ABD spoke with the leaders of the Richmond, Columbia, and Burke County economic development offices, as well as Western SC and the SRS Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO), about their favorite accomplishments of the past 12 months and what is anticipated in the next 12.
At the Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA), President and CEO Cal Wray said supporting the county’s existing industries topped his list.
“With all of the tariff conversation and uncertainty, with the administration change and with politics, and with this last excise tax that the Commission looked at implementing in our existing industry, I would say taking care of those that have already made the decision to invest in Richmond County,” he explained.
Cheney Eldridge, Executive Director of the Columbia County Economic Development Authority (CCEDA), pointed to cultivating a solid relationship with the county commissioners.
“That was a big task given to me at the start of the year, and I think that we have done a great job of having a strong line of communication going back and forth. So much of what we do has to be in lockstep with the county,” she said.
For Will Williams, President and CEO of Western SC, 2025 was one home run after another.
“Having three of our existing industries in Aiken County have expansions,” he said.
Leading the pack was Kimberly-Clark’s more than $200 million infusion into their facility on Old Jackson Road in Beech Island, adding 150 jobs. That was soon followed by Rolls-Royce committing a $75 million infusion into its Graniteville facility, creating an additional 60 jobs. The year wrapped with AGY’s $12 million plan to expand its plant in Aiken, creating 80 jobs.
Burke County had two big announcements in 2024 with the Ritz Instrument Transformers of Germany plans for a $28 million facility and a $15 million plant for TCM Transformers USA, Inc. Austin Stacy, Executive Director of the Development Authority of Burke County (DABC), said 2025 was the year to re-group.
“We’ve done a lot this year behind the scenes,” he said. “We did a utility extension in our industrial park. We did a road extension through the rest of our industrial park. So, the full industrial park there off Highway 25 is fully accessible with a roadway.”
As President and CEO of SRSCRO, Robbie Bennett has a broader view of economic development.
One of his top accomplishments is a housing study, examining what is available and what is needed in Richmond, Columbia, Burke, and McDuffie counties in Georgia and Aiken, Edgefield, Barnwell, and Allendale counties in South Carolina.
“The next piece is the validation that our workforce programs are doing what they’re supposed to do with the NSA validation. We were able to secure work to renew this year,” he said. “Not only did they renew the funding, which previously had been $5 million over a five-year period, they also approved it at $5.8 million over a five-year period.”
Education is the third pillar, Bennett said they built in 2025. It included adding Denmark Technical College as a partner educational institution, while continuing the STEM Career Connections programs they started in 2014.
For 2026, Wray said he is excited about bringing new companies into Richmond County.
“Pushing people to look at investing in the US, as in foreign direct investment in the US, trying to actually make things happen here,” he said. “We have lots of people looking, it’s just a matter of time, and can we find the right sites? But because of the hurry up we need in the US now, it’s providing existing buildings, which we don’t have.”
Eldridge said she is looking forward to solidifying the relationship with the commissioners to announce more projects in 2026.
“Obviously, the stuff that we’ve been working on is going to really change the trajectory of economic development as this office knows it and allow the board to figure out how we can benefit the community in a new way that we haven’t been able to do in the past,” she said.
Williams understands 2025 is a tough act to follow, but expects continued growth in the coming year.
“I think we’ll have a good 2026,” he said. “Maybe not as strong as 2025, but I think we will still definitely have growth for both new and existing industry.”
For Burke County, Stacy said they will look to balance retail and commercial development. He also said the SRSCRO housing study will be a valuable tool.
“We’re trying to find the right housing, utilizing the housing study that the surrounding region was a part of, and trying to balance all of this,” said Stacy. “We’re definitely in a great position going into ‘26, and I think ‘26 is going to be even better than what ‘25 was for us.”
He also continues to collaborate with Wray on a potential mega-site being developed at the Burke-Richmond County line.
Bennett predicts 2026 will be a busy year for SRSCRO, starting with ramping up its advocacy and outreach efforts to support missions and growth at the Savannah River Site (SRS).
“In addition to that, we’re hosting the Energy Community Alliance’s new nuclear reform in April,” he announced. “It’ll be communities from around the country. Companies that are in the world of nuclear development, at all stages, all aspects. I also think ‘26 is going to be a big year, especially for South Carolina, when it comes to opportunities to continue to be a leader and grow the nuclear opportunities in the state.”
All five leaders said they had much to be grateful for over the past year.
Wray summed it up with one word: family.
“My family at home, my wife, my kids, but then the work family that truly has become family over eight years, he said.”
Eldridge pointed to the members of her board of directors.
“I am grateful for a very supportive board. I’m grateful for a wonderful staff, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have a job that still allows me to have a family,” she said. “I got to work, and I got to be a mom, and you don’t find that very often in a lot of these jobs.”
For Williams, gratitude came on two fronts.
“Professionally, the chance to help someone better their life with a new job, and personally, my family and my health,” he acknowledged.
Austin Stacy said his gratitude begins at a higher level.
“I’m grateful for Lord Jesus Christ, first and foremost. Thankful for the talents I’ve been blessed with from him,” he said. “Professionally, my staff and my board. They are very gracious and generous and have been by my side and supported me through this whole process.”
For Bennett, his gratitude comes in two equal parts.
“Personally, I am extremely grateful for my family. They make it possible for me to get out here and do what I do,” he began. “I’m also grateful for my staff and my board. They all work hard. They have great vision, and it makes doing the job a pleasure.”
As for 2026 and beyond, Stacy pointed to one strength that keeps economic development on track, and that is the regional approach taken by all the development authorities in Georgia and South Carolina.
“We are a very tight-knit region, both in Georgia and then also across the river into South Carolina. I can call on them any time of day, any day of the week, and they’re going to answer. Our relationships extend beyond our county lines. It’s a river, not a wall,” he observed.
