Economic Development

The Lancaster County Economic Development Office stands ready to provide a wide range of services to companies interested in locating in Lancaster.  From new business incentives to site planning, the office will provide direct assistance as you develop your plans for your new location.  Mr. Keith Tunnell serves as Lancaster County's Economic Development Director.

Click here to visit the Lancaster County Economic Development website.

The Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce is active in the local business community.  Mr. Tom White serves as President of the local chamber.  He can be contacted at:

Click here to visit the Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce website

The State of  South Carolina provides a unique variety of business incentives not found elsewhere in the nation.  Of prime importance is the fact that South Carolina is a "right-to-work state" and has the lowest unionization rate in the country at only 3.7%.  We also rank third in the United States for productivity and have one of the lowest work stoppage rates in the country.

The City of  Lancaster works closely with the Lancaster Economic Development Corporation to assist industries wanting to relocate to the Lancaster areas.  The city has in place an ordinance to provide financial incentives to industries locating inside the city limits.

Sec. 26-7.Exemption of taxes; manufacturing establishments.

Exemptions will be granted from municipal ad valorem taxation for not more than five (5) years for all new manufacturing establishments locating in the city, after January 1, 1987, and all additions to the existing manufacturing establishments including additional machinery and equipment located in the city costing fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) or more made after January 1, 1987, except for those manfacturing establishments which filed for exemptions prior to January 1, 1987.  Exemptions from municipal taxation granted pursuant to this section may not result in any refund of taxes.

(Ordiance Number 33-8, 32-8, 33-22-88)

State law references:  Tax exemption for manufacturing establishments, South Carolina Code 1976, 12-37-220(A)(7).

While municipal incentives are limited by state law, there are a number of other incentives available on the county and state level.  For information on these incentives, please contact: