Commerce News

COLUMBIA, S.C. – September 29, 2011 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce has been awarded a State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in the amount of $202,669. The grant is designed help South Carolina small businesses seize export opportunities.The grant is one of many going out from the U.S. Small Business Administration, which is providing $30 million in grants to states, territories, and the District of Columbia, to help increase exporting by small businesses during the next 12 months.

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Palmetto Railways, a division of the SC Department of Commerce, is holding a community kickoff open house to introduce the public to the proposed development of an industrial rail line which will serve the Camp Hall Commerce Park in Berkeley County, SC.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Nikki Haley and the South Carolina Department of Commerce today announced that the State of South Carolina has once again been recognized for achievement in foreign direct investment (FDI). This week, fDi Magazine announced the Palmetto State as its national champion.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina posted another solid business recruitment year in 2015, with capital investment recruited to the state topping $4 billion. From January to December 2015, the state won 150 economic development projects, totaling $4.21 billion in capital investment and 17,280 jobs by new and expanding businesses.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Commerce today announced that Benjamin D. Johnson has joined the agency as research director. Johnson will manage an interdisciplinary team of researchers and analysts who support the mission of the Department of Commerce as the lead economic development agency of the state.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – On Friday, November 13, more than 50 local leaders and development professionals from across South Carolina completed the 2015 South Carolina Economic Development Institute. Institute attendees received their Certificates of Completion during the final day of the 2015 Institute held at Red Ventures in Lancaster County.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The State of South Carolina is expanding its export initiative for in-state businesses through a new program:

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Communities across the state are slated to benefit from public improvement projects supported by nearly $13.3 million in funds from the latest round of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The recycling industry in South Carolina brings a $13 billion boost to the state's economy annually - double the estimated impact of recycling in 2006 - according to a new report released today. 

 Compiled by Dr. Frank Hefner, the economic impact report quantified the contributions of recycling through a combination of direct survey data from recycling companies as well as economic modeling through IMPLAN. The report was an update to a 2006 study with the same methodology. 

COLUMBIA, S.C. – March 2, 2012 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce will host a day-long workshop this month to help small business owners with strategies on financing their businesses and meeting lenders. The event will be March 13, at the TD Convention Center in Greenville.

“The emotion and energy of Commerce is toward having an impact. Meeting the needs of small business through sessions like this one help us do that, and bring important resources right to small business owners,” said Bobby Hitt, Secretary of Commerce.