The South Carolina Department of Commerce and Abbeville County today announced that Independent Pipe Products Inc. will locate its new facility in Abbeville County. The $7 million investment is expected to generate 25 new jobs.
“This new facility will move us closer to our growing customer base on the East Coast. South Carolina offers us an excellent business environment, and Abbeville County had an existing facility in which we could house our operations and grow. We are pleased to move forward with our plans in Abbeville County and appreciate all the support we’ve received from state and local officials,” said Ron Hopton-Jones, president of Independent Pipe Products.
The company will locate its new pipe manufacturing plant in the former Performance Pipe building. The facility will produce polyethylene pipe for municipal water service, mining, oil patch, landfill and industrial markets on the East Coast. Independent Pipe Products expects to have the facility in operation by the spring of 2010.
“Independent Pipe Products is a leading supplier of polyethylene pipe products to markets across the United States. The company’s decision to locate its new facility in South Carolina is another indication that our business-friendly climate, exceptional market access and skilled workforce are working to attract new investments and create new job opportunities. Abbeville County has laid the ground work to make itself an attractive environment for business investment and we believe this will be the beginning of more good things to come to this area. We welcome Independent Pipe Products to South Carolina and look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with them in the years ahead,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.
“This project was won for Abbeville County because of the foresight and willingness of our county council and county director to trust the economic development efforts being put forth. Without absolute control of that facility we could not have landed this prestigious company,” said Steve Bowles, Abbeville County's Economic Development director. “I appreciate the strong bond between the South Carolina Department of Commerce project managers and the local developers. This winning team brings jobs and investment to South Carolina.”
“The announcement that Independent Pipe Products has selected Abbeville County is great news, as every job makes a difference. To get our economy moving again, it will take job announcements just like this one. The Independent Pipe Products facility will really help our area,” said state Sen. Floyd Nicholson.
“This is great news for Abbeville County,” said state Rep. Paul Agnew. “The decision by Independent Pipe Products to locate here indicates our steadfast belief that Abbeville County is an attractive place to work and live. We are excited by this announcement and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with this company.”
The company expects to fill most of the positions next spring around the time that the facility will come online.
For more than 20 years, Independent Pipe Products Inc. has been supplying high quality polyethylene pipe, fittings and fabrications to pipe distributors. The company also supplies HDPE pipe distributors for gas, water, oil patch and industrial markets. The company delivers products to customers across the United States. For more information, please visit www.indpipe.net.
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