BY MICHAELE DUKE Williamsburg Hometown Chamber Director
Originally published in The News on Sep 27, 2023
Local industry, Palmetto Synthetics, has been producing thermoplastic fibers to companies across the globe since 1997. On September 13, owners Henry and David Poston were recognized by Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette for their 25 years of leadership in the textile industry. Palmetto Synthetics produces materials that are used in a myriad of applications such as military grade clothing and inside automobiles. The industry is also celebrating six expansions since opening. Evette toured the facility and presented the men with a brass plate engraved with the Department of Commerce and Governor’s Seal.
“I love talking about new businesses, but I also love talking about businesses that have been here so long that have created a family and a culture and a reputation in rural areas that are not rural anymore,” said Evette. “They are continuing to grow, and we are needing more and more people in our great state that want to be a part of our manufacturing framework.”
Leading the recycling and sustainability industry for over 25 years, Palmetto Synthetics is supportive of our community and workforce pipeline through initiatives such as the Apprenticeship Carolina program.
They could have started their company anywhere but chose Kingstree because of the people. “It didn’t take very long to decide where to build because part of the reason is the good people,” said Henry Poston. “We can talk about all the good that we’ve done but without the people here we wouldn’t be here”.
Lt. Gov. Evette was elected on November 6, 2018. Evette is an advocate of getting kids between high school and college into the workforce through programs such as Apprenticeship Carolina, which Palmetto Synthetics is involved in. Evette is also a champion of “Grab A Bag”, a campaign through Palmetto Pride, that encourages communities to pick up litter. In August, she was awarded the 2023 Recycling Impact Award for demonstrating leadership in recycling, resource conservation, and sustainability in the U.S.