IT support company creating 105 jobs in downtown Manning

A relatively new information technology support company will soon be creating 105 jobs in Manning.

A Clarendon County Development Board official and also regional and state economic developers confirmed Thursday that Alabama-based Provalus will open a new technology innovation center in January in Manning.

According to George Kosinski, executive director of the Clarendon County Development Board, Provalus’ mission is to develop technology support jobs in rural areas for its numerous clients, some of which are Fortune 500 or Fortune 1000 companies.

Jobs are described as help desk, service desk and “back office” in nature, Kosinski said, and will cover “all different aspects of the IT world.” He said the company will also be hiring for management-level positions.

“The company provides different levels of technical support services for its client companies,” Kosinski said.

The new firm will be unique to the region, but he said people should be excited about the opportunities.

“This is an awesome company, and what they are trying to do for rural communities is outstanding,” Kosinski said. “When we visited the company’s first facility it built in Brewton, Alabama, we were just blown away — not just with the facility — but with the people they have working for them and also the culture it has going on. It’s really a cool company.”

As far as desired skill sets, individuals with a little IT background or even those who are into gaming may be a match for the firm, according to Kosinski.

A job fair in Manning for hiring personnel is expected during the first week of December, and Provalus is looking to start Jan. 1 with “30 people ready to go,” he added.

Initially, the firm will operate out of a back building on Central Carolina Technical College’s F.E. DuBose Campus in Manning before moving to 34 N. Brooks St. in the downtown area possibly sometime next summer, Kosinski said.

The downtown building is a historic structure, originally built in the early 1900s, and was previously a Belk department store chain for many years. A series of renovations will be required to get the downtown facility up and running, and they will take at least six months, he said.

Kosinski added he doesn’t know a precise starting wage range for employees at this time, but he said wages would be “very competitive for the area.”

He expects the company to reach 105 employees within its first 12 to 18 months of operation, with potential for more growth after that.

If the operation goes well, the company could be at about 200 in Manning in three to five years, Kosinski said.

The jobs announcement is the largest for Clarendon since 2014 when bicycle builder Bicycle Corporation of America said it was bringing 175 jobs to Manning.

Kosinski recognized city and county officials for their support in the recruitment process.

Clarendon County Council Chairman Dwight Stewart said he’s also excited with the company’s decision to select Manning.

“We are consistently working at diversifying our local economy,” Stewart said. “Provalus’ decision to locate in downtown Manning builds on that strong foundation. We wish them tremendous success in this partnership.”

Provalus currently has two current site locations: one in Brewton, Alabama, and another in Jasper, Texas.