South Carolina Commerce 2012 by Journal Communications

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commerce

The Future Takes Flight

Boeingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dreamliner project soars

Fueling Innovation

State boosts emerging technologies

Sponsored by the South Carolina Department of Commerce | 2012

South Carolina

commerce

26 Workstyle Where the Future Takes Flight

Boeing launches 787 Dreamliner project in South Carolina

Fueling Innovation

South Carolina meets demand for new energy technology

An International Flavor

From adidas to ZF Group, South Carolina draws global players

Home-Grown Talent

South Carolina programs cultivate entrepreneurship Table of Contents Continued on Page 7

On the Cover The Boeing Co. chose North Charleston, S.C., for its second 787 Dreamliner final-assembly facility. Photo courtesy of The Boeing Co.

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South Carolina 201 2 Edition , volum e 2

commerce

Proofreading Manager Raven Petty Audience Development Director Deanna Nelson Content Coordinator Jessica Walker Staff Writer Kevin Litwin Copy Editor Jill Wyatt Contributing writers Cary Estes, John Fuller, M.V. Greene, Katie Kuehner-Hebert, Bill Lewis, Joe Morris Media Technology Director Christina Carden Senior Graphic Designers Laura Gallagher, Jessica Manner, Janine Maryland, Kris Sexton, Vikki Williams Graphic Designers Rachael Gerringer, taylor nunley Media Technology Analysts Becca ary, Chandra Bradshaw, Lance conzett Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Senior Photographers Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers Todd Bennett, Antony Boshier Web Content Manager John Hood Web project manager noy fongnaly Web Designer II richard stevens Web Developer I Yamel Hall, Nels noseworthy Web account manager lauren eubank Ad Production Manager Katie Middendorf Ad Traffic Assistants Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan I.T. Director Yancey Bond I.T. support technician Daniel cantrell Senior Accountant Lisa Owens Accounts Payable Coordinator Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator Diana Guzman Office Manager/Accounts Receivable Coordinator Shelly Miller Senior Integrated Media Manager Clay Perry

Insight Overview

Almanac

Business Climate

Site Guide

Transportation

Energy/Technology

Education

Livability

Gallery

Economic Profile

Through the Lens

Sales Support Coordinator Alex Marks color imaging technician alison hunter Chairman Greg Thurman President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman Executive Vice President Ray Langen Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter, Carla Thurman Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner Senior V.P./business Development Scott Templeton V.P./external communications Teree Caruthers V.P./Custom Publishing Kim holmberg V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens V.P./Sales Charles Fitzgibbon, Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky

All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

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v.p./Travel publishing Susan Chappell Controller Chris Dudley Content Director/Business Publications Bill McMeekin Content director/Livability.com Lisa Battles Marketing Creative Director Keith Harris Distribution Director Gary Smith Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake Receptionist Linda Bishop

South Carolina Commerce is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the South Carolina Department of Commerce. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com.

For more information, contact: South Carolina Department of Commerce 1201 Main St., Suite 1600 • Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 737-0400 • Fax: (808) 737-0894 www.sccommerce.com

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commerce

The Future Takes Flight

Boeing’s Dreamliner project soars

Fueling Innovation

State boosts emerging technologies

Lifestyle Find out what it’s like to live here and what makes the region such a special place to be.

SponSored by The SouTh carolIna deparTmenT oF commerce | 2012

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southcarolinaeconomicdevelopment.com

www.SouthernCarolina.org 803.541.0023 Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell and Hampton Counties of South Carolina, USA

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Simply the Best in the Business training through the state’s 16 technical colleges at no cost for eligible new or expanding companies throughout the state and has trained more than 251,000 employees in the last two decades. The Palmetto State is a hub for academic excellence and world-class research. Its roster includes the Savannah River National Laboratory in Aiken, one of only 12 national laboratory facilities in the nation. The state’s long heritage in manufacturing innovation has helped create a deep well of engineering talent. The state ranks second in the nation in employment concentration of industrial engineers, third for industrial engineering technicians, fourth for environmental engineering technicians and fifth in employment concentration of health and safety engineers. South Carolina’s affordable housing, bevy of cultural and historic offerings, parks, waterways, coastline and When it comes to economic development, South opportunities for year-round outdoor recreation, including Carolina stands out in the Southeast as a magnet for 400 championship golf courses, combine to make South new jobs, investment and growth. Carolina not only a great place to do business but an In 2010, the South Carolina Department of Commerce unparalleled place to call home. recruited more than 20,000 new jobs and more than “South Carolina continues to be a wonderful surprise $4 billion in capital investment. The state outperformed to many businesses looking to set up new operations. many of its neighbors in the region in direct jobs With Commerce’s top-notch project managers recruited. Commerce’s efforts garnered a Gold spearheading economic development efforts, and help Shovel Award and Deal of the Year Award from from our partners and allies across the state, we are Area Development magazine in 2011. doing more than ever to show just Commerce continues to aggressively how much the Palmetto State has recruit new business investment to offer,” says Bobby Hitt, South GREENVILLE S PA R TA N B U R G CHEROKEE and the state’s efforts Rock Hill Carolina Secretary of Commerce. P I C K E NS Y O R K Spartanburg Greenville to create highly favorable OCONEE business conditions MARLBORO LANCASTER UNION CHESTER Cheraw have caused an CHESTERFIELD Kershaw Anderson impressive roster DILLON FA I R F I E L D LAURENS ANDERSON of household names across K E R S H AW NEWBERRY D A R L I N G T ON a spectrum of industries to put LEE ABBEVILLE Florence down roots in the Palmetto State, Marion RICHLAND GREENWOOD from Boeing to BMW, Monster to SALUDA FLORENCE MARION Columbia Sumter Roche, BAE Systems to Scientific HORRY McCORMICK S U M T ER L E X I N G T O N Research Corp., Starbucks to Adidas, Conway CLARENDON Google to General Electric. CALHOUN EDGEFIELD Myrtle Beach Kingstree WILLIAMSBURG A sophisticated and integrated Aiken transportation network includes five commercial ORANGEBURG AIKEN GEORGETOWN airports, easy access to major interstates, 41,000 Georgetown BARNWELL miles of state-maintained highways and the deepBAMBERG water Port of Charleston, the seventh-largest container B E R K E L EY DORCHESTER CHARLESTON port in the United States. Goose Creek Summerville ALLENDALE COLLETON South Carolina also heavily invests in workforce North Charleston Mount Pleasant development to make sure the state’s residents have HAMPTON Charleston CHARLESTON the skill sets businesses are seeking. The award-winning readySC™ program, for example, offers coordinated BEAUFORT 25

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Above: Members of the South Carolina Department of Commerce Global Business Development sales team

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10 Good Reasons to Live and Work in South Carolina 1. A Business-Friendly Environment: South Carolina,

declared the top state for Economic Growth Potential by Business Facilities magazine, is one of the most business-friendly states in the nation, dedicated to continually establishing an environment where businesses can prosper. Efforts such as tort reform, workers’ comp reform, lowering taxes and expanding health care access for small businesses are just a few reasons why South Carolina consistently ranks high among economic development experts.

2. A High-Quality Workforce: South Carolina’s fast-growing labor force has consistently outpaced national growth levels. The state has one of the lowest unionization rates in the United States, and one of the lowest work stoppage rates in the U.S. CNBC ranked South Carolina fifth in the nation based on quality and availability of workers and workforce training. The award-winning readySC™ program, offered through the S.C. Technical College System, can coordinate training needs at little or no cost for eligible new or expanding companies throughout the state. The program works with the state’s 16 technical colleges to develop training curriculum tailored to meet a company’s workforce requirements.

3. An International Flavor: Foreign-affiliated companies have invested more than $37.3 billion in the state since 1960 and employ 107,000 people, including 58,000 tied to manufacturing. The state right now is home to more than 1,200 foreign owned companies, including such global heavyweights as BMW Manufacturing, Michelin, FujiFilm, Honda, Samsung, BASF, Daimler and adidas. The state has become a major FDI locale for a host of countries, attracting more than $308 million in investment from China alone.

4. Road, Rail, Air and Ports:

South Carolina has the infrastructure in place to move products and people. The state is home to the seventhlargest container port in the United States in the Port of Charleston. The state's five major airports (and proximity to major airports in Charlotte and Atlanta) put commercial service no more than an hour away from any region. The state is centered about halfway between New York and Miami, and a network of five major interstate highways provide access to 75 percent of the U.S. population within a day's drive. Two Class I rail carriers are augmented by seven affiliated and independent lines, and move some 80 million tons of freight in South Carolina railroads each year.

5. It's Well Connected:

South Carolina has a highly reliable world-class communications network, designed and engineered to meet the wireless, high-speed Internet access and voice service requirements of the industry. South Carolina has more than 1,586,036 high-speed lines (over 200 kilobits per second in at least one direction) connecting homes and businesses to the Internet. All South Carolina ZIP codes have highspeed Internet lines in service.

6. Top-Notch Education:

South Carolina's higher education opportunities include three internationally recognized university research institutions – University of South Carolina, Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina – and one of America’s 12 national laboratories, the Savannah National Laboratory.

7. Cost Advantages:

South Carolina's many incentives are investments to the state's economic future, and South Carolina is willing to invest in companies that are willing to invest in the state. South Carolina

cost advantages include no state property tax, local income tax, inventory tax or sales tax on manufacturing machinery, industrial power or materials for finished products. In addition, there is no wholesale tax, no unitary tax on worldwide profits and a favorable corporate income tax structure. The state offers a number of tax credit and other incentive programs.

8. It's Got the Power: Four major

generating utilities operate in South Carolina, providing an ample and reliable supply of cost-effective power. Electricity providers generate nearly 17 megawatt hours monthly for every 10,000 people living in the state, a generation ratio nearly twice the national average and the thirdhighest among states with more than 1 million people. The size and number of utilities and mix of electric generation fuels, including nuclear, coal and hydro, have kept power costs affordable. Industrial power rates in the state average 5.74 cents per kilowatt hour, about 16 percent less than the national average.

9. Can't Beat the Weather: South

Carolina's location along the Eastern Seaboard provides a near-perfect climate, with four distinct seasons, hot summers and mild winters. Precipitation is abundant and fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. South Carolinians enjoy outdoor activities year round, thanks to the temperate climate, and that means more days to golf and play tennis and few – if any – weatherrelated business interruptions.

10. The Good Life:

South Carolina offers a number of compelling attractions that offer its residents a superior quality of life. It is a state with 200 miles of beaches, 45 state parks, hundreds of high-caliber golf courses, big-time college sports and countless other recreation opportunities.

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Almanac

Powering up in Richland County Pure Power Technologies plans to invest $25 million and create 200 new jobs over the next three years in Richland County. The expansion will support increased operations at the current Pure Power Technologies production facility in Blythewood and an expansion of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research and development facility in the Columbia Technical Center. Pure Power Technologies, a Navistar company, vertically integrates research and development, engineering and manufacturing capabilities to produce diesel power systems and advanced emissions-control systems for the commercial and defense markets.

They Have Plenty of Tissue A tissue products manufacturer looked for a new manufacturing site for more than a year and found what it liked in Barnwell County. South Carolina Tissue (SCT) is making a $140 million investment in a new production facility that is expected to generate 200 new jobs over the next five years. SCT will install state-of-the-art tissue manufacturing equipment and advanced post-consumer fiber recycling processes to supply the tissue machinery. The facility will be designed to meet LEED Gold Standards. Tissue parent rolls produced by SCT will be sold to converters that supply the consumer and away-from-home markets. The company says South Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business-friendly environment, talented workforce and logistic superiority were key factors in its decision.

South Carolina Commerce

A Taste for Greenville Bottler Taps Into Spartanburg Atlantic Beverage Inc. has selected Spartanburg County for a new bottling operation, a $10 million investment expected to generate 300 new jobs over a two-year period. The company, a contract manufacturer and packager, is taking space in an existing building off Interstate 26. Atlantic Beverage executives cite South Carolina’s business environment, quality workforce and exceptional access to markets as major factors in its location decision.

Amy’s Kitchen, the nation’s leading maker of natural and organic convenience foods, will establish a new production facility in Greenville County, a $63 million investment that is expected to generate more than 700 new jobs over the next six years. In business for more than 23 years, the Sonoma, Calif.-based Amy’s Kitchen is a family-owned company. The company, which expects the facility to be operational by January 2012, will produce a select line of frozen entrees in Greenville. The market for organic foods is among the fastestgrowing grocery categories, with sales expanding by more than 10 percent annually.

Fueling an Expansion Automotive supplier Robert Bosch is going green as part of a major expansion of its operations in Dorchester County. The company is investing approximately $125 million in its manufacturing facility over a five-year period and creating approximately 300 new jobs. The expansion will support production of the company’s latest passenger-car diesel and gasoline fuel injectors, and nextgeneration anti-lock brake and electronic stability-control systems for the North American auto market. As part of the expansion, Dorchester County plans to provide reclaimed water for the company’s manufacturing processes. The sustainability initiative will conserve more than 80,000 gallons of wastewater each day, while reducing the company’s utility costs and increasing its competitiveness.

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Good Traction in Lexington County Michelin has made a series of major investments in its operations in Lexington County, where it opened a facility in 1981. The tire maker, which has already invested more than $1 billion in its Lexington operations, is committing another $200 million to expand capacity at the facility for its high-performance passenger-car tires, an investment that will add 270 jobs. The company’s 1.2 million-square-foot passenger and light truck tire facility employs 1,360 people. An 825,000-square-foot earth-mover tire plant at the site employs another 475 people. Equipment for the latest expansion is expected to be installed by the first half of 2013.

Bigger Plant for Spartanburg County Draexlmaier Automotive of America is expanding its operations in Spartanburg County. The $22.35 million investment is expected to generate 150 new jobs over the next five years. An affiliate of the Dräxlmaier Group, Draexlmaier Automotive of America will upgrade its facility in Duncan to accommodate increased production. The investment includes a previously announced addition of a $10 million, 64,500-square-foot production building to the existing facility, as well as upgrades to the plant infrastructure and equipment. A Tier I supplier to the international automotive industry, Dräxlmaier manufactures premium interiors and plastic components at its Duncan site, which is also home to the company’s U.S. headquarters. Built in 1998, the facility has been expanded twice since then, the last time in 2005 when a new R&D wing was added to the existing building. The new production hall will expand the plant’s capacity by more than a third and house state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge technology for the assembly of vehicle interiors and components, including instrument panels, center consoles and door panels.

Calling on Greenville A provider of help-desk and customer support services geared to the higher education market has opened a facility in Greenville County. Perceptis Inc. says the center, in downtown Greenville, will create 200 new jobs over a five-year period. The company, founded in 2004, provides 24-hour-a-day support for IT, financial aid, human resources, recruitment, admissions, enrollment, retention, facilities and general switchboard. It services more than 100 institutions and 1.5 million end users.

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High in Glass Fiber One of the world’s leading producers of glass fiber reinforcements and engineered materials for composite systems and residential and commercial building materials is expanding its operations in Aiken County. Owens Corning is investing $36 million to add a production line for non-woven glass fiber mat in Aiken County. The new line, which will produce materials used in industrial and construction applications, is scheduled to be running by mid-2012. The company says it was encouraged to move forward on the project, which creates 24 jobs, in part because of tax credits from the state linked to the employment increase.

New Headquarters Banks on Greenville CertusBank N.A., a nationally chartered bank that is a subsidiary of Blue Ridge Holdings Inc., has selected Greenville as its headquarters, a move that will create 350 new jobs. CertusBank will locate offices in a new mixed-use property, the ONE project, in downtown Greenville. CertusBank, which operates 32 branches in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, will occupy 26,000 square feet in the first phase of the project, a 175,000-square-foot, nine-story building that will house a variety of other office and retail tenants when it is completed by the end of 2012. With more than $1.8 billion in assets and backed by $500 million in investment capital, CertusBank is a strong new player in the Southeastern banking market. The company acquired three financial institutions in its first five months of existence, and says it intends to “pursue prudent, strategic opportunities to expand its presence” by buying additional banks in other markets.

Expansion on the Front Burner A French cookware maker is expanding its footprint in the Lowcountry, tripling the size of its Hampton County distribution center. Le Creuset, which has had a South Carolina presence since 1974, markets its high-end enamel cookware globally. It sells its products through more than 1,000 stores in such national upscale shops as Williams-Sonoma, Bloomingdales and Sur La Table. Le Creuset plans to add nearly 200,000 square feet to its existing distribution facility in Hampton County. The company expects to have the first 100,000 additional square feet completed by the first quarter of 2012, with the additional 100,000 square feet planned for 2013. The $3.6 million investment is expected to create 25 jobs.

A Bounce for Berkeley County A tire recycler and maker of rubber products is moving manufacturing operations from China to South Carolina. Tire International is establishing a recycling and manufacturing facility in Berkeley County, a $25 million investment expected to generate 150 new jobs. The company will recycle tires by breaking them down into raw materials and will produce finished consumer products including environmentally responsible, high-quality commercial and residential flooring, artificial fields, playgrounds, landscaping materials and rubberized asphalt. The company cites South Carolina’s business-friendly environment, ability to have raw material delivered by rail and proximity to the Port of Charleston as factors in its decision.

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Business Climate

Perfect Recipe

Recent Investments in South Carolina

Company

Amount

First Quality Tissue LLC AQT Solar

$1 billion $460 million

ZF Group

$350 million

GE Energy

$170 million

South Carolina Tissue LLC

$140 million

Robert Bosch LLC

$125 million

Husqvarna North America

$104 million

Amazon.com Inc.

$100 million

The Boeing Co. Proterra Inc.

$100 million $68 million

South Carolina Commerce

for Growth Favorable business environment creates investment, jobs

Story by Bill Lewis

Photo Courtesy of Fred Rollison Photography

hen AQT Solar, a small California-based developer of low-cost, thin-film solar cells, was ready to expand, it came to the same conclusion that companies such as Johnson Controls, Caterpillar and Husqvarna reached. With its positive business climate, world-class research facilities and universities, skilled workforce, transportation infrastructure and businessfriendly tort system, South Carolina is the perfect place

BMW will invest another $100 million in its Spartanburg County operations.

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Todd Bennett

South Carolina Lures Renewable Energy Investment “AQT Solar has achieved significant growth in a short period of time, and we are excited to work with the state of South Carolina as we begin the next phase of our company’s development,” says CEO Michael Bartholomeusz. The company’s decision to grow in South Carolina is good for AQT and the state, he says. “This new facility will not only increase the production capacity for AQT in years to come, but will help drive the clean-tech industry in this great state and create thousands of sustainable, highvalue jobs,” says Bartholomeusz. Already a major force in the state’s economy, automaker BMW announced in February 2011 plans to invest another $100 million in its Spartanburg County operations from high demand for its X3 knocked-down “kits” destined for export. The company has invested nearly $5 billion in the state since locating operations there in 1992. Projects that attracted Area Development’s attention include Robert Bosch in Dorchester County, South Carolina Tissue in Barnwell County, Boeing Fabrication Interiors in Charleston County, Dixie Narco (Crane Co.) in Barnwell County,

Photo Courtesy of Fred Rollison

for businesses to grow. Others agree: Area Development magazine, a leading national economic development publication, named South Carolina its 2011 Gold Shovel award winner for the state’s economic development successes the previous year. South Carolina also received the magazine’s Project of the Year award. Business arrivals and expansions ranged from Caterpillar’s creation of 500 new jobs in Newberry County to AQT’s selection of Richland County as the location for its second manufacturing facility. The company will create more than 1,000 jobs in the next few years.

Top: BMW Manufacturing Co. in Spartanburg Bottom: Access to the Port of Charleston provides a significant advantage to South Carolina businesses.

Top 10 South Carolina Job Announcements in 2010 Company

County

# of Jobs

Proterra Inc.

Greenville

1,300

Amazon.com Inc.

Lexington

1,249

AQT Solar Inc.

Richland

1,017

First Quality Tissue LLC

Anderson

1,000

ZF Group

Laurens

900

Caterpillar Inc.

Newberry

500

Robert Bosch

Dorchester

305

ACAS Landing Gear Services Science Applications International (SAIC)

Marion Charleston

305

SYKES Enterprises

Sumter

300

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New jobs announced in South Carolina • 2006: 14,420 • 2007: 15,666 • 2008: 18,993 • 2009: 18,004

South Carolina: Creating Jobs, Investment AQT, First Quality and Caterpillar were among the 172 businesses that chose to grow in South Carolina in 2010. In that year alone, the South Carolina Department of Commerce’s recruitment efforts led to the announcement of 20,453 jobs and $4.1 billion in capital investment. Despite the troubled national economy, South Carolina experienced positive business growth in 2010, a study by Dun & Bradstreet concludes. For every business that moved from the state, 1.74 moved in – the best “in-location” rate among all the states. “South Carolina has built a reputation for having a business-friendly climate and a talented workforce, and these and other factors have certainly played a role in landing the large deals we’ve seen over the past few years,” says Bobby Hitt, the state’s Secretary of Commerce.

Photo Courtesy of Brian Erkens

• 2010: 20,453

Johnson Controls in Florence County, ZF Group in Laurens County, Caterpillar in Newberry County and First Quality Tissue. First Quality’s decision to establish a new manufacturing operation in Anderson County led Area Development to award South Carolina the magazine’s Project of the Year award. First Quality’s $1 billion investment is expected to create 1,000 new jobs. South Carolina’s location in the heart of the growing Southeastern market, highly developed infrastructure and low energy costs were factors in First Quality’s decision to grow in the state. “Among the factors that attracted First Quality to Anderson are the pool of skilled labor, positive work ethic and the availability of the infrastructure necessary to sustain our facility. As important, however, is the pro-business environment that has been created there,” says company representative Frank Ludovina.

BMW Manufacturing Co. in Spartanburg

South Carolina Commerce

Photo Courtesy of Bosch

Automotive supplier Robert L Bosch is adding 300 jobs at its Dorchester County operations.

Keeping Good Company south carolina at the top of many national rankings South Carolina is gaining national attention as a place to locate and an expand a business. Here are just a few of the national accolades: Area Development magazine: Named South Carolina a 2011 Gold Shovel award winner and a 2009 and 2010 Siver Shovel award winner. The award is based on the number of high-value added jobs per capita, amount of investment, number of new facilities and industry diversity. Area Development magazine: Named South Carolina third in the nation as a place to do business. National site consultants identified the 10 most attractive states for business. South Carolina was the top choice in the lowest business costs category and was among the top five for most business-friendly, corporate tax environment, overall labor climate, workforce development programs, fast-track permitting and shovel-ready sites categories. Business Facilities magazine: The South Carolina Department of Commerce received 2010 honorable mention honors for First Quality Tissue’s decision to locate a new $1 billion plant and create 1,000 new jobs in Anderson County. In 2009, South Carolina received the magazine’s Deal of the Year Gold Award for the selection of North Charleston for the site of The Boeing Co.’s second final assembly plant for the 787 Dreamliner. Business Facilities magazine: South Carolina was a runner-up for the 2010 State of the Year award. The magazine bases this annual award on a state’s top five projects for investment and job creation. Business Facilities magazine: In the magazine’s 2010 State Rankings Report, South Carolina placed

in five categories – first for Economic Growth Potential, fourth for Best Business Climate, third in Automotive Manufacturing Strength, second in Wind Energy Manufacturing Leaders, and ninth in Alternative Energy Leaders. CNBC: The network’s 2011 Top States for Business rankings named South Carolina’s workforce sixth-best in the nation.. Forbes: Ranked South Carolina eighth-best in 2010 for its pro-business regulatory environment. Forbes considered the state’s regulatory and tort climate, incentives, transportation and bond ratings. Pollina Corporate Real Estate: Ranked South Carolina as the fourth most Pro-Business State for 2010. Site Selection magazine: In the Top State Business Climates rankings, South Carolina took the fifth spot for 2010. Site Selection says South Carolina is developing into a “transportation-industry powerhouse” with automotive companies in the upstate and The Boeing Co. anchoring aerospace along the coast. Southern Business & Development magazine: Six South Carolina projects earned Excellence in Manufacturing Recruitment awards: The Boeing Co., North Charleston, 787 Dreamliner jet; First Quality Tissue, Anderson, paper products; IMO Group USA, Summerville, wind energy components; MTU Detroit Diesel Inc., Graniteville, heavy-duty diesel engines; Proterra Inc., Greenville, battery-electric buses; and ZF Group, Laurens County, fuel-efficient transmissions. South Carolina received the most awards of any state in the magazine’s reporting region. s o u t h c a r o l i n a e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t. c o m

Boeingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 787 Dreamliner P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f B o e i n g

South Carolina Commerce

Where the Future Takes Flight The Boeing Co. launches 787 Dreamliner project in South Carolina

s o u t h c a r o l i n a e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t. c o m

Story by Bill Lewis

P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f T i m S ta k e

T o dd B e n n e t t

he future is confidently taking flight in North Charleston, where thousands of Boeing South Carolina teammates are assembling the 787 Dreamliner, positioning the company to succeed in the competitive global market and cementing the state’s reputation as a center for the aerospace industry. “Our talented Boeing South Carolina teammates are going to assemble the finest, most technologically advanced commercial widebody airplane in history,” says Jack Jones, vice president and general manager of Boeing South Carolina. “Airline customers from around the world will come to the South Carolina low country to take delivery of their 787s, and we look forward to demonstrating what ‘Made with pride in South Carolina’ is all about.” Boeing’s investment in the project – expected to exceed $870 million and create more than 4,000 direct jobs – establishes the Palmetto State as one of only three places in the world for the final assembly of widebody airliners. The 787 Dreamliner program is expected to create an increase of $6.14 billion in direct annual output in the state’s

From top: Boeing employees at the company’s training facility in North Charleston; The Boeing Co.’s 787 Dreamliner project will create more than 4,000 direct jobs in South Carolina.

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economy and spark creation of 15,000 direct and indirect jobs. 787 Dreamliner: From South Carolina to the World The state’s favorable business environment, existing aerospace manufacturing facilities, infrastructure, ease of logistics and other factors encouraged the company to select South Carolina for its second 787 Dreamliner final-assembly facility. Boeing placed heavy emphasis on competing over the long term and ensuring a steady stream of deliveries for worldwide customers. Existing aerospace companies included Boeing Charleston, which was established to perform

fabrication, assembly and systems installation for 787 aft fuselage sections, and Global Aeronautica. A major supplier of subassemblies for the 787, Global Aeronautica was a joint venture between Vought Aircraft Industries and Alenia North America, a subsidiary of Italy’s Alenia Aeronautica. South Carolina: Pro-Business Environment Boeing officials cite South Carolina’s commitment to providing an environment where the company can succeed and continuously improve its competitiveness as a reason for the company’s expansion in the state. “Our partnerships with state and

local government and industry have made today possible,” Marco Cavazzoni, vice president and general manager of final assembly and delivery for Boeing South Carolina, says of the opening of the facility, which is about the size of 12 football fields and was completed six months ahead of schedule. Locating the new 787 final assembly facility in South Carolina enables the company to build on the presence it has established in the state with Boeing Charleston, says Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Locating the second line in North Charleston will allow

Boeing South Carolina • Thin-film solar laminate panels on the roof of the final assembly building will provide up to 2.6 megawatts of electrical power for the site. It is the largest in the Southeast by production capacity • Building footprint is about the size of 12 football fields • 692,000 square feet of covered space

Todd Bennett

• 1.2 million square feet of usable space

Workers at The Boeing Co. train for a variety of tasks, including rivetting, sealing and wiring.

• Capacity: will deliver three airplanes per month at rate

South Carolina Commerce

Boeing to successfully compete in the aerospace market and grow for the long-term benefit of many stakeholders,” he says. Boeing announced another expansion in South Carolina even as it constructed the new 787 final assembly facility. Up to 150 employees are staffing Boeing Fabrication Interiors in North Charleston. Its proximity to the 787 facility will make the final assembly and delivery process even more efficient. The 787 Dreamliner will be more efficient, quieter and have lower emissions than other airplanes while offering passengers greater comfort and the convenience of direct, nonstop flights between more cities. The 787 family of airplanes will carry 210 to 290 passengers on flights up to 8,500 nautical miles.

cleared for takeoff:

Todd Bennett

• Groundbreaking: November 20, 2009 • Steel topping-out: October 2010 • Building shell complete: February 2011 • First 787 production: July 2011 • First delivery: First-quarter 2012

Employees of The Boeing Co. train at Trident Technical College in North Charleston.

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South Carolina Commerce

Fueling Innovation South Carolina meets demand for new energy technology

Story by M.V. Greene

nnovation is embedded into the South Carolina economy, where investments by a number of companies are helping to meet the growing demand for new energy technology. In the Greenville area, GE Energy operates the world’s largest gas turbine manufacturing facility – producing 100-ton engines of energy that are exported to all corners of the globe. GE Energy Greenville employs more than 3,200 employees at its 400-acre world-class engineering campus that includes 1.55 million square feet of manufacturing space. The site’s engineers work in areas that include advanced power

generation, high-temperature materials, aerodynamics, thermal systems and renewables engineering. Through the work of companies like GE Energy, Greenville has been transformed into a mecca for engineering talent. South Carolina attracts Knowledge-Based Workers “The openness of people in the Upstate, the number of knowledge-based workers, the diversity of nationalities and cultures, and the array of activities work to draw and keep people with our company,” says Mark Reilly, a spokesman for

GE Energy operates the world’s largest gas turbine manufacturing facility in the Greenville area. P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f G E E n e rgy – C r e at i v e S e r v i c e s

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C o u r t e s y o f S o u t h e a s t R e n e wa b l e E n e rgy

GE Energy in Greenville, whose presence in the community dates back to more than 40 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are a number of other operational factors that work to our advantage as well, such as good transportation links.â&#x20AC;? Kurt Goodwin, manager, wind drives, structures and gearbox CoE, at the facility, says his group is focused on developing new industrial-scale wind turbines that are not only the most efficient on the market, but also the most cost effective when producing power. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wind turbines present a host of challenging opportunities for mechanical, electrical, civil and software engineers. Our goal is to provide low-cost electricity without adding emissions to the

environment. It’s a truly renewable power source,” Goodwin says. GE Energy’s investment in the Greenville plant is ongoing. One of the latest additions to the campus is its new $170 million Full Speed Full Load testing facility that enhances gas turbine design quality, Reilly says. Investments in Renewable Energy Other companies throughout South Carolina are moving forward with investments and plans in renewable energy as well. Southeast Renewable Energy has plans to build a new renewable

energy facility in Dorchester County, a $50 million investment that will utilize virgin wood residue, such as tree limbs and woody rights-of-way clearings, for a portion of the plant’s biomass fuel source. ECAPS Corp., a manufacturer of green building materials, is locating its new operations in Marlboro County with plans to invest at least $3.4 million and create at least 150 new jobs over the next five years. Proterra Inc. has plans for a facility in Greenville County to produce all-electric buses that the company hopes will result in the hiring of 1,300 workers over

the next five years and produce 400 electric buses annually as the market develops. Jeff Granato, Proterra CEO, says all-electric buses have the potential of allowing public transit agencies across the country to achieve zero emissions in their communities by replacing diesel and other legacy fuels. “From the intake into the vehicle, it would certainly be a zero emissions type of value proposition to the transit agency and the local community,” Granato says. “We will be able to take the typical transit agency from about a 4-mile-per-gallon diesel bus to an equivalent 25-mile-per-gallon electric bus.”

Southeast Renewable Energy plans a $50 million project in Dorchester County that will utilize biomass material as a fuel source.

South Carolina Commerce

International Flavor From adidas to ZF Group, South Carolina draws global players Story by Bill Lewis

ttracted by the state’s pro-business mindset, the world’s businesses are investing in South Carolina, creating new opportunities for a workforce that is ready, willing and able to help them succeed. International companies such as BMW Manufacturing, adidas and Michelin, to name just a few, employ 107,000 people and have invested more than $37.3 billion in South Carolina since 1960. Those numbers keep getting bigger.

ZF Group Grows in South Carolina When Germany’s ZF Group was looking for a place to build high-tech automatic transmissions, it selected Laurens County, where its $350 million plant is expected to employ 900 workers by 2015. The company also has a facility in Duncan, which supplies parts for BMW vehicles built in Spartanburg. The company’s customers include luxury

automakers Rolls Royce and Bentley Motors. The new facility will be a supplier for Chrysler. South Carolina provides an environment where global companies can grow, with state-sponsored workforce training programs, a well-developed transportation network that includes convenient interstate and rail access and the Port of Charleston, pro-business policies, and the presence of numerous successful international companies, says Bryan Johnson, manager of marketing and communications for ZF Group North American Operations. “There are synergies” in South Carolina, says Johnson. “With companies like BMW and Michelin creating a hub of industry and technology to work from, that was extremely beneficial for us.” Examples of the vibrant and growing international business presence include: German sports apparel and footwear

Top Five Export Markets Canada: $3.2 billion

Germany: $2.94 billion

China:

$2.2 billion

Mexico: $1.3 billion

UK:

$1.1 billion

Total export volume: $20.3 billion

The adidas facility in Spartanburg is the company’s largest in the United States. p h o t o b y T o dd B e n n e t t

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giant adidas Group, which invested $150 million in its 1.9 million-squarefoot distribution center in Spartanburg County. It is the company’s largest in the United States, and employs more than 1,500 people who fulfill orders for adidas and Reebok brand apparel, footwear, equipment and accessories. German-based auto supplier Robert Bosch, which is investing $125 million to expand its operations in Dorchester County, creating approximately 300 new jobs. Michelin and South Carolina Forge Strong Ties Michelin, the French tire maker that employs more than 8,000 workers at seven manufacturing facilities in South Carolina, is also growing. The company,

Europe office Ian M. Forbes-Jones, Managing Director State of South Carolina – Europe Office Almeida Palais Brienner Straße 14 80333 Munich, Germany Phone: (49-89)- 291-9170 Fax: (49-89)-2919-1710

Asia Office John X. Ling, Managing Director State of South Carolina – Asia Office Room 32H Pu Fa Tower 588 South Pu Dong Road Shanghai, China 200120 Phone: (86-21)- 5054-0116 Fax: (86-21)-5054-0117

South Carolina Commerce

which has invested more than $4.5 billion in the state, is investing another $200 million and creating 270 jobs at its passenger tire plant in Lexington County, says Steve Evered, vice president of government affairs. Many factors make South Carolina an attractive place for Michelin to do business, including the Port of Charleston, the state’s technical colleges, and automotive engineering collaboration at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, Evered says. “But we believe the most compelling attribute is the quality of the highly skilled workforce available in the state. All of these have contributed to Michelin’s decision, over the last nearly 40 years, to locate its North American headquarters and invest more than

$4.5 billion in this state. Our South Carolina supplier base provides more than $500 million in goods and services to our South Carolina operations every year. These factors make this state a world-class place to invest,” says Evered. South Carolina Exports to the World Another world brand, BMW Manufacturing, has invested nearly $5 billion in its South Carolina operations and is still expanding. The company, which produces the X3 and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and the X6 Sports Activity coupe, is investing another $100 million in its upstate assembly plant. That follows a $750 million expansion that opened in 2010, adding 1.5 million square feet to

the company’s 2.5 million-square-foot campus and enabling BMW to increase production capacity to 240,000 vehicles by 2012. The company employs more than 7,000 workers. The Spartanburg facility exports vehicles to more than 130 markets around the globe, mostly through the Port of Charleston. Vehicles exported in 2010 were valued at more than $4.4 billion. “BMW vehicles manufactured in South Carolina were a major contributor to the company’s success in 2010,” says Josef Kerscher, president of BMW Manufacturing. “Consistently strong, global demand for the X5 and X6 and now the all-new X3 to global markets, has led to a net increase in our export volume through the port.”

South Carolina Foreign Offices The South Carolina Department of Commerce assists international companies in their efforts to establish, relocate and expand business operations in the state. The state has had an official presence in Europe and Asia for decades. Direct foreign investment continues to create jobs and opportunity in the state. South Carolina has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for its share of workforce employed by foreign companies. In 2010, foreign investment comprised 26 percent of capital investment and 31 percent of all jobs recruited.

FDI in South Carolina (Year, Jobs, Investment)

2006: 2,858; $926 million

2007: 4,821; $2.06 billion

2008: 5,094; $1.82 billion

2009: 2,299; $447 million

2010: 6,329; $1.06 billion

An employee performs a tire inspection at a Michelin plant in Lexington, South Carolina. s o u t h c a r o l i n a e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t. c o m

South Carolina Commerce

Made in South Carolina State is an export powerhouse From automobiles, tires and chemicals to gas turbines and agricultural and forestry products, goods made in South Carolina are in high demand around the world. Palmetto State companies shipped products valued at $20.3 billion to 192 countries in 2010. That amount was up 23 percent from the previous year, when South Carolina-based enterprises sold $16.4 billion in products to foreign customers, and was a greater increase than the U.S. average. Canada surpassed Germany as the top market, with exports from South Carolina valued at almost $3.2 billion. Germany ranked second with nearly $3 billion, followed by China, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Kuwait, India, Japan, Belgium and France. Of South Carolina’s top 20 export markets in 2010, Kuwait was the fastest-growing, with a 3,127 percent increase from 2009. China was the secondfastest-growing, with a 149 percent increase, followed by South Korea, Hong Kong and Brazil. The top export category was transportation equipment, with a value of $5.7 billion. That was followed by machinery at $3.5 billion, chemicals at $3 billion, plastic and rubber products at $2 billion and paper products at $1.2 billion. Exporting means jobs for South Carolina’s workforce. In 2009, export-supported jobs linked to manufacturing accounted for about 7.7 percent of South Carolina’s total private-sector employment. That was the thirdhighest share among the states. An estimated 28.7 percent of all manufacturing employees in South Carolina depend on exports for their jobs, the third-highest share in the United States and above the U.S. average of 20 percent. The South Carolina Department of Commerce’s Business Services

team offers international trade expertise that can help both large and small companies identify markets and customers. Services include: • Organizing seminars and conferences and offering trade guidance • Evaluating product export potential and determining export prices, payment terms, methods and techniques

• Providing market research to identify key foreign markets • Assessing distribution and promotional options for overseas markets Through its two foreign offices and close relationship with the U.S. Commercial Service, the state can assist companies interested in exporting to nearly anywhere in the world. – Bill Lewis

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South Carolina Commerce

Home-Grown Talent South Carolina programs cultivate entrepreneurship Story by Katie Kuehner-Hebert • Photography by Todd Bennett

outh Carolina not only wants to lure new business to the state – it also has a host of programs to nurture existing businesses. Among its arsenal is BuySC, a supplier locator service that connects South Carolina businesses to other South Carolina companies that can meet their needs. “We go mining for our own companies here in the state, through our databases, through our relationships with companies and through our allies, such as regional or local economic development councils or professional trade associations,” says Chuck Bundy, manager of business services for the South Carolina Department of Commerce. For example, the department

was instrumental in connecting The Boeing Co. with numerous suppliers throughout the state, boosting sales and job opportunities in many communities, Bundy says. One company that has utilized the program is Kellett Enterprises Inc., a Greenville-based manufacturer and distributor of textile machinery, accessories and supplies, including the LP-13 Shake Absorber® Vibration and Isolation Pad used in a variety of industries. The BuySC program helped the company find suppliers for many materials, including plastics and washers, says Terry Mauldin, vice president of sales. Kellett is now using the program’s online directory of South Carolina-owned businesses to find home-based suppliers of industrial glue. “Anytime we can, we buy

locally,” Mauldin says. “It keeps money here in South Carolina.” Small South Carolina companies seeking to be suppliers often ask the state’s Commerce Department to make introductions to bigger companies. “Because of our relationships, it’s easy for us to help smaller companies make that connection,” Bundy says. South Carolina also offers the readySC program, one of the oldest and most experienced workforce training initiatives in the United States. The program operates in conjunction with the 16 members of the South Carolina Technical College System and works with expanding or relocating businesses to recruit, screen and train workers in customized training programs.

John Dabels, left, and Jerry Russell from EV Power Systems, a Rock Hill company that received $200,000 in funding from SC Launch.

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South Carolina Commerce

SC Launch Assists Business The SC Launch program helps startup companies launch their businesses through funding, mentoring and support so that they’ll thrive and create more jobs for South Carolinians. The program is a collaboration of the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), the commercialization arm of South Carolina’s major universities: Clemson University, the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina. The initiative aims to help entrepreneurs with start-up companies using research based information from universities. As such, SC Launch has a number of “pre-company” university startup initiatives, such as proof-of-concept, clinical trials, intellectual property support, business plan services and licensing. SC Launch zone managers mentor startups in their regions, connecting them with other businesses, as well as local economic development and academic sectors, to provide an “ecosystem” of support. The program also provides grants, loans and equity

investments to startups to defray the cost of services such as legal, financial, marketing and intellectual property protection. Startups also have access to SC Launch resource partners, professionals who provide business services, such as banking, accounting, legal, insurance, advertising, human resources, information technology and marketing. In June, SC Launch was named Nonprofit Organization of the Year in 2011 by the American Business Awards. This national award, known as the Stevie Award, recognized SC Launch for its role in leading collaborative entrepreneurial and economic development efforts. EV Power Systems, a startup in Rock Hill that designs, sells and services hybrid and all-electric vehicle power systems, received $200,000 in funding from SC Launch. The state’s Commerce Department also introduced potential investors and customers to the firm. “I think more states need to do things like this,” says John R. Dabels, EV Power chief executive.

BuySC What it is: A South Carolina purchaser-oriented, material and service locator program

What it does: Helps South Carolina companies connect with South Carolina suppliers and vendors

How it works: The Business Services team uses a comprehensive network to match a company’s needs with in-state resources.

Buyers: Submit the BuySC Request Form online or via fax, and submit it to the BuySC Business Services team

Suppliers: Submit a BuySC Supplier Information Form online with the most current information to be included on the BuySC list of South Carolina suppliers

LP-13 Shake Absorber® Vibration and Isolation Pads for washing machines are manufactured and distributed by Kellett Enterprises Inc., a company that has utilized the BuySC program.

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South Carolina Commerce

An Assisted Launch Program helps a startup power up EV Power Systems designs, sells and services hybrid and allelectric vehicle power systems. The Rock Hill-based company was assisted by the SC Launch program, which provides funding, mentoring and support services to startup companies. The program is a collaboration of SCRA, the commercialization arm of South Carolina’s major universities: Clemson University, the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina. EV Power Systems CEO John R. Dabels details how the program helped his business.

Q: How else has SC Launch helped your business?

Q: Are there other reasons why you chose to start your business in South Carolina?

A: SC Launch encourages startup companies, and the only way to really create jobs nationwide is by supporting startups in manufacturing.

A: South Carolina is becoming a technology-based economy and I think that’s a smart market move – it builds jobs in the long term. – Katie Kuehner-Hebert

Q: Where did you start your firm? A: The company was established in Charlotte, but because of SC Launch, we relocated to Rock Hill, South Carolina. Q: How did SC Launch help your business? A: SC Launch provided $200,000 in working capital. The state then introduced us to additional potential investors and potential clients. Q: How is this additional capital helping your company? A: We’re looking to introduce complementary products that will make it easier for our customers, such as municipalities, to maintain their fleets in ways that provide gains in fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, but without the capital investment.

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Site Guide

South Carolina has a land area of more than 30,000 square miles, with available acreage and spec buildings in practically every county carefully catalogued in a user-friendly online database. The extensive database allows users to search by specific criteria and the GIS Locator provides an interactive map feature showing the location of the buildings and sites. Visit SCcommerce.com/ gislocator to search available buildings and sites in the state.

sites

buildings

Fairfield Commerce Center (Fairfield) Acreage: 641 Acres Sewer/Water Access: Available Additional Info: SC Certified Site, Interstate Access

Charleston Regional, Building 3 (Berkeley) Size/Acreage: 112,000 SF/7 Acres Ceiling Height: 24’ Condition: Excellent

South Carolina has the tools to help any business find the perfect building or site – and help get them up and running quickly. The following are just a few of the buildings available throughout the state. For additional information, contact Jennifer deCesare, buildings and sites manager: (803) 737-0597 Jdecesare@SCcommerce.com SCcommerce.com/gislocator

Note: These listings were provided by the South Carolina Department of Commerce and were considered correct at the time of publication. However, due to the nature of real estate, the information and availability may change during the lifetime of this publication and accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Go to SCcommerce.com for the most up-to-date information.

South Carolina Commerce

I-20 Industrial Center (Lee) Acreage: 240 Acres Sewer/Water Access: Available Additional Info: SC Certified Site, Interstate Access

West Annex Industrial Site (Orangeburg) Acreage: 653.36 Acres Sewer/Water Access: Available Additional Info: SC Certified Site, Interstate Access

Lamson and Sessions (Richland) Size/Acreage: 350,000 SF/23.50 Acres Ceiling Height: 30’ Condition: Excellent

Oconee County Shell Building (Oconee) Size/Acreage: 50,000 SF/19 Acres Ceiling Height: 32’ Condition: Excellent

SITE & BUILDING LOCATIONS 85

Spartanburg

Greenville

Rock Hill 385

1 5

Columbia

Florence 95

Sumter

Myrtle Beach

Aiken

1 Class A Business/Industrial Park

4 Charleston

2 I-20 Industrial Center 3 West Annex Industrial Site 4 Charleston Regional, Building 3

Hilton Head

5 Lamson and Sessions 6 Oconee County Shell Building Other Available Site/Building

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South Carolina Commerce

Transportation

Market Mover South Carolina ports, air, rail and highways link state to the world Story by John Fuller Photography by Todd Bennett

ith a world-class seaport, modern airports, major rail lines and highways crossing the state, South Carolina’s transportation assets are a key catalyst to economic growth. The Port of Charleston is the ninth-largest container port in the United States, with more high-crane container lifts than any port in the Western Hemisphere. With water drafts of up to 48 feet – the deepest in the Southeast – the port offers major advantages for accommodating large vessels. That advantage will take

on even more importance with the widening and deepening of the Panama Canal, which will allow huge “post-Panamax” container ships easier access to the port, and promises even more distribution facilities and business. “We’re making an all-in bet for the future of big ships in our port. These ships will be East Coast workhorses of the future,” says Jim Newsome, president and chief executive officer of the South Carolina State Ports Authority, which operates the ports of

A cargo ship at the Port of Charleston, the ninth-largest container port in the U.S.

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South Carolina Port Facts • Major ports: Port of Charleston, Port of Georgetown • Ship/barges served: 1,607 (both ports) • Tonnage handled: 647,811 tons at Charleston; 229,040 tons at Georgetown • Channel depth: Charleston, 45 feet (up to 48 feet at highest draft depth); Georgetown, 27 feet • Average truck turnaround time at Port of Charleston: 21 minutes • Crane moves per hour at Port of Charleston: 41 • Value of goods shipped: $50.2 billion at Port of Charleston

From top: A cargo ship is offloaded at the Port of Charleston; Charleston International Airport

Charleston and Georgetown. The port authority is working with federal officials to deepen the Port of Charleston, and has a 10-year, $1.3 billion capital plan for both new and existing port facilities, particularly dockside infrastructure. In Charleston, major commodities shipped from the port include agricultural and forest products and assembled automobiles, while auto parts are shipped into the port. In Georgetown, commodities such as wood pellets, petroleum coke,

wire rod and cement are top cargoes. Major Companies Use Port of Charleston Among the users of the port are major manufacturers that include BMW, Michelin, Fujifilm, Tognum America, Le Creuset and GE Power. The Boeing Co., which located a new assembly plant in Charleston for its 787 Dreamliner project, is expected to take advantage of proximity to the port. Two major rail carriers serve

the ports, and several major highways connect it to key U.S. markets. More than 260,000 jobs are linked to the state’s port system and thousands are directly employed in the maritime community at the ports. International trade was a main factor in the decision of Regal Logistics to locate a major distribution center in Charleston near the port facilities and major highways. The 351,000-square-foot facility will provide a boost to Regal’s business as a third-party

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South Carolina Commerce

distributor for makers and suppliers of merchandise to Walmart and other major retailers. “The demand of our customers to reduce fuel costs was a major factor in locating our facility in South Carolina,” says Garry Neeves, vice president of Regal. “The transportation infrastructure here in South Carolina was ideal.” Airlines Add South Carolina Destinations Air travel is also convenient for the state’s business and vacation travelers. Air carriers are continually adding service to South Carolina’s major airports, and the state is easily accessible to airport hubs in Atlanta and Charlotte. In the past year, Southwest Airlines has added service to Charleston and GreenvilleSpartanburg, and Delta has started nonstop service from Washington D.C. to Charleston. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is adding a new terminal, while Charleston International and Columbia Metropolitan airports have terminal facility and runway expansion plans under way. The Port of Charleston is also a destination for several cruise lines. South Carolina is centered about halfway between New York and Miami, and is served by five interstate highways. The state is within a short drive of more than 66 percent of the U.S. population, making it an appealing location for trucking and logistics companies.

South Carolina is served by Class I rail carriers CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern and eight affiliated and independent carriers that service almost 2,300 miles of rail.

South Carolina’s Commercial Airports • Charleston International Airport • Columbia Metropolitan Airport • Florence Regional Airport • Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport • Hilton Head Airport • Myrtle Beach International Airport

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Energy/Technology

A Surge in Opportunity Low-cost power gives South Carolina a competitive advantage Story by John Fuller Photography by Todd Bennett

outh Carolina has ample and reliable supplies of energy and a major cost advantage compared to most other states in the nation. South Carolina’s industrial power rates are generally 15 to 20 percent below the national average, according to reports from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Electric production in South Carolina utilizes a mix of fuels, providing for stable pricing and reliability.

Inexpensive and reliable power was cited as one reason why Internet giant Google decided in 2007 to build a $600 million data center in Berkeley County. The state’s four generating utilities have a combined capacity of 24 gigawatts to support industrial and commercial growth. All four utilities are members of the VirginiasCarolinas Reliability Council and subscribe to its guidelines for minimum standards of reserves.

Their connected systems provide for inter-utility power sales as well as exceptional reliability across the state. South Carolina: Low-Cost Energy Advantage “We believe South Carolina has a real advantage when it comes to low-cost, reliable energy for its customers,” says Rusty Reed, vice president of business development for the Palmetto Economic Development Corp.

A locomotive (above) at Santee Cooper’s Cross Generating Station (right), the company’s largest generating station

South Carolina Commerce

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South Carolina’s Favorable Energy Costs (Cents per kilowatt hour for industrial users in the Southeast) • South Carolina – 5.67 • Alabama - 5.76 • North Carolina – 5.78 • Georgia – 6.19 • Mississippi – 6.41 • Virginia – 6.51 • Tennessee - 6.76 • Florida – 8.54 • Total U.S. – 6.65 U.S. Energy Information Administration

Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s largest power producer.

The Palmetto State is served by four major energy utilities and 21 independent municipal suppliers. The major suppliers of energy to the state are South Carolina Electric & Gas (SCE&G), Progress Energy and Duke Energy, which are investor-owned utilities, and Santee Cooper, which is a stateowned electric and water utility. These utilities generate energy through a host of means, including nuclear, coal, hydro

and natural gas, as well as alternative energy sources, including wind and solar power. Each of these utilities has special programs for commercial and industrial customers seeking to locate or expand in the state. Solid Utilities Serve Palmetto State SCE&G is a subsidiary of SCANA, a Fortune 500 company based in Cayce, S.C. It serves

about 660,000 electric customers and 313,000 natural gas customers in South Carolina. SCE&G operates 17 power plants throughout the state, including coal-fired and nuclear plants. It also has a handful of hydroelectric plants and a biomass facility. SCE&G and The Boeing Co. announced an energy partnership in 2011 in which Boeing’s North Charleston assembly plant will operate

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as a 100 percent renewable energy site. SC&G will install a solar generation system and dedicate the power from the system to the Boeing site and supplement the solar energy with power from its system. Santee Cooper is the state’s largest power producer, supplying electricity to more than 163,000 retail customers, as well as 31 large industrial facilities. Santee Cooper also generates power distributed by the state’s 20 electric cooperatives to more than 685,000 customers in 40 counties. Santee Cooper was the first electric utility in South Carolina to offer electricity generated by renewable resources like solar, wind and even decomposing garbage in selected landfills. Duke Energy, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest U.S. electric power companies in the U.S. Its serves about 2.4 million customers in the Carolinas. Progress Energy, headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., serves 3.1 million customers in South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida. “Our company’s success is directly linked to the prosperity of the communities we serve,” says Stuart Ames, Progress Energy’s South Carolina manager for economic development. “We are proud to be part of the collaborative effort to strengthen the economic growth across our South Carolina service area.”

Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power are part of the energy mix in South Carolina.

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Plenty of Smarts South Carolina initiative spurs development in emerging technologies Emerging technologies, such as alternative energy research, are getting a big boost through South Carolina’s innovative SmartState program. The program, formerly known as the CoEE program, was created in 2002 by the South Carolina General Assembly to promote growth of the knowledge-based economy in South Carolina. South Carolina Education Lottery funds totaling $180 million have been appropriated for the program since the 2002-2003 fiscal year. Since its inception 49 research centers of Economic Excellence have been approved for funding. South Carolina’s three public research institutions, the Medical University of South Carolina, Clemson University and the University of South Carolina, are required to raise dollar-fordollar, non-state matching funds to access the state funding. The program funds research in specific areas, such as alternative energy, that show the greatest promise for higher-paying job creation, thus building the state’s economy and improving its citizens’ standard of living. “Today, we see the tangible results of how this visionary program is turning South Carolina into a ‘smart state,’” says SmartState review board Chairwoman Pamela P. Lackey, South Carolina president of AT&T. “It has placed a powerful focus on developing new world-class R&D within our state’s universities, keeping the best and brightest in South Carolina and creating high-skilled, higher-paying jobs.” The SmartState program has enabled South Carolina to recruit 37 internationally acclaimed scientists and engineers, who serve as SmartState endowed chairs at the three universities. SmartState has generated more than $360 million dollars

in investment from external sources in South Carolina and helped create more than 5,000 jobs. The program has invested more than $15 million to help create and fund research activities in alternative energy for hydrogen, nuclear and solid oxide applications. One successful example is the Center for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology, part of the University

of South Carolina’s larger fuel cell initiative. The center conducts research to develop hydrogen storage materials and sensors for fuel cells. Promising hydrogen technology could add thousands of high-paying jobs and transform South Carolina’s economy, University of South Carolina research officials say. – John Fuller

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Education

Get Ready Training program helps create new jobs, investment in South Carolina Story by Cary Estes Photography by Todd Bennett

or the past 50 years, readySC has helped South Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workforce get set to go. Established in 1961, the readySC workforce development training program is one of the oldest in the United States. The program operates in conjunction with the 16 members of the South Carolina Technical College System. The program serves as a bridge between workers and companies that are relocating to South Carolina or expanding within the state. The colleges develop detailed training programs tailored to meet a companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s specific workforce requirements. These services are funded by the state, so there is usually no cost to the companies. More than 260,000 employees have been trained by readySC

A student paints a car at the McKinney Regional Automotive Training Center at Greenville Technical College.

South Carolina Commerce

Education

readySC Facts and Figures

1961 Year program was founded

4,500 Employees trained in 2009-10

260,000 Employees trained since 1961

2,000 Companies served since 1961

www.readysc.org

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since the program’s inception, and approximately 2,000 companies have been served. In 2009-10, nearly 4,500 workers were trained for positions at 76 companies. The ever-changing project list ranges from small businesses that need only a handful of employees to major corporations, such as The Boeing Co., which in 2009 selected South Carolina as the site of a second aircraft-production facility with the potential of producing 4,000 direct jobs. A benefit to business Cross Country Home Services offers a prime example of how companies can benefit from the readySC program. CCHS, a national leader in home warranties and service plans, opened a customer-care center in Anderson in 2008, then expanded the number of employees at the facility in 2011. CCHS found many of the 300plus employees for the center through readySC. The program provided pre-hire training that included such topics as time and stress management, diversity, problem-solving and basic customer services. Then once the hires were made, readySC trained 205 customerservice representatives and 115 authorize/retention associates. Dedicated training space was provided by Tri-County Technical College. “ReadySC worked closely with us from the onset to make certain that all of our recruiting and training efforts worked towards getting the right people in the right place at the right time,” says Mike Roneker, CCHS operations manager. “The talented workforce we have built at our Anderson County facility has played a critical role in Greenville Technical College is one of 16 technical colleges in the state that participate in the readySC program.

South Carolina Commerce

Center of Knowledge South carolina technical college system Aiken Technical College Central Carolina Technical College Denmark Technical College Florence-Darlington Technical College Greenville Technical College Horry-Georgetown Technical College Midlands Technical College Northeastern Technical College Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Piedmont Technical College Spartanburg Community College Technical College of the Lowcountry Tri-County Technical College Trident Technical College Williamsburg Technical College York Technical College

Public Four-Year institutions The Citadel Clemson University Coastal Carolina University College of Charleston Francis Marion University Lander University Medical University of South Carolina South Carolina State University University of South Carolina University of South Carolina Aiken University of South Carolina Beaufort University of South Carolina Lancaster University of South Carolina Salkehatchie University of South Carolina Sumter University of South Carolina Union University of South Carolina Upstate Winthrop University

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South Carolina Commerce

our company’s growth.” program makes an impact It does not take the creation of hundreds of jobs for readySC to make an impact. In August 2010, zinc production company Horsehead Corp. opened a production facility in Barnwell that resulted in the hiring of 65 employees, 55 of whom were trained by readySC. Though the number of new jobs was relatively small, the facility represented a $70 million investment by Horsehead in the state. And Horsehead officials make it clear that the readySC program was a major factor in the company’s choice of South Carolina as the location for the new facility. “readySC’s services played a significant role in Horsehead’s

decision to locate in South Carolina, and it’s a decision we haven’t regretted,” says Eric Stroom, plant manager. “The readySC team did an outstanding job supporting the recruitment and training of our initial workforce. “The team worked closely with our group to develop a spot-on curriculum and training vehicle that our staff effectively delivered. This program was an essential ingredient in providing our new employees with a basic understanding of Horsehead’s mission, expectations, technologies and processes on day one of employment. Our startup was a tremendous success, due in large part to the preparation of our workforce through readySC. It was a tremendous team effort.”

Photo Courtesy of Lisa Garrett

Hands-on mechatronics training at Tri-County Technical College

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South Carolina Commerce

Livability

Cultured Pearls Museums and festivals anchor South Carolina’s vibrant cultural scene

Photo Courtesy of Hilton Head Island Visitor & Convention Bureau

Story by Joe Morris

ity the family’s weekend planner in South Carolina. There just aren’t enough hours in the day. The state is packed with things to see and do, from awardwinning museums and festivals to golf and other activities at dozens of state parks and recreation areas. The trick is not finding something to do, it’s narrowing your focus long enough to settle on one thing. Or two, or three.

Spoleto Festival, Museums and Galleries Since 1977, Charleston has played host to the world during the 17-day Spoleto Festival USA. The performing-arts festival brings together opera, theater, dance and all types of music, and also showcases Charleston’s legendary historical architecture. The rest of the state has no worries in keeping up when it comes to culture, either. All told, it’s not hard to find a part of

Shopping in Old Town Bluffton s o u t h c a r o l i n a e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t. c o m

Museums Boost Downtown Revitalization Efforts In the state capital, the Columbia Museum of Art has anchored another vibrant cultural scene since 1950. A building opened in 1998 has more than 20,000 square feet of gallery space, and is the core of an area full of

The Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston

South Carolina Commerce

Photo Courtesy of William Struhs

South Carolina that boasts a strong artistic flair and a rich and diverse blend of cultural offerings. In downtown Greenville, the city core has come back to life thanks to years of strong publicprivate partnerships. As the district has become a thriving business and residential hub, it also has grown as an arts and entertainment destination. More than 90 restaurants and pubs operate on Main Street, and special events, including weekly concerts from March to September, number more than 300 annually. Mix in such destinations as the Greenville County Museum of Art, The Peace Center for the Performing Arts, Museum & Gallery at Heritage Green, Upcountry History Museum and Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum of the Upstate, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to see why downtown always draws a crowd.

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Photo Courtesy of Circa

South Carolina Commerce

Photo Courtesy of Hilton Head Island Visitor & Convention Bureau

T o dd B e n n e t t Photo Courtesy of Hilton Head Island Visitor & Convention Bureau

fine restaurants and shopping. The museum’s permanent collection boasts Botticelli’s only fresco and a chandelier created by Dale Chihuly, an artist renowned for his glass forms of nature, that brilliantly looms in the museum atrium. “Our main role in Columbia in the last decade has really been to anchor the arts on, and the redevelopment of, Main Street,” says Joelle Ryan-Cook, deputy director and director of external affairs for the Columbia Museum of Art. “When we opened this facility the area looked quite different; we’re seeing a lot of great new energy happening down here, and we think our work and

that of other arts organizations has helped make that happen.” Also serving the city center and beyond is the Spartanburg Art Museum, which hosts a variety of traveling exhibits and other events throughout the year. Its galleries feature local, regional and national artists, as well as a permanent collection of 20th-century works. Arts are also the thing at the Artists Colony of Sumter, where visitors can browse completed works and also watch local artisans create pieces on the premises. On Hilton Head Island, the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina continues to be a highly successful

Clockwise from top left: Circa performs at the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston; A concert at the Peace Center Amphitheater in downtown Greenville; A potter at work on Hilton Head Island; Harbour Town on Hilton Head Island s o u t h c a r o l i n a e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t. c o m

Todd Bennett Photo Courtesy of Hilton Head Island Visitor & Convention Bureau

showcase for both performing and visual arts. The center also has a strong calendar of cultural festivals and educational programs, allowing it to serve both the visiting public as well as the island’s year-round residents. “We are a regional resource, but we also are the third-largest arts organization in the state, so we think we have significant impact in our region and beyond,” says Kathleen Bateson, president and CEO of the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. “In the summertime, visitors are as much as 40 percent of our total attendees, and they are from around the United States and every country you can think of. We sit in one corner of the state, but the revenue we generate has a direct impact on the entire state.”

From top: The Keenan Fountain in front of the Columbia Museum of Art; Shopping in Harbour Town on Hilton Head Island

South Carolina Commerce

The Main Events South Carolina communities create thriving downtowns Small-town glory is fully on display throughout the state, thanks to the robust Main Street South Carolina Program, which oversees urban renewal and more. The program aligns with the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street effort, which highlights a four-point approach: organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring. Nine South Carolina cities are involved in Main Street efforts: Beaufort, Bennettsville, Great Falls, Lancaster, Laurens, Manning, Orangeburg, Pickens and Summerville. The communities that have received the designation have earned it. It’s not easy to become – and remain – a Main Street community, says Beppie LeGrand, South Carolina program manager. “A community has to apply to be a member, and it’s pretty rigorous,” LeGrand says. “They have to

maintain the program, and be able to fund it for the long haul.” All of the state’s Main Street communities have seen successes, from redoing signage to redesigning streetscapes to creating and promoting festivals and events that draw more people to their downtowns. Those efforts create strong urban cores, LeGrand says. “They focus on historic preservation, but also bring in lots of new energy to the residents and merchants,” she says. “They have been able to take downtown areas that were being neglected, and often with many vacant storefronts and no activity, and bring back businesses. They also are working to bring in residential components, so that they create 24-hour hubs of activity. All our Main Street communities are finding new ways to be successful.” Many of the participating communities have keyed their Main Street program efforts to downtown

development. In Beaufort, Main Street offers services related to downtown promotion and advertising, as well as business retention and recruitment. And in Conway, the organization worked to create a specific historic district and then implement design improvements and other measures to lure new business while also creating a specific downtown identity. “Main Street used to be about just recruiting businesses and filling up vacant storefronts,” says LaNelle Fabian, executive director of Main Street Beaufort. “Now we are focused on that aspect of economic development, as well as promoting what we already have and growing that way. Main Street focuses on marketing, design and many other areas, which allows us to be a strong economic development partner for the city and the region.” – Joe Morris

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Gallery

Torch Bearer on the campus of the University of South Carolina in Columbia Photo by Todd Bennett

South Carolina Commerce

Downtown Aikenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Morgan Fountain Staff Photo

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The historic Robert Mills Courthouse is home to the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center. Photos by Todd Bennett

South Carolina Commerce

South Carolina State House in downtown Columbia

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Peace Center Amphitheater in downtown Greenville Photos by Todd Bennett

South Carolina Commerce

The Swan Lake Iris Gardens in Sumter, SC

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economic profile Business snapshot South Carolina’s favorable business climate resulted in the announcement of project creating more than 20,400 jobs in 2010. The state is a hub for aerospace and aircraft manufacturing, automobile production, advanced materials manufacturing and distribution operations. High-quality colleges and universities are bolstered by major research assets such as Savannah River National Laboratory in Aiken, one of only 17 U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory facilities in the nation.

Population

Retail

2010: 4,625,364

Sales: $65.43 billion

2000: 4,012,832

Establishments: 400,570

Median Household Income 2009: $42,442

Housing Market

Transportation

Change: 15.3% Households: 1.7 million

Major MSA Population (2010) Columbia: 767,588 Greenville-Mauldin-Easley: 636,986 Charleston-North Charleston: 664,607 Spartanburg: 269,291 Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway: 263,868 Florence: 209,566

Median single-family home price Charleston MSA: $183,000 Greater Columbia: $140,000 Greater Greenville: $140,000 Myrtle Beach Area: $150,000

Major Industries (by percentage of total employment)

Labor Force

Government: 17.7%

2010: 2,147,400

Professional & Business Services: 12%

2000: 1,988,159

Leisure & Hospitality: 12.2% Retail Trade: 12.3%

MSA Labor Force (2010)

Manufacturing: 11.6%

Anderson: 83,759

Construction: 4.5%

Charleston-North CharlestonSummerville: 328,340

Education & Health Services: 11.4% Financial Insurance & Real Estate: 5.7%

Columbia: 373,279

Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities: 3.2%

Florence: 96,285

All Other: 5.8%

Greenville-MauldinEasley: 310,175

Commercial Service Airports Charleston International Airport www.chs-airport.com Columbia Metropolitan Airport www.columbiaairport.com Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport www.gspairport.com Myrtle Beach Airport www.myrtlebeachairport.org Florence Regional Airport www.florenceairport.com

Highways The state is crisscrossed by five interstate highways: I-85, I-26, I-77, I-95 and I-20. South Carolina is halfway between New York City and Miami, about 650 miles to each metro area measured from the centrally located capital city of Columbia. The state is within 1,000 miles of 35 states and roughly 75 percent of the total U.S. population.

For more in-depth demographic, statistical and community information on South Carolina, go to southcarolinaeconomicdevelopment.com and click on Demographics.

Sumter: 43,561

South Carolina Commerce

Per Capita Personal Income 2009: $32,338

What’s Online

Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle BeachConway: 139,138

income

Railroad (Class I) CSX Transportation www.csx.com Norfolk Southern www.nscorp.com

port The Port of Charleston is one of the busiest container ports on the East Coast and the seventhlargest container port in the United States. Approximately 2,000 ships and barges, representing some 40 different shipping lines, use the services of the South Carolina ports each year. Additional port facilities can also be found at the Port of Georgetown. For more information about the Port of Charleston, go to www.port-of-charleston.com. Sources: www.nrf.com quickfacts.census.gov SCcommerce.com

visit our

advertisers Berkeley County Economic Development www.berkeleycountysc.gov

Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA www.hsblawfirm.com

BMW Manufacturing Company www.bmwusfactory.com

Institute for Translational Oncology Research www.itor-ghs.org

Charleston County Economic Development www.ed.charlestoncounty.org Charleston Regional Development Alliance www.charlestoneconomicdevelopment.com City of Rock Hill www.rockhillusa.com Clemson University www.clemson.edu Darlington County Economic Development Partnership www.dcedp.biz

Laurens County Development Corporation www.laurenscounty.org/ed Lowcountry Economic Network www.lowcountrynet.org McNair Law Firm, PA www.mcnair.net MeadWestVaco www.mwv.com

Dorchester County Economic Development www.dorchesterforbusiness.com

Michelin www.michelin.com

Duke Energy Carolinas www.considerthecarolinas.com

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP www.nelsonmullins.com

Economic Development Partnership www.edpsc.org

Nexsen/Pruet www.nexsenpruet.com

Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center www.ghs.org

North Eastern Strategic Alliance www.nesasc.org

Greenwood Partnership Alliance www.partnershipalliance.com

KBR Building Group www.kbrbuildinggroup.com

Oconee County Economic Development Commission www.oconeescedc.com

Orangeburg County Development Commission www.ocdc.com Progress Energy www.progress-energy.com SCANA www.scana.com South Carolina Department of Commerce www.sccommerce.com South Carolina Power Team www.scpowerteam.com South Carolina State Ports Authority www.scspa.com Southern Carolina Regional Development Alliance www.southerncarolina.org Sumter Economic Development www.sumteredge.com Town of Cheraw www.cheraw.com University of South Carolina www.sc.edu Upstate SC Alliance www.upstatealliance.com

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Through the Lens

Get the Story Behind the Photo Now that you’ve experienced South Carolina through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. Visit throughthelensjci.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments. From Our Photo Blog: south carolina If a Beluga whale and a 747 had a child, it would surely look a lot like The Boeing Co.’s DreamLifter. The DreamLifter came about after Boeing realized it needed a faster way to move parts between suppliers in Japan, Italy and the United States. The company transformed a 747 into an oversized cargo plane capable of hauling three times the capacity of a normal 747 cargo plane, allowing the company to move parts faster than the previous method of ship transport. This DreamLifter is parked near the Boeing facility in North Charleston, S.C. The plane is used to ferry parts for the 787 DreamLiner back and forth from North Charleston to Everett, Wash. When the North Charleston plant is at full production, it is expected to produce three 787 DreamLiners a month. Posted by todd bennett

More Online

See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at throughthelensjci.com.

S’ Wanderful

South Carolina Commerce

Blessing All God’s Creatures, Big and Small

Ad Index

49 Berkeley County Economic Development

46 BMW Manufacturing Company

30 Charleston County Economic Development

65 Charleston Regional Development Alliance

C4 City of Rock Hill

22 Clemson University

71 Darlington County Economic Development Partnership

56 Dorchester County Economic Development

48 Duke Energy Carolinas

4, 60 Economic Development Partnership

43 Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center

36 Greenwood Partnership Alliance

12 Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA

C2 Institute for Translational Oncology Research

8 KBR Building Group

Ad Index (cont.)

48 Laurens County Development Corporation

48 Lowcountry Economic Network

10 McNair Law Firm, PA

2 MeadWestVaco

18 Michelin

42 Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

1 Nexsen/Pruet

46 North Eastern Strategic Alliance

C3 Oconee County Economic Development Commission

54 Orangeburg County Development Commission

57 Progress Energy

62 SCANA

6 South Carolina Power Team

64 South Carolina State Ports Authority

9 Southern Carolina Regional Development Alliance

28 Sumter Ecomomic Development

42 Town of Cheraw

16 University of South Carolina

56 Upstate SC Alliance

OcO n e e cO u nt y

South Carolina

Hometown Feel with a Global State of Mind Oconee county Shell Industrial Building 50,000 sq. ft. expandable

• I-85 and 123/76 Access • 4 1/2 Hours to Port of Charleston • Halfway between Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC • Supportive Government with Community Vision • Reasonable Taxes • Trainable Workforce through Ready SC Program • Outstanding Public Schools InDuStRIAL PARKS • Oconee County Commerce Center • Golden Corner Commerce Park • Echo Hills Park

www.oconeescedc.com

Jim Alexander, Director Oconee County Economic Development Commission (864) 638-4210 jalexander@oconeesc.com