Sumter County, South Carolina: Overview

South Carolina is home to more than 1,200 international companies and firms. South Carolina Department of Commerce has a long and successful track record of helping international companies establish and expand business operations in the US and have offices in many countries to offer services and support.

Located in central South Carolina, Sumter County is home to Shaw Air Force Base. The County has a population of 108,000 in the Metropolitan Statistical Area and a population of 1.2 million within a 45-mile radius.

For global industry, Sumter County offers strategic advantages including:

• Close proximity to major markets, manufacturers and tier suppliers as well as ports on the Eastern Seaboard
• A skilled workforce
• Industrial sites with low-cost utilities and abundant shovel-ready acreage
• Rapid transportation and market reach
• Lower costs of operation

These advantages support success across multiple sectors such as manufacturing, aerospace, and biomedical. 

Workforce training.

Training begins for area high school students at the Sumter Career and Technology Center, with further training available at the Central Carolina Technical College where the latest technology in progressive mechatronics and workforce preparation are introduced. Simulated work environments allow students to use functional tools to learn principles such as lean manufacturing. For qualified companies, South Carolina provides free custom workforce training designed to company specifications. This customized training is delivered through the state program readySC^TM, working together with Central Carolina Technical College. South Carolina also offers an apprenticeship program, Apprenticeship Carolina^TM.

Transportation.

Sumter provides many routes for low-cost shipping and transportation, including U.S. Interstate Highway I-95 and 9 other U.S. routes and state highways inside the County. Two Class I rail systems connect industry to a rail network extending 2,300 track miles across the U.S. The global Port of Charleston is easily accessed via I-95; in addition to the Sumter Airport, seven regional and international airports are located within 160 miles.

Lower costs and a supportive environment for business.

Operational costs are lower with South Carolina’s average electricity rate of 5.27 cents per kilowatt hour, the 7^th lowest in the U.S., and gas rate of $3.62 per thousand cubic feet, the nation’s 9^th lowest. South Carolina’s unionization rate is the lowest in the nation, while the state’s financial incentives are some of the nation’s most attractive.

Education.

Sumter County parents have excellent choices in public and private schools, and there are 7 universities and institutions of higher learning located in the county, including Central Carolina Technical College, University of South Carolina-Sumter and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. More than 12 institutions of higher learning are located within a one-hour drive or less.

Quality of life.

The city of Sumter has a historic downtown with museums, theatres and an opera house. County recreation includes equestrian activities, hiking, boating and kayaking.

Successful companies.

Sumter County include Fortune 500 companies such as Continental Tires-the Americas LLC, Eaton Electrical, Caterpillar Hydraulics and International Paper.

Global Network.

South Carolina is home to more than 1,200 international companies and firms. South Carolina Department of Commerce has a long and successful track record of helping international companies establish and expand business operations in the US and have offices in many countries to offer services and support.