Palmetto Pulse Midlands for March 2026

NONPROFIT GUIDE

Together SC Launches Highly Anticipated 5th Edition of 'Guiding Principles for South Carolina Nonprofits'

Together SC has announced the launch of the new and significantly updated 5th Edition of "Guiding Principles for South Carolina Nonprofits," a cornerstone resource designed to help organizations of every size operate effectively, ethically, and sustainably. This new edition reflects nearly two decades of sector growth and evolution and builds on more than 30 years of work by the state’s most respected nonprofit leaders, advisers, and subject matter experts. 

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FRANCHISE EXPANSION

Onelife Fitness Announces Strategic Expansions, Multi-Million-Dollar Club Renovations, and Elevated Member Experiences

With more than 70 locations spanning 3.5 million square feet across the East Coast, Onelife Fitness will continue to expand strategically in 2026. In January alone, Onelife Fitness celebrated the opening of four new clubs in Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia, as well as the completion of multiple renovation projects, including a 12,000-square-foot expansion of the Ballston club in Arlington, Virginia.  Additionally, Onelife Fitness debuted five newly renovated clubs around Columbia, South Carolina, which it had acquired and upgraded to bring them to the Onelife Fitness standard. 

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SPOTLIGHT

Newmark Arranges $690 Million Refinancing for Sun Belt Multifamily Portfolio on Behalf of West Shore

Newmark Group, Inc., a commercial real estate adviser and service provider, announced the company has arranged a $690 million loan on behalf of West Shore for the refinancing of 13 multifamily properties spanning Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Officials said the transaction represents the largest multifamily closing in the U.S. year-to-date. The closing marks Newmark's third SASB transaction with West Shore, totaling $1.8 billion of loan proceeds in the past 15 months, following the firm's $600 million financing of eight multifamily properties in October. West Shore's South Carolina portfolio includes the 260-unit Town Center at Lake Carolina at 20 Helton Drive in Columbia.

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

South Carolina Economic Snapshot

Payroll employment in South Carolina declined by 5,900 jobs (0.2 percent) during December, and the unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, increasing by 0.2 percentage point, according to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Total payroll employment in South Carolina declined by 5,900 jobs (0.2 percent), on net, during December. Most job losses were in trade, transportation, and utilities (5,400 jobs), and professional and business services (4,100 jobs).

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NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

Irmo Mayor Appointed to the National League of Cities’ 2026 Small Cities Council

Bill Danielson, mayor of the Town of Irmo, has been appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) 2026 Small Cities Council. Danielson was elected to a one-year term to develop and guide programs among local elected officials from similar communities. As a member of NLC’s Small Cities Council, Danielson will play a key role among a diverse group of local leaders to encourage collaboration, networking, and the development of resources and programs beneficial to communities that share demographics, size, or location that can be replicated across the country.

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STAFFING EXCELLENCE

Luttrell Staffing Group Wins ClearlyRated's 2026 Best of Staffing Client, Talent, and Employee Awards for Service Excellence

Luttrell Staffing Group, a leading staffing agency, announced that they have won the Best of Staffing Client and Talent Platinum Awards for providing superior service to their clients and candidates along with Best of Staffing Employee Gold Award for providing an exceptional experience for their employees. ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Award winners have proven to be industry leaders in service quality based entirely on ratings provided by their clients and candidates. Luttrell has a location in Columbia.

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AI DESIGN

Inbox Beverage Selects QWERKY AI to Build AI-Powered Brewery Design Platform Using Breakthrough 8 Billion Parameter State Space Model

QWERKY AI, a company utilizing AI model optimization and state space architectures, announced that Inbox Beverage has engaged the company to build a custom AI-driven design and customer engagement platform. QWERKY AI will deploy a custom-trained 8 billion parameter state space model to power the new experience at inboxbeverage.com. Inbox Beverage, a provider of turnkey container-based breweries, distilleries, and bars, engaged QWERKY AI to build a platform that transforms both initial project design and ongoing facility operations.

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HOME DESIGN

Home Genius Exteriors Expands National Footprint with Five New Divisions, Including Columbia, S.C.

Home Genius Exteriors (HGE), a leader in exterior home improvement, recently announced the launch of new divisions in Columbia, South Carolina; Fairfax, Virginia; Hartford, Connecticut; Denver (Centennial), Colorado; and Chicago (Oakbrook), Illinois. Leveraging strong industry partnerships with manufacturers including Owens Corning and James Hardie, HGE's teams hold top-tier certifications and have earned awards for quality, safety, and service. The company plans to open additional locations by the end of 2026, as it continues expansion into western and southern U.S.

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SPOTLIGHT

Mashburn Construction Marks 50 Years with Corporate Headquarters Relocation

Mashburn Construction, one of South Carolina’s trusted construction companies, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, marking five decades of growth, expertise, and commitment to the communities it serves. As part of this milestone year, the company announced plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to Seaboard Vista, reflecting both its enduring roots in Columbia and its vision for the future. Mashburn anticipates completing the headquarters relocation in late 2026, aligning with its anniversary celebrations.

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

Affordable Housing Construction on the Rise Nationwide and in South Carolina

Affordable housing construction has accelerated nationwide since 2020, and South Carolina is part of that trend. According to a new RentCafe.com analysis, Columbia stands out in the state for both scale and acceleration. Between 2020 and 2024, the metro added 1,898 fully affordable apartments out of 5,394 total completions — meaning roughly 35 percent of all new apartments built were income-restricted. That marks a dramatic 704 percent increase compared with the pre-pandemic period, when affordable units accounted for just 5.9 percent of new construction.

EDUCATION EXCELLENCE

University of South Carolina Named One of America’s Best Large Employers by Forbes

For the third straight year, the University of South Carolina was named one of America’s Best Large Employers by Forbes for 2026. USC surged almost 200 spots in the rankings, with Forbes ranking the university at No. 94 overall and inside the top 20 for the education category. Forbes ranks the university as the best large employer in the state and the third-highest in the SEC behind only Tennessee and Auburn. This honor affirms USC’s continued commitment to its over 10,000 faculty and staff across the USC system.

PLASTIC MANUFACTURING

Georg Utz, Inc. to Establish South Carolina Operations in Sumter County

Georg Utz, Inc., a plastic container manufacturer, announced it selected Sumter County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation. The approximately $40 million investment will create 50 new jobs. The company will construct a 90,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, located at Race Track Road and U.S. Highway 521 in Sumter, which will produce rigid returnable packaging. The Coordinating Council for Economic Development awarded a $750,000 Closing Fund grant to Sumter County to assist with the costs of site preparation, water and sewer improvements, and rail improvements.

FRANCHISE EXPANSION

Scenthound Dog Wellness Franchise Opening New Locations in South Carolina, Georgia

Scenthound, the original dog wellness franchise, is continuing to grow in the Southeast with the addition of six new locations in South Carolina and Georgia. The brand has partnered with a husband-and-wife team who bring decades of experience in business ownership as former franchisees with McDonald's. After spending 40 years with the global food brand, Angela and Andy Harrelson have now signed their agreement with Scenthound to open three locations in Augusta, Georgia, and three in Columbia, South Carolina, where their first Scenter is slated to open in March at 7320 Broad River Rd, Irmo, SC 29063.

BRAIN HEALTH

Board of Trustees Updated on USC's Comprehensive Brain Health Program

Sarah Kirby, USC’s associate vice president for clinical affairs, briefed the board of trustees on Feb. 20 on the university’s efforts to develop a comprehensive system of care that could transform health care in the state – a statewide network of brain health clinics, a brain health center and South Carolina’s first standalone neurological and rehabilitation hospital. The Brain Health Center will open in March in Columbia as the hub for the Brain Health Network, where patients with more complex needs can access specialized diagnostics, an infusion center, and the state’s highest-resolution brain imaging machine.