American businessman James Cash Penney once said, "The keystone of successful business is cooperation." Having just completed yet another remarkable year, Team South Carolina can certainly attest to the validity of Penney's statement. In 2017, the state's many partners worked together to recruit 157 economic development projects, accounting for $5.24 billion in capital investment and 18,445 new jobs.
To achieve numbers of this magnitude takes a remarkable amount of collaboration. From the various selling agencies of the state to our local governments, regional economic alliances and utilities, to our education partners and private sector allies, it takes all of us working together to ensure that South Carolina remains an ideal location to do business. Moving forward, as we seek to maintain and build on the tremendous success we're having in economic development, continued collaboration will be critical.