Economy

SC Ranks 10th in Site Selection’s Top Ten Competitive States

May 24, 2013 by bobbyharrell

Site Selection Magazine

The Competitiveness Ranking here is a broader measure of state competitiveness than the number of announced projects, though that is a strong indicator of future job creation. It includes several New Plant Database criteria (see the index methodology sidebar), which reflect announced capital investment in total and per capita. It also includes other gauges of states’ strength, such as the number of National Career Readiness Certificates according to the Workforce Development Division of Atlanta-based ACT, administrator of the Certified Work Ready Communities initiative.

by MARK AREND
mark.arend bounce@siteselection.com

Boeing CEO Jim McNerney calls N. Charleston 787 campus “a big deal”

May 23, 2013 by bobbyharrell

By Brendan Kearney and John McDermott,

Boeing’s top executives heaped praise on the North Charleston 787 complex during the company’s annual investor meeting held on Kiawah Wednesday morning, while broadcasting sharp challenges, including to its suppliers and main competitor, Airbus.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Ray Conner, shown in Tokyo earlier this year, was on Kiawah Island today to address analysts. He said the company’s 787 battery fix was the equivalent of “three years of work in three months.” (AP/Itsuo Inouye/File)

“We’re glad you could see it for yourself yesterday,” CEO Jim McNerney told the gathered analysts, referring to Tuesday’s tour of the local factories. “It’s a big deal. It took a long time, but we’re on the other side now.”

Filed Under: All News, Latest News, Top News Tagged With: Boeing, Economic Development, Economy, Jobs, South Carolina

S.C. unemployment rate hits lowest mark in 5 years

May 21, 2013 by bobbyharrell

Staff Report

South Carolina’s jobless rate in April dropped to its lowest level in nearly five years, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce reported today.

April’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate slipped to 8%, down from 8.4% in March. Nationally, the unemployment rate in April was 7.5%.

“The 0.4% decrease from March marks the largest month-to-month drop since May 1987, and the number of South Carolinians finding work continues to increase each month,” said John Finan, the agency’s administrator. [Read more...]

Filed Under: All News, Latest News, Top News Tagged With: Economic Development, Economy, Jobs, South Carolina, Unemployment Rate

Speaker Harrell Welcomes Boeing’s Huge New Expansion

May 14, 2013 by bobbyharrell

By, Brendan Kearney

Friday’s ceremony in North Charleston was supposed to be about “Phase 2” of Boeing’s local expansion — a $1.1 billion investment and 2,000 more jobs in exchange for a government incentives package that includes $120 million from the state.

And it was, as a series of top elected and Boeing officials, looking out over the complex from an observation deck, marveled at how the 787 Dreamliner plant has progressed since the first major government-backed expansion here in 2009, and what the next round will include.

Boeing South Carolina Vice President and General Manager Jack Jones welcomes House Speaker Bobby Harrell to the podium at Friday’s celebration of the legislative deal wherein the plane maker agreed to invest another $1.1 billion in its local factory complex in exchange for $120 million of infrastructure support from the state. (Brendan Kearney/postandcourier.com)

Then Michael Luttig, Boeing’s general counsel and a part-time Kiawah Island resident, articulated what many outside the company have suspected about its long-term plans for the Lowcountry. [Read more...]

Filed Under: All News, Latest News, Top News Tagged With: Bobby Harrell, Boeing, Economic Development, Economy, Jobs, South Carolina, Speaker of the House

SC Tourism Spending Hits Record High – $16.5 billion

May 7, 2013 by bobbyharrell

CHARLESTON, S.C. — (AP) – South Carolina’s tourism industry has bounced back after the Great Recession with tourism spending reaching a record $16.5 billion, according to figures released Saturday by the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

“We’re pretty well back now,” said Duane Parrish, director of the state agency. The numbers released to the Associated Press show that, during 2011, tourism spending was up almost 10 percent and has surpassed the previous record $15 billion of 2008.

“I think pent-up demand is part of it,” Parrish said “People get to the point where they either feel better about the economy or decide they are in a new economy but they are going to travel anyway.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: All News, Latest News, Top News Tagged With: Economy, Jobs, Tourism

Help wanted: Amazon to add hundreds of Midlands area jobs

April 30, 2013 by bobbyharrell

By TIM FLACH

COLUMBIA, SC — Online retailer Amazon is ramping up hiring at its Cayce distribution center, saying it plans to hire hundreds of full-time workers to pick, pack and ship customer orders.

Amazon officials won’t specify the number of jobs that will be added and the current staff level, calling that proprietary information.

A year ago, company officials said the facility had a payroll of 1,000 full-time employees. [Read more...]

Filed Under: All News, Latest News, Top News, Uncategorized Tagged With: Amazon, Economic Development, Economy, Jobs, South Carolina

InnoVenture helps Upstate economy grow

April 24, 2013 by bobbyharrell

Entrepreneurs help to drive the Upstate’s growing high-tech economy, and the annual InnoVenture Conference has brought those entrepreneurs together with businesses and investors that have the wherewithal to bring ideas to market as successful businesses.

This 10th anniversary of InnoVenture is significant because the conference has proven to be successful; it is enduring, and now is a fixture on the Upstate’s business calendar. Furthermore, and most important, the fruits of the conference have been evident here for nearly as long as the conference itself. The InnoVenture 2013 Conference will be May 8-9 at the TD Convention Center, and more information including on how to register can be found at innoventureconference.com/2013.

Ideas presented at InnoVenture have spawned successful businesses. Investors and entrepreneurs that were brought together at the conference have become partners. The conference has become an incubator for success and is part of the broader InnoVenture community that includes the InnoVenture.com website where ideas are presented and viewed throughout the year in an effort to spark innovation throughout the region. [Read more...]

Filed Under: All News, Latest News, Top News Tagged With: Economy, Jobs, South Carolina

Release – House Passes Economic Development Bill to Make Boeing’s SC Expansions a Reality

April 17, 2013 by bobbyharrell

Bill commits some core state infrastructure development; Boeing commits to double footprint, add 2,000 jobs & invest $1 billion in SC

(Columbia, SC) – By a 115 to 2 bipartisan vote, the SC House of Representatives today approved Economic Development legislation (S. 578) that addresses some core state infrastructure development enabling Boeing to move forward with its recently announced “Phase II” SC expansion – a commitment by the company to an additional investment exceeding $1 billion that will more than double its North Charleston footprint and add at least 2,000 new jobs.

Having already passed the Senate, a procedural 3^rd reading by the House tomorrow will set the Economic Development bill for ratification this week which will then be sent to the Governor to be enacted into law.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued this statement about this major economic development win for our state:

“Having now experienced the lofty achievements our state’s highly-skilled and dedicated workforce can deliver, it’s no wonder Boeing wants to do a lot more business in South Carolina. Companies worldwide are also taking notice that there are no limits to what South Carolina’s workforce can accomplish. [Read more...]

Filed Under: All News, Latest News, Press Releases, Top News, Uncategorized Tagged With: Bobby Harrell, Boeing, Economic Development, Economy, Jobs, South Carolina, Speaker of the House

Release – Boeing Economic Development Infrastructure Bill on Fast Track

April 11, 2013 by bobbyharrell

Bill will enable 2,000 new jobs & $1 billion in private investment

(Columbia, SC) – An economic development bill (S. 578) has been set on a fast track to become passed into law as early as next week. Announced earlier this week, Boeing’s SC “Phase II” expansion will double the site’s size, add at least 2,000 new jobs and commits to an additional private investment well exceeding $1 billion. This economic development legislation stems from an agreement reached between Boeing and South Carolina that will enable this Phase II expansion by allowing the state to fund in part core state infrastructure site development.

Introduced on Tuesday, the legislation has already been passed by the Senate. Today, the House set the bill to go “without reference” which places it directly on the House Calendar and will be up for debate when the House of Representatives returns in session next Tuesday.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued this statement about the General Assembly’s swift action on this job creating legislation:

“We have made a commitment to Boeing and our state keeps its word, particularly when it comes to economic development. And, as evident by the 6,000 South Carolina jobs they’ve already created, Boeing doesn’t just keep its word but greatly exceeds expectations. This is a good investment for our entire state that will create exciting new opportunities for our citizens and provide our state with huge returns. [Read more...]

Filed Under: All News, Latest News, Press Releases, Top News Tagged With: Bobby Harrell, Boeing, Economic Development, Economy, Jobs, South Carolina, Speaker of the House

Release – Speaker Harrell Comments on Yet Another Major Boeing Expansion

April 9, 2013 by bobbyharrell

Boeing to double footprint, add 2,000 new jobs & invest an additional $1 billion in SC

(Columbia, SC) – In 2009, Boeing committed to investing $750 million and creating 3,800 new jobs in our state. Boeing met those commitments four years early and now South Carolina is home to the only aircraft manufacturing campus in the world where airplanes are built start-to-finish and delivered. Today, after investing well over $1 billion, there are more than 6,000 employees on site at Boeing South Carolina.

Boeing and South Carolina’s partnership continues to grow and prosper with Boeing’s announcement of its “Phase II” expansion that will double the site’s current footprint. Conservative estimates by Boeing anticipate this expansion will add at least 2,000 new jobs and commits to an additional private investment well exceeding $1 billion.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued this statement about the announced “Phase II” expansion:

“Boeing is doing very well in South Carolina, and South Carolina is doing very well because of Boeing. Boeing’s commitment to our state and to our workforce has done nothing but exceed expectations and grow stronger since breaking ground in 2009. [Read more...]

Filed Under: All News, Latest News, Press Releases, Top News Tagged With: Bobby Harrell, Boeing, Economic Development, Economy, Hugh Leatherman, Jobs, South Carolina, Speaker of the House