Richland County and the state capital, Columbia, anchor central South Carolina and are at the heart of an economic development boom that’s still building, with plenty of room left to grow.

The county is coming off a second-straight year of record-breaking economic development. Notching announcements in 2023 totaling more than $2.35 billion and 4,500 new jobs, Richland County’s wins made up roughly 25% of capital investment and one-third of new jobs announced across the Palmetto State.

Scout Motors, a Volkswagen affiliate expected to begin producing electric pickups and SUVs in late 2026 or early 2027, headlined the economic news. The county is now seeing interest from EV-related suppliers interested in setting up shop nearby to support the automaker.

Here, they’re finding sites to flourish in a community uniquely positioned halfway between New York and Miami, with access via Interstates 77, 20, and 26 to more than 43% of the U.S. market via an 11-hour drive.

Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) hosts the largest air cargo operation in South Carolina, anchored by UPS and FedEx, and is the passenger air hub for the Midlands region. Charlotte and Atlanta airports, two of the world’s busiest, are about a 2- and 3.5-hour drive, respectively. Norfolk Southern and CSX railways serve the Columbia market, and the ports of Charleston and Savannah are two to three hours away.

Richland County’s economy is also notably diverse and stable. With a population of approximately 420,000, we’re home to South Carolina’s state government as well as the state’s flagship university — the University of South Carolina (USC) — and to Fort Jackson, where the U.S. Army produces nearly half of its soldiers, putting some 50,000 recruits through basic training every year, and assists soldiers entering the civilian workforce through its Transition Assistance Program (TAP).

A sampling of significant announcements of late include:

• Scout Motors: The $2 billion assembly plant under construction off I-77 in Blythewood is committed to providing 4,000 jobs and producing 200,000 all-electric SUVs and pickup trucks a year when it hits full capacity. The all-new Scout lines are a revival of the legendary Scout brand that was recently acquired by Volkswagen.
• Cirba Solutions: The Charlotte-based battery recycling company is investing more than $300 million in a world-class lithium-ion electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling flagship facility that will create more than 300 jobs on a 200-acre campus in Columbia.
• The Ritedose Corporation: A major manufacturer of generic single-dose medications, Ritedose is investing $81 million and creating 100 new jobs on a 105-acre site at its current home at Carolina Research Park in northeast Richland County.
• McEntire Produce: The 75-year-old, family-owned firm is investing $26.2 million in upgrades at its Columbia operation that will create 40 new jobs and a state-of-the-art facility that processes lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and coleslaw mix for fast-food restaurants and other wholesale customers.
• TMC Transportation: The Iowa-based flatbed carrier firm is consolidating three local facilities into a single campus headquarters in Columbia. The 44-acre site will include an operation and logistics office, maintenance facility, and driver training center and represents a $38 million investment and 185 new jobs.

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