Walmart plans to build a $220 million distribution center in Dorchester County near Ridgeville, a project expected to create more than 1,000 jobs, the S.C. Department of Commerce announced Monday.
The storage and cross-dock building will cover nearly 3 million square feet when it is finished, according to the department. The department described it as a direct import distribution center. It will take about 14 months to build.
The center will supply several regional distribution centers that support about 850 Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs in South Carolina and beyond, the department said.
“At a time when job creation is so vital, and- more than ever- our customers are relying on Walmart for the essentials they need during this unprecedented time, we are excited about the impact this new facility will have on the regional economy and how it will help us better serve customers across the Southeast,” Greg Smith, Walmart’s executive vice president of supply chain, said in the announcement.
Incentives
The state’s Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits for the project. The council also awarded Dorchester County a $5 million set-aside grant to help with related project costs, the Commerce Department said. The announcement did not give the value of the job development credits.
Smith thanked Dorchester County, the S.C. Ports Authority and the Commerce Department, among others, for helping make the project happen.
“We found a great partner in the state of South Carolina,” he said.
What it means for the port
Once the center is fully operational, it is expected to raise volumes at the Port of Charleston by about 5%, SCBiz reported.
“Having this world-class company choose our market for their distribution center is the ultimate vote of confidence in S.C. Ports and in South Carolina,” said Jim Newsome, president and chief executive officer of the S.C. Ports Authority. “Walmart’s investment will create jobs for South Carolinians and boost cargo volumes at the Port of Charleston.”
“We are experts at moving goods just-in-time for global companies,” Newsome added.
The Charleston Regional Development Alliance tied the project to its regional economic plan.
“The Charleston region is perfectly positioned for global distribution, offering prime access to one-third of the U.S. population and the deepest seaport on the East Coast,” said John Hagerty, chair of the alliance’s board.
“This historic announcement aligns with the One Region Global Competitiveness strategy, which identified distribution centers as vital to the growth of the region’s advanced logistics sector,” he said.
A win for western Dorchester County
Dorchester County Council Chairman George Bailey credited the county’s long-term investment in infrastructure.
“We are tickled to welcome Walmart’s newest distribution center to western Dorchester County,” Bailey said. “A project such as this would not have been possible without the county’s long-term commitment to infrastructure improvements and our strong relationship with the S.C. Ports Authority.”
Gov. Henry McMaster called Walmart “an exemplary partner that is committed to South Carolina and our citizens.”
Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt said the announcement “speaks volumes to our state’s logistics advantages, infrastructure and business-friendly environment.”
The state’s announcement did not name a street address or say how many acres the project will use.
Walmart in South Carolina
Walmart, based in Bentonville, Ark., had 123 stores and clubs in South Carolina as of Jan. 31, according to its most recent annual report: 84 supercenters, 26 Neighborhood Markets and other small-format stores, and 13 Sam’s Clubs. The company says it has more than 2.2 million associates worldwide.
Sam M. Walton opened his first store, a Ben Franklin franchise variety store in Newport, Ark., in 1945, and the first Wal-Mart Discount City opened in Rogers, Ark., in 1962, according to the annual report. The company was incorporated in Delaware in 1969.
