McCall Farms to invest $23 million over four years, create hundreds of new jobs

McCall Farms is expected to invest $23 million to increase production and create hundreds of new jobs by 2020.

Although officials with McCall Farms were not available for comment on Thursday, Florence County Administrator K.G. “Rusty” Smith Jr. said the expansion will create about 150 jobs over the next four years.

“They’re an outstanding corporate citizen and have always provided job growth and economic enhancement throughout the county,” Smith said.

Smith said his understanding of the project is that McCall Farms will build a facility in northern Florence County this year and two more in 2017 and 2019. He said each building could be about 150,000 square feet and set in different parts of the county.

Joe W. King, executive director of the Florence County Economic Development Partnership, said the expansion has been in the works for a while and will include an uptick in manufacturing, as well as distribution.

“They sell all over the United States and ship oversees," King said. "They’re always expanding and always adding jobs, and that bodes well for Florence County. McCall farm is an icon in Florence County.”

He said existing industries like McCall Farms are what keeps Florence County’s economy stable.

“I’ve always said it’s good and fashionable to bring in new industries but the lifeblood of our economy is the existing industry,” King said. “You have to take care of who you have and that’s what we try to do in Florence County.”

Smith echoed that sentiment.

“The expansion of existing industry in Florence County proves that we mean business,” he said. “McCall Farms is an outstanding organization, and both the family and business have left a legacy not only in the county but statewide.”

On Thursday the Florence County Council approved a second reading of an ordinance that allows the county to enter into a tax agreement with McCall Farms to facilitate this project.