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UC Synergetic makes $2.2M investment for Fort Mill move [The Herald (Rock Hill, S.C.) :: ](Herald (Rock Hill, SC) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) April 25--FORT MILL -- UC Synergetic, an engineering and technical services company which supports power and communications utilities, is combining its Charlotte operations and moving to Fort Mill. UC Synergetic is investing $2.2 million to purchase and upfit the former Springs Industries research and development building at 123 N. White St. as its corporation headquarters and engineering operations. About 130 people will make move to Fort Mill. The move will allow UC Synergetic to expand its business, but the number of new jobs will be determined by market conditions, company president John Thompson said Thursday. The move should be completed by midsummer, Thompson said. The company's commitment to Fort Mill for the next 10 years is expected to have a positive impact on the development of technical talent and job creation in South Carolina, Gov. Nikki Haley said in a statement. UC Synergetic is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pike Corp., which acquired the company in 2012. The Fort Mill headquarters will support UC Synergetic's 36 offices located throughout the country and more than 1,200 employees. Mark Farris, York County's economic development director, said, "It's great to see another corporate headquarters operation locate in York County, and occupy a facility in downtown Fort Mill that was once home to one of the state's largest employers." Kimberly Starnes, spokeswoman for Fort Mill said, the building will have a small added benefit to the town's tax base. "The biggest effect this announcement will have is to the downtown area that is currently experiencing a renaissance. This project will bring more than 130 more people into the downtown area every day, which creates a demand for more businesses in downtown and also creates foot traffic for the existing businesses," Starnes said. Thompson said UC Synergetic had been looking for larger facilities for the past several months. "The driver was consolidating our facilities," he said. Combining the operations, he said, will give the company more flexibility and the give them the ability to cross-train employees. Access to the state's community college system for job training also was a plus, he said. Work done at the Fort Mill facility will include designing new electric and communication infrastructure, particularly in smart grid applications, Thompson said. Smart grid technology generally refers to updating electricity delivery systems using computer-based remote control and automation. Designing networks capable of higher Internet speeds and more connectivity through cable connections and wireless operators is one of UC Synergetic's growth sectors. UC Synergetic is moving into a building that Springs Industries constructed in the early 1960s. Springs designed and tested material samples there. Springs Global used the building until 2008 when employees consolidated in the company's main headquarters building, said Nick Odom, Springs Global vice president for real estate. Don Worthington --803-329-4066 ___ (c)2014 The Herald (Rock Hill, S.C.) Visit The Herald (Rock Hill, S.C.) at www.heraldonline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |