Young people in today's South Carolina grew up never knowing of a time before globally-recognized industry leaders called the Palmetto State home. Over the last few decades, companies like Michelin and BMW took a leap of faith and made the decision to establish operations within our borders. As a result, an advanced manufacturing industry was born, and a truly high-tech economy emerged.
Whether it was out of necessity, as our manufacturers worked hard to remain on the cutting edge of technological advances, or simply a product of South Carolina's rising profile on the international business stage, one thing is certain -- the Palmetto State has become a major player in the global technology industry. Just this week, artificial intelligence firm DeepBD announced new operations in the Lowcountry. And, earlier this fall, Green Cloud Technologies announced a new headquarters facility in the Upstate. These types of announcements are a major reason why South Carolina's net tech employment growth rate ranked 11th in the nation last year.
Moving forward, we know that businesses don't sit still. They're constantly changing and evolving. As a state, we're committed to doing all we can to remain at the forefront of technological advancement, ensuring prosperity across South Carolina for many years to come.