Personal Injury Attorney in Lexington, SC

Listen to this article

A German manufacturer has chosen Lexington County for its first South Carolina operation.

ALLTAPE Adhesive Manufacturing Inc., a manufacturer of adhesive products, has chosen Lexington County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation, according to a news release. The $70 million investment will create 130 new jobs.

ALLTAPE’s new facility, located in the Saxe Gotha Industrial Park, will include 125,000 square feet of production and office space.

Part of ATP Group and founded in Germany, ALLTAPE specializes in developing and manufacturing sustainable and solvent-free adhesive products. The company’s water-based adhesives are used in a variety of industry segments including automotive, transportation, foam, plastics and more.

“Launching our first production site in Lexington County, South Carolina marks a significant milestone in our expansion into the U.S. market,” ATP Group CEO Daniel Heini said in the release. “This substantial investment reflects ATP’s commitment to growth and innovation, and we are excited to commence operations in the South Carolina region.” –

Operations are expected to be online in July 2026.

“Lexington County is proud to welcome ALLTAPE and their significant investment of $70 million to our community,” Lexington County Council Chairman Todd Cullum said in the release. “This commitment, along with the creation of 130 new jobs, demonstrates the strength of our business climate and the opportunities available here. We look forward to the positive impact this project will have on our local economy and workforce for years to come.”

Related: Global manufacturer leases space at Columbia speculative building

Related: Paper company to invest $145 million in Eastover, Sumter facilities

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project, according to the release. The council also awarded a $600,000 Set-Aside grant to Lexington County to assist with the costs of site preparation and building construction.

“We are thrilled to congratulate ALLTAPE Adhesive Manufacturing Inc.,” Central SC Alliance Chairman Matthew Shaffer said in the release. “On selecting Lexington County as the ideal location for their first operations in South Carolina. Their innovative adhesive products are poised to strengthen our region’s thriving industries, seal new opportunities for growth and create a lasting bond of success across our vibrant business ecosystem.”

The second time was a charm for a national coffee chain looking to have plans approved for a new location in Lexington.

The town of Lexington Board of Appearance on Tuesday unanimously approved plans for Dutch Bros. Coffee to establish a location at 5211 Sunset Blvd. The 950-square-foot drive-thru and walk-up location would be constructed in the northeast corner of the parking lot of a Lidl grocery store, along Sunset.

Tuesday’s approval came roughly a month after the board had initially denied a plan from Dutch Bros. That denial came after a town staff committee noted in paperwork that it “felt that the design of this building did not adequately incorporate the general physical character of its adjacent neighbors, which are primarily constructed of red or brown brick, tan stucco or tan/brown stone.” The staff also noted in February that the “individual corporate image dominates the overall design of the building,” rather than complementing the architectural styles of nearby properties.

While they denied the coffee shop’s February request, the board of appearance, which hears appeals from town’s staff as to whether proposed projects fit the town’s architectural and appearance standards, invited the company to adjust its plans and resubmit the project.

The second time around, town officials noted in planning documents that the new plans from the coffee company incorporated changes to exterior materials and finishings that were more aesthetically compatible with the neighborhood. The lighting plan for the project also was revised, and the amount of overall signage was reduced.

The new plans also note that a three-foot brick wall and “enhanced landscaping” will be used to buffer the drive-thru restaurant from Sunset Boulevard and neighboring road Tom Corley Place. The appearance board had previously asked for more detail about the materials with which that wall would be constructed.

“I think we kind of went back to the drawing board on the building, tried to match the colors and materials you all were looking for, and hopefully it meets the intent and look you guys would like to see,” said Steven Knudsen, of North Carolina’s Durban Development, who spoke on behalf of the Dutch Bros. project.

Members of the appearance board expressed apprciation for the coffee company’s willingness to make adjustments to its plans.

“You guys made a lot of the changes we requested,” board member Larry Wilund said. “It’s a better looking proposal, and more in line with the appearance board items.”

Dutch Bros. Coffee has nearly 1,000 locations across the U.S., with particularly strong representation in states such as Texas, California, Oregon and elsewhere. The company doesn’t currently have any locations in South Carolina.

The State

Chris Trainor is a retail reporter for The State and has been working for newspapers in South Carolina for more than 20 years, including previous stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free Times. He is the winner of a host of South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in column writing, government beat reporting, profile writing, food writing, business beat reporting, election coverage, social media and more.

You can’t make a living doing community theater. But don’t tell that to David LaTorre.

Falling into performing as one of several extracurricular activities in high school, the West Columbia native took all the right steps towards a professional career: academic training, hands-on exposure to the field in Florida at theme parks, practical experience as an arts educator and performing in multiple roles at the local level. Now, LaTorre will step into a leadership role as artistic director at Lexington’s Village Square Theatre (VST).

Originally known as the Lexington County Arts Association, VST was formed in the 1960s. It takes its name from the converted movie theater in the Village Square Shopping Center off Highway 378 where productions are now staged. While professional artists such as directors, musicians and choreographers have been compensated, like most community theaters, VST is primarily a volunteer effort. LaTorre is the organization’s first full-time employee.

As a youngster, LaTorre performed in pageants at school and church, but was more of a soccer enthusiast until a friend encouraged him to come along to auditions for “The Sound of Music” at VST, where he was promptly cast as eldest son Friedrich.

He was hooked.

Until his next audition, where he was not cast, and very nearly gave up theater entirely. Then, director and future mentor Debra Leopard explained to him that a life on the stage can't be given up so easily. She encouraged him to keep auditioning, and the roles came. LaTorre credited his parents for their unwavering support, recalling that they helped him learn to drive so he could get to rehearsals on his own.

After graduation, the young performer headed to Anderson University for a Bachelor's degree in musical theater, helped out as an intern at VST in the summers and then worked as a substitute teacher in area schools, especially Lexington Two. All the while, he was performing in more and more shows and expanding his network of contacts in the local theater community.

In 2019, LaTorre relocated to Florida where he auditioned for gigs with Disney and Universal. Maintaining the illusion that’s encouraged for visitors, he said that he “was very good friends with Shrek,” and had been approved for other roles when COVID-19 struck, and many opportunities disappeared. But he persisted, working as a ride attendant at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and a “scare actor” for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal.

“I try to find the joy in what I’m doing,” the actor explained. “If something comes along, I jump on it.”

Post-COVID, LaTorre returned to Columbia. He discovered that theater in the Midlands was in flux as many professional positions were being realigned and reimagined.

He made his Town Theatre debut in spring of 2022 in “Bright Star,” and joined a number of artists who were teaching classes in the venerable theater’s growing youth program. From there he became Town’s youth director, and continued to play roles, such as bad boy Gerry Goffin in 2024’s “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.”

Earlier this year, LaTorre saw an opportunity that he couldn’t ignore: taking the reins as artistic director at VST, where it all began for him.

“If 30-year-old me could go back and tell awkward 15-year-old David about the incredible life ahead, full of growth and belonging, I don’t know if he would’ve believed it," LaTorre posted to social media recently.

He’s still committed through the spring to Town, where he’s directing a youth production of “Once Upon a Mattress." But come June 1, he will dive headlong into duties at VST. First up? Directing a junior edition of “Alice in Wonderland,” taken from the animated Disney classic, with a few updates from the Tim Burton 2010 remake.

The original plan was for there to be two half-time positions, one of which would focus on box office and administrative duties, but “when David applied, we did not think hiring him would even be a possibility,” explained board president Tricia Miller.

"The VST Executive Committee discussed what an asset he would be to the theater and the community," she said. "We saw an opportunity to grow our youth theater and programs, and move VST forward.”

They found a way to make it work by combining the two positions.

“David started his acting career at Village Square Theatre and has grown up in this community,” Miller recalled. “We are so excited to welcome him back home, and look forward to working with him."

Leopard, LaTorre's mentor and the former artistic director at VST, concurred with the board chair.

“I have always loved working with him," she said. "His talent and work ethic will be a blessing to VST.”

LaTorre’s duties will include teaching, directing and working with the board on play selection and long-range planning.

“I think VST is reaching a more diverse audience these days,” he said, referencing Lexington town and county's booming — and diversifying — populations.

He observed the importance of opportunities for a young performer to play a child’s role in an adult show, such as last fall's “Oliver!” and “The Diary of Anne Frank,” and next season's “School of Rock.”

Being in a cast with grown-ups “helps the children rise to the occasion,” he said.

“They need a place to escape, to make friends and to gain a sense of community,” LaTorre said of young performers. “Being in a show gives them a taste of life” — learning skills like teamwork and accepting responsibility — “but not so harsh. “

“Whether you're doing this for fun or for a profession, or even if you never set foot on a stage again,’ LaTorre tells his casts, “I hope you apply this (experience) to your life, and I hope it’s made a difference to you.”

More than 800,000 people (and thousands of businesses) contribute to the Columbia metro area’s $58 million economy. But have you ever wondered about the Capital City’s heaviest hitters?

Consider this Columbia Business 101 — your guide to our region’s five key industries and major employers.

Note: When we say Columbia metro area, that refers to the Central SC Region that includes Calhoun, Clarendon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, and Richland counties.

The key industries

Five key industries represent ~55% of the Columbia metro area’s economy, based on data from Central SC. We’ve listed them in order of employment numbers.

Fun fact: Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC — offering services like insurance, customer support, and claims processing — employs over 10,000 people alone and is the top private employer in the region.

Prisma Health Midlands + Lexington Medical Center collectively employ over 21,000 people. The services in these industries are delivered by trained professionals and include establishments providing medical care, health care, and social assistance.

Under the retail bracket of employers, Walmart came out on top, employing almost 6,000 people. Amazon followed, with over 2,600 employees, and Samsung + UPS, both employ more than 1,200 people.

Manufacturing in the Midlands comes in many different forms, but at the top of the list are Nephron Pharmaceuticals, Michelin, Trane, (which makes metal products + machinery), and Samsung. Local players such as Kraft Heinz, and Westinghouse Electric Company, also carry a significant employment presence.

Fun fact: According to the latest tourism data from Experience Columbia, visitation increased from 15.8 million in 2022 to 16.4 million in 2023, and visitor spending increased 6.5% over the previous year to $1.8 billion.

Columbia attracts visitors for many reasons, including leisure, sports, and conferences. In 2023, special events resulted in over 25,000 hotel bookings.

The economic impact of tourism in our region is substantial and the total economic impact in 2023 sustained over 23,500 jobs and generated $137 million in state and local tax revenue.

The top food and beverage employers in the Midlands region are Dak Americans LLC, a company that creates plastic materials and resins, Mark Anthony Brewing, a brewer and producer of hard seltzers, and Devro Inc., a company that creates edible casings for meat packaging.

The Public Administration sector consists of establishments of federal, state, and local government agencies that oversee and manage public programs. In total, the state of SC employs over 32,000 people in the Midlands, the top two being the SC Department of Corrections and the SC Department of Social Services.

Now that we’ve established the major industries, we bet you’re curious about some specific names. Whether you’re job hunting (or just “casually prospecting”), here are five major employers — all that employ more than 5,000 workers on average.

32,085 employees | Public sector | Search jobs

With Cola being the capital of SC, the city’s largest employer is the state — which helps drive tourism, the economy, business, and local government agencies.

15,000 employees | Healthcare | Search jobs

In 2017, Greenville Health + Palmetto Health merged to become Prisma — and became the second-largest employer in Richland County and one of the largest healthcare providers in the region.

10,998 employees | Insurance services | Search jobs

BCBSSC is the only SC-owned + operated health insurance carrier in the state and has a family of companies and affiliates also offering services to South Carolinians.

6,557 employees | Healthcare | Search jobs

The hospital in West Columbia delivers more than 4,000 babies each year and performs more than 25,000 surgeries. It was also named the No. 3 hospital in SC and is recognized as the No. 1 hospital in the Midlands, according to U.S. News and World Report.

6,456 employees | Educational services | Search jobs

With its campus spread throughout the city, USC is the heartbeat of Columbia. The over 200-year-old university is the largest in SC and has been ranked as the nation’s number one first-year student experience. The university also boasts the country’s number-one ranking for international business via the Darla Moore School of Business.

2024 was a transformative year for the Richland County economy. The Richland County Economic Development Office (RCEDO) announced capital investments have grown by $41 million, creating 223 jobs in the process and serving as an opportunity to highlight the companies and industries that thrive in the area.

Scout Motors | Automotive | Volkswagon entered the electric off-road vehicle arena under the Scout Motors nameplate and will build those cars at a new facility under construction in Blythewood. When completed, the new center will span 1.3 million sqft and create 4,000 new jobs.

The Ritedose Corporation | Medicine | This healthcare manufacturer and distributor is building a 225,000-sqft campus in Richland County as part of a multi-phase expansion to keep up with demand.

US Brick | Manufacturing | Last year, this SC-founded business invested $5.5 million to modernize and expand its northeast Columbia facility, hoping to increase its production capacity.

TMC Transportation | Trucking | TMC has been working on a new terminal in Columbia with plans to open later this year. The flatbed company hopes the new space will help expand its presence in the Southeast.

Integer Technology | Engineering | This research and engineering company works with its partners like businesses, universities, and government agencies to provide technology solutions. Last year, it was recognized as SC’s fastest-growing company.

This information is derived from the most recent data published by Central SC.

Both a severe thunderstorm warning and a tornado warning were issued Wednesday morning for Columbia and Lexington County, according to the National Weather Service.

The tornado warning is in effect through 8 a.m., and the severe weather warning won’t expire until 8:30 a.m., the National Weather Service said.

Powerful winds could reach 60 mph in Columbia, Lexington, Cayce and West Columbia, according to the National Weather Service. There is a small potential for a wind gust over 74 mph in the eastern Midlands, where there’s also the greatest chance of tornadoes forming.

The tornado warning also includes Columbia, Lexington, as well as Irmo and Chapin, the National Weather Service said.

Dangerous storms also will be near South Congaree, Springdale and Red Bank at about 7:40 a.m., before moving toward West Columbia, Gaston, Pine Ridge, Oak Grove, the Columbia Metropolitan Airport and South Carolina State Farmer’s Market by 7:45 a.m., the National Weather Service said.

The National Weather Service urged anyone in the areas included in the tornado warning to take shelter in a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.

Anyone outdoors, in a mobile home, or a vehicle is told to move to the closest substantial shelter and find protection from flying debris.

Powerful winds and tornadoes could cause considerable damage to trees and branches, in addition to mobile homes, roofs and outbuildings. Vehicles would also be under siege in the case of a tornado.

Damage to trees and branches creates the possibility of downed power lines and outages.

In addition to the warnings, a wind advisory has been issued for all of the Midlands. That advisory is scheduled to run through 7 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

The severe weather could also affect Richland County and other parts of the Midlands. That includes Fairfield, Newberry and Saluda counties.

Effects from the storms are expected to continue in the Columbia area through 11 a.m., and could linger into the early afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Regular winds are predicted to blow up to 25 mph, with gusts nearly double that, the National Weather Service said.

“Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution,” The National Weather Service said.”

There is 100% chance of rain Wednesday, but significant amounts of rainfall is not expected, the National Weather Service said. Up to three-quarters of an inch of precipitation is possible, the forecast shows. Localized amounts could be higher.

In addition to dangerous winds and rain, another severe weather effect that could impact the area is pea-sized hail.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

MORE

This story was originally published March 5, 2025 at 7:23 AM.

The State

803-771-8435

Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999.