Hilliard, Gilmore file in Santee mayoral race Seabrooks not seeking re-election

By MARTHA ROSE BROWN, T&D Correspondent Friday, March 05, 2010

Mayor Silas Seabrooks, who says he’s served the town as mayor for a total of 22 years, declined to comment about his decision not to run for another four-year term. He said he would comment about the upcoming election and his reflections on his service to the town at a later time.

Two candidates have entered the mayoral contest: Santee Town Councilman John Mark Gilmore and Donnie L. Hilliard, former Santee town administrator and Orangeburg County administrator.

Also up for grabs are two seats on Santee Town Council.

Incumbents Cleveland Gilmore and Shirley Upton are seeking re-election, and challengers Roosevelt Hezekiah and Gregory S. King are also vying for a seat on council.

Terms for both the mayor’s job and the council seats are four years.

Santee Town Clerk Rebecca Wright said no write-in candidates filed. Filing for candidates ended Feb. 12.

When Santee voters head to the polls next month, they will have the option of choosing a mayor and two of the four candidates to serve as council members.

According to the Orangeburg County Office of Voter Registration and Elections Commission, Santee residents not yet registered to vote in the April 13 election must register by March 13.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13, at the Santee Family Development Center at 210 Brooks Blvd. near Santee Town Hall.

The Municipal Board of Canvassers will hold a certification hearing to determine the validity of all provisional ballots cast in the municipal election at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 15, in the Council Chambers at Santee Town Hall.

Contact the writer: marfawose@aol.com.

Largest ship to visit Charleston docks at Wando Welch

From the Charleston Business Journal
Staff Report
Published Feb. 25, 2010

Mediterranean Shipping Co.’s Golden Gate service made its first call today on the Port of Charleston, linking the Southeast’s deepest seaport with China, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

The first vessel to arrive in Charleston as part of the service, the MSC Rita, got here overnight and is working today at the Wando Welch Terminal.

The 1,065-foot-long Rita is the largest ship to ever come to Charleston. The only other vessel docked at the port today that came close to Rita’s size was the 850-foot Ville D. Aquarius. The smallest vessel in port on Thursday was the 383-foot Ocean Titan. The MSC Rita can hold 8,034 TEUs (20-foot equivalent unit container).

“Importers and exporters across the U.S. Southeast and Gulf region will benefit from additional connections into China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and India through Charleston,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the S.C. State Ports Authority.

The GGS port rotation includes Shanghai, Ningbo, Chiwan and Yantian, China; Singapore; Salalah, Oman; Suez Canal transit; New York; Baltimore; Norfolk; Charleston; Freeport, Bahamas; Suez Canal transit; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Singapore; Chiwan; and Hong Kong.

Additional connecting services offer links to ports in India, the Red Sea and the Middle East. The Golden Gate service also provides a 21-day transit time outbound from Charleston to Jeddah.

Charleston has the deepest water south of Norfolk on the U.S. East Coast, with a 45-foot deep shipping channel at mean low water, which is the average depth of the shipping channel at low tide. A five- to six-foot tidal lift allows ships with up to 48 feet of draft to transit the harbor.

The Rita has a maximum draft of 47.5 feet.

MSC already sends five ships a week to Charleston serving the western Mediterranean, South American, Caribbean, African and European trades.

In 2009, MSC and the SCSPA signed a new five-year extension to the carrier’s contract, lengthening its commitment in Charleston to 2017.

C of C president keeps up talk of port issues

From the Post and Courier

College of Charleston President George Benson in 2008 raised more than a few eyebrows when, at a Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce economic outlook conference, he chastised his new home city for not taking better care of its maritime industry.

"There apparently is insufficient support for port growth, even within the region's business community," he said. "That's a problem."



Photo by Grace Beahm

College of Charleston President George Benson, who cut his teeth in academics as a research economist, said he thinks the local port has a bright future but remains largely underappreciated.
When Benson spoke at a Propeller Club of Charleston luncheon last week, he echoed those sentiments, with a little added context.

"Seaports are almost the most invisible sector of our economy," he said. He characterized South Carolina's port assets "underappreciated."

Benson, who previously served as dean of the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia, offered a few reasons while a rival port in Savannah caught up with and then surpassed Charleston: Georgia has a strong governor system instead of the fractured power structure operating in South Carolina; lawmakers in Atlanta are farther removed from the people of Savannah, who are most significantly impacted by port-related decisions; and Charleston's larger population means more people scrutinize port decisions here.

Benson credited new S.C. State Ports Authority Chief Executive Jim Newsome with a future that "looks bright" for the agency. He also expressed his support of growing the cruise industry, noting, "The bigger the ship, the more cash and credit cards it carries onboard."

Driving Economic Development in the U.S. Southeast

by Ken Krizner

The Southeast U.S. has a number of critical site location factors that make it a highly attractive region for expansion and relocation projects. The region’s manufacturing sector has been transformed during the past two decades by a number of foreign automaker production plants. Leading retailers have located distribution centers in the Southeast to receive inbound shipments from overseas.

Those factors include a high quality of life, states that have right to work laws and ample funding for workforce training programs and other incentives, low taxes, and a moderate climate.

The region also has a well-suited infrastructure in place, with numerous ports on the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, rail access via CSX and Norfolk Southern, a highway system that can accommodate heavy truckloads, and airports. As opposed to other regions of the country, the metro areas of the Southeast are connected to each other by just a few hours’ drive, says Tim Feemster, senior vice president, director of global logistics for commercial real estate advisory firm Grubb & Ellis Co.

Europe- and Asia-based automakers continue to drive economic development in the Southeast, creating a region-wide phenomenon that has transformed the manufacturing landscape. South Korea-based Kia Motors is the latest foreign automaker to launch production in the Southeast, beginning operations in West Point, Georgia in November.

Germany-based Volkswagen has begun installing equipment at its new plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which is expected to being production in 2011. The automaker received more than 65,000 applications for the production work force and about 30,000 applications for skilled maintenance and professional positions. Hiring will begin in early 2010, and Volkswagen expects the plant to generate about 2,000 jobs.

Mercedes is expanding its complex in Vance, Alabama, where it will spend $150 million for a 200,000 square-foot expansion of the body shop, and it will spend $140 million for equipment and process upgrades, including more robotics, in other parts of the facility. Toyota, meanwhile, is building a $1.3 billion plant in Blue Springs, Mississippi, which will employ about 2,000 workers to build the Prius. Toyota currently has production facilities in three Southeast states—Alabama, West Virginia, and Kentucky.

“The [automobile] industry has an economic model that generates jobs—both direct and indirect,” Feemster says. “The cost of labor [in the region] is good, as is the demographics of the labor. There is a skilled workforce.”






A solid distribution and logistics foundation

Retailers, too, are finding an attractive environment to expand their distribution facilities in the Southeast. Many retailers have distribution centers near the Port of Savannah (Georgia). Savannah is the nearest port to Atlanta, the largest metropolitan area in the region.

“[Savannah] is the closest port to the largest consumption zone in the region,” says Jeb Atkinson, vice president of the Corporate Services Group for ProVenture, a Brentwood, Tennessee-based national real estate advisory and corporate services company.

Wal-Mart operates a distribution center inland from the port and leases substantial warehouse space within about 5 miles. IKEA operates a 1.7 million square foot facility.

Other retailers, such as The Home Depot, Dollar Tree Stores, Lowe’s, and Target, also have distribution facilities at or connected to the Port of Savannah.

Other ports in the Southeast are also home to retail distribution operations. Supermarket chains Winn-Dixie and Publix have major distribution operations at the Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT) in Florida. In addition, the Port of Miami is the gateway to inbound and outbound cargo shipments to and from South America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

The Southeast ports are more frequently receiving cargo shipments from Asia via the Panama Canal or Suez Canal. Retailers cite cost—ocean freight is less expensive than rail or truck—avoiding the congested California ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach, and more direct access to the heaviest U.S. population areas as the reasons.

Southeast ports are servicing the eastern seaboard and markets between 250 and 500 miles away, Feemster says. “An all-water route is less expensive,” he points out. “The longer you can extend your supply chain through the cheapest mode of transportation, the better it is. We’re producing a lot of consumer goods in China and 77 percent of the U.S. population is east of Texas.”

Logistics has been a primary economic driver in Charleston, S.C., for more than 300 years. That has led to a deep and growing pool of workers involved in all aspects of transportation and logistics. The region’s employment in transportation and materials handling occupations grew 12 percent between 2000 and 2008, compared with a 1 percent decrease in such employment nationwide, according to the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA).

Area colleges offer a number of programs relevant to the industry. “We have a full spectrum of education that allows for the training of a good work force,” remarks David Ginn, president and CEO of CRDA.

The state of South Carolina offers companies an infrastructure and market access that allows them to transport product to national and international markets by way of an expansive network of railways, airports, and highways.

There are about 260 distribution and logistics operations in the state. A distribution site in South Carolina is located within 1,000 miles of 35 states and roughly 75 percent of the total U.S. population.

Retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target, QVC, The Home Depot, Starbucks, and Walgreens have established distribution operations in the state. Wal-Mart has two distribution centers in South Carolina, which serve as super-regional distribution centers. They were chosen because of the strategic location to the company’s Southeast U.S. operations, with easy access to several interstates.

At least 30 percent of distribution facilities operate through the Port of Charleston, which is able to serve ships of up to 8,000 TEUs with only a 20-minute turnaround time for truckers. All terminals at the Port of Charleston are within 2 miles of interstate highway access.

Intermodal hubs are also a key component for the state, and Jafza International will create such a hub for its international operations at a 1,300-acre complex in Orangeburg, S.C.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based Jazfa’s hub will include facilities for warehousing, manufacturing, and distribution. The company expects to make an investment of between $600 million and $700 million in its Orangeburg operations during the next 15 years. wt

House adds $1.7 million more to 95/301 project

By T&D Staff Saturday, December 12, 2009

The budget bill passed by the U.S. House Thursday contains an additional $1.7 million to upgrade the Interstate 95 and U.S. 301 interchange near Santee, plus money for other local projects, House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn said.

The Senate will take up the bill next week.

A total of $12 million has been identified for the U.S. 301/I-95 interchange project from federal, state and local sources, according to the S.C. Department of Transportation. The projected cost is between $30 million and $40 million.

If the project plans remain on schedule, construction could begin in 2012 and take up to 24 months to complete.

Other projects of local interest receiving federal funds as a part of the $11.3 million coming to the state include:

* Claflin University forensic laboratory — $1 million

* Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five alternative youth education program — $500,000

* Voorhees College domestic violence program — $250,000

Management change planned for Jafza project

By Dan McCue Monday, November 30, 2009

Amidst the turmoil of the Dubai World debt crisis, subtle changes are coming to the management of Dubai based Jafza’s development of a massive logistics park near Santee.

The moves are not directly related to the current crisis, but rather are an outgrowth the reported $450 million purchase of London-based Gazeley Ltd., by Jafza’s parent company, Economic Zones World last year.

EZW, a subsidiary of Dubai World, has yet to be caught in the undertow related of the ongoing financial crisis in the Emirate.

For the sake of clarity, Dubai World is the emirate’s investment vehicle. It owns DP World, one of the largest global port operators, and EZW, which develops and operates economic zones and industrial parks. Gazeley, with its track record in Europe as Wal-mart’s development arm there, will help Dubai World to build a global logistics development business.

Gazeley is also considered to be at the forefront of green industrial development.

In the reshuffling, Chuck Heath, Jafza’s longtime managing director, has been named senior vice president and, among other roles, will serve as an advisor to EZW CEO Salma Hareb, long considered one of the most powerful businesswomen in the Arab world.

“I remain president of Jafza-South Carolina, and will also handle government relations in the U.S.,” Heath said.

Of his new assignment, Heath said he’s been asked to create a new business unit within EZW called “Management and Advisory.”

Through that new unit, Heath will serve as manager for several of the company’s other development projects around the world, and will also “advise other zones on global best practices,” Heath said.

In light of Heath’s new duties, EZW has appointed Nick Greenwood, Gazeley’s longtime managing director, to the position of senior vice president and managing director for Europe and the U.S., putting him directly in charge of the Santee project.

Greenwood did not respond to requests for comment, but in a profile in Property Week magazine in September, he spoke at length about continuing the company’s core business of large-scale industrial and logistics development, while also becoming more involved in the investment side of the property industry.

But that wasn’t to suggest he expected lavish backing from Dubai. In fact, he told Property Week with unintended prescience, “We haven’t got bucketloads of cash to buy up the market.”

“But we are under no pressure to sell assets so, compared with some of our competitors, we are in a good position,” Greenwood said.

Heath said he and Greenwood plan to come to South Carolina in January to formally announce what he described as “the handover” and to introduce Greenwood to stakeholders in the Santee project.

SC DOT - Press Release

Public Information Meeting in Orangeburg County concerning proposed improvements to the I-95/US 301 Interchange and US 301 Connector.



The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has scheduled a public information meeting Thursday, December 3, concerning the I-95/US 301 Interchange Modification and US 301 Connector Project.
The meeting will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., in the Lake Marion High School Cafeteria, 3656Tee Vee Road, Santee, SC.
The information meeting is intended to provide an opportunity to review and discuss individually with representatives SCDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) plans for the proposed project. The proposed improvements consist of a modifying the I-95/US 301 Interchange from partial access to a full access interchange.  The proposed improvements also include building a new location roadway to connect US 301 from I-95 to SC 6 near Naval Station Road. The US 301 connector is proposed to accommodate a five-lane section from I-95 tapering down to a three-lane section to SC 6. The connector road also includes a bridge over the CSX railroad approximately half way between I-95 and SC 6.
This project is partially funded by the Lower Savannah Council of Governments (LSCOG), congressional earmarks and Orangeburg County.
From 5 p.m. until 7p.m., persons will be received in a drop-in style, informal format.  Displays will be set up in the cafeteria and project team members from the SCDOT and FHWA will be available to discuss the project with interested citizens on an individual basis. No formal presentation will be given at this meeting. At a later date, a formal public hearing will be held on the project.
For more information, the public may contact Randall Young, Midlands Regional Production Engineer, SCDOT, at (803) 737-4682.  Persons with disabilities who may require special accommodations to attend the hearing should contact Karen Davis at (803) 737-1549 for assistance and information.