Staff Report

Two businesses announced Tuesday that they will invest a combined $4 million and create a total of 100 new jobs in locating new facilities in South Carolina, the S.C. Department of Commerce reported.

The Truss Co. Inc. will invest $1.25 million and bring 50 new jobs to Williamsburg County. Four Star Industries LLC will locate a new facility in Allendale County. The $2.75 million investment is also expected to generate 50 new jobs.

Both announcements are welcome news for these counties. Allendale has the state’s highest unemployment rate — 22.2% in October — and Williamsburg’s October unemployment rate was 16%.

The Truss Co. Inc. will manufacture engineered wood roof and floor trusses at the new facility in Salters. Construction of the plant is scheduled to begin this month, and operations are expected to start in March or April.

“We are pleased to be building our new facility in Williamsburg County,” David Rice, president and CEO of The Truss Company Inc., said in a news release about the announcement. “South Carolina has a positive business environment and a very strong work force. We appreciate all the support we’ve received from state and local officials. There has been a broad range of help in getting this company to become a reality.”

Four Star Industries will open a conduit pipe manufacturing plant in the former Kodiak Plant in Allendale. The company will market its products to the telecommunications, electrical and cable TV industries. The company hopes to begin production sometime in the first quarter of 2010.

“We are pleased to move forward with plans for our new facility and hope to be producing our products in the near future,” said Dave Ward, partner at Four Star Industries. “Allendale County is the perfect fit for our company, providing a positive business environment and strong work force to suit our needs.”

Four Star plans to begin hiring in early February.

Published Nov. 25, 2009