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Inland Port Shares Export Options with Local Business

Rutherfordton, NC - The South Carolina Inland Port (SCIP), which opened in October 2013 and is part of the South Carolina Port Authority (SCPA), boosts efficiency for international freight movements between the Port of Charleston and companies located across the Southeast.
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Company officials from Parton Lumber Company visited the South Carolina Inland Port (SCIP) in Greer, South Carolina on Thursday, November 12, 2014.  The goal of this visit was for Parton Lumber to learn about options offered at the Inland Port that might increase efficiency and profitability of their export business.  Since the Inland Port is located fifty-five miles from their Rutherfordton location, instead of 245 miles from the Port of Charleston, productivity of transportation may be greatly enhanced.  Patrick Parton, Co-President of Parton Lumber said:  “About 30% of our business is in hardwood and about 60-70% of that is exported.  We generally ship between 10-12 containers each week.  Saving time and increasing efficiency is helpful to our business.” 

Byron Miller, VP Sales and Marketing for the SCPA, shared that the SCIP is an innovative new intermodal facility located 212 miles inland and is available to companies to move containers inland with speed and reliability, while simultaneously lowering their carbon footprint.  The Inland Port is open 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.  Rail service, supplied by Norfolk Southern, provides an overnight express shuttle service between the Port of Charleston and the SCIP in Greer  five days per week, inbound, and six days per week outbound. 

Michael Hoffman, Terminal Manger at the SCIP pointed out that a chassis yard is available with approximately 200 chassis on the ground.  Companies may terminate loads and pick up empty containers with a total in and out time currently under 15 minutes.  Employees at the SCIP are non-union employees of the SC Ports Authority.

Rutherford County Economic Development coordinated this visit to the South Carolina Inland Port as a service through the Business Retention and Expansion Program – Work, Grow, Thrive!  For other Rutherford County industry that need assistance or would like to participate in similar events please call Mary Taylor at 828-287-6200.
 
Public Information Contact
Adrienne B. Wallace
(828) 287-6061
adrienne.wallace@rutherfordcountync.gov