Industrial Information
Major Employers List
Once a sleepy agricultural town, Sumter has become a burgeoning industrial center. With five industrial parks housing about 65 manufacturing facilities and employing about 8,200, the county is a perfect place for both manufacturing and retail expansion. Current manufacturers include Kaydon, Eaton, BD Diagnostics, Preanalytical Solutions , International Paper and Caterpillar.
Sumter industry is in no way limited to heavy-weight manufacturing, however. The county's diverse industry includes the production of tools, medical supplies and frozen foods. In addition, some smaller industries in Sumter have achieved international recognition, including Dalzell's Garnay Industries, the world's largest gingko farm, and Palmetto Pigeon Farm, which raises squab served at Buckingham Palace.
The Sumter Development Board is committed to increasing the industrial base in the area and has partnered with the private sector to make this happen. The Sumter Smarter Growth Initiative was formed to assist with recruiting new industry, encouraging expansions and other community initiatives geared towards increasing jobs and wealth in our community. The Board and the SSGI continuously work with companies across the globe to show them that Sumter is the perfect place to call home.
Preparation is key in making successful industries and the Sumter Career Readiness Center is where much of that prep work begins. The center offers several classes in technical areas, including machine tool technology, welding and automotive technology for high-school students who would like to nurture a hobby, have a back up plan or wish to directly enter such technical fields upon graduation. Sumter industries support the Career Center because of its excellent job at preparing young adults for the workplace. For continued technical education, students can continue on to Central Carolina Technical College for associate's degrees in such fields as the heating and air conditioning trade, machine operations and management training.
Our five industrial parks have ready-to-build greenfield sites perfect for new development. All have gas lines available for use and two have on-site access to railways. As part of its effort to attract businesses of all kinds, Sumter has worked to ensure that its water and sewer system is available wherever needed and continuous maintenance keeps all components up to date. In addition, the Class 2 fire rating of all five industrial parks keeps insurance rates low, an important consideration when choosing a new business location.
By training and retaining such a successful work force, industries in Sumter are working diligently to provide competitive salaries while avoiding outsourcing to foreign countries, which has become a prominent threat to American manufacturing.