Acceptance in this
unprecedented awards
program is highly competitive, and awarded to industries with a
significant focus in either corporate investment or community impact.
 Ranking in the top 15 for community
impact, the IMO Group was selected for their first US plant in Dorchester County, bringing $47 million in
investment, along with the creation of 190 new jobs.

"We are pleased to acknowledge the efforts by both local and state leaders in bringing IMO International, a
manufacturer of slew drives, to Dorchester County," said Gavin T. Petty, managing editor of Trade & Industry Development. "This
project is noteworthy not only because of the 190 jobs
to be created, but also because one of the critical factors involved in the decision to locate in Dorchester was the proximity to Clemson University’s
Wind Turbine Drive Train Testing facility being built in Charleston.
 Add to that the fact that this is the largest
manufacturer to locate in Dorchester in nearly a decade, and that it represents
a solid foothold in the growing alternative energy sector,
and it becomes
obvious that this
project will enhance Dorchester County’s future."

"Dorchester County is excited to share in IMO’s success
as the first CiCi Award recipient for the County," said
Chairman Larry Hargett of Dorchester County Council. "This
award is evidence of IMO’s bright and successful future within Dorchester County."

In its sixth year, Trade & Industry Development magazine, through the CiCi Awards, provides an opportunity to showcase projects
nationally in an effort to recognize smart, site selection decisions. Companies receiving CiCi
Award recognition are based on the investment within the community, as well as
the role played by the economic developers in securing that investment.