Commerce News

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The S.C. Department of Commerce today announced that Vanessa Goeschl will lead the agency’s office in Munich, Germany. Currently in its 43rd year of operation, the office spearheads the state’s international business recruitment efforts across Europe.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – As part of its new 3Phase initiative, the Office of Innovation at the S.C. Department of Commerce today announced a workshop series aimed at educating attendees on how to write grant applications for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants. Taking place on Monday, July 23 in North Charleston, S.C., the inaugural workshop will include a networking lunch and individualized 30-minute consulting sessions.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Fourteen communities across South Carolina are slated to benefit from public improvement projects supported by more than $7.2 million in funds from the latest round of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. The S.C. Department of Commerce is awarding CDBG funds to these communities, representing more than 8,630 residents, for the following projects:

COLUMBIA, S.C. – On Friday, May 18, two local leaders completed the S.C. Economic Development Institute (Institute). Anna DeLage of the S.C. Department of Commerce and Jamie Gilbert of Lancaster County received Certificates of Completion at the conclusion of May’s community development session held in Lake City, S.C.

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- As part of the 27th annual Industry Appreciation series, the S.C. Department of Commerce recognized its 2018 Industry Impact award recipients during an event on Thursday, April 26 at 701 Whaley Street in Columbia, S.C. Honoring businesses that have made significant contributions to their communities and state, the recipients were selected within a certain employment size and county development tier group.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The S.C. Department of Commerce Office of Innovation today announced more than $719,000 in grant awards to nine organizations as part of its Startup Fuel Challenge grant series. Tasked with advancing innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-based economic development, this grant program focuses on projects that are outcome-oriented and aim to build stronger entrepreneurs and companies.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The S.C. Department of Commerce gathered leaders from across the state on Monday, March 5 and Tuesday, March 6 for the 2018 South Carolina Rural Summit. Held in Columbia, S.C., this year’s event featured leadership development sessions, opportunities to share best practices between community leaders, an awards ceremony and presentations from a variety of speakers, including Governor Henry McMaster and Giti Tire’s Hank Eisenga.

COLUMBIA, S.C. –The Office of Innovation at the S.C. Department of Commerce today announced the launch of 3Phase, a new resource aimed at assisting research-based companies in South Carolina successfully acquire Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards. A first of its kind, 3Phase will provide training and workshops throughout the state on the federal SBIR and STTR programs, while managing the application process for a portfolio of companies, both at no cost to participants.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – For the eighth consecutive year, the State of South Carolina set a record for total export sales in 2017. Today, Gov. Henry McMaster, the S.C. Department of Commerce and the S.C. Ports Authority announced that the state’s 2017 export sales totaled $32.2 billion, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The figure represents a 2.9 percent increase over the 2016 total.

COLUMBIA, S.C. –The S.C. Department of Commerce today released its 2017 industry recruitment results. In total, the state won 157 economic development projects last year, accounting for $5.24 billion in capital investment and 18,445 new jobs.

“South Carolina has become an industrial powerhouse,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. “To recruit more than $5 billion in capital investment – a feat which had never occurred prior to 2011 – takes a remarkable amount of collaboration and teamwork from many partners across this state.”