South Carolina Power Team

What South Carolina Power Team does

South Carolina Power Team is the economic development organization representing South Carolina's 19 consumer-owned electric cooperatives. Founded under a Strategic Blueprint adopted in January 2014 and led by President and CEO James A. Chavez, the nonprofit is headquartered at 1201 Main St., Suite 1710, Columbia, SC, and operates as the unified economic development platform for cooperative service territory covering all 46 counties, 72,000+ miles of power lines, and 1.6 million South Carolinians (~70% of the state). Its core function is to attract and retain capital investment and jobs within cooperative territory by providing project management, site readiness funding, and business retention and expansion services at no cost to businesses, site selectors, or communities. Funding flows from the 19 member electric cooperatives through a Board of Trustees governance structure.

The organization's product surface combines a web-based site selection platform with bespoke consulting. The platform delivers Property Search, a Labor Study Tool that analyzes underemployment and commuting patterns, Water and Wastewater Study results, SC Power Sites (pre-certified industrial sites), and Foreign Direct Investment resources. Surrounding services include Project Management, Business Retention & Expansion, Community Development (workforce training, strategic planning), Professional Development, Renewable Solutions, and two financial incentive mechanisms — the Site Readiness Fund (SRF) and Cooperative Recruitment and Expansion Fund (CoRE) — which have deployed $71.9M to leverage $330M on 57 projects since 2014. Six target industries are prioritized: agribusiness, automotive, clean energy, corporate operations, legacy members, and life sciences.

The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales: the team engages directly with corporate site selectors, coordinates with state agencies (SC Department of Commerce, Santee Cooper), and operates as the cooperative-territory counterpart to state-level economic development efforts. Notable project wins include Samsung's Newberry County washing machine facility (2017, $380M / 950 jobs), EFP's Lee County packaging plant ($46.9M / 110 jobs as of March 2025), and Crown Health Care Laundry Services' processing plant (Lee County, 2018). Since 2014, the organization has attributed $22.2B in announced capital investment, 46,727 jobs created, and $82.1B in economic impact to its pipeline.

Name

South Carolina Power Team

Legal name

South Carolina Power Team

Website

https://scpowerteam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The South Carolina Power Team is a nonprofit economic development organization representing the state's 19 electric cooperatives, providing free site selection, project management, and financial incentive services to businesses, site selectors, and communities across 46 South Carolina counties serving 1.6 million residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Distribution (221122)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Site selection tools
• Business recruitment
• Workforce development
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Economic Development Services: The South Carolina Power Team is a non-profit economic development organization that provides services at no cost to businesses, communities, and site selectors. Funding comes from the 19 electric cooperatives of South Carolina.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

South Carolina Power Team is a non-profit economic development organization that represents South Carolina's 19 electric cooperatives and provides site selection tools, project management, business retention and expansion services, financial incentive programs (Site Readiness Fund and Cooperative Recruitment and Expansion Fund), and community development support to businesses, site selectors, and communities at no direct cost. Services are delivered through a network of 19 electric cooperatives covering 46 counties and 72,000+ miles of power lines.

Product overview

South Carolina Power Team is a non-profit economic development organization that serves as a unified platform offering multiple interconnected services for businesses, site selectors, and communities. The core offering consists of Site Selection Tools (including Property Search, Labor Study Tool, and SC Power Sites database) complemented by Project Management Services, Business Retention & Expansion programs, and Financial Programs (Site Readiness Fund and CoRE). Additional services include Community Development (workforce development, training, strategic planning) and Renewable Solutions. The organization represents South Carolina's 19 electric cooperatives and focuses on six target industries: Agribusiness, Automotive, Clean Energy, Corporate Operations, Legacy Members, and Life Sciences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Site Selection Tools Comprehensive online tools for site selectors including property search, community comparison, labor study analysis, water and wastewater study results, foreign direct investment support, and location analysis to help businesses identify optimal locations in South Carolina.
• Project Management Services Economic development consulting services that assist companies throughout the site selection process, providing innovative solutions to overcome location decision challenges within South Carolina's electric cooperative territory.
• Business Retention & Expansion Support services for existing businesses including industrial expansion assistance, partnership creation, and programs to enhance company success within cooperative power system service areas.
• Financial Programs (Site Readiness Fund and CoRE) Financial incentive programs including the Site Readiness Fund (SRF) and Cooperative Recruitment and Expansion Fund (CoRE) to support community development and business growth across South Carolina's electric cooperative territory.
• Community Development Services including workforce/talent development, customized training, strategic planning, and resources to position communities for future growth in cooperative territory.
• Labor Study Tool Workforce analysis tool that analyzes available labor, including underemployment and true commuting patterns, and enables comparison of communities against any in the United States.
• SC Power Sites Pre-certified industrial sites and buildings database within electric cooperative service territory, including shovel-ready locations for rapid development.
• Renewable Solutions Renewable energy and sustainability-focused economic development initiatives supporting clean energy industries and sustainable business practices.

Quantifiable outcome

• $22.2B in announced capital investment since 2014
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• TheLINK Economic Development AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Represents Sumter and Lee Counties, convened funding partners for I-20 Industrial Center improvements that led to EFP's location in Lee County.
• South Carolina Department of CommercemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017State agency partnered with South Carolina Power Team and Newberry Electric Cooperative to provide resources for Samsung's Newberry County facility acquisition.
• Santee CoopermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017State-owned utility partnered with South Carolina Power Team and Newberry Electric Cooperative to provide resources for Samsung's Newberry County facility acquisition.
• Central Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit transmission company that provides total wholesale electric service to all 19 of South Carolina's electric cooperatives. Transmission assets consist of over 800 miles of lines and represents the only statewide electric system in South Carolina.
• South Carolina Electric Cooperatives (19 cooperatives)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 19 distribution cooperatives serve over 150,000 members across all 46 counties, own and operate over 72,000 miles of power lines covering 70% of South Carolina, and invest millions in community infrastructure and site improvement projects.
• Aiken Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.
• Berkeley Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives, serving over 125,000 meters in parts of Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.
• Black River Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving Lee County (I-20 Industrial Center). Provided funding for site readiness improvements.
• Blue Ridge Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.
• Broad River Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.
• Coastal Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.
• Edisto Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.
• Fairfield Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.
• Horry Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.
• Laurens Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.
• Little River Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.
• Lynches River Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.
• MPD Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.
• Mid-Carolina Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.
• Newberry Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives that provided funding support for Samsung's Newberry County facility.
• Palmetto Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.
• Santee Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.
• Tri-County Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.
• York Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 19 electric cooperatives serving members in South Carolina.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA): Charleston-region EDO competing for similar site-selection projects within South Carolina; comparable business model of regional recruitment, workforce analysis, and incentive packaging, but focused on the Lowcountry.
• TheLINK Economic Development Alliance: Regional EDO representing Sumter and Lee Counties in South Carolina and a direct partner on the I-20 Industrial Center projects that fed SC Power Team wins like EFP; comparable in regional scope but smaller geographic remit.

Others

• Touchstone Energy Cooperatives: National brand and cooperative-marketing program for the U.S. electric cooperative network; provides co-branded economic development and community resources that complement state-level cooperative EDOs like SC Power Team.

Broad incumbents

• SC Department of Commerce: South Carolina's primary state-level economic development agency—competes with and partners alongside SC Power Team to recruit industrial investment; the dominant statewide EDO with broader statutory authority and budget.
• Santee Cooper: South Carolina's state-owned electric and water utility and a documented strategic partner of SC Power Team; operates an industrial recruitment arm with overlapping goals in attracting load and capital investment to SC.
• Entergy Economic Development: Investor-owned utility with a dedicated economic development team serving the Gulf South and Mid-South; offers site selection, incentive coordination, and grid-readiness advisory comparable to SC Power Team's utility-adjacent services.
• Duke Energy Economic Development: Investor-owned utility with a formal economic development organization recruiting industrial load across the Carolinas and Southeast; offers overlapping site selection, incentives, and grid-readiness services from a vertically integrated utility.

Direct peers

• PowerSouth Energy Cooperative: Generation-and-transmission cooperative serving member distribution co-ops in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle; runs cooperative-affiliated economic development initiatives and faces similar rural-territory dynamics to SC Power Team.
• Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (Georgia EMC): Statewide trade association for Georgia's 41 electric membership cooperatives (EMCs), providing coordinated economic development, legislative, and operational services comparable to SC Power Team's 19-cooperative model.
• North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives: Statewide association and economic development arm for North Carolina's electric cooperatives, serving rural NC with site selection, project management, and community development—structurally the closest analog to SC Power Team.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scpowerteam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Carolina Power Team