Cardiff Products Corporation Establishing Operations in Lexington County

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Cardiff Products Corporation, a beverage manufacturer, announced it has selected Lexington County to establish the company's first South Carolina operation. The $99.6 million investment will create 94 jobs.

Founded in Canada in 2019, Cardiff Products is a family-owned business that specializes in producing high-quality beverages for the U.S. and Canadian markets.

The company produces plant-based, shelf-stable drinks and currently operates a highly automated facility in Ontario.

Cardiff Products will open a state-of-the-art, aseptic co-packaging facility located at 4810 12th St. Ext. in West Columbia.

“Cardiff Products Corporation is proud to announce the expansion of our operations with a new facility in Lexington County, South Carolina,” said Cardiff Products Corporation President Stew Cardiff.

“At Cardiff Products Corporation, our corporate values have remained steadfast over the years. We are excited to bring these values to Lexington County and to work alongside its vibrant community. This new facility will not only support the growth of our business but also contribute to the local economy by creating jobs and fostering innovation in the beverage manufacturing sector.”

Individuals interested in joining the Cardiff Products team should email [email protected].

Riley-Wilkins OneSouthCarolina Honors Merl Code, Katrina Shealy

Judge Merl Code and former South Carolina Sen. Katrina Shealy were honored on Jan. 14, 2025, with the Riley-Wilkins OneSouthCarolina Legislative and Civic Leadership Awards.

The pair received the awards at a dinner at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Code was the first African American municipal court judge in Greenville County, and he also became the first African American to serve as chairman of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to his work as an entrepreneur and attorney, Code has served on many community boards, including the Furman University board of trustees and the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina board of directors.

Shealy represented the 23rd District in the South Carolina Senate from 2013-2024. At the time she was elected, she was the only woman serving in the South Carolina Senate.

She has been an advocate for children and families and juvenile justice reform. In 2023, Shealy was awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, along with four fellow female legislators, for their two-day bipartisan filibuster against a near-total abortion ban in the state.

Disaster Declaration for Flooding Recovery Approved by FEMA

Governor Henry McMaster announced that his December 13, 2024, request for a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration to provide federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts following severe November flooding in Bamberg, Calhoun, and Orangeburg Counties has been approved. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Public Assistance program aid for Bamberg, Calhoun, and Orangeburg Counties. The program provides reimbursement to governmental agencies and certain nonprofits that were affected by the severe storms and flooding of November 6-14, 2024.

The assistance can help cover costs for debris removal, emergency protective measures, public buildings and equipment, public utilities, and more. For additional information about FEMA’s Public Assistance program, click here.

The declaration also approves Hazard Mitigation Grant Program assistance, which makes cost-shared funding available to the state for approved projects that reduce or mitigate future disaster risks.

Funds under this program will be available to state agencies, local governments, and certain nonprofit organizations only. A wide variety of potential projects are eligible. For more information about FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant program, click here.

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) will conduct applicant briefings to inform potential applicants of the assistance available and how to apply. Applicants then file a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) and identify damage that resulted from the disaster.

FEMA determines eligibility for reimbursement after state review. SCEMD will manage Public Assistance funds received from FEMA. This includes disbursing the funds to the applicant.

The governor's request for FEMA Individual Assistance, which provides help to individuals and households, is still under review. 

SC Department of Education Creates Partnership for Competency-Based Education Framework

The South Carolina Department of Education has partnered with reDesign to design, develop, and implement a CBE framework that aligned with their Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. 

Together they are releasing a comprehensive report on the implementation of personalized competency-based learning (PCBL) in South Carolina.

This landmark report, titled “A Competency-Based Blueprint for Supporting Statewide Learning: 2024 Spotlight on South Carolina,” offers an in-depth look at the state's journey with reDesign adopting and scaling PCBL practices.

The report includes an interactive digital showcase and combines research with real-world insights from educators, students, coaches, and leaders at the forefront of South Carolina's PCBL initiative.

It provides a detailed analysis of the state's progress and successes in transforming its educational landscape over the past five years–by 2024, the South Carolina Department of Education's (SCDE) team had engaged 87 percent of the state's districts.

“Over the past five years, SCDE has engaged deeply in our own professional learning, to ensure we would be able to carry the work of PCBL forward across South Carolina,” said Kristen Logan, personalized learning coach and SCDE team lead.

“Each year, we collaborated with reDesign and other partners to assess progress, identify goals, push our own learning and refine capacity-building offerings across the state. Our statewide approach to professional learning emphasized agency, engagement, and competency–the same pillars we are now seeing take root in our classrooms and schools.”

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