Henry Ford once said, "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." In South Carolina, we're successful because of our collaboration and our ability to work hand-in-hand, across this state to cultivate an unmatched, positive business environment in each and every one of our communities.
Because of this collaboration, Team South Carolina has been able to achieve some pretty remarkable results. Over the last six and a half years, we've recruited more than $29.5 billion in capital investment and approximately 107,000 new jobs to our state. In each of those years, we've also seen our exporters set new records for state export sales, topping $31 billion for the first time in 2016.
This week, as we highlight the importance of teamwork, I want to recognize a longtime member of our team -- the Jobs-Economic Development Authority (JEDA). Established in 1983, this organization serves as a statewide conduit issuer of special obligation revenue bonds, connecting South Carolina's businesses with the funding opportunities they need to grow and thrive within our borders. In fiscal year 2017, JEDA issued and reissued more than $1 billion in bonds, making this its biggest year ever.
Moving forward, as we seek to build on the economic success we've experienced as a state, JEDA and all of our many allies and partners around South Carolina will continue to play a pivotal role, ensuring that we remain 'Just right' for many years to come.