The South Carolina Department of Commerce and Lancaster County Economic Development Corporation announced that Red Ventures, an internet marketing and sales company, will expand its operations and locate its headquarters in the Indian Land community in Lancaster County. The company expects to invest more than $20 million in its new facility and generate 1,000 new high-paying jobs over the next five to seven years.
“We are pleased to expand into Lancaster County. The area has an excellent business environment that provides a great fit for our growing company and gives us access to a talented labor force. Red Ventures has experienced strong growth in recent years and we look forward to continuing that growth in South Carolina. We appreciate all the support we’ve received from state and local officials and look forward to growing our relationship with Lancaster County and South Carolina in the years ahead,” said Mark Brodsky, chief financial officer for Red Ventures.
Red Ventures generates hundreds of thousands of customers each year for well-known brands in markets including satellite television, internet services and home security. The company’s expertise is in sales conversion and marketing channel optimization. Red Ventures was ranked 17th on the 2008 Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies – its second consecutive year on the list - and was named one of the top three large companies to work for in the region by the Charlotte Business Journal.
“The announcement that Red Ventures will locate in Lancaster County is just great news,” said Lancaster County Council Chairman Rudy Carter. “The company is committed to working with our colleges and universities and our workforce training program to help train our residents for these high-tech jobs. We already have a large number of skilled workers ready to go to work for the company and I’m excited about the long-term prospects as the company grows and employs up to 1,000 of our citizens. The Lancaster County Council welcomes Red Ventures and we look forward to a long and successful partnership.”
Red Ventures will expand into Lancaster County and locate its headquarters just north of the intersection of U.S. Highway 521 and S.C. Highway 160 in the 521 Corporate Park. The company will hold a ribbon cutting celebration at their state-of-the-art facility in the weeks ahead.
“Here’s a great example of what can happen when the County and the State work together. It’s all about pulling together with the common goal of creating jobs,” said State Senator Mick Mulvaney. “Every job counts. 100 this year and reaching 1000 in the years to come. This is how we are going to rebuild Lancaster, one business at a time. Long term, my hope is that even more employers will look over the business environment and realize that Lancaster County really is the place to be.”
“Red Ventures’ investment is a strong example of our state’s ability to attract and grow knowledge-based jobs. The company’s decision to grow and create 1,000 new jobs in South Carolina is also an indication that our business-friendly climate and pool of talented labor force is working to attract high-tech, high-growth companies offering exceptional job opportunities,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce. “Red Ventures is an innovative and fast-growing online marketing company, serving a number of well-recognized names and world-class businesses. We are pleased to welcome Red Ventures to our state’s business community and look forward to growing our relationship with them in the years ahead.”
The company is currently in the midst of the hiring process and expects to add 100 new positions by the end of the year. Individuals interested in career opportunities with Red Ventures are encouraged to visit the company’s Web site at www.redventures.com. The South Carolina ReadySC workforce training program is in the process of working with the company to design and implement customized job training programs for the company and identifying skilled workers for future positions that will become available.
Red Ventures, founded in 2000, is an Internet marketing and sales company that develops and manages large-scale, multi-channel customer acquisition programs for leading brands in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. The company generates new customers through proprietary marketing channels, exclusive partnerships, and an innovative process that optimizes lead-to-sale conversion and channel mix.
About S.C. Department of Commerce
The S.C. Department of Commerce works closely with economic development professionals throughout the state to recruit new jobs and investments and help existing businesses grow. Commerce has been recognized for its success in the areas of job creation and economic impact by Area Development magazine and Southern Business and Development magazine. The S.C. Department of Commerce was one of 10 state economic development organizations to receive Area Development’s Silver Shovel Award in 2009 and Commerce ranked number two in the South in points per million residents by Southern Business and Development for the state’s 2008 job recruitment efforts. In addition to job and investment recruitment, the agency provides a range of business support services, offers grants for community development and infrastructure improvements, and provides tools to enhance workforce skills. For more information, visit www.SCcommerce.com.