South Carolina Commerce 2014

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SPONSORED BY SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE | 2014

businessclimate.com/south-carolina

CAROLINA

SOUTH

COMMERCE
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http://www.amazon.com/


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PAID ADVERTISEMENT

The road to your successfulproject begins with us!

Making history with two of the largestcapital projects in the history South Carolina.

Wood Group Mustangis People Oriented

Project Driven

SERVICES OFFERED

Project/Program Management

Concept Development

Project Development

Competitive Assessment

New Process Development& Commercialization

Front-End Engineering

Detailed Engineering

Estimating

Materials Management

Procurement

Construction Management

QA/QC and Inspection

Process Safety Management

Professional Staffing Services

Cost & Schedule Management

Manual Development & Training

Startup & Commissioning

For additional information,

please contact one of our

South Carolina business

development professionals:

Ken Anthony864.404.2211

[email protected]

Billy Dunlap864.404.2727

[email protected]

Having been involved with two of thelargest capital projects in the history ofSouth Carolina, including Boeing and BMW,

Greenvilles Wood Group Mustang is a global

engineering, procurement and construction

management (EPCM) powerhouse that still

holds small-town values and continues todeliver on all sizes of engineering projects

throughout South Carolina and the southeast

United States.

South Carolinians may know Wood Group

Mustang as the former Global Performance

acquired in 2006 by the Scottish conglomerate

Wood Group, widely respected in the oil and

gas industry. Wood Group Mustang has more

than 200 employees in the Greenville area,

while its parent company earned revenues of

$7 billion with 43,000 employees in 60

countries worldwide. Wood Group Mustangserves the oil and gas, pipeline, refining,

chemical, process services, industrial (including

automotive and aerospace) and automation

industries. While part of the global

powerhouse, the Greenville team still

maintains the fundamental principles that

drove them to serve the process facility and

industrial markets of the Upstate.

By joining a successful global team already

in place, we have been able to service the

various markets in the region through EPCM

projects, says Brent Owen, vice president andgeneral manager of Wood Group Mustangs

Greenville office. Using the broad reach and

depth of talent from the entire organization,

we are able to support our clients with a

strong regional presence as Mustang grows

and expands its business both domestically

and internationally.

As a recipient of the Boeing Supplier

Excellence Award for the past two years,Wood Group Mustang strives to gain a full

and detailed understanding of the needs of

the project at hand and the specific desires

of its clients. Repeat business projects and

referrals from existing clients continue to

reflect the companys customer service

pledge. Using our proven systems and tools

as the foundation, we design a project

execution plan that is custom designed to

the needs of the project and maintain the

flexibility to adapt throughout the project,

explains Ken Anthony, vice president of

business development, Wood Group Mustang.

We have in-depth experience integrating our

team and tools with those of our clients to

ensure that they receive the results they seek.

The companys Upstate success contributes

to the thousands of job opportunities for

South Carolinians from family businesses

to multinationals. South Carolina depends

on these companies to sustain the economy,

and we are committed to supporting them

in their efforts. We intend to continue the

growth enjoyed over the past 14 years and

look forward to continued success in South

Carolina and other key regions globally,

says Brent Owen.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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mailto:%[email protected]://www.edpsc.org/


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BUSINESSCLIMATE.COM/SOUTH-CAROLINA ||7

2014 EDITION | VOLUME 4

3244

5058

EDUCATION

PEOPLESKILLS

South Carolina trainingprograms give employersa workforce developmentadvantage

SUSTAINABILITY

CYCLE OFGROWTHSouth Carolina is fertileground for a blossomingrecycling industry, whichcreated 765 jobsand $104 million ininvestment in 2013

TECHNOLOGY

GOLD MINDSResources that promoteresearch and private-sector partnerships,plus a high quality oflife draw talent to SouthCarolinas growinginnovation economy

TRANSPORTATION

SPANNINGTHE GLOBESouth Carolina offersthe sea, air, road and railassets to link businessesto both domestic andinternational markets

CONTENTS

CAROLINASOUTH

COMMERCE


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http://www.sc.edu/


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19BUSINESS CLIMATE

JUST RIGHTFOR BUSINESSA robust manufacturing sector helpsdrive growth in South Carolinasdiverse economy

22BUSINESS INVESTMENT

FRIENDLY SKIESAnchored by Boeing, South Carolinais going full throttle for aviation andaerospace growth

28RURAL GROWTH

BIG GROWTH INSMALLER PLACESState economic development effortspay off in new jobs and investmentin rural communities

38AGRICULTURE

HOME GROWNSouth Carolina works up a healthy

appetite for farm-to-table initiatives

CONTENTS

13 OVERVIEW

14 DISCOVER

57 ECONOMIC PROFILE

68 GALLERY

22

38

28

62

62LIVABILITY

DESTINATIONOF CHOICEA thriving arts scene, haute cuisineand warm hospitality help makeCharleston an international city

and top destination for tourists


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http://www.kbrbuildinggroup.com/


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DIRECTOR OF CONTENT |BILL McMEEKINEDITOR AND PROJECT MANAGER |EMILY McMACKINCONTRIBUTING WRITERS |NAN BAUROTH, PAMELA COYLE,BILL LEWIS, MARTHA SPIZZIRI, STEPHANIE VOZZA,

GARY WOLLENHAUPTCONTENT COORDINATOR |JESSICA WALKER BOEHMSTAFF WRITER |KEVIN LITWINPROOFREADING MANAGER |RAVEN PETTYMARKETING COORDINATOR |KATE SWANSONLEAD DESIGNER |KACEY PASSMORESENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS |STACEY ALLIS,LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, JAKE SHORES,

VIKKI WILLIAMS

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS |JACKIE CIULLA, LINDSEY HIGGINS,MATT WEST

CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY ANALYST |BECCA ARYLEAD PHOTOGRAPHER |BRIAN McCORDSENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS |JEFF ADKINSSTAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS |MICHAEL CONTI, WENDY JO OBARR,FRANK ORDOEZ, MICHAEL TEDESCO

COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN |ALISON HUNTEREXECUTIVE INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER |SUZI MCGRUDERSALES SUPPORT PROJECT MANAGER |SARA QUINTSALES SUPPORT COORDINATOR |CHRISTINA MORGANAD PRODUCTION MANAGER |KATIE MIDDENDORFAD TRAFFIC ASSISTANTS |KRYSTIN LEMMON,PATRICIA MOISAN

WEB PROJECT MANAGER |DAVID DAYWEB DEVELOPER I |NELS NOSEWORTHYWEB DESIGNER II |RICHARD STEVENSDIGITAL PROJECT MANAGER |JILL RIDENOURDIGITAL PRODUCTS DESIGNER |ERICA LAMPLEY

CHAIRMAN |GREG THURMANPRESIDENT/PUBLISHER |BOBSCHWARTZMANEXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT |RAY LANGENSENIOR V.P./SALES |TODD POTTERSENIOR V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT |JEFF HEEFNERSENIOR V.P./OPERATIONS |CASEY HESTERSENIOR V.P./JOURNAL DIGITAL |MICHAEL BARBERV.P./SALES |

JAREK SWEKOSKYV.P./CONTENT OPERATIONS |NATASHA LORENS

MEDIA TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR |CHRISTINA CARDENPHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR |JEFFREY S. OTTOWEB SERVICES DIRECTOR |ALLISON DAVISCONTROLLER |CHRIS DUDLEYSENIOR ACCOUNTANT |LISA OWENSACCOUNTS PAYABLE COORDINATOR |MARIA McFARLANDACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE COORDINATOR |DIANA GUZMANIT DIRECTOR |DANIEL CANTRELLEXECUTIVE SECRETARY |KRISTY GILESHUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER |PEGGY BLAKE

South Carolina Commerce is published annually by JournalCommunications Inc. and is distributed through theSouth Carolina Department of Commerce.

For advertising information or to direct questions or commentsabout the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at(615) 771-0080 or by email at [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

South Carolina Department of Commerce1201 Main St., Ste. 1600 Columbia, SC 29201Phone: (803) 737-0400www.sccommerce.com

VISITSOUTH CAROLINA COMMERCEONLINE AT

BUSINESSCLIMATE.COM/SOUTH-CAROLINA

Copyright 2014 Journal Communications Inc.,725 Cool Springs Blvd., Ste. 400, Franklin, TN 37067,(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazinemay be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

Member The Association of Magazine Media

Member Custom Content Council

Please recycle this magazine.

2014 EDITION VOLUME 4

SPONSORED BY SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE | 2014

businessclimate.com/south-carolina

CAROLINASOUTH

COMMERCE

Automotive ManufacturingInvestment and expansionby BMW drives growth in theauto sector in the state

Biotechnology

and Life Sciences

State initiatives link South

Carolina life sciences innovators

Aerospace and AviationSouth Carolina takes flight as acenter of aircraft manufacturing

OnlineWhats on businessclimate.com/south-carolina

TabletTake South Carolina with you

with a digital edition availablefor tablet viewing.

Twitter

Keep updated andinformed on the latestreal-time news,developments andinformation.

Demographics

Drill down on thenumbers behind thestates powerhouseeconomy with a full setof statistics and data.

Top Industries

Learn more aboutkey industry sectorsand top companiesthat make thePalmetto State work.

Photo Gallery & Videos

See unique faces, spaces andplaces presented in a whole newway courtesy of our team ofaward-winning photographers.

CAROLINASOUTH

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What is it about South Carolina? I am often

asked this question by people all over the

nation, trying to find out the secret of our

success. Many want to know how South

Carolina in less than a decade has

caused a sea-change in business

development, leveled the economic playing field and emerged as a

national leader in manufacturing, ag riculture and foreign direct

investment. My answer is simple: Our state has learned what we

need to be successful, and we continue to build on our reputationas a state that is just right for business.

During the national economic downturn, the state emerged as a

Southeast magnet for new jobs, investment and growth, ranking as

one of the top states for doing business byArea Development, Chief

ExecutiveandBusiness Facilitiesmagazines. Since 2011, the South

Carolina Department of Commerce helped facilitate the recruitment

of 49,000 jobs and funneled more than $14.5 billion in capital

investments into the state. Moreover, South Carolina has

experienced record growth in our manufacturing sector,

experiencing a more than 18 percent gain in output from 2010-2012.

Our economic development reputation has earned us the moniker

Beast of Southeast, and this success is due largely to Gov. NikkiHaleys role in business development, the states workforce and

Commerces aggressive recruiting strategy. As a result, household

names across various industries have put down roots in South

Carolina including brands like Boeing, BMW, Bridgestone Americas,

Continental Tire, Google, Honda, Michelin, TD Bank and Sonoco.

In South Carolina, we are doing the right thing, the right way.

Commerce has strategically focused on making sure South Carolina is

globally competitive and sustains a vital and thriving economy. We are

manufacturing for the world and exporting to all corners of the globe.

One of the true secrets to success for the state is its investment in

workforce development, ensuring the states residents have the skill

sets businesses are seeking. The award-winning readySC program,for example, offers coordinated training through the states technical

colleges at no cost for eligible new or expanding companies.

The states cultural and historic offerings and opportunities for

outdoor recreation from coast to mountains, including 400 golf

courses, make South Carolina an unparalleled place to call home.

One of my core beliefs is th at business doesnt sit still. To be

competitive, you have to be ready for chan ge. With Commerces

project managers spearheading economic development efforts, and

with help from our partners and allies across the state, we are doing

more than ever to show why South Carolina is just right for business.

Bobby Hitt

South Carolina Secretary of Commerce

THE RIGHT THING

THE RIGHT WAY


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14 ||SOUTH CAROLINA COMMERCE

Discover

South Carolina

BUILT FOR ENJOYMENT

South Carolina doesnt have tomanufacture fun, but it has anumber of manufacturers thatmake products designed for it.

Honda of South CarolinaManufacturing Inc.has beenproducing all-terrain vehicles atits operations in Timmonsvillesince 1997. In November 2012, thecompany hit a major milestone,producing its 2.5 millionth ATV.Honda also announced that it wouldinvest $27 million in the plant tomake its next generation of side-by-side utility products, adding 65 jobsto its 850-person workforce.

Scout Boatsin Summerville buildsaward-winning sports fishing craft.The company is an innovator in thedesign and construction of its crafts,including the use of advancedmaterials and composites.

Located on Pawleys Island, TheOriginal Hammock Shopproducescotton rope hammocks and weather-resistant DuraCord rope hammocks.The family-owned company has beenin operation since 1978.

Tara Grinna Swimwearhas beenproducing its vibrant a nd colorfulsuits for more than 25 years. Thecompany is based in Conway, whereit manufactures its bathing suits.

North Star Leather, based in

Chesterfield County, produceswallets, handbags, checkbooksand other leather accessories.

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Florence Countys Honda of South CarolinaManufacturing Inc. facility producesfour-wheeled Honda FourTrax ATVs.


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FAST-GROWTH COMPANIES RECEIVE RECOGNITION

Seven South Carolina companies ranked on theInc.500, the list that highlightsprivate companies with the biggest percentage gain in revenue over three years.

Tops among South Carolina companies and No. 14 on theInc.500 was Sparc, aCharleston software developer that had a three-year revenue increase of 12,863percent. Omatic Softwarein North Charleston, another Inc. 500 company,experienced a nearly 2,200 percent revenue growth over the last three yea rs.

Blue Acornin Charleston designs and builds e-commerce sites for brands andother online retailers, while Boomtown, another Charleston company, develops

Web-based marketing systems used by real estate professionals. WirelessCommunicationsin Greenville is a Verizon Wireless retailer with 32 locations.

In Lexington, Space Saving Solutionshas experienced revenue growth of morethan 1,600 percent in a three-year period, while West Columbias PerformanceStrength Designswas featured on NBC's The Biggest Loser.

TEE IT UP AND TAKE A SWING

South Carolina and golf are synonymous, and while golf has been called "a goodwalk spoiled," the Palmetto State spoils the players of the game with more than

400 championship courses, including two that rank on Golf Digests 2013-14 100Greatest Golf Courses list and six that rank on its 100 Best Public Golf Courses list.

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, designed by golf architect Pete Dye, wasNo. 21 on the 100 Greatest Courses list for 2013-14. The course hosted the 2012PGA Championship and is one of four courses nationally to host each of the PGAof America's major championships. The course also hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup,among other prestigious tournaments. Also on the 100 Greatest Courses list isHarbour Town Golf Links, a course designed by Dye and Jack Nicklaus. TheHilton Head course is the home of the RBC Heritage, a regular PGA Tour stop.

You don't have to be a pro or a member to play Kiawah Island and Harbour Town.Both are public courses and are ra nked on Golf Digest's 100 Greatest Public courses

list. Joining them on the 2013-14 list were: May River Golf Courseat PalmettoBluff in Bluffton, The Dunes Golf & Beach Clubin Myrtle Beach, CaledoniaGolf & Fish Clubon Pawleys Island and TPC Myrtle Beachat Murrells Inlet.

TOP-LEVELHEALTH-CAREPROVIDERS SERVESOUTH CAROLINA

The medical center at theMedical University of South

Carolina is one of eighthospitals in the state thatappeared on the U.S. News& World Report Best

Hospitals Listfor 2013-14.

The MUSC MedicalCenter, a world-renownedteaching hospital thathandles nearly 33,000admissions a year andperforms nearly 19,000inpatient surgeries, was

nationally ranked forrheumatology, nephrology,and ear, nose and throattreatments. Its MUSCChildrens Hospital

was nationally ranked inpediatric cardiology andheart surgery, GI surgeryand gastroenterology,and nephrology.

In addition, U.S. Newscited Charlestons Roper

Hospital, GreenvilleMemorial Hospital,Spartanburg RegionalMedical CenterandAnMed Healthin Anderson ashigh performing in

several categories.

And Bon Secours St.Francis HospitalinCharleston was named toTruven Health Analytics

2013 Top 100 Hospitals listin the Medium CommunityHospital Category.

1South Carolinas rank in tire

exports. Nearly 30 percent

of all U.S. tire exports comefrom the Palmetto State.

BY THE NUMBERS

KEY INDUSTRY

WHO'S H ERE

THINGS TO DO

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island includes 10 holes along the Atlantic Ocean.


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The way Bobby Hitt sees it, thefactory floor is an important

place for South Carolina.

Manufacturing is the key

contributor of wealth in the U.S.,

says Hitt, South Carolina Secretary

of Commerce. Were focused on recruiting

manufacturing and manufacturing-related

companies, and weve recruited expansions of

over 60 new projects in automotive fields in the

past 30 months. The numbers are pretty significant

9,000 new jobs and $5 billion worth of investment.

U.S. manufacturing is gaining traction, and South

Carolina is leading the way. Manufacturing GDP in

South Carolina grew 8.5 percent in 2012,compared to the national average of 7.8 percent.

Industrial powers including BMW, Boeing, GE,

Michelin, Continental Tire and Bridgestone call the

state home, proving that its just right for business.

Overall, the states $178 billion economy has

created thousands of jobs and attracted investment

from around the world. Major announcements in

2013 resulted in more than 15,457 jobs and close

to $5.4 billion in new investment.

Global Companies Grow in South Carolina

The state has one of the lowest private-sector

unionization rates in the nation, and ranks third

Just

Right forBusiness

BUSINESS CLIMATE

A ROBUST MANUFACTURINGSECTOR HELPS DRIVE GROWTH

IN SOUTH CAROLINASDIVERSE ECONOMY

By Stephanie Vozza


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lowest among states for

manufacturing unionization,

at 1.9 percent.

South Carolina is a low-tax

state that offers corporations a

strategic location with access to

major markets throughout the

Southeast, says James Chavez,president and CEO of the South

Carolina Power Team. Perhaps

the most significant offering is

that state leaders such as Gov.

Nikki Haley and Secretary Bobby

Hitt have developed an aggressive

effort to grow jobs by taking care

of existing industry and positioned

us to compete on a global scale

to lure new investments to the

Palmetto State.

Many of the booming companies

are household names. Tire maker

Michelin North America expanded

its existing Anderson County

facility to keep up with increasing

demand. The company invested

$200 million and expects t o

generate 100 new jobs with the

expansion, which was completed

in 2013.

In April 2012, Michelinannounced an investment of

$750 million in its Anderson

and Lexing ton County facilities,

creating more than 500 new jobs.

Michelin is South Carolinas

largest manufacturing employer,

with nearly 9,000 workers at its

nine production facilities located

throughout the state.

Essex Holdings, a global

resources company with

business lines in minerals,

energy, ag riculture and food, is

building a manufacturing facility

in Marion County. The $54.4

million investment is expected

to generate 215 new jobs in the

companys food division.

Spirit Pharmaceuticals, makers

of generic drugs, will move into a

new facility in Clarendon County.

The company is investing $12.1million and expects to generate

296 new jobs.

HARTMA NN USA Inc., a

manufacturer and distributor

of medical products, announced

an $18 mi llion investment that is

expected to generate 75 new jobs.

The company will relocate its

Bloomington, Ind., production

operations to its York County

headquarters.

Weve worked hard the last

20 years to create diversity in our

economy, Hitt says. Two of our

Area Development:A 2013 Silver Shovel award in recognition of economic development

projects undertaken in 2012, the fifth straight year the state has received a Gold Shovel or

Silver Shovel award in its population category.

Area Development: NamedContinental Tire the Americas LLC manufacturing facilityin Sumter County Project of the Year. Continental Tire announced plans in 2011 to build

the plant, representing an investment of $500 million and 1,700 new jobs.

Area Development: Ranked South Carolina No. 2 in the nation on its Top States for Doing

Businesslist based on 14 key site-selection criteria.

Business Facilities: Ranked South Carolina No. 7 for lowest cost of labor, No. 3 as a

nuclear power leader, No. 7 for automotive manufacturing strength, No. 8 for business

climate and No. 10 as automotive parts supplier leader on its 2013 State Rankings

Report.

Chief Executive: Named South Carolina one of the 10 best states for business in 2013,based on ratings from 650 business leaders.

ACCOLADES

Made in SCThe Palmetto State exported $25.1 billion worth of goods around the world in 2012.

Below are the top eight export destinations for South Carolina products.

Source: U.S. InternationalTrade Administration

South CarolinaExports

2009$16.5B

2010$20.3B

2011$24.7B

2012$25.1B

S.C. Export Destinations

1. Canada: $3.9B

2. Germany: $3.7B

3. China: $3.2B

4. Mexico: $2.0B

5. U.K.: $1.4B

6. Australia: $778.7M

7. Japan: $725.3M

8. Brazil: $714.0M

Source: U.S. ITA2

3

4

56

7

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success stories are BMW and

Boeing, which are like bookends

on either sides of our state.

We a lso have t he la rgest tire

manufacturing jurisdiction in the

world. South Carolina has a good

manufacturing base. Were a small

state with a compact powerstructure. Because were small,

were able to work through all the

permitting. We all know each

other here, and we can sit down

and figure out the best way to

handle business. In order for us

to win, we have to be a team.

South Carolina: High Marksfor Business Climate

And those efforts a re gainingnotice. South Carolina earned a

Silver Shovel award in 2013 and

a Gold Shovel Award in 2012 from

Area Developmentmagazine in

recognition of its record on job

growth and investment. In

addition, South Carolina made

the top 10 on Chief Executive

magazines annual Best States

for Business list in 2013, basedon taxation and regulations,

quality of workforce, and

living environment.

Chavez, who recently relocated

to South Carolina from the

Nashville, Tenn., area, says the

Palmetto States good fortune

is a result of the high ca liber

of its leadership.

Gov. Haley doesnt just show

up to deal-closing meetings or a

ground-breaking, he says. Shemakes calls to decision-makers

everyday. And not just the biggest

projects; she calls on every

project. That type of leadership

separates her from nearly every

other governor, and it is a major

reason that South Carolina is back

on top of the economic

development world.

Hitt says some of hispriorities moving into the future

are to continue focusing on

manufacturing, as well as on

information technology, di gital

media, insurance and health.

The big horses in our state are

in manufacturing, he says. We

want to continue to add to that.

Were marketing South Carolina

to the world as a customizable

state. Tell us what you need, andwell customize our training and

site development to give it to you.
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FRIENDLY

SKIES

BUSINESSINVESTMENT

BOEING


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ANCHORED BY BOEING, SOUTHCAROLINA IS FULL THROTTLE FOR

AVIATION AND AEROSPACE GROWTH


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When it comes

to geographic

size, South

Carolina

may not be a

heavyweight

contender it ranks 40th in area but

the Palmetto State has attracted some

big names when it comes to business

investment. In fact, it has readily

established itself as a place where

companies come, stay and grow.

We are fighting above our weight,

says Bobby Hitt, South Carolinas

Secretary of Commerce. Were a smallstate blessed with good geography and

good basic infrastructure and a nice,

compact government system that lets

us solve problems for our companies.

Boeings Impact

One of its booming industries is

aerospace, which has charted a course

for rapid growth in the state that shows

no sign of slowing soon. The sector is

anchored by The Boeing Co., which chose

Charleston in 2009 for a massive assemblyoperation for its 787 Dreamliner. Today,

the company employs 6,000 workers

at four facilities in South Carolina.

Boeing announced in April 2013 that

it would invest another $1.1 billion in the

Palmetto State, creating an additional

2,000 jobs over the next eight years.

This expansion represents a 30 percent

growth in its South Carolina workforce.

Hitt says Boeings selection of South

Carolina put the seal of approval on the

state for the aerospace and aviation

industry. In fact, South Carolinas

aerospace industry now comprises more

than 200 manufacturing and defense

companies across the state, including

Lockheed Martin, GE Aviation and A.I.D.

Co., which is part of RBC Bearings Inc.

Recruiting the Aerospace Industry

In 2012, the state formed an Aerospace

Task Force to develop and g row this

industry. Its director, Charlie Ferrell,

says hes seeing the interest level picking

up in South Carolina.

We attended the Paris Air Show,

and there was a tremendous amountof interest in South Carolina, he says.

Because of Boeing, people around the

world now know where South Carolina

is. Having Boeing choose us was a game-

changer. South Carolina now has a

reputation for being a player in aerospace.

Farrell says South Carolina stays

competitive with neighboring states

by setting the table for more companies

to come.

My job is to direct our strategic plan

that will enhance the aerospace industry,he says. In the last 15 months, weve

worked on all of the issues that make

us competitive with neighboring states

as well as in the world. Were working

especially hard on workforce development.

Farrell says South Carolina is

investing in its STEM (science,

technology, engineering and math)

programs across its education system,

beginning in kindergarten.

Aerospace is highly regulated, and it

takes a very skilled workforce, he says.

By Stephanie Vozza

Were a small state blessed with good geographyand good basic infrastructure and a nice, compactgovernment system that lets us solve problems

for our companies.Bobby Hitt, South Carolinas Secretary of Commerce


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Trident Technical College in North Charlestontrains Boeing employees to work on thecompanys 787 Dreamliner aircraft.


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We know that our schools have

to become feeders for a high-tech

education system. We have one of

the better technical programs inthe country. Were also focusing

on our readySC and apprenticeship

workforce development programs.

Hitt agrees: Continuous

improvements in workforce

are one of the most important

catalysts to our state being able to

help businesses expand and grow.

Building a Supplier Base

Both Hitt and Farrell say

attracting suppliers to the state to

serve a new industry takes time.

Boeing is in t he early stages,

Hitt says. The company is not

unlike BMW. In its first 10 years,

BMW helped us attract 12 or 15

suppliers to South Carolina. Now,

20 years later, we have more than

40 companies that came here

specifically to serve BMW. And

some of those came within the

last year or two.Farrell says as Boeings

production rises, so will

more interest.

20,000Employees in South Carolinas

aerospace sector

9,000+Jobs created in aerospace

in the state since 2006

200Aerospace-related companies

in South Carolina

$2.5 billion:Capital investmentfrom aerospace and aviation

companies in the state since 2006

Aerospace Task Force

South Carolina formed its Aerospace Task Force in 2012 to focus on

growing the aerospace industry and to create a ready workforce. South

Carolina is a state with a rich history in aviation, and the Aerospace Task

Force provides an even better framework to support this industry through

statewide communication and collaboration, says Secretary of CommerceBobby Hitt. Currently, South Carolina has more than 200 aerospace

manufacturing, engineering, aviation service companies and suppliers

employing more than 20,000 people. These companies, which are widely

distributed throughout the state, include industry leaders such as Boeing,

Cytec, GE Aviation, GKN Aerospace, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin,

Michelin Aircraft Tire, SKF, TIGHITCO and Zeus.

The Boeing Co.s 787 Dreamliners are sent to the companys 265-acre campus inNorth Charleston for final assembly and delivery.

BMW builds about 1,200 cars

per day thats an astounding

amount, he says. Boeing is

producing two or t hree airplanes

per month. Suppliers are waiting,

but theyre also watching.

Companies like Boeing and

BMW are like big oak trees, Hitt

says. They grow and they spread,

Find more about business growth

and investments in South Carolina at

businessclimate.com/south-carolina.

and a lot of things grow in their

drip line. Our job as government is

to help take care of them. When

companies are profitable, they

will continue to do business here.

787WITHWHEELSDOWNINCHARLESTONFINALASSEMBLY:BOEING
http://www.businessclimate.com/south-carolinahttp://www.businessclimate.com/south-carolinahttp://www.businessclimate.com/south-carolinahttp://www.businessclimate.com/south-carolinahttp://www.businessclimate.com/south-carolina


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RURAL GROWTH

Big Growth

in SmallerPlaces

STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTEFFORTS PAY OFF IN NEW JOBS,

INVESTMENT IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

RURAL COUNTIES SEEING

MAJOR GROWTH INCLUDE

ORANGEBURG, LAURENS,

HAMPTON AND CLARENDON.

IN 2013, A TOTAL OF 3,000

JOBS WERE RECRUITED

TO RURAL COUNTIES IN

SOUTH CAROLINA.

SPIRIT PHARMACEUTICALS,

STARFLO CORP.

AND TRIMACO HAVE

FOUND SUCCESS INSMALL COMMUNITIES.


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By Nan Bauroth

Located in Clarendon County, downtown Manning recently gained five new retail businesses.

Spirit Pharmaceuticals is

thinking big in a smallercommunity. The wholesaler

and distributor of over the

counter/generic products

will open a new packaging

and manufacturing facility a nd has

opted to invest $12.2 million in a former

Federal Mogul facility in Summerton,

a community of about 1,000 people in

Clarendon County.

The 296 jobs the project will generate

are part of the 19 percent 3,000 jobs in

total recruited to the states ruralcounties in 2013.

The force propelling this rural job

infusion is a laser focus on economic

development initiatives at the local

and state level that ensures a supply of

industrial parks and facilities available for

multiple types of companies and industries.

Orangeburg, Laurens and Hampton

are good examples of counties that have

done yeomans work when it comes to

development of product, says Maceo

Nance, small business and rural

development director at the South

Carolina Department of Commerce. All

of them have established at least one newindustrial park over the last three years.

This determined commitment to job

growth in rural counties is also evident

in initiatives such as the Rural

Infrastructure Authority, which has

awarded nearly $3.8 million in grants

for 14 water, sewer and drainage projects

in 13 counties across the state.

Clarendon: The Good Life

Marie Land, chairman of the boardof directors of Main Street Manning,

is involved in the revitalization of the

historic community of 5,000 residents.

Ribbon-cuttings have already been held

for five new retail businesses in the heart

of downtown, and the housing market

is experiencing an uptick. Land says

everyone in town wants the same thing.

We love the fact that we are rural, with

wide open spaces, so our goal is a quality

environment that offers a good education

that leads to good jobs, she says.

Clarendon County recently installed

STAFF PHOTOS BYBrian McCord

BUSINESS

SPOTLIGHT

Located in Manning,

Trimaco offers paint

sundries, surface

protection products,

and cleaning andpaint prep products,

including drop cloths,

wipers, masking

paper and film, and

protective wear.


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BIG DEALS IN SC

Rural development highlights:

Continental Tire:Investing$500M in a Sumter County facility

that will employ 1,600

Belk:A $40M e-commercefulfillment center in Union

County will support 294 jobs

Masonite:Located a$14M facility in Bamberg County

that will bring 159 jobs

ZF Transmission:Expandedin Laurens County, a $175M

investment that will create 450

jobs. ZFs total investment has

grown to more than $600M

and 1,600 jobs.

PTR Industries:Relocatingmanufacturing operations and a

corporate headquarters to Horry

County, creating 145 jobs.

n

BambergCounty

HorryCounty

LaurensCounty

Union

County

SumterCounty
mailto:%[email protected]://www.partnershipalliance.com/


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Owned by Chris Fisher, pictured,Fisher Recycling creates GlassEcocountertops from recycled materials.


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CYCLE OF

GROWTHSOUTH CAROLINA ISFERTILE GROUND FOR A

BLOSSOMING RECYCLING INDUSTRY

SUSTAINABILITY


In the Charleston area,

homeowners can have

custom countertops

embedded with recycledglass pieces in their

favorite colors.

Chris Fisher, owner of Fisher

Recycling, collects glass bottles

along with many other discarded

items from restaurants, offices

and institutions. He then grinds

these pieces to make GlassEco

countertops.

Fisher is one of the entrepreneurs

in South Carolina leading t he way

in the states booming recycling

business. Hes created products to

utilize the items he recycles,

including oyster shells and food

waste transformed into compost.

Weve built a machine whereone product goes in and seven

different products come out of one

glass bottle, Fisher says. Finding

profitable marketing on the back-

end will always be a challenge,

especially when youre introducing

new products into the market.

Going Green:Cash and Ecology

Sustainability isnt just a

buzzword in South Carolina.

Its big business. A number of

sustainability projects are having

a major impact in the state, with

about 500 companies involved,

including collectors, processors,recycled-product manufacturers

and equipment makers. In 2013

alone, 10 recycling companies

located or expanded operations

in the state, creating 765 jobs and

$104 million in investment.

Our recycling industry is

growing, and we continue to

create new jobs in the industry,

says Chantal Fryer, senior manager

in the recycling market division

for the South Carolina Department

of Commerce. We want folks to

By Gary Wollenhaupt


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http://www.santeecooper.com/SCC


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Fisher Recycling collectsglass bottles and otherdiscarded materials.

know that recycling is good

for the economy as well as the

environment.A number of companies in the

state accept a variety of plastics

from residential a nd industrial

sources and process them into

feedstock for new products that

range from food and beverage

containers to carpet, textiles

and automotive parts.

The Carolinas Plastics

Recycling Council is collaborating

with public and private partners

to boost plastic bottle recycling.We estimate about 300 million

plastic bottles go into landfills

each year, and we have 15 companies

in the Carolinas that can take

those bottles and find a new

use for them, Fryer says.

Growing the Ecosystem

In Johnsonville, Wellman

Plastics Recycling LLC offers a

wide variety of products for the

automotive, lawn and garden,

consumer products, and electronics

industries made from recycled

plastic, nylon and resin. The

company launched a nylon productthat features 100 percent post-

consumer waste - nylon carpeting

which is ground into fiber and

recaptured through a proprietary

process. The product is used i n

cylinder-head covers made of

recycled material on Ford Motor

Co.s 3.0-liter Duratec engine,

says Glen Odom, Wellman

vice president of raw material

development.

Wellman h as invest ed$5.5 million to expand its existing

2.2 million-square-foot facility,

devoted to manufacturing

and high-tech research and

development, that will also

add 50 jobs to the region.

At BMW Manufacturing Co.

in Spartanburg, t he company has

woven sustainability t hroughout

its entire operation. Solid waste

recycling programs reduce

the need for landfills, a water

conservation initiative helps save

9.5 million gallons of water a year,

and a comprehensive energy-

efficiency plan saves energyand reduces CO2 emissions.

In 2011 alone, the BMW

Spartanburg plant saved nearly 30

million kilowatt hours at an annual

savings of nearly $1.5 million.

In February 2012, the company

added new solar panels to provide

solar energy to power the

24,000-square-foot Zentrum

Museum and three new electric-

vehicle charg ing stations

(available for public use).The 400 solar modules, each

capable of producing 240 watts of

energy, save approximately 135,000

kilowatt hours per year, says Sky

Foster, communications manager

for BMW. The company has found

South Carolina to be supportive

of its sustainability efforts.

For example, the sustainability

of our workforce development

strategy has been accomplished

through a long-standing

relationship with the states

By theNumbers

500Companies are involved in

sustainability projects inSouth Carolina

19Recycling companies that

located or expanded operations

in South Carolina in 2012

770Sustainability jobs createdin the state in 2012

$463 millionAmount invested in the

sustainability industry in 2012


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http://www.nexsenpruet.com/


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Left to right:The BMW Zentrum Museum is operated by a photovoltaic array that includes 400 modules.; Chris and ElizabethFisher own Fisher Recycling, which is based in North Charleston and creates various handcrafted products from recycled goods.

Continue reading about sustainability

in South Carolina at businessclimate.

com/south-carolina.

technical colleges, as well as our

graduate automotive engineering

program with Clemson University,

Foster says. Also, SCRA and theSouth Carolina Hydrogen and

Fuel Cell Coalition have been

instrumental in our implementation

of the worlds largest hydrogen

fuel cell material handling f leet.

For companies considering

sustainability initiatives, BMW

offers some hard-won lessons.

Benchmark other companies,

do your homework and, if possible,

pilot projects internally first

prior to a system-wide rollout,Foster says.

BMW MAN UFACTURING CO.

BMW Manufacturing Co. has made sustainability part of its corporateculture and its business model. The automaker, which opened a

manufacturing facility in Greer, S.C., in 1992, has undertaken a number

of initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint:

BMW is a partner in a joint venture that brings methane via a

9-mile pipeline from a landfill to its plant, where it cogenerates hot

water and about 50 percent of the plants electricity consumption.

BMW has invested in a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell-powered

material handling equipment at its plant, replacing lead-acid

battery power sources

The company generates electricity for its Zentrum Museum

visitor center with solar power. The photovoltaic arrayproduces about 135,000 kilowatts of electricity per year.

The automaker reduced its energy load for painting

automobiles by 30 percent through the use of an integrated

paint process that combines the top and primer coats.

BMW replaced existing metal-halide lighting fixtures on the

production floor and in covered parking areas with LEDs

and other efficient systems.

The company supports local activities of The Nature

Conservancy, The Palmetto Conservation Foundation

and Upstate Forever, which promotes sensible growth.$
http://www.businessclimate.com/south-carolinahttp://www.businessclimate.com/south-carolinahttp://www.businessclimate.com/south-carolinahttp://www.businessclimate.com/south-carolinahttp://www.businessclimate.com/south-carolinahttp://www.businessclimate.com/south-carolina


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Home

Grown

AGRICULTURE

SOUTH CAROLINA WORKSUP A HEALTHY APPETITE FOR

FARM-TO-TABLE INITIATIVES



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mailto:%[email protected]://www.nesasc.org/


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Lowcountry Local Firsts initiativesare so popular that the North Charleston-based organizations Buy Local weekhas been expanded to a full month everyfall. The response to its apprentice andincubator programs for new farmershas been just as dramatic. More than70 apprentices have gone through theGrowing New Farmers Program, andsix farmers are jump-starting theircareers at the Dirt Works IncubatorFarm in Charleston, says Jamee Haley,Lowcountry Local First executive director.

We are creating jobs, buildinga workforce and providing theinfrastructure that helps us sustainour agricultural economy, she says.

The benefits include a strongereconomy, access to farm-fresh produceand a healthier environment.

We know that 80 cents of everydollar spent with a family farm comesback to our local economy. Supportingthese farmers creates jobs, decreasesour impact on the environment,increases our local food supplyand addresses our aging farmerpopulation, she says.

The apprenticeship programenabled Bo Collins to hone theagricultural skills he began to developwhile helping farmers in Thailandharvest rice. His next step was tojoin the incubator program, whichis helping him launch his business,Sol Haven Farm.

Theyre planting the seeds for newfarming businesses, Collins says.

Lowcountry Local Firsts incubatorprogram, which was launched in

partnership with Clemson University,provides startup assistance for newfarmers, including access to farmland;mutually shared equipment includinga tractor, a packing shed and a walk-incooler that otherwise would beprohibitively expensive; andmarketing assistance and advicefrom an experienced mentor.

Collins is growing seasonalvegetables, herbs and cut flowers onJohns Island and is looking forwardto a career working on the land.His customers are happy, too.

We have people whove becomefull-time customers, Collins says.Theres a lot of support around localfood. Its something everyone cancome on board with.

Bill Lewis

Planting a SeedPROGRAMS GROW THE NEXT CROP OF FARMERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA

FARM INCUBATOR


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GOLDMINDS

RESOURCES, QUALITY OF LIFE DRAWTALENT TO SOUTH CAROLINAS

INNOVATION ECONOMY

TECHNOLOGY

As Chief

Technology

Officer atSPARC, Bob

Wil liams does

not find

Charleston a tough sell when

hes recruiting talent.

A growing tech communit y, an

attractive cost of living, proximity

to other urban centers, great

hospita lity and education sectors,

and an open attitude about

software development align.

The beaches help, too.

It is really easy to sell a

candidate, and it is really easy to

keep a candidate, Williams says.

SPARC should know. Thesoftware development firm is on a

tear, growing exponentially in the

last three years. With roughly

200 employees in late 2013,

SPARC plans to hire 300 more

in the next four years sooner,

if Williams ha s his way.

The company develops software

for the government and commercial

sectors and develops and markets

its own commercial software

products for executive leadership,

human resources, green energy,

analytics a nd mobile markets.

An $11 million expansion involves

buying one building and adding asecond, for 80,000 square feet in all.

And SPARC is only one of many

of the Palmetto States tech

innovation success stories.

Wealth of ResourcesSupport S.C. Tech

South Carolina has built a

strong innovation ecosystem,

with resources that promote

research and private-sector

partnerships to get ideas to

market. The South Carolina

By Pamela Coyle


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1. Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

2. Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

3. Merced, CA

4. Charleston, SC

5. Bakersfield-Delano, CA

South Carolina Research AuthoritySCRA is a self-sustaining, state-created entity that helps develop tech-based

industries. Innovation Centers in Charleston, Columbia and Anderson provide

incubator space to new and later-stage ventures, and SCRAs Applied R&D

division has federal and corporate clients in the ship-building, aerospace,

advanced materials, ordnance, manufacturing, defense and security sectors.

SCRA manages programsworth more than $2 billion in contract value.

Its flagship SC Launchprogram accelerates innovation with grants, loans,

equity investments, mentorship, business-services partnerships and

networking to tech startups.

Milken Institute

The 2012 Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities index evaluated 200 large metros on factors such as employment growth,

wage growth, high-tech concentration and growth in high-tech GDP. The top 10:

Source: SCRA SCRA bythe Numbers

$15BSCRAs estimated economic impact

on South Carolinas economy to date

15,000Tech-related jobs created in

the state from SCRAs efforts

280Early-stage companies launched with

help of SCRAs SC Launch program

$13 millionDirect capital investment from SC

Launch, which has attracted more

than $220 million in private funding

Source: Milken Best-

Performing Cities, 2012

10. Fort Worth-Arlington2. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos

4. Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown

3. Raleigh-Cary, NC

9. Charleston-NorthCharleston-Summerville, SC

8. Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA5. Washington-Arlington-

Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

6. Salt Lake City, UT

7. Provo-Ore m, UT

High-TechGDP Growth(2006-2011)

Source: Milken Best-Performing Cities, 2012


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Research Authority (SCRA), for

example, offers applied research

and commercialization services

in the advanced energy, biomedical

and bioinformatics, collaborative

technologies, and e-commerce

arenas. SC Launch, an SCRA

affiliate, supports creation of

knowledge-based companies

and high-wage-earning jobs.

In higher education, the

University of South Carolina,

Clemson University and Medical

University of South Carolina

provide research, facilities and

commercialization services that

support tech innovation.

But the proof is in the productsand services from companies that

have come up or grown up in South

Carolina. Two of them are giving

the state a big role in the health-care

information technology segment.

Benefitfocus, a major player in

health-care and benefits technology,

announced in late 2013 that it will

add 1,200 associates in the coming

years and triple its existing

Charleston campus. Its cloud-

based platform serves morethan 20 million consumers and

supports enrollment for more than

100 benefit types. The company

added a San Francisco office in

2012 and has operations in Tulsa,

Okla., and Greenville, S.C.

Greenville is also home to

CareCam Innovations, an SC

Launch company. Founded by

a registered nurse, CareCams

patented video documentation

system creates a specific andcomplete electronic point-of-care

health record. Connecting payers,

providers and patients in a

way that verifies care, protects

privacy, reduces costs, enha nces

coordination and increases patient

and family engagement is the goal.

In digital media, Columbia-

based Pandoodle allows dynamic

brand placement and native

advertising for content producers

and distributors. Voolio, Pandoodles

platform, creates a new type of ad

SPARC, a software productdevelopment company, plans

to add 300 people to its workforce.

Bob Williams, Chief Technology Officer at SPARC in Charleston



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AVAIL ABL

E

SPECBUILDIN

GINMID-CAROLIN

ACOMMERCEPAR

K

50,000-square-footshellbuild

ingexpandable

to150,000square

feet

15.3acresit

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tatefrontageprop

erty

LocatedinaClassAin

dustrialpark

463 acres on Interstate 26

4,000+ feet of interstate frontage

South Carolina Certified Site

Infrastructure installed

20 minutes to Columbia MSA

135 miles to Port of Charleston

Mid-Carolina Commerce ParkLocated on Interstate 26 between Greenville and

Columbia, S.C., Newberry County is home to Caterpillar,Komatsu, Kraft Foods, Georgia-Pacific, Kiswire and more.

803-321-2042 [email protected]

Newberry County,South Carolina:

MANUFACTURING PROSPERITY

unit that allows content owners to

embed and sell brand-customized

placement slots within their videos.

High-Tech Expansion

Sensor Electronic Technology

Inc., the worlds leading maker of

ultraviolet light-emitting diodes

(UV LEDs), made South Carolina

home more than a decade ago.

President and CEO Remis

Gaska, an electrical engineering

Ph.D. and former Rensselaer

Polytechnic Institute professor,

spent time in four other states

none for more than three years.

Sensor ET establishedcollaborative programs with the

University of South Carolina that

provided access to labs and other

facilities, contingent on contracts

with the U.S. Depar tment of

Defense, a strong supporter.

Midlands Technical College, also

in Columbia, has trained at least 30

employees in a joint program with

the National Science Foundation.

The company tailors solutions

for fields such as R&D, drugdevelopment, military applications,

space exploration and, more

recently, disinfection and personal

health care. One new application,

in refrigerators, will greatly

extend the life of produce.

Manufacturing the tiny,

semi-conductor UV LEDs is an

expensive enterprise, requiring

state-of-the-art clean rooms and

lots of power.

I cant imagine having this

operation in Palo Alto, Gaska

says. We would go bankrupt

just with the utility bill.

With a $20 million investment

from a Korean semiconductor

manufacturer, Sensor ET now has

a six-acre campus and a second

building with capacity to grow.

We were able to attract talented

people from around the world and

form a very good technical team atthe senior scientist level, Gaska

says. That is key.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.newberrycountysc.org/http://www.newberrycountysc.org/mailto:[email protected]


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630 Assembly St. Columbia, SC 29201 803.799.7800 www.courtyardcolumbiausc.com

189 spacious sleeping rooms,

including 16 suites

Complimentary parking,

both covered and uncovered

Complimentary high-speed Internet

Complimentary airport shuttle service

5,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space

for groups of 10-400 people

On-site catering

In-room refrigerator

Full, hot American

breakfast buffet available

in Courtyard Cafe

Outdoor pool

24-hour fitness room offering

state-of-the-art equipment

24-hour business center

Same-day dry cleaningservices available

Close proximity to

University of South Carolina,

Koger Center, Colonial Life Arena,

Nephron Pharmaceuticals,

CMC Steel, SCANA, Westinghouse,

Aflac and Amazon

Its a new stay.

ACCOMPLISH MORE WITH YOUR STAYIN DOWNTOWN COLUMBIA
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

IT is everywhere.Thats one driving message of

IT-oLogy, which is redefining whattechnology careers look like for SouthCarolina school-aged children andtheir parents. The nonprofit collaborativeof schools, universities, organizationsand businesses creates lines of sightto tech-related careers.

The collaborative, which has threeinitiatives Promote IT, Teach IT andGrow IT started in South Carolinaand has branches in Columbia andGreenville, with recent expansions toCharlotte, N.C., and Austin, Texas. InColumbia, school children take part inCyber Saturdays and other hands-onprograms in dedicated space whereprofessional tech user groups holdtheir meetings. IT-oLogy also offersworkshops, educational seminars,luncheons and other events invarious locations.

In October 2013 the collaborativescored big with an agreement fromSouth Carolina public universities tostrongly encourage all students toearn a digital design minor and turbo-charge their majors, says LonnieEmard, IT-oLogys president.

We have a collaborative environment,a cohesive ecosystem where academiaand the private sector work hand andhand, he says, noting that collegeenrollment in tech-related fields is up.

The shortage of skilled tech talentis no secret. Yet misconceptions

about what a tech job can be linger.Preconceptions that an IT careerrequires deep coding knowledge,math wizardry or systems networkingare outdated.

Yes, scores of those jobs exist andpay handsomely. With technologyembedded nearly everywhere,however, employers need projectmanagers, writers, analysts and otherproblem-solvers who are simply tech-savvy. IT-oLogy has programs forteens, college students, educators,

and tech professionals and theircompanies, hosting events suchas the Gartner Big Data Conference

Not Just for CodersIT-OLOGY INITIATIVE MAKES IT AN IT CAREER PATH IN SOUTH CAROLINA

and the Palmetto Open Source SoftwareConference, but can make a majorimpact among young learners.

You can be a project manager withgreat communication skills and makegreat money. And youll never beunemployed, says Todd Lewis,

executive director of the ColumbiaIT-oLogy branch. When kids hear thatmessage, they are very receptive to it.So are their parents.

To learn more about IT-oLogy, visitwww.it-ology.org.

Pamela Coyle
http://www.it-ology.org/http://www.it-ology.org/http://www.pacoletmilliken.com/http://www.it-ology.org/


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TRANSPORTATION

SOUTH CAROLINA OFFERSTHE SEA, AIR, ROAD AND RAILASSETS TO LINK BUSINESSTO MARKETS

$1.4billion

UnitedKingdom

$577million

Saudi Arabia

$3.2billion

China

$725.3million

Japan

$778.7million

Australia

$3.7billion

Germany

$490.5million

United ArabEmirates


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W

hen Jim Redman-Gress

relocated his logist ics

company to Charleston

from New York City, he

became quickly impressed

not only with the facilities(such as the Port of Charleston) available there,

but with the efficiency with which they operate.

It seemed like a growing area compared to New

York, which was kind of maxed out, says Redman-

Gress, owner of RGA Logistics. Its very alive. Its

growth-oriented. Its a great place to ship through.

Trucks move through the port quickly. Customs is

really efficient here.

South Carolina is a hub for domestic and

international trade. The state offers access to the

fast-growing Southeast and East Coast ma rkets

and a highly skilled workforce. Its deep-water

ports, airports and five major interstates connect

to major North American markets and

international shipping destinations.

Add land ava ilabilit y and low operational costs,

and its no wonder high-profile companies such

as Amazon, adidas, Target and QVC choose South

Carolina as a distribution location. A roster of

Foreign Trade Zones that allow companies such

as BMW Ma nufacturing Co. to defer or eliminateduties and taxes. BMW was named Ex porter of the

Year in 2012 by the National Association of Foreign

Trade Zones on the strength of the $7 billion in

exports from a Spartanburg subzone.

The Port of Charleston helps power the states

international trade, ha ndling more than $63 billion

in commerce each year. Its the center of a growing

export business that sent $25.1 billion in products

from South Carolina overseas in 2012. And its a key

advantage for major manufacturers such as BMW

and tire ma kers like Michelin, Bridgestone and

Continental in reaching global markets.South Carolinas port system is a major driver

of the states overall economy, says Jim Newsome,

president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports

Authority, the ports owner.

Over the course of 10 years, the Ports Authority

plans to invest around $1.3 billion in its ports,

Newsome says, representing an all-in bet on the

future of big ships calling Charleston, as well as

population growth in the Southeast and the rise

of exporting activity.

That plan includes a new container terminal at

a former naval shipyard. Slated to open in 2018 or

2019, the Navy Base Terminal will boost container

capacity 50 percent. The port will a lso upgrade

existing facilities. The state is providing another

$700 million in infra structure, including a new

Intermodal Container Transfer Facility, operated

by Palmetto Railways, a division of the South

Carolina Depar tment of Commerce. The ICTF

will be served by two rail carriers and connect

to I-26 and the Navy Base Terminal.

With a depth of 45 to 48 feet, Charleston Harbor

currently holds a five-foot advantage over the next-

By Martha Spizziri

The Wando Welch Terminal at the Port of Charleston isthe por ts largest terminal in terms of volume and size.

South Carolina is a very business-friendly state.If you compare the working environment, theliving environment, the port and its infrastructure,it seems like its a win all the way around.

Jim Redman-Gress, owner of RGA Logistics


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deepest port. The ports authority plans to deepen

Charlestons channels to 50 feet or greater,

complementing the Panama Canal expansion that

will allow larger vessels to reach Atlantic Coast

ports. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is studying

the project; once its approved, Charleston will be the

only Southeast port to allow 24/7 access to larger,

post-Panamax vessels.The Southeast is an export-rich area, with

natural resources like forest products and

agricultural goods, as well as a large share of the

nations manufacturers that make product in global

demand, Newsome says. The Port of Charleston

is positioned to become an even larger player in

exporting activity, thanks to its deep shipping

channels, which are currently the deepest in our

competitive region. Ships continue to increase in

size, requiring deep water to efficiently handle goods

and maximize a vessels capacity. For each foot of

additional water, a carrier can load 100 additional

containers per voyage. Charleston has a five-foot

advantage over its next-deepest competitor, which,

for an ocean carrier, is found money.

The states integrated transportation network

also includes two Class I rail carriers, several short-

line railroads, five commercial airports and five

interstates that cross the state and put it within

a days drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population.

South Carolina Cost Advantage

We do a lot of business with smaller companies

looking for ways to save money, Redman-Gress says.

Weve shown people that you can move your goods

through the Port of Charleston for a lot less than if you

were to bring it in through New York or Los Angeles.

South Carolina is working at providing ta x breakswherever they can, says Hal Burton, president and

CEO of third-party logistics provider Premier

Logistics Solutions in Charleston.

For instance, companies that increase their cargo

volume at Charlestons port by at least 5 percent in

a year can become eligible for tax credits.

Redman-Gress also appreciates the work ethic in

the state. Even though its a slower pace of life, its

full of hardworking people proud of doing what they

do, he says.

He remembers warehouse workers one hot

summer day hand-carrying upwards of a thousand20- to 30-pound fabric rolls.

These guys are blowing th rough (the rolls) just

as fast in the middle of July as in January when its

beautiful out, he says. South Carolina is a very

business-friendly state. If you compare the working

environment, the living environment, the port and

its infrastructure, it seems like its a win a ll the

way around.

Port of Charleston: Fast Facts

4thbusiest on the

East Coast forcontainer traffic

8thnationally for dollar value of

goods handled in 2012

of exports of

U.S.-made

exported

tires, tops in

the nation

1.12million

tons of

non-containerized

cargo handled

in FY 2013

43container moves

per hour, per crane

$

growth in container

volume in FY 2013,

outpacing regional

and national growth

9%

30%

= 4 containers

TOP SOUTH CA ROLINA

EXPORT PRODUCTS (2012)

1. VEHICLES: $8.1B

2. MACHINERY: $4.2B

3. RUBBER: $2.0B

4. ELECTRIC

MACHINERY: $1.5B

5. PLASTIC: $1.3B

6. OPTICAL/MEDICALINSTRUMENTS: $813M

7. PAPER/

PAPERBOARD: $798M

8. ORGANIC

CHEMICALS: $698M

9. WOOD PULP: $468M

10. COTTON/YARN/

FABRIC: $398M

Source: Global Trade

Information Service


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mailto:%[email protected]://www.scppowerteam.com/


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1201 Main St. /Ste. 100 /Columbia, SC 29201803.733.1131 /www.centralsc.org

South Carolinas Oldest and Largest

Regional Economic Development Alliance

INLAND PORT

Avenueof Growth

SOUTH CAROLINAINLAND PORT INGREER OPENS NEWOPPORTUNITIESFOR LOGISTICS

The Port of Charleston hasdeepened its reach in the state morethan 200 miles inland. The SouthCarolina Ports Authority opened theSouth Carolina Inland Port (SCIP) in

Greer in fall 2013.The SCIP, within a days drive of 94

million consumers, is served by everymode of transport. Norfolk Southernprovides daily rail service to and fromthe Port of Charleston. Greer is locatedon Interstate 85, halfway betweenCharlotte, N.C., and Atlanta, Ga.,and close to Greenville-SpartanburgInternational Airport.

The SCIP is especially attractiveto companies try ing to grow theire-commerce fulfillment operations.

They can easily bring in shipmentsfrom overseas, break them down at theSCIP and ship them via overnight air.

In September 2013, BMWManufacturing Co. announced it wouldmove its export operation to a newbuilding in Greer adjacent to the SCIP.The company wants to expand itsoperations to serve emerging marketssuch as Russia, Thailand, India,Indonesia, Malaysia and Egypt,where there is heavy demand for thecompanys X3 Sports Activity Vehicles.BMW expects similar response to itslatest X5 model. At 413,000 squarefeet, the new facility will more thandouble the space of the automakerscurrent export operation with roomfor further expansion.

The location near the inland portwill let BMW re-use import containersfor export, avoiding empty containers.And BMW will be able to move mostof it shipments destined for export tothe Port of Charleston via rail, avoiding

interstate traffic. BMW expects theGreer facility to be ready for operationin January 2014. Martha Spizziri
http://www.centralsc.org/http://www.scspa.com/http://www.centralsc.org/


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SITE GUIDE

Visit the new buildingand sites locator to

search availableproperty in the stateat www.locateSC.com.For additional

information, contact:

Jennifer deCesare,

Buildings and

Sites Manager

(803) 737-0597

Jdecesare@

SCcommerce.comAbbeville Spec Building

(Abbeville County)

Lakelands Commerce Center

60,000 square feet

Expandable to 500,000 square feet

Hampton County Spec Building (Hampton

County)Southern Carolina Business Campus

50,000 square feet


Kirco Spec Building

(Richland County)Carolina Pines Industrial Park

184,453 square feet


Carolinas Centre Spec Building

(Chesterfield County)

Carolinas Centre Industrial Park

52,284 square feet


Note: The se listi ngs were

provid ed by the S outh

Carolina Departmentof Commerce and were

considered correct at

the time of publication.

However, du e to the

nature of real estate,

the information and

availability may change

during the lifetime of this

public ation an d accu racy

cannot be guaranteed.

Go to SCcommerce.com

for the mos t up-to- date

information.

Abbeville Spec B uilding

Carolinas Centre Spec Building

Hampton County Spec Building

Kirco Spec Building

1

2

3

4
http://www.locatesc.com/mailto:%[email protected]:%[email protected]:%[email protected]://www.locatesc.com/


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ECONOMIC PROFILELabor ForceAugust 2013

1,892,200August 2012

1,859,800August 2011

1,851,100

Major Employers

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.,Greenville Hospital System

Palmetto Health, Michelin North America,

BMW Manufacturing Co., BlueCross

BlueShield of South Carolina, Food Lion,

The Boeing Co., Lowes Cos., Wells Fargo,

Lexington Medical Center, Spartanburg

Regional Healthcare System, Roper St.

Francis Healthcare, SCANA Corp.

10,000 -30,000

4,001 -10,000

Housing Market

Top Employment Sectors

Median single-family homelisting price (August 2013)

Charleston-North Charleston

$249,990

Columbia

$159,900 Greenville-Spartanburg

$170,700

Myrtle Beach

$169,900

Major MSA

Population (2012)

Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin

842,853Columbia

787,745Charleston-North

Charleston

697,439Myrtle Beach-North

Myrtle Beach-Conway

394,452Spartanburg

316,997Florence

206,087

Population2012: 4,723,723

2000: 4,011,832

Change: 17.7%

Households (2011): 1,758,732

Trade,

Transportation &

Utilities: 19.2%

Government: 18.4%

Professional and

Business Services:

12.7%

Leisure &

Hospitality: 12.0%

Manufacturing:

11.7%

Education & Health

Services: 11.0%

Finance: 5.4%

THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

Source: South Carolina Big 50

Source: realtor.com

502 E. Main St. Walhalla, SC 29691 (864) 638-4210 www.OconeeSCEDC.comwww.facebook.com/InvestOconeeSC www.twitter.com/InvestOconeeSC
http://www.oconeescedc.com/http://www.oconeescedc.com/http://www.facebook.com/InvestOconeeSChttp://www.twitter.com/InvestOconeeSChttp://www.twitter.com/InvestOconeeSChttp://www.facebook.com/InvestOconeeSChttp://www.oconeescedc.com/


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People

Skills

EDUCATION

SOUTHCAROLINATRAININGPROGRAMSGIVEEMPLOYERS A

WORKFORCEDEVELOPMENTADVANTAGE


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South Carolinas

success in being

just right for new

investment,

growing its existing

companies and

creating jobs is in no sma ll

measure due to the availability

of a highly skilled workforce

and training programs t hatassist business.

Just ask Schaeffler USA in

Cheraw, which makes products and

systems for engines, transmissions

and chassis applications for

customers that include Chr ysler,

Fiat, Harley-Davidson,

Husqvarna, John Deere

and Stanley Black & Decker.

The company has won numerous

quality awards, and Phil Homan

says some of the credit goes to the

state-run Apprenticeship Carolina

program that the company utilizes

to train prospective skilled

machinists and tool-and-diemakers. Homan, Schaeffler

USAs manager of human

resources in Cheraw, says the

company frequently utilizes

the apprenticeship program run

through Northeastern Technical

College, also in Cheraw.

Apprenticeship Carolina

consultants are available at no

charge to employers, Homan notes,

and can guide companies through

the registered apprenticeship

development process from initial

information to full recognition

in the national Registered

Apprenticeship System.Schaeffler has put 253 workers

through the program so far and

graduated 230; 86 percent of them

are still with the company in skilled

machinist, supervision and

management roles, Homan says.

By Kevin Litwin


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couldnt do this massive

evaluation and hiring process

without them.

The readySC programs

mission is to help create jobs,

and any company that is creating

10 jobs or more can utilize

readySC services.Their staff members conduct

a pre-hire program to teach

applicants about Continental

including an overview about

making tires and other processes

then readySC also does a

two-week post-hiring process

that i nforms employees on

issues such as industrial safety,

cultural awareness training, and

communications skills, Elmore

says. The readySC staff has

been a vital extension of our

human resources department

here at Continental.

Contacting readySC

Other companies that have

successfully utilized the readySC

program include A.I.D. Co.,

a manufacturer of aerospace

components that in 2013 moved

its operations from Georgia toWestminster, S.C.; and Accuride

Wheel End Solutions, a company

in Camden that makes aluminum

wheels for semi-trucks and trailers.

When I have job openings

here at Accuride, besides

contacting the local employment

and workforce services, I also

contact readySC, says Gail

Hornsby, human resources

supervisor with Accuride Wheel

End Solutions. They know aboutcompanies that are laying off, who is

shutting down, and know of skilled

people out there who can fill our

positions. In 2012, we had 40 people

trained by readySC before they

started work at Accuride. Ive been

in human resources for 25 years,

and the people at readySC are very

professional to work with for pre-

employment and post-employment

training. They are exceptional

in recommending if a person is

ultimately a good fit for Accuride.

SOUTH CAROLINA TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM

1. Tri-County Technical

College, Pendleton

2. Greenville Technical

College, Greenville

3. Spartanburg Community

College, Spartanburg

4. Piedmont Technical

College, Greenwood

5. York Technical College,

Rock Hill

6. Midlands Technical

College, Columbia

7. Northeastern Technical

College, Cheraw

8. Florence-Darlington

Technical College, Florence

1

23

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

9. Horry-Georgetown

Technical College, Conway

10. Williamsburg Technical

College, Kingstree

11. Central Carolina Technical

College, Sumter

12. Trident Technical College,

North Charleston

13. Technical College of

the Lowcountry, Beaufort

14. Orangeburg-Calhoun

Technical College, Orangeburg

15. Denmark Technical

College, Denmark

16. Aiken Technical

College, Aiken


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DESTINATION

OF CHOICESHEM CREEK, MT. PLEASANT SC


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LIVABILITY

ARTS SCENE, HAUTE CUISINEHELP MAKE CHARLESTONAN INTERNATIONAL CITY



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S

outh Carolinas diverse

topography stretches from

the Appalachian foothills

in the northwest to 187

miles of Atlantic Ocean

coastline, and it offers agamut of living options from cosmopolitan

urban centers to charming small towns,

rural communities and wide-open spaces.

Charleston, a city of more than 125,000

residents, is considered one of the

economic and cultural centers of the

South and a magnet for visitors from

around the world.

Outsidemagazine named Charleston

a 2010 Best Town, citing its low

unemployment, vibrant arts scene,standout architecture and warm

hospitality. In 2012, for a second straight

year, Charleston was voted the Top City

in the U.S. in the Conde Nast Traveler

Readers Choice Awards and described

by one reader as a bucket list city.

Talent ShowBucket list, indeed. An energetic arts

community includes 75 art galleries in

the downtown area alone, and the city

hosts numerous and thriving culture-

based organizations, including the

Charleston Regional Alliance for the

Art s, the City of Charleston Off ice of

Cultural A ffairs, Spoleto Festival USA

and the Charleston Artist Guild.

Charleston is an artsy city with

concerts, festivals or something a rts-

related almost every week of the year,

says David Scheffler, president of the

Charleston Artist Guild. Even the

architecture and old homes are artistic.

Our entire oceanfront peninsula is listed

on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hundreds of photographs are taken every

day by tourists visiting downtown

Charleston or the peninsula a rea.

The Charleston Arts Guild has

600 members and hosts outreach

programs in various schools, plus

provides scholarships to talented

high school and college students.

It operates a gallery on East Bay Street,

stages annual spring and fall sidewalk

shows, and works with t he City of

Charleston to sponsor the yearly Piccolo

Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition that is

viewed by thousands of residents and

visitors to the city.

Drizzle and Sizzle

Charleston has made cuisine an artform as well. In the early 2000s, when

executive chef and former Texan Marc

By Kevin Litwin

Even the architecture and old homes are artistic.Our entire oceanfront peninsula is listed on

the National Register of Historic Places.David Scheff ler, president of the Charleston Artist Guild

64 ||SOUTH CAROLINA COMMERCE STAFF PHOTOS BYBrian McCord


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Downtown Charlestons King Street featuresa design and dining district, as well asfashion and antiques districts.



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The Gibbes Museum of Art in downtownCharleston showcases art collections from

various genres and rotating exhibits.


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GALLERY



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SEE A STEEPLECHASESpringdale Race Coursein Camden hosts the annualCarolina Cup and Colonial Cup races, which are two ofthe most important steeplechase events in the UnitedStates and typically draw more than 60,000 people. Inaddition, Camden is known as a horse training center,

and has been home to several champion racehorses.



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WALK THROUGH THE GARDENSThe 14-acre Hopelands Gardensin Aiken includesfountains, a reflection pool and a pond, trails, wetlands,garden sites and the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hallof Fame and Museum. The historic destination also

hosts special events, such as Christmas in Hopelands.



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ADMIRE THE ARCHITECTUREThe $17 million Doctors Bruce & Lee FoundationLibraryin downtown Florence, which is the FlorenceCounty Library System headquarters, is a neoclassicallandmark in the city.

STAFF PHOTO BYBrian McCord



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Ad Index

C2 ALLIANCE

CONSULTING ENGINEERS

16BERKELEY COUNTY

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

43 BMW

MANUFACTURING COMPANY

C4 CENTRAL SC ALLIANCE

26 CHARLESTON COUNTY


18CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

48 COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT

DOWNTOWN AT USC

72 DORCHESTER COUNTY


6 ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP

30 GREENWOOD

PARTNERSHIP ALLIANCE

12HAYNSWORTH SINKLER

BOYD PA

10 KBR BUILDING GROUP

67 LAURENS COUNTY

DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

2 MEADWESTVACO

C3 MICHELIN NORTH AMERICA

47NEWBERRY COUNTY


36 NEXSEN-PRUET

42 NORTH EASTERN

STRATEGIC ALLIANCE

57 OCONEE COUNTY ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION


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Ad Index (cont.)

72ORANGEBURG COUNTY

DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

49 PACOLET MILLIKEN

ENTERPRISES INC.

34 SANTEE COOPER

54 SOUTH CAROLINA

POWER TEAM

55 SOUTH CAROLINA

STATE PORTS AUTHORITY

21 SUMTER


8UNIVERSITY OF

SOUTH CAROLINA

4 WOOD GROUP MUSTANG INC.

South Carolina Commerce 2014

Documents