As South Carolina’s life sciences industry continues to expand, communities along the Charlotte-Columbia I-77 corridor are preparing to be part of that growth.
That was a key theme during the Chester Development Association’s quarterly board meeting at The Gateway Conference Center, where York Technical College President Stacey Moore and SCbio Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Erin Ford shared their perspectives on the life sciences industry in that region.
Moore outlined York Tech’s plans to transform the former Business Technology Center across from its Rock Hill campus into a regional workforce hub, including a 30,000-square-foot Life Sciences Training Center, a first for South Carolina.
The college purchased the 120,000-square-foot building in June and plans to dedicate space specifically to life sciences training, including approximately 10,000 square feet for Octapharma-specific training needs, a plasma-focused life sciences company that recently moved their headquarters to the City of Rock Hill.
The center will support two initial training pathways: biopharmaceutical manufacturing and laboratory and quality control testing. The programs are designed with industry input and will include stackable, industry-recognized credentials, allowing students to enter the workforce after short periods of training and return later to build additional skills.
The need is tied closely to Octapharma’s planned $1.5 billion investment in the City of Rock Hill, which is expected to create 1,500 jobs. The company’s first U.S. manufacturing site is also creating a new anchor for the region’s life sciences ecosystem.
The opportunity extends beyond one company.
Ford gave attendees a look at the broader momentum happening across South Carolina. The state’s life sciences industry generates $20 billion in annual economic impact and supports nearly 64,000 jobs, with 83% growth over the past decade. Ford also noted that South Carolina’s life sciences sector has grown faster than any other state across the Southeast since 2019.
That growth is bringing more attention to the I-77 corridor, and Chester County is ready to be part of that progress.
During the meeting, local leaders learned about the factors shaping Chester’s potential in biomanufacturing, with its close proximity to Charlotte and Columbia, the emerging workforce infrastructure at York Tech and the presence of Octapharma nearby.
As Ford noted, life sciences companies often cluster around one another. A major project can create opportunities for smaller companies, suppliers and support businesses to locate nearby.
With York Tech building new life sciences training capacity and as South Carolina’s ecosystem continues to expand, Chester County is positioning itself to be ready for the next opportunity.