D’nijel Beaufort trains on a milling machine in the machine tool technology lab. Beaufort works part time at Peddinghaus steel fabrication plant in Andrews.
Photo by Josh P. Crotzer
Rob Ardis has a passion for economic development. Fortunately for Georgetown County, he’s not the only one.
The president and CEO of Santee Electric Cooperative joined leaders of other local companies to support the new Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC). The facility, which opened at the college’s Georgetown campus in October, is likely to boost economic development in the area by providing technical education programs that will produce highly skilled workers.
“On so many levels, economic development improves the quality of life in the communities we serve,” says Ardis. “It creates better jobs, better tax base, better infrastructure, consumer growth and better power rates.”
But according to Ardis, new industries are less inclined to come, and existing industries don’t expand without a well-trained and educated workforce. That’s why the college and county officials began making plans for the center more than 10 years ago.
“We felt like there would be some spillover from what was developing in and around Charleston’s port industry,” recalls Neyle Wilson, who was president of the college at that time. “The center was designed to fill those gaps in the areas we are hearing about from manufacturers.”
According to HGTC, Georgetown employers project more than 240 jobs will be needed in manufacturing over the next five years. Students there can pursue certifications in manufacturing technologies such as advanced welding and mechatronics, a type of engineering that focuses on electronic and mechanical systems.
The 30,000-square-foot facility, where students are trained on the same type of modern equipment used in manufacturing today, carried a price tag of $13.5 million. The college first sought funding from the public sector—state and federal grants, county funds and a partnership with the local school districts. But the support from local businesses and industries like Santee Electric, Envirosep, American Gypsum and Peddinghaus, was just as crucial.
“The manufacturers and particularly Santee Electric really came through for us,” says Wilson, who now serves as president and CEO of the college’s foundation.
Santee Electric initially donated $10,000 to the project by sponsoring a conference room. They have also committed annual funds to the center through the next decade. Additionally, Ardis and his wife, Shannon, pledged $1,000 each year for the next 10 years.
“I didn’t want to commit Santee Electric’s money without showing how much I personally supported the cause,” he explains.
That kind of funding was mirrored throughout Georgetown County’s industrial community, especially among companies served by Santee Electric. Tim Tilley, CEO of Envirosep, donated funds for the advanced welding lab, which now bears his name. A longtime supporter of the college and a member of its foundation board, Tilley says supporting the center is an investment in his company and the community. Envirosep builds custom-engineered utility systems for industrial and commercial facilities.
“It gives us a leg up on having a qualified pool of potential employees,” says Tilley. “That’s the most important thing for the future of this company.”
Having Santee Electric as an economic development partner has been important.
“Santee Electric has participated significantly at all levels—hard work, networking, financial,” says Tilley. “They have partnered with all of the local industry and worked very hard to help make this facility a reality.”