$82 million investment to create 90 high-skilled jobs in rural South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Cyclic Materials, a leader in advanced recycling solutions for rare earth elements and critical materials, today announced it has selected Chesterfield County as the location for its first East Coast operation. The project represents an investment of more than $82 million and is expected to create 90 highly skilled jobs.
Headquartered in Toronto, Cyclic Materials uses innovative technology to recover rare earth elements from end-of-life products, providing a more sustainable and secure alternative to traditional supply chains.
The company’s new co-located processing and manufacturing facility will be located at Alligator Industrial Park in McBee. The facility will produce copper, steel, aluminum and mixed rare earth oxide, supporting advanced manufacturing supply chains across the United States. Operations are expected to come online in 2028.
Individuals interested in career opportunities with Cyclic Materials are encouraged to visit the company’s careers page.
To support the project, the Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits and awarded a $500,000 Set-Aside grant to Chesterfield County to assist with building improvements.
Executive and State Leadership Quotes
“Our decision to invest in South Carolina reflects a deliberate strategy to grow a strong, interconnected U.S. recycling network,” said Ahmad Ghahreman, CEO and founder of Cyclic Materials. “By expanding our footprint in the Southeast, we are positioning Cyclic Materials closer to the partners, customers, talent and infrastructure needed to scale secure, circular supply chains nationally. This investment strengthens American manufacturing and accelerates the development of a more resilient domestic rare earths and critical metals ecosystem.”
“Cyclic Materials’ new facility in Chesterfield County reflects the confidence companies have in South Carolina’s workforce and our ability to support advanced manufacturing,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “This more than $82 million investment will bring new opportunities to the community and further strengthen the local economy.”
“With the addition of 90 jobs, Cyclic Materials’ decision to establish operations in South Carolina is another example of the strong economic development momentum across our state,” said Harry M. Lightsey III, secretary of commerce. “We look forward to supporting the company’s continued growth in Chesterfield County.”
“Cyclic Materials’ decision to invest over $82 million and create 90 high-paying skilled jobs in McBee marks a historic milestone for Chesterfield County and rural South Carolina,” said Mary Anderson, chairwoman of Chesterfield County Council. “This investment—one of the largest manufacturing commitments in our county’s history—signals strong confidence in our workforce and long-term economic future, with benefits that will extend for generations.”
About South Carolina Department of Commerce
The South Carolina Department of Commerce is the state’s lead economic development agency, working to recruit and support companies as they launch, expand and grow across South Carolina. Through strategic initiatives and partnerships, S.C. Commerce helps create economic opportunities that increase choices for all South Carolinians while strengthening the state’s long-term competitiveness.
About Cyclic Materials
Founded in 2021, Cyclic Materials is a cleantech company building a resilient global supply chain for rare earth elements and other critical materials through the recycling of magnet-containing end-of-life products. Its proprietary MagCycle℠and REEPure℠ technologies transform discarded materials into high-quality recycled mixed rare earth oxides used in AI, robotics, defense and advanced manufacturing.
With commercial-scale operations expanding across North America, Europe and Asia, Cyclic Materials continues to scale its rare earth recycling infrastructure to meet rapidly growing global demand. The company has been recognized by MIT Technology Review, Fortune, and Fast Company for its leadership in climate tech and innovation.
