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Keurig Dr Pepper Expanding Spartanburg County Operations

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP), a leading producer of hot and cold beverages, announced the continued growth of its state-of-the-art, single-serve coffee roasting and manufacturing operations in Spartanburg County. The company’s $141 million investment will create 84 jobs.

KDP’s beverage portfolio consists of 125 iconic brands including carbonated and non-carbonated beverages such as Dr Pepper, Canada Dry, Mott’s, Snapple, and Core Hydration, as well as the Keurig brewing system, with leading owned brands Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and The Original Donut Shop.

The company’s existing Spartanburg County facility, which broke ground in 2019 with continued development announced in October 2023, produces K-Cup pods and currently employs approximately 285 people, with additional hiring underway.

KDP’s new site, located at 3220 Moore Duncan Highway in Moore, will host production for the company’s next-generation K-Rounds, plastic-free coffee pods created from premium coffee beans that are ground, pressed and wrapped in a protective, plant-based coating.

“With this new investment, the KDP facility in Spartanburg will remain a key site representing our manufacturing and production innovation,” said Keurig Dr Pepper Chief Supply Chain Officer Roger Johnson. “We are grateful for the ongoing, outstanding support we’ve received from the state of South Carolina and county of Spartanburg as we continue to grow in this area.” 

Individuals interested in joining the KDP team should visit the company’s careers page.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project. The council also awarded a $450,000 Set-Aside grant to Spartanburg County to assist with the costs of building improvements.

Gov. McMaster Requests Disaster Declaration for Tropical Storm Debby Damage

Gov. Henry McMaster on Monday requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration and a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster declaration for eligible counties as a result of Tropical Storm Debby, which made landfall in South Carolina on Aug. 8, 2024.

The requests follow extensive damage assessments that determined more than 900 homes were damaged, with public agency costs and infrastructure damage projected at more than $16 million. 

The Presidential Disaster Declaration, if approved, would provide FEMA Individual Assistance Program help to residents impacted by the storm in Charleston, Colleton, and Dorchester counties. 

The request also includes all categories of the FEMA Public Assistance Program for state and local government agencies, in addition to eligible nonprofit organizations, in Bamberg, Barnwell, Berkeley, Colleton, Dillon, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Orangeburg, and Union counties.

The Individual Assistance Program, if activated for South Carolina, would provide direct financial assistance to residents who incurred uninsured damages to their property as a result of the storm. FEMA Individual Assistance may also provide for other needs on a case-by-case basis.

The Public Assistance Program reimburses applicants for the unexpected, extraordinary costs of recovering from a major disaster. FEMA pays 75 percent of this aid, and the division of the remaining 25 percent will be determined at a later date.

In addition, McMaster's SBA Disaster Loan Program request includes Berkeley and Orangeburg counties. If approved, businesses and residents of these counties may be eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans. 

This is an initial request for federal assistance through FEMA and the SBA. If approved, additional counties may be added based on need.

Shellfish Harvest Season Opens Oct. 1 in South Carolina

Oyster lovers, get ready: The 2024-2025 season for recreational harvest of shellfish (clams and oysters) in South Carolina's coastal waters will open one half hour before official sunrise on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. The recreational shellfish season will remain open through May 15, 2025, unless conditions warrant extending or shortening the season.

In the event of another hurricane, major rain event, or pollution spill, shellfish beds may be temporarily closed by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES, formerly SCDHEC). It is important for harvesters to check with SCDES to verify whether any closures are in effect.

This information is available at 1-800-285-1618 and can be viewed on an interactive map at the SCDES website. SCDES will use these resources and your local newspaper throughout the year to announce temporary closures due to unusual rain events or spills.

Recreational harvesting is permitted on all Public Shellfish Grounds and State Shellfish Grounds within areas of open/approved water quality as noted on shellfish maps. Twenty Public and seven State Shellfish Grounds are managed exclusively for recreational gathering. An additional 58 State Shellfish Grounds are managed for both recreational and commercial harvest.

Recreational harvesters should obtain updated Public or State Shellfish Ground maps at the beginning of each season, as areas open to harvest change from year to year. Maps of designated harvest areas may be downloaded from the SCDNR website or accessed online through the Recreational Map Web Application.

Printed maps may also be obtained by calling (843) 953-9854 or writing the Shellfish Management Section, Attn: Andy Hollis, SCDNR, PO Box 12559, Charleston, SC 29422-2559. When requesting maps, specify the general area where you wish to harvest. 

Recreational harvesters must have a Saltwater Recreational Fishing License, available from SCDNR, at many fishing supply stores, and online. The recreational limit is two U.S. bushels of oysters and one-half bushel of clams in any one day, limited to two calendar days per seven-day period. One U.S. bushel is equal to eight gallons. There is a maximum possession of three personal limits per boat or vehicle. Clams must be at least one inch thick.

Additional rules and restrictions may be found in the SCDNR Rules and Regulations, available where licenses are purchased or online.

LRT Company Launches Hardeeville Senior Living DST

LRT Company, an opportunistic development firm and sponsor of Section 1031 exchange investment offerings, announced that it has launched LRT Hardeeville Senior Living DST. The all-cash, Regulation D private placement Delaware statutory trust offering seeks to raise $17 million in equity from accredited investors.

LRT Hardeeville Senior Living DST consists of 8.17 undeveloped land acres that are ground leased for 50 years on a triple-net basis.

As part of the ground lease agreement, a multi-level assisted living and memory care senior housing community with 154 units will be designed, developed and constructed by LRT Development on the property located at 20 Island Gate Way in Hardeeville, South Carolina. 

“The LRT Hardeeville Senior Living DST is an exciting opportunity to meet the growing needs of seniors in the vibrant Hilton Head Island region,” said Lawrence LaBonte, founder and chief executive officer of LRT Company.

“Hardeeville's population has increased by more than 72 percent since the 2020 U.S. Census, with relocating retirees making up the majority of new residents. This demand for quality senior housing, combined with the area's robust economic drivers and strategic location, makes Hardeeville an ideal setting for our offering.”

The 8.17-acre project is part of Island Gateway, an 82.6-acre greater master-planned community under construction by LRT Development. Upon completion, Island Gateway is expected to include 600 multifamily residences, a care-continuum senior living campus, and 100,000 square feet of retail and self-storage space.

Through its development arm, LRT currently has approximately $150 million of projects in the southeastern and northeastern United States.

LRT Company is a ground-up development company specializing in the entitlement and development of multifamily and senior housing projects. The company was founded in 2019 by LaBonte, who has more than 35 years of commercial real estate experience.

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