The SC Department of Commerce released 2025 industry recruitment numbers that reflected $9.12 billion in capital investment, 8,137 new jobs and 82 announced projects in a Jan. 14 statement. That capital investment figure is the third highest on record, according to the statement.
Rural recruitment accounted for $4.25 billion, or 46%, of total announced capital investment and 3,511, or 44%, of announced jobs. Of the 82 announced projects, 34 were in rural communities — that's 41%. Rural projects included industries such as agribusiness, automotive, energy, and wood and paper products, according to the statement.
The Pee Dee accounted for $209.87 million, or 2.3%, of total announced capital investment and 198, or 2.4%, of total announced jobs, according to data from Commerce's online hub Inform SC. Six of the announced projects were in the Pee Dee — that's 7%.
The recruitment overview defined rural communities as those in county development tiers III and IV, as calculated by the S.C. Department of Revenue. Each year, the Revenue Department ranks and designates the state's counties based on data from the SC Department of Employment and Workforce and the US Department of Commerce, according to the SCDOR document, “SC Tax Incentives for Economic Development.”
The Revenue Department ranks SC counties along the lines of unemployment rate and per capita income. Under Section 12-6-3360(B) of SC Code of Laws, the '“12 counties with a combination of the highest unemployment rate and lowest per capita income are designated as Tier IV counties. The 12 counties with a combination of the next highest unemployment rate and next lowest per capita income are designated as Tier III counties. The 11 counties with a combination of the next highest unemployment rate and the next lowest per capita income are designated as Tier II counties.”
Tier IV includes Dillion, Marlboro and Marion counties, while Chesterfield and Darlington counties occupy Tier III. SCDOR ranks Florence County in Tier II.
Among projects announced in the Pee Dee in 2025:
ATI Pageland LLC, with a 100,440-square-foot expansion in Chesterfield County that added 70 jobs
Universal Industrial Gases LLC, a subsidiary of Nucor Corp., with a new 200,000-square-foot facility and $100 million announced investment in Darlington County
Arclin Engineered Building Surfaces, with a $60 million announced investment and 60,000-square-foot expansion in Dillon County that added 30 jobs
Pret Advanced Materials LLC, with an $18.5 million announced investment and expansion in Florence County that added 74 jobs.
Bennettsville Printing LLC, with an $8.4 million announced investment and expansion in Marlboro County that added 24 jobs
Sopakco Inc, with a $22.8 million announced investment and expansion also in Marlboro County
SC Commerce Secretary Harry M. Lightsey III said in the statement, “Rural success is deliberate — driven by strong collaboration among state leadership, local economic developers and committed partners — and fuels economic growth in every corner of the state. South Carolina’s milestone in rural recruitment in 2025 underscores our commitment to bolstering the potential of these communities and supporting the diverse growth that strengthens every part of the economy and every region of the state.”
Information technology and software development was the leading industry by capital investment at $5.03 billion. Wood and paper products came in second at $801.4 million, followed by automotive at $736.1 million.
Domestic investment accounted for 83% of capital investment. Ireland was the top market of origin for foreign direct investment, followed by Germany and Japan.
“Our success in rural communities shows that opportunity exists in every corner of our state," Gov. Henry McMaster said in the statement.