Commerce News

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.

COLUMBIA, S.C. –As part of the annual Industry Appreciation Week, the South Carolina Department of Commerce on Thursday announced the 2015 Ambassadors for Economic Development. Recognized for their exceptional efforts to bolster community and economic development activities in South Carolina, the ambassadors were honored in a ceremony held on Thursday, April 2 at the Governor’s Mansion Complex. This year, 48 individuals from 46 counties were selected.

COLUMBIA, SC - The State of South Carolina is launching a new program aimed at helping defense-related businesses in the state broaden into new markets and position for future success.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Commerce is awarding $2.6 million in a second round of funding to 19 organizations across the state to further innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-based economic development.

COLUMBIA, S.C. –For the fifth consecutive year, the state of South Carolina has set a record for total export sales. Today, Gov. Nikki Haley, the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the South Carolina Ports Authority announced that the state’s 2014 exports totaled $29.7 billion, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The figure represents a more than 13 percent increase over the 2013 total.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina posted another solid business recruitment year in 2014, with capital investment recruited to the state topping $5 billion for the second year in a row and for the third time in four years. From January to December 2014, the state won 146 economic development projects, totaling $5.088 billion in capital investment and 19,020 jobs by new and expanding businesses.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina's military footprint accounts for a significant portion of the state's total economic activity - generating an impact of more than $19 billion annually - according to a study released today. 

COLUMBIA, S.C. – August 26, 2011 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce today announced that approximately $16.3 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds have been awarded to 37 communities across the state. These projects will benefit more than 23,000 residents.  A full list of grant recipients is listed below.“The CDBG program consistently has a positive impact on communities across our state that lack resources for community development.