Get the 411 on the Grants

Public Hearing Questions & Answers

Who is White Horse?

Headquartered in Fort Mill, South Carolina, White Horse is committed to producing the highest caliber, innovative products with an emphasis on research and advancement in our collective industries that serve, protect, and enrich lives.

What Industries does White Horse operate in?

FOOD & NUTRITION The White Horse Food Division has been proudly developing and providing quality protein items (Meals and MREs) for the Military, Natick, DLA, FEMA and various Federal Institutions for over 20 years. In fact, White Horse is the largest protein (chicken, beef, pork, fish, plant-based) provider to the US Military Meals Ready-To-Eat (MREs) and FEMA Meals program!

BALLISTIC PROTECTION
From military applications, to protecting law enforcement and security professionals, White Horse manufactures a wide range of life-saving products, training systems, blast mitigation, weapons clearing systems, and protective materials with ability to stop all ballistic ammunition from .50 caliber armor-piercing rounds to RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenades).

TARGET SYSTEMS
White Horse Fabrication manufactures Threat Vehicle Targets(TVT) and High-FidelityTargets (HFT) that simulate "real world" vehicles and can be found on military ranges worldwide. Each unit weighs 10 to 25,000 lbs. White Horse has produced and delivered 744 units as of 12/31/23.

INNOVATION LAB
The Innovation Lab at White Horse R&D focuses on cutting-edge, self-healing, self-structured, and Nano technologies in both ballistic materials and food.

TESTING LAB
Aerospace, EVs (Electric Vehicles), OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), QC & Analytics of Advanced Materials.

How many Jobs Does White Horse Plan to Bring?

Several factors will influence the number of jobs. Location, availability, and final agreements by Town Council will determine how many components of White Horse’s entities can be brought to Great Falls. A fully executed development plan can potentially produce 300-400 new jobs.

What Types of Jobs Does White Horse Plan to Bring?

There will be a wide range of job opportunities available to people such as welding and fabrication, warehouse and packing and loading, food packaging, sewing operators/clothing manufacturing, research & development, marketing, accounting, clerical, traveling spray operators, painters, ballistic range operators, public safety, security, childcare, as well as general operations such as maintenance, groundskeeping, and more. We are coming to the town to work alongside the people of Great Falls

Why Does White Horse want to come down to Great Falls, SC?

One word can exemplify our perspective on Great Falls: Community. White Horse loves the town of Great Falls, SC, its people, geography, and the rich history of the town. Our executive management and current employee base is mostly born and raised in the immediate surrounding areas in South Carolina. Currently, our production is spread across the country in 6 locations around the country including two in Fort Mill, SC. As a company rooted in South Carolina, White Horse has been looking for a place to call home.  

Why has it taken Town Council almost 3 years to decide on partnering with White Horse?

White Horse has been trying to work with the Council for 2.5 years on pushing through a comprehensive development plan that would not only allow the company to revitalize the Mills, but also create growth and prosperity for the town, preserving its history and helping to create a lasting legacy into the future.

Does White Horse Plan on Being the only source for Jobs?

Absolutely, Not! — White Horse can’t do this on its own. Our network of influence reaches far into a wide dynamic range of businesses nationwide where we envision creating affinity to come to Great Falls. This will create a steady growth of job opportunities. White Horse's goals and ambitions are to be in a thriving town, surrounded by growth.

There is a lot of talk about Jobs versus Nature-Based Tourism. Why can't both happen at once?

White Horse couldn't agree more. Jobs are an inherent part of who we are as a growing business and what we want to bring to the community. Believe it or not, we are so well-equipped to drive nature-based tourism and would be excited to make that an integral part of our community focus and drive. Our collective personal and professional experience spans industries within outdoor sports and racing, entertainment, event management, and festivals, agriculture, and environment. While the focus has been on our "Defense" related manufacturing, we are steeped with relationships that can bring positive and welcoming exposure to the community that we would like to call home. In one recent meeting at our headquarters, we introduced the Town Council to one of our strong media contacts with Outside Network — the leading voice in the Recreational Outdoor industry with over 42 media programming and print brands related to various outdoor activities: Outside Magazine, Backpacker, Women's Running, Warren Miller Films, etc. The company does over 150 nature-based events and activations annually. Unfortunately, this meeting with the town council fell on deaf ears.

Why Can't I Find Much information about White Horse online?

White Horse can be found online directly at www.WhiteHorseRD.com.

White Horse has never been a "consumer-facing" company, operating privately with Military and Institutional contracts. Our innovations in various technologie sand abilities to use relationships with the supply chain have never warranted broadcasting messages about ourselves with media or even a need for a website until even, 5 years ago. For instance, White Horse has developed and supplied tens of millions of FEMA meals through the years in response to the need to feed people in times of crisis and natural disasters, have supplied RVs/Motor Homes in responses to disasters like Hurricane Katrina, and never once issued a press release, invited media, or looked for accolades as we feel it is just something we do, not something we need to broadcast.

Youth and Daycare

Family Values are very important to our organization. We have a strong desire to provide a supportive environment for working parents and have firm plans to have FREE on-site day care at our company, with on-staff medical personnel. We are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters and grandparents, so we know how vital it is to be attracting and supporting high-quality workforce.  Youth is the future of any great community! Parks and recreation, the arts, clubs & activities are all part of any positive youth development program. We care because a lot of our children will be engaged in, and benefit from programs and facilities that Great Falls will have to offer. White Horse would like to create and introduce a "Community Building" program that is led by the youth of Great Falls and supported by businesses in the community giving kids pride and ownership in their town.

Is it True that White Horse will be Offering Vocational Training?

White Horse plans to open a welding school offering training for developing career training and welding, robotics, fabrication, industrial sewing, and more. Developing proficiencies in technical skill and cultivating a dynamic ecosystem where individuals can thrive and excel in their chosen fields.

White Horse wants to help the Fire Department

Yes, we do! It's what we do. Our daily existence is to support municipalities...law enforcement, security, educators, and the fire department — All the people who serve our communities! The employees of White Horse all contributed to be able to donate a 100 ft Fire Ladder Truck to the people of the community of
Great Falls.

What is this about a $10.3 Million Grant?

Recently, White Horse learned that our company was used as the core anchor company for a SCIIP (South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program) grant “Collection System Upgrades and Carolina Adventure World Connec” using Federal Funds. This was done without any knowledge, agreement, or signed of White Horse. The grant was written to run a sewer line running through Great Falls to Fairfield County. Click here to view the grant information.