Check Out What’s Happening in Western South Carolina

AmbioPharm

Aiken, North Augusta and the surrounding communities in the western region of South Carolina are abuzz with activity. Here’s a look at what’s happening in Western South Carolina.

Made in Western South Carolina

Generac, a home generator manufacturer, operates its first-ever manufacturing facility outside its home state of Wisconsin in Western South Carolina. 

The region welcomed Generac in 2021 to Trenton in Edgefield County, where 750 people are now employed. The site provides an important manufacturing and distribution center for the company in the Southeast. 

Other products made in Western South Carolina include MRCOOL heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The Kentucky-based company opened a manufacturing facility in McCormick in 2024, creating 17 jobs. Also in 2024, Florida-based Columbia Vehicle Group selected Aiken to manufacture electric golf carts, e-bikes and utility vehicles, with 180 employees hired. 

Titan Farms in Ridge Spring is the largest peach grower on the East Coast – even larger than any peach-growing company in the Peach State of neighboring Georgia. Titan Farms spans 6,000 acres in Saluda County to grow peaches as well as bell peppers, eggplant and broccoli. 

In North Augusta, Halocarbon manufactures fluorochemicals for a variety of industries, including agriculture, military, medicine and pharmaceuticals. For example, the company makes a chemical that allows Samsung phones to fold in half without breaking. Halocarbon also produces a chemical used in anesthesia. 

In Aiken, AGY produces fiberglass yarn and high-strength fiberglass products used in many industries, including aerospace, defense, electronics, recreation and thermoplastics. The company has more than 600 employees in manufacturing, sales, distribution and R&D, and 60% of the total workforce has been with AGY more than 10 years. 

Based in North Augusta, AmbioPharm makes a peptide called CDMO used in pharmaceutical drugs that can help make the drugs more affordable for consumers. 

“The peptide we manufacture is an active ingredient that goes into many FDA-approved drugs used in products like injectables, thermal patches and vaccines,” says Teresa Cheek, AmbioPharm associate director of human resources and administration. “One important use for our peptide is going into blood thinners used in anesthesia for surgeries.” 

The company began in 2005 with three employees and one building, and today, there are 170 employees and five buildings. 

“Our goal is for the peptide to go into as many generic drugs as possible, providing more cost savings for patients,” Cheek says. “I started with AmbioPharm in 2009, and I like that helping patients with their medication costs is what this company is largely about.” 

Steve Bracci

Economic Development Group Finds New Building

The Western SC Economic Development Partnership turned 40 in 2024, and the organization celebrated with a nice gift – a new location. 

The partnership has moved from its longtime location on University Parkway to a building in downtown Aiken that features more office space, a conference area and meeting rooms. The partnership renovated an existing 45-year-old building, then moved to that venue on Chesterfield Street South in 2024. 

“We’ve needed more space for quite a while, and now, we have it,” says Will Williams, partnership president & CEO. 

The Western SC Economic Development Partnership was founded in 1984 and began as an economic development organization that served only Aiken County. Today, the partnership represents Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda counties as a regional economic development organization for the betterment of the region. 

Major accomplishments over the years include attracting Bridgestone to the region, convincing Generac to operate its only manufacturing facility outside of Wisconsin and helping major existing industries, such as Kimberly-Clark, expand. 

“We also have some good economic news for the future,” Williams says. “A large 1,900-acre parcel in Aiken County will eventually be developed into a business/industrial park, with easy access to Interstate 20. That facility will be called North Fork Commerce Park and will become a major economic addition to our region.” 

Williams adds one more point – that the partnership no longer spells out ‘South Carolina’ in its name. 

“We now just use the letters SC, so we are known today as the Western SC Economic Development Partnership,” he says. “It’s a little easier for potential relocating businesses to pinpoint the exact region we represent.”