8300 Dorchester Rd Ste B, North Charleston, SC 29418
Hiring the right electrical contractor is essential whether you're selling your home and need a repair addendum, installing a new EV charger, or updating your warehouse's electrical systems. Sure, taking a DIY approach to some tasks isn't a bad idea, but when wiring and electricity are involved, it's always best to rely on licensed, insured electricians in Fort Lawn, SC. When you need a team of expert electricians with decades of combined experience, no company fills that need quite like Sievert Electrical Contractors LLC.
Here at Sievert Electrical, we've been keeping Fort Lawn and the Tri-State area powered up since 2016, providing the highest quality electrical services for residential, commercial, and industrial needs. Some of our specialties include:
Unlike other electrician companies in Fort Lawn, however, we focus on serving customers instead of trying to make an easy buck. As locals in the metro Fort Lawn community, we know how hard it is to find trustworthy electrical contractors. Like money, they don't just grow on trees. That's why we strive to be the Tri-State area's premier source for reliable electrical contractors who prioritize hard work, fair pricing, and customer service over everything else.
As a locally-owned and operated electrical company, we believe in putting our customers first. We focus on hard work, attention to detail, and stellar customer service to achieve that goal. You won't ever have to worry about unmotivated workers or unreliable service at Sievert Electrical Contractors. Our licensed, insured electricians in cityname, state, are experts in their trade and equipped with the tools to handle all your electrical projects, large or small. From home EV charger installations to upfits for industrial warehouses, we provide peace of mind when you need it most.
At the end of the day, our vision, mission, and values help remind us of what's most important in our industry: you, our customer. As our customer, you can rest easy knowing we'll take all the time needed to fully understand your electrical needs. In learning about your pain points, we can explain the best options to resolve them and provide you with the best service possible. Call us old-fashioned, but we believe in building long-lasting relationships with our customers, whether they're residential or commercial clients. Instead of tricky fine print and awkward upselling, we've built our business on integrity, respect, and customer service. It's really that simple.
By working with our team of licensed electricians, you're giving yourself and your family or employees comfort, knowing that you're getting the best workmanship around. And when you look at our reviews, our customers agree. When you hire the Sievert Electrical team, you benefit from:
It's no secret that you shouldn't play around with electricity. Whether you're building a new pool or installing an EV charging station, hiring an experienced electrical contractor is a no-brainer when your safety is on the line. Why risk your health or a family member's health when you can trust Sievert Electrical to get the job done right the first time out?
Our licensed and insured electricians bring decades of combined experience to the table, as well as:
High-Level Training: Every member of the Sievert Electrical team must undergo rigorous industry training for residential electricians.
Accuracy & Safety: Our technicians excel at attention to detail to ensure your electrical needs are met with care and precision.
Knowledge & Education: Our electricians are happy to share their knowledge with homeowners and go the extra mile to explain the procedures and techniques used to address your electrical issues.
Looking to add value to your home? Installing a spa or pool is a wonderful idea to add to your list. Plus, your backyard barbecues will be much more fun. The process of installing a pool or spa isn't something you can handle on your own, though. You will need a team of experienced electricians in Fort Lawn, SC to ensure your system is set up correctly. That way, you can enjoy your pool or spa for years to come, and it'll be in great working order when it's time to sell.
Installing a pool or spa is a very involved job that includes more than digging out space for a pool or spa. These units are very complex and have a whole host of electrical needs, from heating units and filters to color-changing lights that wow your guests. Having a professional install these parts is vital. Otherwise, you'll be swimming in a dirty, near-freezing pool or spa.
Hiring Sievert Electrical Contractors guarantees your pool or spa will be in proper working order for years and years.
Finding a reliable EV charging station when you're out and about is still a gamble in this day and age. While EV charger availability is improving, most EV owners prefer to have a charging station installed at home. But doing so is easier said than done and often requires the help of a professional electrician.
If you're like most homeowners, you don't have the proper permit to install your own EV charging station. For that reason alone, you need to rely on a pro who has the right tools and electrical know-how to handle the job. Plus, EV chargers need much more voltage than standard electrical systems you may find in your home. That makes installing these devices much more dangerous than average appliances. Hiring Sievert Electrical Contractors to install your charging station ensures it's completed quickly, correctly, and safely.
South Carolina's hurricane season is nothing to take lightly. Every year, homeowners in the Lowcountry prepare for high winds, heavy storms, and even evacuation. One of the best ways to protect your home and family in the event of a power outage is to purchase a standby or portable generator that can power your home when electricity is out.
At Sievert Electrical, we offer the equipment and electrical services needed to keep your lights on during emergency power outages. As an Authorized Generac dealer in South Carolina, our standby and portable generators can give you the power you need when it matters most. Contact our office today to discuss what type of Generac generator is best for your home or business.
It's always a safe choice to rely on professionals than yourself when electrical matters are involved. That's true for generator installation, too. At Sievert Electrical Contractors, our team uses OSHA and National Electrical Code standards when installing residential and commercial generators. We know how to properly install generators, maintain them, and recommend them depending on your needs.
Because we truly care about your property and your family, we always take great care to operate with safety and efficiency in mind. When we're done, you'll know without a doubt that you made the right choice hiring our electricians in Fort Lawn, SC
If you're searching for a trusted partner for commercial electric needs, Sievert Electrical Contractors have the tools, talent, and training to address all of your commercial electric issues. Our team has spent years helping professionals in a wide range of industries, from small offices to sizeable warehouses and every kind of commercial enterprise in between.
Without properly working electrical systems, you can't serve your customers. And when you can't serve your customers, you can't put food on the table for your family. That's why, when you own a business, you need a reliable team of electricians to keep your business up and running.
At Sievert Electrical Contractors, we know how important electricity is for your daily operations. We understand that you need every facet of your business to run smoothly so you can focus on making a profit, not working in the dark. That's where we come in.
Are you building a new storefront or physical location for your business? After your foundation is set and the frame is up, it'll start taking shape. But before you can open your doors, you've got to make sure your building is wired with a functional electrical system. Otherwise, you'll be using candles to light your office.
Sievert Electrical Contractors provides the highest quality new construction wiring for your commercial needs. Our wiring projects are always completed by licensed, insured electricians who are masters of the trade. That way, you have confidence knowing your business is in good hands.
With electrical systems, the smallest mistakes often lead to the biggest failures. In worst-case scenarios, you may have to deal with an electrical fire in your new construction building. Trusting professional electricians to handle the job correctly is the best way to keep your property safe and wired correctly.
Here at Sievert Electrical Contractors, one of our many commercial services involves turning working vehicles into vehicles that work for you. Whether you're an electrician or occupy a different profession, our commercial upfit services will help make your workday easier and more productive, so you can be more profitable.
Our commercial upfits help experts with a wide range of issues, including:
Organization: One of the most common complaints we hear from tradespeople and business owners is that their trucks or vans are an organizational mess. Our upfit services help you get organized, so you're not having to toss important tools into the back of your truck.
Efficiency: With our commercial upfits in place, you won't waste time trying to find all those items you had to toss in the back of your truck. Our upfits let you carry more gear, maximize your space, and ultimately be more productive.
Professionalism: When you travel to a client's home or business, you need to present a proper image of professionalism. You'll give the wrong impression if your work van is messy and disorganized.
Don't see the commercial electric service you need? Chances are we can still help. Give our office a call today and let us know about the challenges you're facing. In the meantime, here are some additional commercial services that we offer:
Are you fed up with spending money on new fuses? Do your employees nag you about weird electrical glitches that interrupt their workflow? If so, it's time to call Sievert Electrical. Our team of commercial electricians will diagnose and remediate your electric panel problems quickly and effectively.
Installing or updating the panels in your industrial facility protects you, your co-workers, employees, and your building from electrical fire risks. Electrical panel installation from our electricians in Fort Lawn, SC is important because it protects your other electrical systems, which prolongs the overall lifespan of your system. Safety is always our top priority at Sievert Electrical Contractors, which is why we believe the right way is the only way to install or upgrade your industrial-grade electrical panels.
Our industrial panel services include:
When it comes to electrical repair services, serving industrial needs is often more comprehensive and complex than those in the residential space.
Industrial electricians must deal with more complex electrical systems. These advanced systems often need different equipment and tools when repairs to industrial-grade elements are required. Unlike residential repairs, in industrial settings, electrical systems are usually custom-made for the facility and include unique parts with higher voltages than in the typical home. And while no electrical issue is good, industrial failures have massive repercussions that can often shut enterprises down when their temperature control, machinery, and automated PLCs are affected.
For those reasons alone, you need the best electric pros to perform industrial-level electric repairs. Fortunately, Sievert Electrical Contractors is here to help. Our industrial electricians have the experience and expertise to tackle the most complicated industrial electric repairs, whether you own a warehouse, medical center, or another type of industrial facility.
Don't leave your home or business in the hands of unqualified handymen or unlicensed contractors. With decades of combined experience, Sievert Electrical Contractors specializes in a wide variety of custom electrical services. We go the extra mile to exceed expectations, because that's how we would want our families treated. Call us today to discover the Sievert Electrical difference.
843-873-6331
FORT LAWN, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Most residents in Fort Lawn, SC can now take advantage of Comporium's fiber-based services. Recently the company completed upgrades to its network in the community. Customers on Comporium’s network now have access to internet speeds up to 1 gigabit per second. Comporium also set up free public wi-fi access at the Fort Lawn Community Center as an additional service to the community.“Grants from the South...
FORT LAWN, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Most residents in Fort Lawn, SC can now take advantage of Comporium's fiber-based services. Recently the company completed upgrades to its network in the community. Customers on Comporium’s network now have access to internet speeds up to 1 gigabit per second. Comporium also set up free public wi-fi access at the Fort Lawn Community Center as an additional service to the community.
“Grants from the South Carolina Broadband Office provided the financial boost we needed to reach some very rural areas. Our state-of-the-art fiber-optic network ensures that this area is prepared for the future.”
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“Our crews worked for months to upgrade the network throughout Fort Lawn for internet speeds of 1 gigabit per second,” stated Matthew Dosch, Comporium’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Grants from the South Carolina Broadband Office provided the financial boost we needed to reach some very rural areas. Our state-of-the-art fiber-optic network ensures that this area is prepared for the future.”
Comporium continues to work with state and federal agencies to find ways to upgrade service to rural customers. Many recent upgrades were the result of Rural Broadband Grants, made possible through funding from the South Carolina Department of Commerce and administered by the South Carolina Broadband Office within the Office of Regulatory Staff.
By combining private investment with the State’s funding, Comporium made service available to more than 1,650 addresses in South Carolina this year. In May of this year the company completed a similar project and extended fiber access to more than 160 addresses in the Fort Lawn area. Comporium has extended high-speed internet access to more than 850 addresses in Chester and Lancaster Counties this year.
Comporium also takes part in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program. This federal program allows eligible homes to get a $30 discount off regular monthly rates for internet. This participation is a part of the company’s ongoing commitment to the community. At the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, Comporium provided service at no charge to hundreds of student households when schools were closed for public health reasons, and continues to offer internet, voice, security, and video services with a variety of subscription options intended to suit every user’s needs.
Residents and businesses in Fort Lawn may place an order and schedule installation appointments through Comporium’s website at www.comporium.com.
About Comporium
Comporium, Inc., headquartered in Rock Hill, S.C., is a diversified, privately held communications company that employs nearly 1,000 people and provides broadband, TV, voice, wireless, smart home systems, and advertising services throughout the Carolinas. Comporium’s ventures include companies which offer business solutions, managed services, and digital signage. For more information, please visit www.comporium.com.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster, Lieutenant Governor Pamela S. Evette, and First Lady Peggy McMaster's schedules for the week of October 3 will include the following:Monday, October 3 at 10:30 AM: Gov. McMaster held a press conference with Congressman Jim Clyburn and the Office of Regulatory Staff to provide an update on broadband deployment, State House, 1100 Gervais Street, Columbia, S.C.Tuesday, October 4 at 11:00 AM: Gov. McMaster will attend the groundbreaking ceremony of DC BLOX, Myrtle Bea...
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster, Lieutenant Governor Pamela S. Evette, and First Lady Peggy McMaster's schedules for the week of October 3 will include the following:
Monday, October 3 at 10:30 AM: Gov. McMaster held a press conference with Congressman Jim Clyburn and the Office of Regulatory Staff to provide an update on broadband deployment, State House, 1100 Gervais Street, Columbia, S.C.
Tuesday, October 4 at 11:00 AM: Gov. McMaster will attend the groundbreaking ceremony of DC BLOX, Myrtle Beach Cable Landing Station, Myrtle Beach International Technology & Aerospace Park (iTAP), 1401 Howard Avenue, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Wednesday, October 5 at 10:30 AM: Gov. McMaster will be the keynote speaker at the groundbreaking for the new Life and Health Sciences building at Greenville Technical College, Barton Campus, 506 South Pleasantburg, Greenville, S.C.
Wednesday, October 5 at 1:00 PM: Gov. McMaster will attend a Manufacturing Industry Showcase at the Anderson Civic Center, 3027 Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, Anderson, S.C.
Thursday, October 6 at 11:45 AM: Lt. Gov. Evette will attend the Western Upstate Association of REALTORS lunch, Association Conference Center, 600 McGee Road, Anderson, S.C.
Thursday, October 6 at 2:30 PM: Gov. McMaster will attend the expansion ribbon cutting of Nutramax Laboratories, Nutramax Laboratories, 946 Quality Drive, Lancaster, S.C.
Friday, October 7 at 9:30 AM: Gov. McMaster will attend the grand opening of the BMW Training Center and recognize Manufacturing Day, BMW Amphitheater, 1400 SC-101, Greer, S.C.
Friday, October 7 at 3:00 PM: Gov. McMaster will attend the ribbon cutting of the E & J Gallo’s Warehouse, 5948 Lancaster Highway, Fort Lawn, S.C
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Gov. Henry McMaster’s Weekly Schedule: September 26, 2022
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Gov. Henry McMaster’s schedule for the week of September 26, 2022, included:
Monday, September 26
1:30 PM: Call with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.
2:00 PM: Gov. McMaster held an executive conference call regarding Hurricane Ian.
Gov. McMaster was in the Office of the Governor for office hours, State House, first floor, Columbia, S.C.
4:00 PM: Constituent meeting.
Tuesday, September 27
2:00 PM: Gov. McMaster held an executive conference call regarding Hurricane Ian, South Carolina Emergency Management Division, 2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, S.C.
4:00 PM: Gov. McMaster held a media availability, South Carolina Emergency Management Division, 2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, S.C.
Wednesday, September 28
Gov. McMaster was in the Office of the Governor for office hours, State House, 1100 Gervais Street, Columbia, S.C.
1:00 PM: Gov. McMaster spoke to the Outdoor Advertisers Association of South Carolina’s Annual Meeting, Palmetto Club, 1231 Sumter Street, Columbia, S.C.
2:00 PM: Gov. McMaster held an executive conference call regarding Hurricane Ian, South Carolina Emergency Management Division, 2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, S.C.
3:30 PM: Gov. McMaster held a media availability, South Carolina Emergency Management Division, 2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, S.C.
Thursday, September 29
10:30 AM: Call with Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg.
11:00 AM: Gov. McMaster attended the expansion ribbon cutting of American SpiralWeld Pipe, 2061 American Italian Way, Columbia, S.C.
12:17 PM: Call with Congresswoman Nancy Mace.
12:26 PM: Call with United States Senator Tim Scott.
12:30 PM: Call with Mike Callahan, S.C. President, Duke Energy.
1:42 PM: Call with United States Senator Lindsey Graham.
1:45 PM: Call with Rear Admiral Brendan McPherson, Commander for the U.S. Coast Guard Seventh District.
1:52 PM: Call with North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley.
1:55 PM: Call with Georgetown Mayor Carol Jayroe.
1:56 PM: Call with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
2:00 PM: Gov. McMaster held an executive conference call regarding Hurricane Ian, South Carolina Emergency Management Division, 2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, S.C.
3:05 PM: Call with Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune.
3:06 PM: Call with Edisto Beach Mayor Crawford Moore.
3:08 PM: Call with Sullivan's Island Mayor Pat O'Neil.
3:09 PM: Call with North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey.
3:12 PM: Call with Folly Beach Mayor Tim Goodwin.
3:14 PM: Call with Hilton Head Island Mayor John McCann.
3:16 PM: Call with Conway Mayor Barbara Blain-Bellamy.
3:19 PM: Call with Kiawah Island Mayor John Labriola.
3:23 PM: Call with Pawleys Island Mayor Brian Henry.
3:37 PM: Call with Mt. Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie.
4:00 PM: Gov. McMaster held a media availability, South Carolina Emergency Management Division, 2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, S.C.
8:25 PM: Call with United States Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
8:35 PM: Call with Awendaw Mayor Miriam Green.
Friday, September 30
8:02 AM: Call with Congressman Tom Rice.
9:21 AM: Call with Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune.
10:54 AM: Call with United States President Joe Biden.
11:00 AM: Gov. McMaster held an executive conference call regarding Hurricane Ian, South Carolina Emergency Management Division, 2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, S.C.
11:53 AM: Call with North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley.
11:57 AM: Call with Pawleys Island Mayor Brian Henry.
12:08 PM: Call with Sullivan's Island Mayor Pat O'Neil.
12:11 PM: Call with Surfside Beach Mayor Bob Hellyer.
12:26 PM: Call with Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg.
12:30 PM: Gov. McMaster held a media availability, South Carolina Emergency Management Division, 2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, S.C.
5:09 PM: Call with United States Senator Tim Scott.
6:07 PM: Call with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
Saturday, October 1
10:30 AM: Call with Gail McGovern, National President, American Red Cross.
11:00 AM: Gov. McMaster held an executive conference call regarding Hurricane Ian, South Carolina Emergency Management Division, 2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, S.C.
12:15 PM: Meeting with Congressman Joe Wilson.
12:30 PM: Gov. McMaster held a media availability, South Carolina Emergency Management Division, 2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, S.C.
1:15: PM: Visited with members of the S.C. National Guard's Joint Operations Center.
3:30 PM: Meeting with Grand Strand state and local officials.
4:00 PM: Gov. McMaster held a media availability, South Carolina Emergency Management Division, 2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, S.C.
5:15 PM: Gov. McMaster toured Pawleys Island damage and recovery operations.
7:35 PM: Call with North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley.
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South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster talked about all that comes with the new Gallo Operations Facility in Fort Lawn.“This is a great thing,” McMaster said. “This offers careers, long-term employment with good benefits and good work in a great company. This was a great step forward, not only for the state but for this area.”McMaster and Ernest Gallo, the CEO of the Modesto-based E.&J. Gallo Winery, were in Chester County for the Oct. 7 ribbon-cutting ceremony. Gallo is the grandson and namesake of the ...
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster talked about all that comes with the new Gallo Operations Facility in Fort Lawn.
“This is a great thing,” McMaster said. “This offers careers, long-term employment with good benefits and good work in a great company. This was a great step forward, not only for the state but for this area.”
McMaster and Ernest Gallo, the CEO of the Modesto-based E.&J. Gallo Winery, were in Chester County for the Oct. 7 ribbon-cutting ceremony. Gallo is the grandson and namesake of the co-founder in 1933 of what is now the world’s largest wine producer.
The new plant could add close to 500 people to the Gallo workforce of about 6,500. It has operations in the San Joaquin Valley, in coastal regions of California and in the states of Washington and New York. The company also imports wine from several nations and produces or distributes several types of liquor.
Gallo has said the South Carolina branch will not mean loss of jobs elsewhere. And in fact, its website listed 59 openings at the Yosemite Boulevard headquarters as of Wednesday.
Construction of the regional distribution facility in Fort Lawn started in June 2021, and there was a push to get it ready by the projected date of Oct. 3. However, company officials said this is just the first phase en route to a long and successful partnership with South Carolina.
“It feels fantastic,” said Stein Edwards, Gallo’s senior director of operations in South Carolina. “This community has been very welcoming, bringing us in. They welcomed us with open arms.
“A lot of our folks that we’ve hired are from this very local area. And they’ve been watching this project for several years, and a lot of them said, ‘Hey, we can’t wait to get started, and we’re so happy what you’re doing for the community.’ So it’s really neat to be a part of.”
Gallo officials said they expect to add manufacturing lines in 2023 as they begin production and making further investments in the state.
Brooke Clinton, president of the Chester County Chamber of Commerce, said the facility will have an impact on the local area both now and in the future.
There are about 80 people working at the site, and Gallo is adding employees.
“We’re training the folks right now,” said Erich Kaepp, the vice president of eastern operations at Gallo. “We’re going through a new warehouse management system, so they’re learning how to do all those kinds of things and get ready to ship. We’ve successfully gotten eight trucks so far. We’ve gotten them all received, so it seems to be going okay, so far.”
The company cited access to the Southeast market and South Carolina’s infrastructure as reasons for choosing its East Coast operations location.
McMaster said there will be more business opportunities coming to the state. He said the people and culture are what draw companies here.
Modesto Bee staff writer John Holland contributed to this report.
FORT LAWN, S.C. -- The largest winemaker in the world has chosen South Carolina as the location for its new bottling and distribution plant. E&J Gallo Winery has announced that its upcoming facility located in Chester County will be the company’s primary distribution hub east of the Mississippi.If you haven’t heard of the E&J Gallo Winery project, you may know it by its other name: Project Magma. The name Magma was chosen by Gallo as a reference to the molten hot lava that serves as the primary ingredient in bottle...
FORT LAWN, S.C. -- The largest winemaker in the world has chosen South Carolina as the location for its new bottling and distribution plant. E&J Gallo Winery has announced that its upcoming facility located in Chester County will be the company’s primary distribution hub east of the Mississippi.
If you haven’t heard of the E&J Gallo Winery project, you may know it by its other name: Project Magma. The name Magma was chosen by Gallo as a reference to the molten hot lava that serves as the primary ingredient in bottle making. The $400-million investment, which first required a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulatory permit, will create more than 500 jobs with a potential for even more jobs in the future as expansions are planned.
Regulatory began working with the applicant on the 630-acre site in November 2020 and finished in early July of this year. While the permitting process went fairly quickly for a project of this size, USACE regulators needed to ensure that everything was in order just as it would be for any other regulatory permit application. Richard Darden, the regulatory project manager, said the level of preparation in the winemaker’s application had a huge impact on the timeline.
“What was different about their project was their level of preparation,” Darden said. “I would say their efficiency, attention to detail and constant communication kept the back-and-forth process moving. It’s always a continuing dialogue when working a large application such as this.”
The location of the plant came with its own set of challenges. Located in the upstate, the site had aquatic resources commonly found in that area. That location includes wetlands and tributaries that flow into the Catawba River, therefore requiring a USACE permit under the Clean Water Act.
Multiple streams and associated wetlands that feed directly into the Catawba River were found on the site. “No net loss” of aquatic resources is a goal of the regulatory program. This goal includes incorporating as much avoidance and minimization of impacts to streams and wetlands into the project design, while achieving the project’s purpose. After identifying the alternative with the least wetland and stream impacts, compensatory mitigation is typically required to offset the unavoidable losses.
The mitigation work by Gallo will take place on the Lancaster County side of the Catawba River where existing wetland and stream systems will be enhanced by improving the flow pathway of water through the system. The 500-acre mitigation area will ultimately become part of Landsford Canal State Park.
In speaking with Darden, it was clear that mitigating the effects of the development was not only Regulatory’s top priority, but also Gallo’s.
“We felt like their project was an important one in terms of the number of jobs it could bring to this rural area since Fort Lawn is home to less than 900 residents,” Darden said. “They had a very responsible design that minimized aquatic resource impacts and had a very satisfactory mitigation plan.”
The new plant will include the facilities needed for production, bottling, containerization and distribution of E&J Gallo wine and spirits. The range of products made at the new plant will be sold throughout the east coast, as well as exported overseas using the port of Charleston.
A twenty-minute drive to nearby Interstate 77 and with a rail line passing through town, Gallo found an ideal site for its new location. They have added railroad track spurs that go directly into the plant to allow for the loading and unloading of rail cars, therefore requiring fewer trucks for distribution.
“We see some projects where the analysis of alternative options is not thoroughly explored, but this was not one of those,” Darden said. “They really worked with us and their savviness to the process and knowing how we were going to interact made a huge difference in the timeliness of our permit decision. They just asked what they needed to do and did it.”
By choosing South Carolina as the location for its new plant, Gallo is following a growing trend of many other corporations such as Volvo and Walmart. With the district’s ongoing dredging of Charleston Harbor, Gallo says it plans to double, or even triple, its current operations as the Charleston Harbor becomes the deepest port on the east coast.
As the district celebrates 150 years of service to South Carolina and the nation, Project Magma is just one in a long line of other important regulatory permits the district has helped facilitate, while staying committed to the protection of our most precious resource, the environment. We are proud to play a critical role in the growth and prosperity of South Carolina.
E. & J. Gallo plans to build a new bottling plant in South Carolina, a facility that would serve as Gallo’s main hub east of the Mississippi, according to various reports.The world’s biggest wine company plans to build the plant on more than 600 acres in Fort Lawn, Chester County, in an area once known for its textile mills, according to the multiple sources. Fort Lawn is about 45 minutes south from Charlotte Douglas International Airport and an hour north from Columbia, SC.Modesto-based Gallo plans to invest mo...
E. & J. Gallo plans to build a new bottling plant in South Carolina, a facility that would serve as Gallo’s main hub east of the Mississippi, according to various reports.
The world’s biggest wine company plans to build the plant on more than 600 acres in Fort Lawn, Chester County, in an area once known for its textile mills, according to the multiple sources. Fort Lawn is about 45 minutes south from Charlotte Douglas International Airport and an hour north from Columbia, SC.
Modesto-based Gallo plans to invest more than $400 million over the next eight years and hire nearly 500 employees, Rob Donoho, head of Gallo’s global chain functions, told South Carolina state legislators on March 9. It would only be the first of five phases, Donoho noted.
“This is really intended to be our East Coast home for the Gallo enterprise for decades and decades to come,” Donoho said.
The plant, which could be reached by rail, would be designed to bottle wine in different formats, including glass, cans, bag-in-box and small plastic bottles, according to Donoho. It will also be a warehousing and distribution center for wine bottled in California and shipped to Chester County, according to Donoho’s presentation. The company could also produce its own cans on site, Donoho said.
Gallo, an importer and exporter, also plans to “double or triple” its operations at the Port of Charleston, according to Donoho.
No timeline has been given. Still Donoho and other representatives spoke of the company’s commitment.
“We do actively want to come to South Carolina. There has been a tremendous vetting process,” Donoho told the South Carolina Senate Judiciary subcommittee which is considering a bill to allow Gallo to have up to four satellite tasting rooms for educational and marketing purposes. “We’re very close to closing the deal,” he said.
Donoho cited the economic and environmental benefits of having the plant in South Carolina, given that about 70 percent of its customers are on the East Coast.
“Being a wine grape producer on the West Coast puts us at a logistics disadvantage to getting products to our consumers,” Donoho said. Shipping “heavy” glass bottles and cardboard cross country, he said, was “very expensive.”
Instead, it is “much cheaper“ for the company to ship its wine to the East Coast and source the glass and other packaging locally, Donoho said. “There is a tremendous logistics advantage to doing that.”
Donoho also noted the “sustainability” benefit of “not burning as much fuel to get the product to the consumers.”
The state’s other benefits would include supply chain revenues and the demand for trucking services, according to the presentation. In addition, the satellite tasting rooms Gallo wants to open could spur tourism, Donoho and others said.
Minimum wage in South Carolina is $7.25/hour.
Among the factors that led Gallo to choose South Carolina to build its “East Coast home,” Donoho cited South Carolina’s business-friendly climate, its location to the port of Charleston, and S.C. Ready, a state-sponsored job training program. “It’s truly one of the things that attracted us to the state,” he said.
Donoho addressed the subcommittee as the state Legislature considers S. 619, a bill that would allow Gallo to have up to four satellite tasting rooms in the state. Gallo’s representatives have called the provision a “critical” point to the company coming to the state. The tasting rooms will be a marketing and educational tool and will build brand awareness, Donoho said. Their locations for the tasting rooms, which could be 800 to 1,200 square feet, according to Donoho, were not specified.
South Carolina’s top elected officials, including Gov. Henry McMaster, have strongly backed the Gallo project in Chester County.
In a March 9 letter to the state legislators, McMaster urged support for S. 619. Gallo was “very close to announcing a once-in-a-generation $400 million capital investment in Chester County that will create nearly 500 jobs,” McMaster wrote. The investment will “transform the community and contribute greatly to South Carolina’s economic prosperity.”
E. & J. Gallo, he wrote, “is a well-respected, family owned company with products that are distributed across the globe.”
South Carolina State Sen. Brad Hutto, D – Orangeburg, voiced support for Gallo, noting the jobs that could be created. “We look forward to having them,” Hutto said, referring to Gallo.
The Senate Judiciary subcommittee was scheduled to meet again Thursday regarding S. 619. Current state wine law does not address satellite tasting rooms. The legislation was drafted after the South Carolina’s Department of Commerce, which is helping Gallo come to the state, approached the Department of Revenue to figure out the next steps, according to testimony before the state’s Senate Judiciary subcommittee.
The state Department of Commerce has submitted an application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to seek a permit to build the plant. Construction would require filling about 1 acre of wetlands and about 8,000 feet of tributaries, according to the public notice. The environmental evaluation of the project is under way, according to the federal agency.
Gallo’s name was not mentioned as the applicant behind the Fort Lawn project until recently.
The financial agreement between Gallo and local officials has not been unveiled either. The Chester County Council has discussed the project, code named “Project Magma,” in closed-door sessions.
The secrecy did not sit well with Michael McLain who lives near the site where the proposed Gallo facility may be built. He found the identity of his potential new neighbor through the U.S. Corps of Engineers, he said. “You’re not watching after us,” McLain told the Chester County Council early March.
The plant is going to “squash the value of my property and my home and is going to be annoying the crap out of me every morning and every evening by being right across the street from me, shining lights in and out of my house,” McLain said.
This week, however, a manager at The Wagon Wheel restaurant in Fort Lawn said the Gallo plant would bring jobs to the community.
The South Carolina Department of Commerce and a Gallo representative declined to give more specifics on the company’s South Carolina plans.
“E. & J. Gallo Winery is constantly reviewing the strategic options of its business in order to meet growing global demand; toward that end, we are exploring potential operational investment opportunities on the east coast. Nothing is finalized at this stage and we don’t have specifics at this time, however we are continuing to explore strategic options within our business as we plan for the future,” Gallo representative Natalie Hoch Henderson said in an email.
