WHOSE RIGHT AT HOME IN THE FLORENCE BUSINESS COMMUNITY?  

 

An up-and-coming, thriving international, national, and local busienss community, the Florence region is home to some of the world's leading "Fortune 500" and "blue chip" companies - - - GE, Heinz, Johnson Controls, Federal Express, Pepsi Cola, Roche, J.P. Morgan Chase, Honda, IFH, Nan Ya Plastics, Dupont, Nucor Steel, ESAB, The Assurant Group, Angus-Palm, QVC, Monster Worldwide, and lots more.  Under the circumstances, please don't hold a little "name dropping" against us.  INDIA . . . JAPAN . . . GERMANY . . . FRANCE . . . SWITZERLAND . . . TAIWAN . . . CANADA . . . ENGLAND . . . SWEDEN . . . IRELAND - - - all great countries that feel right at home in the Florence business community.  GE is one of the world's most respected corporate citizens and an incredibly successful manufacturer that makes Florence home.  GE Healthcare confidently relies upon the regional workforce to produce the world's most technologically-advanced medical imaging machines in Florence.  In fact, most of the planet's superconductive magnets are actually manufactured at the Florence GE Healthcare facility . . .  well-known as the global manufacturing leader of whole-body diagnostic imaging devices.  Another Florence "Super Star" corporate citizen is Johnson Controls, a "Fortune 50" company and a leader in cutting-edge battery recycling technology.  During 2010, Johnson Controls began construction of its second major manufacturing plant in Florence County.  In addition, Florence is home to QVC's largest, most efficient distribution center in the world - - - an incredible 1.4 million square foot facility which ships more than 1,000 packages an hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Understandably so, QVC calls the Florence plant its "distribution model of the future."  During 2009, Monster's largest state-of-the-art, internet-based global customer service support center opened in Florence.  What a great location for logistics and internet connectivity!  QVC and Monster Worldwide are within about 3 miles of White Hawk Commerce Park . . . proof positive "brick-and-mortar" indications of the exceptional logistics, supply chain, and high-speed fiber-optic capabilities of White Hawk Commerce Park!  Florence has earned its reputation as one of America's most efficient and cost-effective worldwide distribution locations.  The Florence community welcomes the world to share . . .  its healthy pro-business environment . . . its abundant, highly-skilled, and dedicated workforce . . . and its wholesome "quality of life" attributes second to none!   

               A GREAT ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESS GROWTH . . . WHITE HAWK COMMERCE PARK  



In 2008, Site Selection magazine ranked Florence 5th in the nation for business expansions of communities with populations of 200,000 or fewer.  Southern Business and Development magazine ranked Florence as a "Top 5" workforce pool of available skilled labor in the entire South!  In 2010, Liveability magazine named Florence as "one of America's Best Places to Live."  According to Expansion Magazine, Florence has the nation's 5th most affordable housing.  Magazine compliments are great - - - but what do "on the ground" corporate executives say about the Florence community?  Executive Vice President Art O'Donnell of Monster Worldwide - - - We chose Florence because it has the talent, standard of living and educational resources we needed to bring premier service to our customers.  Brian Kesseler, Vice President and General Manager of Johnson Controls - - - After an exhaustive selection process, we found the Florence County region to be our best choice from an economic perspective for our distribution requirements in the Southeastern part of the county . . . We've had the great fortune to work with hundreds of local residents and our success is due in large part to the strong work ethic and dedication of our employees.  GE feels the same about Florence.  GE Healthcare's General Manager Mike Eggleston - - - We feel a great deal of our success is due to the highly-skilled workforce and pro-business climate in Florence Couinty.  QVC's General Manager David Foster - - - Florence's location at the confluence of Interstates 95 and 20 and the proximity to Atlantic ports was one of three reasons why we actually came to Florence . . . The other two were a ready workforce and a welcoming community.  Peter Mazzaroni of Roche - - - The workforce is excellent, the infrastructure is in place to support business, and the "quality of life" is outstanding.  The bottom line - - - a secret no more is the fact that Florence County is a great place to grow, work, and live!   

Lots of other exceptional and highly-successful companies are doing exceptionally well in the Florence area - - - not quite in the "Fortune 500" range yet - - - Diamond Hill Plywood, IRIX Pharmaceuticals, ACS Technologies, ADP Tax Credit Services, McCall Farms.  What a testiment to Florence's well-established pro-business environment, the entire region's highly-skilled and dedicated workforce, and the wholesome "quality of life" attributes that run wide and deep across the Florence community.  No wonder Florence's most popular annual community celebrations are the "International Festival," "Intel's International Science and Engineering Fair," and the 35 year-old award-winning "Art's International Festival" - a combination of "Art's Alive" and the "Pee Dee International Festival!" 

COME HOME TO FLORENCE COUNTY . . . GLOBAL REACH WITH A SOUTHERN TOUCH!