 20% more energy density than the current generation, reduce charging time and increase range and efficiency for electric vehicles by 30%.

AESC has 5,600 employees and 12 manufacturing sites in Japan, the U.S., the U.K., France, Spain and China.

In the past 12 years, AESC has produced power batteries for more than 800,000 electric vehicles in 59 countries, achieving a record of 'zero critical battery malfunction, according to a news release.

FLORENCE — The city of Florence is set to adopt a comprehensive plan that prioritizes rapid but responsible growth and paves the way for an expanded downtown, reinvestment in local neighborhoods and a growing housing supply.

The comprehensive plan will serve as officials’ guiding document as they make decisions in the next 10 years.

“It’s our Bible. It’s our guide for all the work that we do,” Assistant City Manager Clint Moore said. “It is important for us to set out realistic goals and a timeline and a map on how to do that.”

The plan builds on the city’s previous successes, Moore said, and does not significantly depart from the strategies employed in the past decade, which saw significant growth in Florence’s downtown. Much of the comprehensive plan focuses on expanding the strategies that worked downtown into neighboring areas.

This year’s 173-page document is just Florence’s second-ever comprehensive plan. The city only formed a Planning Department in the late 2000s after it broke away from Florence County’s Planning Department.

Development of the master plan began in 2020 but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Moore said. It was developed by city staff and consultants who compiled information from previous plans, city officials and public meetings.

In May, City Council members voted to approve the plan when it was introduced, and the council will likely officially adopt it in June.

Helping Florence grow

One of the top priorities included in Florence’s comprehensive plan is growth, both in population and in land area, in order to continue the city’s economic development.

By 2040, the plan estimates Florence will have a population of between 45,000 and 50,000 people. That number could be greater, depending on the city’s success in attracting and retaining residents.

To encourage growth, the plan recommends officials continue annexing property on the outskirts of town while also annexing so-called “doughnut hole” properties that are within the city but not technically a part of it.

While annexation is a priority, the comprehensive plan also calls for the city to balance outward growth with targeted revitalization of core neighborhoods already in the city.

“We’ve made a major emphasis on our existing neighborhoods, how to revitalize them and how to do that appropriately so you’re not displacing or causing gentrification or anything like that,” Moore said.

Included in the plan are a range of policy options the city could use to encourage development of blighted areas, including some of the same strategies the city used to revitalize downtown.

Another focus is equitable growth. Officials have touted targeted investment in areas that have been historically neglected. At a recent panel to discuss downtown development, Mayor Teresa Myers Ervin said encouraging development “across the track” is a priority, both for quality of life and economic opportunity

“If you’re ashamed of any area of your city, that means you need to address that, because if you don’t want the businesses to come and look at a certain area, that’s saying that you’re not prepared for them,” Ervin said.

The plan recommends a comprehensive review of city policies and city zoning with an eye on creating more equitable outcomes for low-income areas.

Updating infrastructure

Florence’s infrastructure is another focus of the comprehensive plan. At the top of the list is the city’s stormwater systems, a common cause for concern among residents.

Frequent flooding led officials to pursue development of a new stormwater master plan in recent years, an update to the 1970s plan the city has been relying on. Public meetings to collect feedback on the plan finished up at the beginning of May.

The comprehensive plan recommends officials seriously pursue the suggestions included in the plan and invest in infrastructure improvements across the city’s stormwater management system.

The plan also identifies “exasperation” with the state of Florence’s main corridors, citing an “inability to control corridor quality just outside the city limits, along with the challenge of having so many older areas in need of revitalization along Florence’s main roads and highways.”

Corridors such as Palmetto Street and Irby Street act as gateways into Florence and can quickly shape first impressions of the city, potentially discouraging investment or visitors’ interest in the area if they aren’t addressed.

The plan recommends creating a comprehensive approach to develop the corridors, fund streetscape enhancements and install entrance features and public branding.

Regarding transportation, the plan highlights needed infrastructure improvements for non-vehicle transportation, such as bicycle and foot traffic. The plan recommends changes to roadways that will make travel safer and more accessible for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Investing in housing

Moore said that housing is often included in the growth or infrastructure sections of a comprehensive plan. In Florence’s plan, housing is its own section. That was intentional.

In the last decade, the city lost economic development opportunities because of disrepair downtown and in some of the surrounding neighborhoods. While downtown has seen revitalization, some neighborhoods are still in need of investment, Moore said.

The city is strapped for housing, according to the plan, and in order to accommodate a growing workforce, the city will need to develop a larger quantity and diversity of housing options for different incomes and circumstances — rental options, single-family homes, detached townhomes — all at different price points.

To develop the necessary housing, the city may need to construct housing, as it has already done, create incentives for development or work directly with developers, according to the plan.

While the plan calls for a wide variety of housing options, Moore said the city wants to encourage homeownership by incentivizing residents to buy homes and eliminating barriers to becoming a homeowner. The plan notes that homeownership can lead to a deeper and more long lasting investment in the neighborhood and the broader community.

FLORENCE, S.C. − Second-ranked South Florence turned the ball over on its opening possession last Friday against Goose Creek, and its defense needed to make a play.

The Bruins sacked Goose Creek’s quarterback on second down, and that set the tone for two quick first-quarter scores: A TD run by South’s Zion Gilbert. Then, on the very next play, linebacker Chantwan Harkless Jr. stripped the ball and returned it for another score and 14-0 lead.

At game’s end, the Bruin defense had held the Gators to 173 yards total offense (83 rushing). South also stuffed Goose Creek on a goal-line stand when the game was already secure for what became a 54-14 Bruin win.

During that goal-line stand, South knocked the Gators back to the 7 on the first play and the series ended with a missed field goal.

“We’re just physical on every play,” said Bruin linebacker Deshaun Carroway, who led the Bruins last Friday with three tackles, five assists, a sack and tackle for loss. “Coming to practice, we’re working to be the best defensive line in the state. We might not be the biggest (Carroway is 5 feet 10, 196 pounds); we might not be the strongest. But we’re going to work and tell everybody who we are every day and in every game.”

Harkless also made a big impact with three tackles, seven assists, two sacks and two tackles for loss.

South coach Drew Marlowe said after last Friday’s win he was especially impressed with the goal-line stand.

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“It shows those guys have some grit to them, some mental toughness,” Marlowe said. “They didn’t give up when the ball was on the 1-yard line, and (Goose Creek) ended up coming away with no points.

“I think it speaks to their mental toughness, their ability to overcome adversity after giving up a long pass play to come right back and turn them away,” he added. “And we were playing without two linemen (Ryan Johnson and Terrance Moorer were injured in the first half).”

Also, Quincy Rhodes Jr. intercepted two passes last Friday.

“I thought we played really well tonight,” Marlowe said. “Outside of a couple of deep balls we’ve got to get cleaned up, our defense really played well tonight.”

Although South Florence was impressive at stopping the run, Goose Creek capitalized on long passes, one of which went for a 38-yard touchdown that trimmed the deficit at the time to 14-8.

Every team has something to work on after the season’s first game. The Bruins had plenty more positives than negatives.

With that in mind, Carroway credits that to a team effort that extends to the sideline.

“(Defensive coordinator Cannon Jordan) is the best defensive coordinator in the state,” Carroway said. “He watches film and helps us as a defense, and we’re going to take advantage of that every time. And thanks to (strength coach Shawn Armstrong), that’s the dog mentality we have in the weight room to be physical. We proved that there’s nothing easy on us.”

FLORENCE, S.C. (WIS) - On Thursday, state leaders announced what they are calling an innovative approach to treating South Carolinians’ growing mental health needs.

It will start with a new, $100 million behavioral health facility in the Pee Dee, but its successes could be replicated in other parts of South Carolina.

“That’s why we’re here today: celebrating a bold, new, and aggressive approach to treat behavioral health across the state of South Carolina,” Francis Marion University President Dr. Fred Carter said at the announcement event Thursday in Florence.

That kind of approach is what medical leaders say South Carolina desperately needs right now.

“I’m not even going to talk about the tsunami of anxiety and depression that our youth are facing — by the way, stay tuned because it’s heading our direction,” Medical University of South Carolina President Dr. David Cole said. “I think this provides a basis for us to actually start putting the fire out and then start doing something on a larger scale to actually have us have a healthy society to reflect the health of our state.”

On Thursday, state and medical leaders gathered outside the future site of a regional behavioral health hub in downtown Florence, located at an MUSC-owned property on E. Cedar St.

Construction is slated to start in 2024, with the facility opening two years after that to serve the Pee Dee region, according to Cole.

The facility will offer a combination of triage, crisis stabilization, telehealth, outpatient, and inpatient services, a first-of-its-kind model in South Carolina.

“When good things happen, they happen here first, and they happen here fast, and today is another example of that,” Gov. Henry McMaster said.

The project announced Thursday is a public-private partnership between the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Mental Health, MUSC, McLeod Health, Francis Marion University, and HopeHealth.

Up to $100 million in state funds have been set aside for this facility, along with another $5 million from the City of Florence.

“This is the future of what’s coming to South Carolina,” Speaker of the House Murrell Smith, R – Sumter, said. “This is the model of care that we’re going to set up regionally throughout the state, and we’re going to have a vibrant and successful behavioral health system.”

State leaders say they will be looking at what works at the Florence facility to use it as a model for future behavioral health hubs in other regions of South Carolina.

“We’d like to get some of those models learning from quick wins, quick learning that we’re going to experience as we bring this facility up. I’m hoping in the next couple years, we start getting some replication in some other areas,” SCDHHS Director Robby Kerr said.

The Florence behavioral health hub will be named in honor of the late Florence County Sen. Hugh Leatherman, who chaired the state Senate’s powerful budget-writing committee and advocated for the facility’s creation at the State House before his death in 2021.

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Furthering its commitment to manufacturing next-generation batteries in the United States, accelerating the transformation to e-mobility.

FLORENCE, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AESC (the “Company”), a world-leading Japanese battery technology company, held a groundbreaking ceremony today on its new battery plant in Florence County, South Carolina. AESC U.S. Managing Director Jeff Deaton, along with local leaders including Governor Henry McMaster and Secretary of Commerce Harry Lightsey, attended the groundbreaking event on-site in Florence.

“Today, South Carolina is proud to celebrate AESC as the company embarks on a historic chapter in our state,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “Florence County has been ripe for an investment of this magnitude — one that will transform local communities and create generational wealth for South Carolinians. The groundbreaking for AESC’s battery cell gigafactory is a landmark moment in the evolution of South Carolina’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle industry.”

With construction of the 1.5 million square foot plant underway, commercial operations are expected to commence in 2026, creating 1,170 new jobs for the local community.

“This groundbreaking marks another major milestone in AESC’s commitment to investing in South Carolina and manufacturing electric vehicle batteries,” said AESC U.S. Managing Director Jeff Deaton. “AESC continues to be a global leader in developing next generation EV battery technology, and we’re proud to be further growing our capacity to build those products in U.S. facilities, accelerating the transition to clean energy transportation.”

The new 30 GWh battery plant builds on AESC’s existing battery manufacturing network that includes a plant in operation in Tennessee and another plant under construction in Kentucky. Collectively, AESC’s U.S. plants upon completion will provide up to 70 GWh capacity annually, powering the shift to electric vehicles with U.S.-made batteries and components.

The AESC Florence site supports the Company’s multi-year partnership with BMW Group, announced in October 2022. Under the agreement, AESC will supply technology-leading battery cells for next generation electric vehicle models produced at BMW’s Spartanburg plant. The advanced battery format will result in 20% higher energy density than the current generation, with reduced charging time and increased range and efficiency of 30%.

Aligning with the Company’s global commitment to sustainability, the new manufacturing plant will be 100% powered by clean energy. Leveraging the net-zero solutions of its partners, AESC will implement renewable energy generation, carbon management and reduction software, and a battery recycling system to accelerate carbon neutrality throughout the entire battery value chain. AESC is also committed to pursuing responsible sources for its critical battery materials, providing full transparency into extraction methods. The Company increasingly relies on recycled materials, leading to an overall reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from cell production at the new plant.

Individuals interested in joining the AESC team in Florence should visit readySC’s recruitment website to explore opportunities. Companies interested in becoming a supplier for AESC should complete S.C. Commerce’s online interest form.

ADDITIONAL QUOTES

“AESC’s groundbreaking marks a tremendous milestone for the future of South Carolina’s economy and, specifically, electric vehicle industry. The company’s new gigafactory brings the world’s leading EV battery technology to our state, and with it, the long-term career, and educational opportunities paramount for Florence County to develop, attract and retain top talent. We congratulate AESC and look forward to supporting the company’s continued success.”

- Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

“AESC’s groundbreaking marks a historic day for Florence County and its residents, as it will bring an abundance of high paying jobs to our community. We know AESC will be a vital and active partner in the County for decades to come.”

- Willard Dorriety, Chairman Florence County Council

“AESC’s significant investment in our community will offer unique career opportunities for our citizens and economic growth to our local community. We are honored to participate in today’s groundbreaking and look forward to working with our community members and stakeholders to ensure AESC’s success here in Florence.”

- Florence Mayor Teresa Myers Ervin

“We are ecstatic about AESC’s decision to locate in Florence County and are honored to be celebrating this groundbreaking today alongside the community leaders whose collaboration made this project possible.”

- Rocky Pearce, Chairman Florence County Economic Development Partnership

" What an exciting day for Florence County and all of the NESA region. We applaud the efforts of all those involved in securing this location for our area. We welcome AESC to our manufacturing community and look forward to the positive impact that they will make within our region."

- Yancey McGill, Chairman North Eastern Strategic Alliance

About AESC

AESC (formerly Envision AESC) is a Japan-headquartered global battery technology company dedicated to the research, development, design, manufacturing, and sale of power batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems. AESC has over 5,000 employees and 13 manufacturing sites across Japan, the U.S., the U.K., France, Spain, and China.

Over the past 13 years, AESC has produced power batteries for more than 800,000 EVs across 59 countries, achieving a flawless record of 'zero critical incidents.' AESC teams strive for continuous improvement and global leadership in product development, quality, and sustainability. In 2022, AESC was again named among 'Global Tier 1 Battery Companies' by Benchmark, a leading UK-based lithium-ion battery supply chain research organization.

About Florence County Economic Development

Since 1999, Florence County Economic Development Partnership has served as the public-private entity that works to recruit new business and industry to Florence County, South Carolina, while also helping existing industries grow and expand. Florence County Progress, the private sector arm of Florence County Economic Development Partnership works to promote, implement and support activities designed to improve economic development within Florence County. To learn more visit fcedp.com.

Contacts

For Florence County Economic Development: Debbie Jones Membership Relations Manager 843-676-8796 dsjones@florenceco.org