Commerce News

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.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Commerce, along with Chester County Economic Development, will be hosting a supplier outreach event for the Chester County Giti Tire plant project on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Richburg, S.C.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Commerce today announced that Wally Wang has joined the agency as a Senior Project Manager. Wang will work to promote economic development and business development throughout South Carolina, focusing specifically on Chinese investment.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – December 20, 2013 – For the second year in a row, South Carolina has claimed the top spot among U.S. states in a report gauging the global impact of foreign-direct investment (FDI).

COLUMBIA, S.C. – November 25, 2013 – Six communities across the state will benefit from public improvement projects supported by more than $2.8 million in funds from the latest round of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The South Carolina Department of Commerce is awarding CDBG funds to these local municipalities, representing 18,313 residents, for the following projects:

Hampton County – Health Department:  $500,000

City of Hardeeville – Public Library:  $500,000

COLUMBIA, S.C. – October 7, 2013 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce today announced that Allison Skipper has joined the agency as marketing and communications director, and Amy Love will launch and direct the Department’s new Office of Innovation.

Skipper will lead the Department’s strategic communications initiatives and serve as the agency’s spokeswoman. She previously spent nine years at the South Carolina State Ports Authority in Charleston, where she most recently served as public relations manager handling external communications, media and community relations.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – October 23, 2012 – South Carolina has been named among the top states for key site selection criteria, according to Area Development magazine’s recent survey of highly respected site consultants who work with a nationwide client base. South Carolina ranked second overall meeting key location requirements, according to the magazine’s survey.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The South Carolina Department of Commerce gathered leaders from across the state on Thursday evening for the 2015 South Carolina Rural Summit. Held at the South Carolina State Museum in downtown Columbia, this year's silver anniversary event featured an awards ceremony, a performance from the Claflin University Choir, a retrospective look at rural economic development in South Carolina since 1990 and a keynote address, given by Craig Melvin, national correspondent for NBC's "TODAY" show.