e-VAC Magnetics To Build First U.S. Facility In Sumter County

e-VAC Magnetics (e-VAC), a leading manufacturer of rare earth permanent magnets in the Western Hemisphere, said it is establishing U.S. operations in South Carolina, building its first facility in Sumter County.

The project is expected to bring more than half a billion-dollar investment and create 300 jobs for Sumter County, according to Gov. Henry McMaster’s office.

e-VAC is part of the VAC Group (VAC), a leading developer of magnetic materials and solutions. e-VAC produces rare earth neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, which are critical to automotive, defense, industrial and renewable energy applications.

The facility and VAC’s decades of experience in rare earth magnet technology and process intellectual property represent a critical step to ensuring a resilient, U.S.-based supply chain, South Carolina officials said.

“This project represents a significant commitment by VAC to re-shore critical process and product technology, creating good paying and highly skilled jobs for residents of the community. With this support, we will directly contribute to U.S. energy independence and national security,” said VAC Group Chief Executive Officer Erik Eschen.

"This transformative investment by e-VAC will bolster Sumter's economy while strengthening our already thriving electric vehicle supply chain,” McMaster said.

The company will build, own and operate a new facility on 85 acres in the Pocotaligo Industrial Park in Sumter County. The facility will house production of permanent magnets for electric vehicles and defense applications.

e-VAC entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense, which will provide $94.1 million to acquire and install manufacturing equipment, operationalize technical infrastructure, and engineer production lines for the facility.

Operations are expected to be online in late autumn 2025.

Through the readySC program, South Carolina’s Technical College System will help e-VAC recruit and train potential employees. A website with hiring information will be available next year.

The S.C. Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project.

The council also awarded a $13 million Rural Infrastructure Fund grant to Sumter County to assist with the costs of land acquisition, site preparation, road improvements, water and wastewater improvements, and building construction related to the project. 

Sumter County was also awarded a $2 million LocateSC grant to offset costs associated with needed infrastructure improvements for the Pocotaligo Industrial Park.

TD SYNNEX Share the Magic Distributes $1.3 Million To Upstate Children’s Charities

TD SYNNEX Share the Magic, a charitable fundraising initiative created by Peter Larocque, president of North America for TD SYNNEX, presented checks to four Upstate children’s charities.

South Carolina beneficiaries of TD SYNNEX Share the Magic are: A Child’s Haven, Clement’s Kindness, Make-A-Wish South Carolina and Pendleton Place.

Since its inception in 2011, TD SYNNEX Share the Magic has raised $25 million.

“Our collective fundraising through history has exceeded $25 million across all our chapters in North America,” Larocque said. “What that money does for charities is not only essential for their operations, but it changes lives. It provides services that would otherwise not exist. It makes wishes come true. Once again, my sincerest gratitude goes out to our dedicated associates, business partners, local organizations and individuals who make this happen.”

With the help of TD SYNNEX Share the Magic: 

A Child’s Haven is exploring avenues to expand services to other locations with the goal of program replication so families all over the state have access to Therapeutic Child Care.

A Child’s Haven provides healing therapy for developmentally challenged, at-risk preschoolers, while fortifying vulnerable families and strengthening the community. Using a 2-Generational approach for infants, young children, and their caregivers, A Child’s Haven works to stop debilitating cycles of trauma and adversity that directly impact a child’s health and wellness over their lifetime.

Clement’s Kindness provides financial assistance to Upstate families impacted by pediatric cancer and other blood disorders. This year, 20 percent of the Share the Magic funds will support Clement’s Kindness’s endowment campaign, and the remainder will be allocated to financial assistance for families and special projects that create a sense of normalcy in a safe and healthy environment.

Clement's Kindness Fund for the Children helps address the medical, psychological, social, emotional, and financial needs of Upstate families impacted by pediatric cancer and serious blood disorders. The fund also provides financial support to the BI-LO Charities Children's Cancer Center and the Bon Secours St. Francis Cancer Center AYA Program, which directly impacts the patients and their families.

Make-A-Wish® South Carolina and TD SYNNEX Share the Magic have partnered for 12 years.  With the support of TD SYNNEX Share the Magic, Make-A-Wish South Carolina has created hope and joy for over 480 children through their wish-granting.

As one of 58 Make-A-Wish chapters across the U.S., the South Carolina chapter has been granting wishes for local children with critical illnesses since 1984, relieving trauma and stress caused by their illness. The chapter has granted more than 4,000 wishes since its incorporation and in 2024, will celebrate its 40th anniversary. 

Pendleton Place will continue its growth in 2024. Beds provided for youth aged 12-21 experiencing homelessness and foster care are increasing by 25%, which will ensure more youth affected by violence, trauma, and poverty will have access to food, rest, safety, shelter and love.

Pendleton Place’s Community Youth Services has nearly doubled supported housing clients who are exiting homelessness, and its Family Resource Center (FRC) is expanding kinship caregiver supports, evidence-based parenting classes, developmental screenings and family mediation to strengthen families and reduce child abuse and neglect.

Pendleton Place keeps children safe and supports families in crisis through prevention, assessment, and intervention. Its vision is a future where children and youth are safe, families of all kinds are whole, and communities are strong.

TD SYNNEX Share the Magic is a year-long initiative comprised of multiple community events, which culminated with a Celebration at Hartness in October featuring high-dollar silent and live auction items, as well as one of the most popular party bands in the country.

Community events in 2023 included the TD SYNNEX Share the Magic Day at the Greenville Drive and the TD SYNNEX Share the Magic Golf Tournament.

TD SYNNEX Share the Magic was founded in 2011 to fund programs that transform the lives of families across North America.

Since its inception, TD SYNNEX Share the Magic has expanded from South Carolina to Canada, Colorado, Illinois and the California Bay Area.

For information about TD SYNNEX Share the Magic and its beneficiaries, go to www.synnexcorp.com/sharethemagic.

Cedar Fair Announces Strategic Changes to Its Corporate Leadership Team

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: FUN), a leader in regional amusement parks, water parks and immersive entertainment, announced a strategic reorganization to its corporate leadership structure.

Robert (Bob) White, who since 2021 has served as senior vice president of business intelligence, has been promoted to chief commercial officer, a new executive-level position officials said was created to better meet the challenges of today’s dynamic consumer landscape and enhance the company’s focus on driving guest demand.

Additionally, Christian Dieckmann will step into an elevated role as chief strategy officer, focused on identifying growth opportunities and driving strategic initiatives at the Company. Both promotions are effective immediately.

As part of the strategic reorganization, Kelley S. Ford will transition out of the executive vice president and chief marketing officer position after serving 11 years in the post.

To support the organizational change, she will remain employed in a non-executive role until March 29, 2024.

White, who has more than 40 years of experience in the amusement park industry, will be responsible for developing and directing the company’s commercial strategies for guest acquisition. He will report directly to Tim Fisher, Cedar Fair’s chief operating officer.

Dieckmann, who has a decade of experience in the location-based entertainment space, including eight years with Cedar Fair, will focus on developing and executing growth opportunities across the company’s portfolio of properties. He will report directly to Richard A. Zimmerman, Cedar Fair’s president and chief executive officer.

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company is a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. The company owns and operates 13 properties, consisting of 11 amusement parks, four separately gated outdoor water parks, and resort accommodations totaling more than 2,300 rooms and more than 600 RV sites.

Cedar Fair’s parks are located in Ohio, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, Texas and Toronto, Ontario.

The company also operates an additional theme park in California under a management contract.

Duke Energy Awards $225,000 In Grants To Organizations Making Critical Home Improvements For South Carolina Seniors

Duke Energy awarded $225,000 to South Carolina organizations that help seniors make needed home repairs to enable senior citizens to continue to enjoy life in their current homes.

Duke Energy's Senior Home Repair Program provided 15 qualifying nonprofits grants of up to $20,000 through a request for proposals announced in September.

"South Carolina's senior population should never have to decide between basic necessities and living out their lives in safety in their own home," said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy's South Carolina state president. "A simple home repair or safety improvement can be the big difference."

Each organization will administer the funds based on the nonprofit's mission, some addressing long waiting lists for such repairs.

Grant uses include installing safety handrails in bathrooms, replacing rotting floors, installing handicap ramps and repairing unsafe steps.

Grant funding cannot be used for weatherization, energy efficiency upgrades, or solar products and equipment.

Grants were awarded to the following organizations:

* Academic Technology and Wellness Academy (Cherokee County) – $10,000

* AIM – $20,000

* Caring and Sharing Inc. (Georgetown, Florence and Williamsburg counties) – $20,000

* Citizens United for Redevelopment and Economic Stability of Chester – $10,000

* Darlington Long-Term Recovery Group – $10,000

* Habitat for Humanity Greenville County – $20,000

* Habitat for Humanity Spartanburg – $20,000

* Habitat for Humanity of York County – $20,000

* Helping Florence Flourish – $15,000

* Home Works of America, Inc. (Greenwood County) – $10,000

* Marion Dillon Habitat for Humanity – $15,000

* Marlboro County Coordinating Council Inc. – $10,000

*Rebuild Upstate (Oconee and Pickens counties) – $10,000

* Sumter United Ministries – $20,000

* United Way of Sumter, Clarendon and Lee Counties – $15,000.

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