Commerce News

The South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) today announced the recipients of its 2025 Relentless Challenge and StimulateSC grants, which totaled more than $750,000 granted to 13 projects across the state.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Eighteen communities from around South Carolina are receiving community development grant funds totaling more than $6.9 million for public improvement projects. This funding comes from the South Carolina Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which biannually awards grants to aid municipal governments for the purpose of improving economic opportunities and meeting community revitalization needs. The S.C. Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) awards the CDBG funds which will directly benefit 44,160 residents and total $6,975,048.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) today released its 2024 industry recruitment results, with an announced total capital investment of $8.19 billion from January to December 2024. Existing industries reinforced their commitment to South Carolina by reinvesting in the state through expansion projects, accounting for $5.38 billion of all announced capital investment last year.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) today announced the opening of a new international office to serve the United Kingdom (U.K.) and Irish markets. Located in London, the U.K. and Republic of Ireland (Ireland) office will be led by Managing Director Roxana Gonzalez to bolster the state’s transatlantic trade and investment efforts.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) has been awarded a State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Through a competitive application process, the state received its full requested amount of $325,000 to support and encourage small business export success.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) today announced Cristina Paredes will serve as the first executive director of the SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy (SC NEXUS), South Carolina’s Regional Technology and Innovation Hub (Tech Hub).

Governor Henry McMaster, the South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) and South Carolina Ports (SC Ports) today announced that the state’s 2023 export sales totaled $37.3 billion, defying the national trend where U.S. exports were down 2.2%, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Since 2013, South Carolina exports have grown at an average rate of 4.4% year-to-year. Over the same period, U.S. exports grew at an average rate of 3% year-to-year.

The South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) today announced the recipients of its 2024 Relentless Challenge grant, which totaled $880,000 granted to 15 projects around the state.

In fulfilling its vision of embracing the future to ensure South Carolina’s sustainable advantage, the South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) today unveiled its new agency brand and tagline, “Launch to Legacy,” to support industry recruitment and retention.

The South Carolina Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) today released its 2023 industry recruitment results which reflect sustained economic activity. From January to December 2023, the state announced total capital investment of $9.22 billion, the second largest amount in state history. That investment represents 81 projects and 14,120 announced jobs.