South Carolina H 5663: Jay Schwedler

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5663 Text of Previous Version (May. 06, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5663

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

to recognize and honor Jay Schwedler, the founding 
CEO of TheLINKSC Economic Development Alliance of Lee County and Sumter County 
and president and CEO of the Sumter Economic Development Board, and to congratulate 
him upon his induction into the Southern Business and Development Hall of Fame.

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives is delighted to learn that Jay Schwedler has 
been inducted into the prestigious Southern Business and Development Hall of 
Fame; and

Whereas, for more than 
two decades, he has been a steady, trusted force in Sumter as the town's leading 
economic development professional, an uncommon blend of strategist, 
collaborator, and community advocate whose work has helped drive the resurgence 
of an historic South Carolina community; and

Whereas, Mr. 
Schwedler's induction into the Southern Business and Development Hall of Fame 
recognizes not only a career of measurable results, but also a philosophy of 
development that values long-term resilience over short-term gains; and 

Whereas, in a career 
that spans some thirty years, Mr. Schwedler has been integrally involved in 
projects representing more than five billion dollars in capital investment and 
nearly four thousand new high-quality jobs for the community; and

Whereas, from 
transformational milestones, such as Continental Tire, Americas' first U.S. 
manufacturing facility, to significant investments and expansions by companies, 
including BD and eVAC Magnetics, his work has helped position the region to 
compete in a global market; and

Whereas, Mr. Schwedler's 
career has been defined by navigating the complexities of balancing public and 
private interests, aligning regional assets with market realities, and 
translating vision into execution. Through a practical, and at times stubborn 
approach, he has operated at the intersection of economic competitiveness, 
rural development, and quality-of-life investment; and

Whereas, throughout his 
work, he has maintained a consistent focus of building strong fundamentals in 
workforce, infrastructure, education, and community character in order to 
sustain accompanying growth; and 

Whereas, having secured 
the respect of his peers, Mr. Schwedler is frequently asked to moderate panels, 
advise elected officials, and mentor emerging professionals across the South. He 
has earned credibility through his hands-on experience and his keen grasp of 
challenges presented to rural and mid-sized communities, such as workforce limitations, 
missing infrastructure, capital access, and the need to envision and 
communicate a captivating local story; and

Whereas, without 
depending on what has worked in former situations, he seeks and develops 
solutions and strategies to meet each community's needs and potential; and

Whereas, Mr. Schwedler 
has used his positions to form cooperation and lasting relationships within 
public and private sectors. He realizes that with every new development, 
individuals and families are looking for permanence, prospects for the future, 
and the pursuit of shaping their communities; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives values the recognition that Jay Schwedler has 
received from his induction in the Southern Business and Development Hall of 
Fame that highlights his career of integrity, persistence, and excellence for 
the communities he serves. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the 
South Carolina House of Representatives, 
by this resolution, recognize and honor Jay Schwedler, the founding CEO of 
TheLINKSC Economic Development Alliance of Lee County and Sumter County and president 
and CEO of the Sumter Economic Development Board, and congratulate him upon his 
induction into the Southern Business and Development Hall of Fame. 

Be it further resolved 
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Jay Schwedler.

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