SUMTER, S.C. — Nearly 300 jobs and half a billion dollars are coming to Sumter as a magnet manufacturer from Germany known as eVAC is opening a facility in the cunty.
On Thursday, the company broke ground on the new site, which, according to CEO Erik Eschen, will serve as the North American headquarters. The land currently sits empty near Justin Lane on Sagawa Drive, not far from the Continental Tire manufacturing facility.
Leaders from across the state, including House Speaker Murrell Smith, came to the ceremony to learn about the economic impact eVAC will have on the area as it makes magnets for the military and General Motors.
"eVAC is a part of the new economy," Sumter Development Board Chair Greg Thompson said. "Sumter has a long history with the automotive industry. We had Bendix many years ago, back in the early 90s and late 80s, before NAFTA passed, and as that came about, our industry left. So it's really super exciting to be a part of the new economy, the green economy, and really draw back on our heritage."
According to Sumter County Development Project Manager Brian Rauschenbach, over $2.6 billion in announced manufacturing and industrial investment has been made in the Sumter area since 2007.
Rauschenbach said the per capita income in Sumter County has increased 59% since 2010.
"First of all, we always want to increase the economics here in Sumter," County Council Chairman Jim McCain said. "We want to improve the quality of life for all of our constituents, all of our citizens here in Sumter, and with these well-paying jobs coming into sumter, eventually that will raise economic impact."
Rauschenbach said manufacturing is the largest employment sector in Sumter County, employing 17.2% of the area's population, double the United States' national percentage.
Jeff Zell moved to Sumter in August of 2017. Now, he serves on the Sumter School District Board and said that having eVAC in his community is "hugely important."
"Locally, hyper-locally, we have a lot of poverty here," Zell said. "There's a direct pathway from a good education and the opportunity for meaningful employment to get folks out of poverty. And so from a very local perspective, if we don't have a pathway to opportunity, we can't help our constituents and our neighbors."
Zell said he thinks eVAC's expansion into Sumter is "another big step in the right direction" toward the city's growth.
"End of next year we will be operational. It's a very tight timeline," Eschen said about the anticipated 2025 opening.
Eschen said eVAC chose Sumter for its North American headquarters because of the "great people."
"We get a lot of support from the state, from the county, from the city, and it's just...they're moving faster," Eschen said. And honest handshake people, and that's what we need because time is of essence to get this facility up and running."