The Aiken County Planning Commission has approved a request to rezone two parcels in Graniteville. The request was from Rolls-Royce Solutions America, Inc., on behalf of MTU Detroit Diesel, Inc., for its facility in the Sage Mill Industrial Park.
The request calls for re-zoning 73.41 acres on Bettis Academy Road from Rural Development (RUD) to Industrial Development (IND). One parcel has access to Bettis Academy Road, the other has access to Sage Mill Parkway and Power Drive. The site has manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution operations.
The rezoning application stated, “Rezoning will align the zoning with the Applicant’s existing manufacturing operation and support the goal of the comprehensive plan to promote land use compatibility consistent with existing zoning patterns.”
Will Williams, President and CEO of Western SC Economic Development, told ABD the re-zoning will move toward standardizing zoning in the industrial park to allow for buildings taller than 35 feet.
“There is a height restriction in that zoning designation (RUD) of 35 feet, and every company in Sage Mill, prior to some of the changes that have occurred, has gotten variances that could build above that,” he explained. “They’re going to industrial, so it takes that uncertainty out of the process of having to seek a variance.”
He said, ultimately, they would like to have all property in Sage Mill rezoned to IND, eliminating the need to request a variance from the planning commission that must then pass three readings before the County Council.
The request before the planning commission came just two days after South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster (R) announced Rolls-Royce plans a $75 million expansion of the MTU engine manufacturing operation in Aiken County.
“Rolls-Royce Solutions America Inc.’s expansion in Aiken County further positions South Carolina as a leader in advanced manufacturing,” said McMaster in the news release announcing the project. “This investment and the 60 jobs it will bring represent a big win for the community, and we are proud of the success Rolls-Royce has found in our state.”
The campus, originally 395,000 square feet, opened in 2010 when the company moved its manufacturing operations from Detroit to Graniteville to produce MTU-brand diesel engines. Rolls-Royce is the sixth-largest employer in Aiken County.
In the news release, Adam Riddle, Rolls-Royce’s North America CEO, said this expansion reinforces the company’s commitment to the U.S. market while highlighting its manufacturing capabilities.
“We are proud to support America’s growing demand for reliable, domestically made energy systems that strengthen our nation’s energy independence and security. With more than half the world’s hyperscale data centers located here in the U.S., this will continue to be a key growth market for many years to come,” he said.
This is just the latest expansion for the MTU facility. In 2021, the company invested $17.4 million to create a 109,000 square foot facility for a remanufacturing and overhaul regional center.
“I’m pleased that Rolls-Royce is announcing this critical expansion at its Sage Mill Industrial Park location. The investment of $75 million and 60 new jobs is a welcome addition to Aiken County’s industrial base. Rolls-Royce is an outstanding corporate citizen, and the Aiken County Council is glad that we’re maintaining our healthy manufacturing environment,” said Aiken County Council Chairman Gary Bunker in the news release.
Williams said the announcement by Rolls-Royce shows the county’s reputation as a welcoming location for new and expanding businesses.
“It speaks to what Aiken County works towards every day, and that is investment-ready, business-friendly,” he said. “The county council has worked diligently all these years to maintain that type of environment. But, it’s also a testament to the experience that these existing companies have had, and it should show new companies what they can expect once they locate here.”
He added that another factor is the access to a trained workforce, thanks to the county’s educational providers, including USC-Aiken and Aiken Technical College. “Companies need a lot of things. They need water, they need sewer, they need land, but the most important asset they need is their people.”
This is the second company to reveal plans for a multi-million-dollar, large-scale expansion this year in Aiken County.
In May, Kimberly-Clark announced a plan to spend more than $200 million on their facility on Old Jackson Highway in Beech Island. The company will add 1.1 million square feet to its existing facility. The plant first opened in 1968.
Construction on the Rolls-Royce expansion is set to begin in the first quarter of 2026. It is expected that the expanded operation will start in July 2027. Individuals interested in joining the Rolls-Royce team should visit the company’s careers page:
https://www.mtu-solutions.com/na/en/rolls-royce-solutions-america-careers.html
