Aiken community shows 'tremendous amount of vitality' and job growth

Aiken County residents should relish the latest numbers that show the county with the state's lowest unemployment rate at 7.4 percent, Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce President David Jameson told Aiken Rotary Club members Monday.

He acknowledged that some pockets of business classifications are not doing as well, but overall, "there's a tremendous amount of vitality in the community," Jameson said. "Productivity is high at the large businesses and plants. We got a great, skilled workforce and a workforce that is available when more people are needed."

The $1.6 billion in federal stimulus funds allocated to the Savannah River Site complex has had a huge impact, Jameson said. The appropriation is creating 3,356 jobs and no other South Carolina community has seen that kind of growth. Although some jobs are held by people outside of the county, the boost to the economy has been substantial.

Many of the temporary jobs could become permanent or the personnel could obtain other existing jobs that would keep them in the community, said Jameson. Conversations throughout the CSRA are already underway, he said, to plan ahead when the stimulus funding ends in September 2011 and ensure the region doesn't experience a delayed recession.

But there are other investments as well. Ameresco is investing $750 million in a biomass plant at SRS. While it won't have the same long-term impact as the Boeing investment in North Charleston, the amount of money is the same, Jameson said.

"The Shaw Areva Mox construction "is a $4.8 billion project that's right down the road," he said. "It's the largest government construction project within the U.S."

Fort Gordon also has a major homeland security facility underway and that project, too, will help the region's economy, Jameson said. Thousands of jobs also should open up in this part of the state in coming years with both government and private nuclear facilities - requiring new engineers, professionals in technical fields and skilled workers to replace an aging workforce close to retirement.

Another key component of Aiken County's economy is the equine industry. A steering committee is looking at a more comprehensive way to work with the industry as a whole and provide more opportunities. Jameson and the Chamber hired Ed Scanlon last fall as manager of equine development.

One discussion is the development of a quality trail system.

"Our folks want to build a trail throughout the county," Jameson said. "Say 10 years from now, we could have 1,000 miles of trail... Another initiative of the steering committee is an international horse park. That's an opportunity to bring the equine industry to a whole new level."

Another Chamber effort is spotlighting people ages 22-39 in the community - holding monthly events for young professionals where they gather socially and network.

"We want to see what the things are make Aiken a special place for them," Jameson said, "and see how we can retain them in the community and attract others."

Contact Rob Novit at

rnovit@aikenstandard.com.