These companies are providing 328 jobs and investing $14M+ across Horry County. What to know

Horry County leaders are poised to swap millions in property tax breaks for jobs and facility improvements as officials continue efforts at diversifying the economy in South Carolina’s fastest growing region.

Four non-hospitality businesses — Carolina Food Service, Laudisi Enterprises, Shed Windows and More and Skutchi Designs — are all in line for locked-in property tax rates of 6 percent over the next two decades with the promise of delivering 328 total jobs and nearly $14.5 million worth of investments.

The county council’s administration subcommittee is set to review the agreements Feb. 28 before they go for full votes in the spring.

This legacy window maker moved to Horry County in 2013

Shed Windows vice president Thomas Slack said his company is adding a 50,000-square-foot warehouse off Chestnut Road in Longs, allowing for the in-house production of double paned vinyl windows.

The company, which launched in 2001 and moved to Horry County in 2013, will relocate from its site along S.C. Highway 90 - bringing 15 jobs with plans to add 42 more on the strength of a $4.2 million investment.

Officials first announced plans for the move in November.

“Honestly, the reason why we’re staying in Horry County is because the ever changing populous allows a bunch of new blood to cycle through,” Shed vice president Thomas Slack said. “We’re a great place for people to get started at, guys and women that want to do a Monday through Friday job.”

Slack said labor leaders in Georgetown County and Tabor City, N.C. tried to recruit Shed, but since many of its employees live in the Carolina Forest area, the company wanted to stay local.

“We’ve had a lot of really good support. The county has been a great asset and partner to work with,” Slack said.

Hospitality and retail continue to dominate the county’s employee base, accounting for 42 percent of the 136,430 jobs countywide in December, according to state Department of Employment and Workforce figures.

But demand in sectors including manufacturing, transportation and warehousing and construction are all expected to increase through 2028, state figures show.

“Horry County is a vast county. It’s got a lot of history. It’s got a lot of traffic that flows there. The problem is, Horry County has a stigma that’s attached to Myrtle Beach,” Slack said. “That screams, ‘hospitality,’ that screams ‘tourist.’ That doesn’t scream what we have in our backyard.”

An office furniture manufacturer sees decades of growth ahead

Which includes companies like Skutchi Designs, a leading office furniture firm that opened an expanded facility in the Ascott Valley Inudstrial Park on Adrian Highway earlier this year.

Skutchi Designs left its Conway site off Gardner Lacy Road for a larger building in the Ascott Valley Industrial Park earlier this year — bringing 18 employees with a future goal of 41 more.

“Horry County really wants to push development of this area, and understandably so,” company marketing director Timothy Smith said.

Skutchi spent $2.7 million to double the size of its warehouse - a sign of its faith in Horry County’s growing economic versatility, Smith said.

“On my drive in from work I must pass a dozen new housing projects going in here, there, everywhere. Everybody’s building homes,” he said. “A lot of folks of up north are coming down, a lot of folks from down south are coming north, I think it’s fantastic there’s some foresight on the party of county government that they’re going, ‘we need to be ready for this.’”

The Loris Commerce Park is staying competitive with a big name expansion coming

Carolina Food Service, which produces meats, condiments and spices mostly for the Hispanic and Latino restaurant markets, is bringing 71 new jobs as part of a 20,000-square-foot expansion of its Commerce Park site, while retaining 29.

Company officials did not return a call seeking comment but CEO Juan Serrato said in a June 2022 press release that county and state leaders laid the groundwork for his company’s continued presence on the Grand Strand.

“I am truly excited and beyond grateful for our Carolina Food Service family. All their hard work and relentless efforts have put us in an accelerated pace of growth. And, for closing in on accomplishing our goal of becoming a relevant player in the regional food service scene,” Serrato said in the statement.

Carolina Food Service’s clients include local chain El Cerro Grande.

The county’s accomodation and food services sector is projected to grow by more than 12 percent through 2028, adding 4,486 jobs, SC workforce data shows.

A tobacco pipe distributor is bulking up its Horry County footprint

Laudisi Enterprises, a global leader of pipes and pipe tobacco, is planning a $3.7 million facility upgrade, retaining 112 jobs as part of the venture, according to county documents.

A company representative was not immediately available for comment but CEO Sykes Wilford said during a 2018 expansion his company is “deeply committed” to remaining in Horry County.

In 2005, Wilford opened Low Country Pipe and Cigar in Little River. Seven years later, Italy-based pipe manufacturer Savinelli asked Laudisi to become its sole domestic distributor.

Sykes’ company in 2014 merged with Cornell & Diehl, a North Carolina tobacco manufacturer.

Laudisi Enterprises continues to experience growth, moving to new and larger buildings on a regular basis and adding employees at a pace that some might consider dizzying,” the company says on its website. “Pipe smokers are out there, they’re enthusiastic, and Laudisi continues to be better and better every year, acting as a dependable conduit for pipe consumers to achieve their goals.”