Columbia’s industrial market is evolving into a competitive contender in the Southeast, with only a low 4.7 percent vacancy rate. The Scout Motors manufacturing project is a huge win for Richland County and the Midlands and will bring back the iconic Scout SUV (and pick-up truck). The 4,000 jobs on 1,600 acres is greatly anticipated. South Carolina was the fastest growing state in 2024, according to U-Haul, and near the top in 2025, with no signs of slowing. Columbia is in the middle of this steady growth with its central location as an excellent logistics hub with I-20, I-77 and I-26 and less than two hours from the Port of Charleston. Growing inventory The Columbia industrial market now contains approximately 81 million square feet of inventory, reflecting steady expansion over recent years. Despite being smaller than major logistics markets, Columbia stands out due to its active construction pipeline, with nearly 4 million square feet under development as of late 2025. This represents one of the highest development ratios among comparable secondary markets, signaling strong investor confidence and long-term growth expectations. Much of this new supply is concentrated in: • Build-to-suit logistics facilities • Large-scale speculative distribution centers • Advanced manufacturing …
