Job expansion in Blythewood
A number of companies are repositioning and expanding operations in Blythewood. Our Town’s central location, labor pool, and quality of life continue to encourage growth and commerce.
On the heels of Bose Corporation announcing a downsizing plan for its Richland county location, Spirax Sarco announces it is expanding its Blythewood, South Carolina operation to accommodate growth in its steam system solutions business. The new facility has over 35,800 square feet of office and production space.
“Our business is continually growing due to the hard work and dedication of our employees. This facility will enable Spirax Sarco to successfully meet the growing industry demand for steam system solutions and to better serve our customers nation-wide,” said Stephen Gow, Director of Marketing.
Spirax Sarco wins 2011 Plant Engineering Product of the Year Award
The TVA Target Variable Area Flowmeter has been selected as a winner in the 2011 Plant Engineering Product of the Year contest. This product was selected from among this year’s entries as one of the most outstanding new products of 2011. Now in its 25th year, Product of the Year is a premium honor for new product innovations that make manufacturing plants run smarter, safer and more efficient.
Companies submit applications to Plant Engineering magazine each year for consideration as a Product of the Year winner. Winners are chosen by a panel of industry experts based on the entries received. Winners will receive their award on March 26, 2012 at the Plant Engineering Manufacturing/Automation Summit held in Chicago, Illinois.
Congratulations to Spirax Sarco!
A top advisor to President Barack Obama praised a Blythewood manufacturing plant Monday for both providing jobs and helping the environment by making truck engine parts that reduce air pollution.
Accompanied by U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C. on a visit to Navistar Inc.’s plant, White House adviser Nancy Sutley said the manufacturer is “a company that is really thinking about the future, making investments in the future.”
Sutley, who chairs the White House Council on Environmental Quality, was in South Carolina to look at “green” manufacturing plants, biofuel programs and energy efficiency initiatives. Her visit to South Carolina also was to include stops Monday at a Calhoun County contractor’s home and at Claflin University’s biofuel research initiative, which is looking at alternate energy.
She said Navistar’s plant in northern Richland County is the type of business the Obama administration “wants to see replicated across the country.”
Navistar’s Pure Power plant manufactures high-efficiency fuel injectors and emission controls for large trucks.
Diesel-powered trucks are historically among the nation’s leading sources of air pollution. The Blythewood plant was in danger of closing several years ago, but under new ownership, has rebounded. Its total employment has risen from less than 200 workers several years ago to more than 400 today.
Blythewood teacher wins special honor
Blythewood teacher wins special honor
It’s Tuesday morning, and about 15 Blythewood Middle School students are focused on creating simple one-line drawings on computers or typepads.
“Remember, at this point, magic is still a big part of Asian cultures,” teacher Jason Yaman hints.
This isn’t art class, but social studies — more specifically, world history from the 1500s to present-day. These seventh-graders are studying British and American Imperialism in the 1800s.
Blythewood Middle School teacher Jason Yaman will be awarded the Beveridge Family Teaching Prize at the American Historical Association’s national conference in Chicago.
Congratulations to a special teacher!
Read more:
http://www.thestate.com/2012/02/01/2135572/blythewood-techer-wins-special.html
Blythewood’s Mayor Sworn in
The Town of Blythewood welcomes Mike Ross as our Mayor.
Mike Ross was sworn in as Blythewood’s Mayor at Monday night’s town council meeting. A longtime resident and small business owner, Mayor Ross received the majority of the votes at the recent election, and has proposed a “100 day contract” to live up to the pledges he made in his campaign.
From the first week in office our Mayor will keep a busy schedule.
Each Monday he plans to be at his desk from 9 until 5. “The doors will be open,” he said. “This will be a time for people to come in and talk. Part of being Mayor is connecting with the constituents.”
When Monday’s business day is done, you will find our Mayor on the walking trail in Doko Meadows at 6PM., working on his endurance and conducting what he calls a “walk and talk at the park.” All citizens are welcome to join him and talk about anything on their minds.
Mayor Ross admits that this is a big step for him but sees great value in being a seasoned business owner. “We need to be focused on business and look for ways to help small business in our community,” says Mayor Ross.
Please join all of us at Town Hall in welcoming Mayor Mike Ross to his new post.
Message from Sheriff Leon Lott
As your Sheriff for 16 years, and in Law Enforcement for 37 years, I have come to truly appreciate how great partnerships are making our Sheriff’s Department successful in reducing crime; and believe that our relationships with our citizens, communities and businesses are what make Richland County such a great place to live, work and play.
Your Sheriff’s Department continues to increase our diversionary programs, crime prevention efforts and enforcement strategies – all with the goal to improve your quality of life. Our partnerships with the Blythewood Community continue to grow and are sustained by my assignment of the Region 6 Patrol Deputies, the Community Action Team Deputy, Criminal Investigation Detectives, Traffic Safety Deputies, Narcotics Agents and Forensic Science Technicians to the area. Interestingly enough, many of these personnel live in the Blythewood Area. All told out of the 800 personnel at the Sheriff’s Department around 60 work directly with the Blythewood Community on a regular basis. We are members of your churches, schools, civic organizations and neighborhood associations.
In 16 years we have seen crime after crime being solved by proactive police work of our deputies, citizen’s being our eyes and ears and reporting suspicious activity and success through giving people, young and old, a second chance through diversionary programs. Even with violent crime reduced by 1.4% in 2011 (compared to 2010), the economy is still in a tail spin and we continue to see a rise in police officers being killed and desperation in communities across the country. Crime prevention education and an improved awareness of our citizens is what will continue to reduce crime — In no way is the fight finished.
Across the USA we see stories of robberies, domestic abuse and theft. In the Midlands we see similar stories. Even with the reduction of burglary, assaults, commercial robberies and rapes, in Richland County, we saw a spike in robberies of individuals. This new trend, of individuals being robbed, needs to be the focus of every citizen. We must be vigilant, constantly aware of our surroundings and take steps to reduce our chances of becoming victimized.
I mention all of this because recently there has been some discussion about Blythewood creating a police department. I for one do not believe this would be fiscally prudent considering the long-standing partnerships that the Town has with the County and Sheriff’s Department and the services that we provide. With or without a Blythewood Police Department, I am still your Sheriff and pledge to continue to provide the services your County taxes support.
There are many old-time residents, and new moving to the area, that I want to continue to partner with and communicate with about the services that your Sheriff’s Department offers – to include FREE crime prevention training for your business, church, community group or you individually. The services of the Sheriff’s Department help sustain the great atmosphere that is Blythewood and we will continue in this effort.
Your Sheriff’s Department stands ready to partner with each and every citizen and community. If you do not have a crime watch in your neighborhood or business community, then start one. Start each day by thinking ‘what can I do to reduce my chances of being victimized today’. I want you to take advantage of the FREE services and crime prevention training that we offer. For more information on the support we can give to you or your family and your community or church or business please call your Community Action Team Deputy Chris Potter at 803-309-6668/epotter@rcsd.net or Captain Roxanna Meetze at 803-865-8011/rmeetze@rcsd.net .
Citizens can access important information about crime prevention, free safety training and community resources at:
- Website: www.rcsd.net Twitter: http://twitter.com/RCSD
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OfficialRCSDPage.fb
- Facebook Kids: https://www.facebook.com/rcsdkids
- Tumblr: http://sheriffleonlott.tumblr.com/
- Newsvine: http://richland-cty-sheriff-leon-lott1.newsvine.com/
- YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/RCSDSheriffLeonLott
I look forward to working with you in the fight against crime and in continuing to make Richland County the best place to live, work and play.
Sincerely,
Sheriff Leon Lott
Update on Blythewood Oral Histories Project
The Blythewood Historical Society is making progress in documenting Blythewood’s past to preserve that history for the future. At the Society’s next general meeting on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 members of the Society’s Oral History committee will explain their mission and methodologies, and share some of the memories of long-time Blythewood area residents.
The meeting will be held at the Society’s Langford-Nord house, located at the corner of McNulty Road and Main Street in Blythewood, starting at 7:00 PM. Everyone is invited to come, enjoy a cup of warm cider, and learn more about Blythewood’s past history as experienced by those who actually lived it.
Also, the Society is continuing sales of its popular note cards featuring pen-and-ink drawings of Blythewood historical sites. Note cards are available at the office of Kem Smith CPA at 158 Langford Road (803-786-5200). All proceeds benefit the all-volunteer, non-profit Blythewood Historical Society.
Established in 2010, the Blythewood Historical Society’s mission is to protect, nurture, and support the historical, pre-historical, and cultural heritage of Blythewood through preservation, advocacy, and education.
For more information, please contact Blythewood Historical Society president Frankie McLean at 803-261-1859 or fcmclean@sc.rr.com
I-77 Beautification Project for Blythewood
With charming town center, beautiful green-ways, and not to mention friendly residents it’s no wonder Blythewood is considered “the front porch of the South Carolina midland,” says Mayor Keith Bailey. A relaxing place where people come to put their feet up a little and share a bit of town news, Blythewood is earning its reputation with a series of highway beautification projects.
Median plans are in place for exits 24 and 30 along with extensive landscaping plans for exit 27. Residents and visitors will enjoy bright golden forsythia and eastern red cedars as they exit the highway and head to town. This is just the start of the beautification effort. Future improvements are planned for exits 22 and 32 insuring that the town’s front porch welcome is extended beyond the front door.
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Blythewood mayor, Keith T. Bailey, recognized as Community Ambassador for the YMCA
On Thursday October 14, leaders from the YMCA of the USA and Ys across the state of South Carolina gathered in Columbia for the annual Public Policy Committee work session and awards dinner.
The Public Policy Committee awarded Blythewood’s own mayor Keith T. Bailey with their Community Ambassador Award. This is the first year that the committee has given out the award which will be presented annually to individuals who demonstrate compassion and care for the local community and made significant contributions to the YMCA effort.
“Mayor Bailey values the benefit of collaboration and we have come to know him through working together on many projects in Blythewood,” said Bryan Madden, CEO of the YMCA of Columbia. “His progressive nature and energy have paved the way for unprecedented growth in the Town of Blythewood and the Y is happy to be a part of the town’s progress.”
Mayor Bailey is a founding team member in the Y’s Healthier Communities Initiative, LiveWell Blythewood, that has brought a community garden project and a walking trail to the Town of Blythewood. He also passed a resolution to support increase in physical activity. The town is proud to have a mayor that supports healthy active communities.
Included are a few pictures of the event, more can be found here.
New Jobs in Blythewood
According to a recent press release, MV Solutions, Inc., a software and call center solutions company, announced that it will locate a new 24-seat call center in the Village at Blythewood (Blythewood, SC). The investment will initially create 12 new jobs with the flexibility to expand its workforce to meet future demand.
MV Solutions provides software and call center solutions to state and local governments across the country. The new Blythewood Call Center is scheduled to open by December 1, 2011 and will initially create 12 new positions for employees. Both full –time and part-time positions are available.
A great new addition to the town’s business community, the President of MV Solutions, Mr. Goff, is a local entrepreneur from the midlands. A graduate of Irmo High School, Mr. Goff attended and earned his bachelor’s at The Citadel. In addition, he attended the University of Georgia where he obtained a master of business administration.
Mayor of Blythewood, Keith Bailey is quoted in the release welcoming the new business, “We are elated to welcome Mr. Goff and MV Solutions, Inc. to the town of Blythewood. Our efforts to continually seek out new employment opportunities for our citizens has met with this exciting opportunity in MV Solutions, Inc.”
For more information on available positions with the new MV Solutions, Inc. Blythewood Call Center, see the job link section of wistv.com.
New Business in Blythewood
On October 18th NAI Avant, a commercial real estate firm in South Carolina announced, that Spirax Sarco has bought a 35,800-square-foot industrial office building and warehouse in Blythewood to serve as its future home.
Spirax Sarco develops controls for the efficient use of steam for industrial and commercial users. Considered a leading supplier of steam solutions Spirax Sarco has been helping steam users optimize productivity for almost a century. Spirax Sarco has 3,900 employees at 39 facilities in 28 countries.
One of Spirax Sarco’s four training centers in the United States is in Blythewood. The northeast Richland County community also serves as the U.S. headquarters for the company, which is based in Cheltenham, United Kingdom.
Training center programs include the theory of steam, the application of steam products, and plant design and system efficiency, according to the company’s website. The company added that thousands of engineers complete the training each year.
