State leads the nation as top exporter of tires and completed passenger motor vehicles
Gov. Henry McMaster, the S.C. Department of Commerce and the SC Ports Authority today announced that the state's 2021 export sales totaled $29.7 billion, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The state remains the top exporter of tires and completed passenger motor vehicles.
State of South Carolina releases record-setting industry recruitment figures for 2021
The South Carolina Department of Commerce today released its 2021 industry recruitment results, which break multiple records set throughout the past decade. In total, the state won 153 projects, accounting for $5.7 billion in capital investment and more than 18,000 new jobs.
S.C. Commerce Office of Innovation announces grant awards
The South Carolina Department of Commerce Office of Innovation today announced its 2022 Relentless Challenge grant recipients, totaling $473,000 granted to 10 organizations around the state. With the mission of progressing and supporting technology-based economic development projects, commercialization of new ideas and the next generation of industry-leading companies, the Relentless Challenge grant series targets strategic investments in localized initiatives.
Department of Commerce delivers on commitment to increased transparency
As part of the South Carolina Department of Commerce’s (Commerce) ongoing commitment to transparency, the agency has delivered by implementing changes that provide increased information to the public and has also pledged additional, future changes.
Palmetto Venture Fellowship to launch in February 2022
The South Carolina Department of Commerce’s Office of Innovation has partnered with Venture Carolina, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the funding gap between investors and entrepreneurs, to launch a pilot fellowship program to create more local accredited investors, expanding risk-capital accessibility for early-stage startups in South Carolina.
S.C. Department of Commerce announces new Deputy Secretary
The S.C. Department of Commerce today announced that Ashely Teasdel, most recently serving as director of the Business Services division, has been promoted to Deputy Secretary. Working alongside Secretary Lightsey, Teasdel will support the implementation of agency-wide initiatives and programs and provide strategic management.
Phase IIB Matching Fund launched for S.C. small businesses
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The S.C. Department of Commerce Office of Innovation, in partnership with the South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority (JEDA) and 3Phase, today announced the launch of the state’s first Phase IIB Match Fund for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants.
Fellowship program for software developers to launch this fall
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Commerce Office of Innovation has partnered with two statewide nonprofit organizations, Build Carolina (which runs the SC Codes program) and the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness (which houses
State of South Carolina announces 2020 industry recruitment results
The South Carolina Department of Commerce today released its 2020 industry recruitment results. In total, the state won 126 economic development projects, accounting for $4 billion in capital investment and 11,147 new jobs.
"Team South Carolina continues to cultivate a diverse economy in all corners of our state," said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. "To increase our recruitment to $4 billion in capital investment - particularly during an unprecedented year - takes a remarkable amount of collaboration and unwavering commitment from many partners across this state."
State and community leaders graduate from South Carolina economic development training program
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The S.C. Department of Commerce(S.C. Commerce) and S.C. Economic Developers’ Association (SCEDA) today announced that 49 state and community leaders have graduated from a statewide economic development training program, the S.C. Economic Development Institute (Institute).