Commerce News

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The State of South Carolina is expanding its export initiative for in-state businesses through a new program:

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Communities across the state are slated to benefit from public improvement projects supported by nearly $13.3 million in funds from the latest round of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The recycling industry in South Carolina brings a $13 billion boost to the state's economy annually - double the estimated impact of recycling in 2006 - according to a new report released today. 

 Compiled by Dr. Frank Hefner, the economic impact report quantified the contributions of recycling through a combination of direct survey data from recycling companies as well as economic modeling through IMPLAN. The report was an update to a 2006 study with the same methodology. 

COLUMBIA, S.C. – March 2, 2012 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce will host a day-long workshop this month to help small business owners with strategies on financing their businesses and meeting lenders. The event will be March 13, at the TD Convention Center in Greenville.

“The emotion and energy of Commerce is toward having an impact. Meeting the needs of small business through sessions like this one help us do that, and bring important resources right to small business owners,” said Bobby Hitt, Secretary of Commerce.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – February 13, 2012 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce today announced that Ford Graham will lead the agency’s Europe Office in Munich, Germany, which spearheads Commerce’s international recruitment efforts on the continent.      

Graham is currently the S.C. Department of Commerce’s director of International Investment. He is responsible for the international recruiting strategy, as well as leading the Department in large-scale economic development efforts.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – February 9, 2012 – The State of South Carolina will host the 5th Annual Southeastern U.S. - Canadian Provinces Alliance (SEUS-CP) trade conference in Myrtle Beach May 20-22. More than 300 Canadian and U.S. business and government leaders will connect at the Marriott Resort and Spa at Grand Dunes to promote trade and investment opportunities.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – January 26, 2012 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce earned second place in the Business Facilities 2011 Economic Development Deal of the Year competition for the Continental Tire the Americas (CTA) new plant in Sumter County, S.C. The $500 million investment is expected to generate 1,700 new jobs, including 80 new jobs in CTA’s headquarters in Lancaster County, S.C.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – February 28, 2012 – Gov. Nikki Haley, the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the State Ports Authority today announced the state’s 2011 exports totaled more than $24.6 billion in goods sold to 198 countries around the world. Figures represent a 21.4 percent increase over 2010 totals. In 2011, South Carolina’s 21.4 percent export growth ranked the state 14th in the U.S.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Commerce today announced the establishment of a new International Strategy and Trade Division. Tasked with building on previous overseas successes in both South Carolina exports and international company recruitment, the division will be led by the Department of Commerce’s former Director of Global Business Development, W. Ford Graham.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Commerce today announced that Nelson Lindsay has joined the agency as the Director of Global Business Development. In this role, Lindsay will be responsible for all project management activity and for the recruitment of new industry to South Carolina.  He will also work with existing industry to further assist in their growth.