Sumter County approves tax‑incentive agreement for Project Ignis (SEM Wafertech) totaling hundreds of millions in reported investment

Sumter County Council unanimously granted third reading to Ordinance 23‑985 on April 25, authorizing a Fee‑In‑Lieu‑of‑Ad‑Valorem‑Taxes (FILOT) agreement and Special Source Revenue Credit agreement for Project Ignis, the local name for an investment led by SEM Wafertech, Inc. and affiliated entities.

County presenter Johnathan Bryan said the project involves several investors, including SEM Wafertech, Solar4America Technology Inc. (and affiliates), and Lucky Sumter, LLC (the landlord). Bryan said Lucky Sumter, LLC will invest $25,335,000 in building improvements at the APEX facility, and the company group will invest $36,555,000 in equipment; a total project investment figure of $691,925,000 was cited to Council. Project representatives and legal counsel were introduced during the meeting; county staff said the company is expected to employ about 300 people with reported wages up to $20 per hour.

The ordinance cites authority under Title 12, Chapter 44 of the South Carolina Code of Laws for local fee‑in‑lieu and special source revenue credit arrangements. Council held a public hearing; no members of the public spoke on the ordinance. On a motion by Vice Chairman James R. Byrd, Jr., seconded by Councilman Artie Baker, council approved third reading and adopted the ordinance unanimously.

Adoption authorizes county staff to execute the FILOT and Special Source Revenue Credit agreements as described in the ordinance and move forward with the negotiated incentives. The agreements outline the tax treatment of real property and the special‑source revenue credits applicable to qualifying improvements. The county record shows the matter proceeded without public objection at the hearing; additional implementation steps will follow standard county and state procedures under the applicable Code provisions.