1,500 agribusiness jobs coming to rural SC opportunity zone

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — More than 1,500 agribusiness jobs are coming to a rural pocket of South Carolina in what officials are calling the largest such investment in the country that’s part of an opportunity zone.

Gov. Henry McMaster said Wednesday the $314 million investment would be a boon to Hampton County.

“Every job created in a rural community affects a family and improves their quality of life. Today’s announcement that the Agriculture Technology Campus is locating in Hampton County is a tremendous win for the local community and our state as a whole. Congratulations to the Agriculture Technology Campus and LiDestri on these expansive operations, and we look forward to their growth in the years to come.”

The campus is a joint venture project between Mastronardi, Clear Water Farms, LiDestri Food and Drink (LiDestri) and GEM Opportunity Zone Fund to help South Carolinians acquire locally grown produce.

Senator Tim Scott also praised the accomplishment.

"Today is an amazing day for Hampton County, South Carolina, and the Opportunity Zone initiative as a whole,” added Senator Scott. “This is the exact sort of investment we expected in creating Opportunity Zones, and is a classic example of the potential for zones across the country. These 1,500 new full-time jobs and hundreds of seasonal jobs will help power rural Hampton County’s economy for years to come, helping an historically underserved community build a better future for hard-working South Carolinians."

Officials said the “agriculture technology campus” would include greenhouses for locally grown produce like tomatoes and leafy greens, as well as a 150,000-square-foot distribution center and packing facility.

“This is a historic day for a region steeped in agricultural history,” said Zeb Portanova, CEO, GEM Opportunity Zone Fund. “I am thrilled to be part of this innovative group looking to grow high quality agriculture across the region. We will deploy sustainable practices such as using recycled rainwater to irrigate our greenhouses while also providing all Carolina farmers access to our state-of-the-art co-packing facility. This will help pave the way for citizens to visit their local grocery stores, where they will be able to purchase pesticide free, locally grown produce.”

Opportunity zones offer tax incentives when profits are re-invested into businesses located in places that are generally starved from outside investment.

The campus is expected to become operational in 2022. Full operation is expected by 2025.