Scout Motors continues to generate new economic activity in S.C.

By Mike Switzer

Published August 9, 2024 at 6:30 AM EDT

Jeff Ruble, Director of the Richland County Economic Development Office in Columbia, S.C.

2024 is fast moving along, in fact it’s already been six months since Volkswagen's Scout Motors broke ground on their state-of-the-art electric vehicle manufacturing plant in the Midlands of our state and they expect to have their first building ready for equipment installation by the end of the year. How has economic activity in the area been affected so far this year, as a result? Mike Switzer interviews Jeff Ruble, director of the Richland County Economic Development Office in Columbia, S.C.

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Mike Switzer

After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.

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