Commerce News

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The S.C. Coordinating Council for Workforce Development (CCWD) met today to review the results of a statewide manufacturing workforce survey. Conducted by the S.C. Department of Commerce’s Division of Research, the survey provides insight into workforce issues facing the state’s manufacturing industry. More than 70 percent of the survey’s respondents had 50 or fewer employees.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The S.C. Department of Commerce has been awarded a State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for the sixth year. In total, the SBA is awarding $18 million to 44 states in this year's round of STEP grants, which are designed to support and encourage small business export success. South Carolina was awarded its full requested amount of $340,600.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The S.C. Department of Commerce today announced the creation of the Council for Innovation Initiatives. Tasked with helping the state advance the South Carolina Innovation Plan, which was published in January 2017, the council will meet quarterly with its inaugural meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 29.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – On Friday, August 11, York County Attorney Michael Kindree completed the S.C. Economic Development Institute. Kindree received a certificate of completion at the conclusion of August’s industrial development session held at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT) in Florence County.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina’s life sciences industry has an annual economic impact of approximately $11.4 billion, according to a study commissioned by the S.C. Research Authority (SCRA) and S.C. Biotechnology Industry Organization (SCBIO) in partnership with the S.C. Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce). Prepared by the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, the study finds that this growing sector has experienced an average annual employment growth rate of approximately 1.7 percent in the Palmetto State since 2005.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Fifteen communities from across South Carolina are slated to benefit from public improvement projects supported by more than $9.8 million in funds from the latest round of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The S.C. Department of Commerce is awarding CDBG funds to these communities, representing more than 6,900 residents, for the following projects:

City of Bennettsville – Wells Street Sewer Upgrade                                           $750,000

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The S.C. Department of Commerce today announced that Cynthia Jones will serve as a senior program director for the agency’s Existing Industry program. Jones will oversee the day-to-day operation of the program, including the coordination of efforts to expand the agency’s reach to existing companies and sectors.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – On Friday, May 12, two local leaders completed the S.C. Economic Development Institute. Pam Nobles of the SouthernCarolina Regional Development Alliance and Barnwell County Economic Development Commission and Blakely Williams of the Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce received Certificates of Completion at the conclusion of May’s community development session held at the Arts Center of Greenwood in Greenwood County.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - As part of the 26th annual Industry Appreciation series, the S.C. Department of Commerce recognized its 2017 Industry Impact Award recipients during an event on Thursday, May 11 at The Hall at Senate's End 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 today announced that Laura Corder has joined the agency as Managing Director of the Office of Innovation. Corder will lead the agency’s strategic innovation efforts and oversee the implementation of the South Carolina Innovation Plan, which was released earlier this year. She will also manage the S.C.