New industry hunter settles in

Dorchester County has a new top official in charge of attracting new companies and boosting the area's wealth.

Jon Baggett is settling into his new position as the county's economic development director, which he took over in April. He replaces Jim Friar, who is winding up some projects and plans to retire this fall.

Baggett, a 31-year-old Walterboro native, came directly from the South Carolina Department of Commerce, where he worked with a handful of Upstate counties on their economic development strategies. He helped the city of Greenwood secure grants to revitalize its downtown arts district, and he helped other government groups develop long-term growth plans.

In his new position, Baggett is responsible for recruiting new businesses to the county and encouraging existing businesses to expand. His office also works to increase county residents' per capita income.

"I'd like to be able to create jobs for folks where they don't have to sit on I-26 every day," he said.

Dorchester County has a good chance of attracting companies in the biotechnology and automotive industries, Baggett said, because local workers offer a variety of skill levels. Already, major automotive companies such as Robert Bosch Corp. and Weber Automotive Corp. have become major employers in the area.

Also, a weak U.S. dollar has made it more cost-effective for foreign companies to set up operations here. Baggett said he plans to visit China in September to seek out foreign investment opportunities.

One of Baggett's main goals is to encourage business growth toward the county's upper end near St. George, he said. That section of the county, which is considered part of the Interstate 95 corridor, could attract companies that need easy highway access. But currently, the area lacks infrastructure, he said.

The Dorchester County Council took a step toward addressing that concern earlier this week when it gave key approval to expansion of the St. George sewer plant.

"That'll be the biggest stumbling block we overcome in that area," he said.

Reach Katy Stech at 937-5549 or kstech@postandcourier.com.