Features

• SC Ports Graduates 25 Port Ambassadors

  June 20, 2019

  South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) recognizes 25 delegates for completing the 2018-2019 Port Ambassador Program, which provides participants a deep understanding of the connection between the Port of Charleston and South Carolina’s thriving business community.

• Real Estate Experts Talk about Growth in South Carolina

  June 18, 2019

  Experts offered their thoughts on continuing growth in the staet during a discussion at the South Carolina Economic Development Summit. The annual event, held June 14 on Daniel Island, was organized by Womble Bond Dickinson, the top law firm in the state. Speakers during a real estate roundtable included Robert Barrineau of CBRE, Mark Erickson of Colliers International and Hagood Morrison II of Bridge Commercial.

• Workforce is Hot Topic at South Carolina Economic Development Summit

  June 17, 2019

  Job creation is one of the primary goals of economic development, but a “full employment” economy creates workforce challenges. Those challenges were discussed in numerous ways at the South Carolina Economic Development Summit. The event was hosted by the leading law firm in the state, Womble Bond Dickinson.

• Clemson Colleges of Business and Science Collaborate to Offer Data Analytics Master’s Degree

  June 14, 2019

  Business and science are joining forces at Clemson University to satisfy a marketplace appetite for business professionals who are capable of analyzing and applying big data to their strategic decision-making.

• Merger of Equals Between BB&T and SunTrust Will Create Truist

  June 13, 2019

  BB&T Corporation and SunTrust Banks, Inc., announced Truist as the name for the combined company to be created through their merger of equals. Truist will be the sixth-largest U.S. bank holding company serving more than 10 million households in the U.S., with a leading presence in many of the most attractive, high-growth markets in the country.

• The Conference Board Employment Trends Index Increased in May

  June 11, 2019

  The Conference Board Employment Trends Index increased in May, following a decline in April. The index now stands at 111.63, up from 110.21 (a downward revision) in April. The increase marks a 3.5 percent gain in the ETI over the past 12 months.

• State Treasurer Curtis Loftis Welcomes New Members to S.C. Board of Financial Institutions

  June 10, 2019

  State Treasurer Curtis Loftis welcomed two new appointees to the South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions as part of the board’s monthly meeting. Billy Byrd and Charles “Chuck” H. Stuart were confirmed by the Senate last month to serve four-year terms on the state board.

• Small Business Hiring and Wage Growth Hold Steady in May

  June 06, 2019

  The Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch for May shows job and wage growth were essentially unchanged from the previous month. The national jobs index stands at 98.76 and has been relatively stable throughout 2019. Hourly earnings have increased 2.53 percent ($0.67) over the past 12 months, remaining slightly ahead of the 2018 average growth rate (2.49 percent).

• 10 Most Expensive Places to Retire in the U.S.

  June 04, 2019

  Retirement might be a financial struggle for many retirees, but there is a segment for whom money is not a problem. To help those who like to dream big, Topretirements.com has developed a list of the 10 most luxurious places to retire. Communities where the hardest task is to choose whether it will be the beach club, marina, golf course, or take the plane out for a flight.

• Aiken Chamber Business Banter and Brews June 13th

  May 31, 2019

  June 13 will be a great day for business in Aiken, South Carolina. The Aiken Chamber of Commerce will host a new, business to business buy local expo - Business, Banter and Brews.

• Gift to Spark New Global Learning Opportunities at Clemson

  May 31, 2019

  The efforts of Clemson University to increase opportunities for students and faculty to engage globally continue to move forward with the creation of a $250,000 endowment and a $250,000 fund thanks to a donation from the Michael W. Schwehr family of The Woodlands, Texas.

• Clemson Earns Prestigious Rating for Sustainability Achievements

  May 30, 2019

  Clemson University has earned a STARS Silver rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.

• A Data Scientist at CPA Firm? Elliott Davis Hires Paul Simpson

  May 29, 2019

  Elliott Davis, a leading business solutions firm businesses across the state, announced that Paul Simpson has been hired for the newly formed position of data scientist. He is based in the Greenville, South Carolina, headquarters and will lead data research and analysis for the entire company.

• AG Alan Wilson Calling for Automatic Discharges of Student Loans for Totally and Permanently Disabled Veterans

  May 28, 2019

  South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson joined a 52 state and territory coalition of Attorneys General in urging the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) to automatically forgive the student loans of veterans who became totally and permanently disabled in connection with their military service.

• CEO Survey Rates South Carolina the 8th-best State for Business

  May 21, 2019

  In the 2019 Best States & Worst States for business ranking by Chief Executive magazine, the Palmetto State came in at No. 8, down from a third-place tie in 2018 and No. 4 in 2017. The magazine received responses from 350 chief executives and company presidents for this year’s edition of its annual survey.

• Exclusive: Demand for Office, Distribution Space Helping to Drive South Carolina Commercial Real Estate Market

  May 20, 2019

  Office markets across South Carolina are tightening and industrial real estate developers continue to confidently pump out speculative product. Those are two of the takeaways from a recent group of first quarter reports from CBRE Group Inc.

• Exclusive: South Carolina State Fair to Add Circus Shows for 150th Anniversary

  May 17, 2019

  As the S.C. State Fair prepares for its 150th edition, a nod toward nostalgia is combining with a shakeup of its traditional entertainment formula. The annual Columbia event – scheduled for Oct. 9-20 this year – will feature a live, big-top circus performing three shows each day. Performances will be free with fair admission.

• New Law Sets Flat, Predictable Fees in Register of Deeds Offices in South Carolina

  May 13, 2019

  Celeste Bowers, an associate with Robinson Gray law firm, is pleased to announce that the South Carolina General Assembly has passed legislation creating flat, predictable recording fees for documents filed in Register of Deeds offices across the state.

• David W. Wells, ChFC, CRPC, Director of Financial Services, Joins Insurance Management Group

  May 13, 2019

  David has joined Insurance Management Group as its Director of Financial Services, specializing in comprehensive financial analysis and client centric financial strategies.

• SC Ports Authority Reports 10 Percent Volume Growth

  May 10, 2019

  “April was strong for SCPA’s container business, supporting volumes well above planned levels with only two months remaining in the fiscal year,” said Jim Newsome, SCPA president and CEO.

• State Treasurer Curtis Loftis Announces SC Maintains High Credit Ratings, Issues Nearly $10M in General Obligation Bonds

  May 09, 2019

  State Treasurer Curtis Loftis announced that South Carolina continues to maintain high bond ratings with the three major credit rating agencies.

• U.S. Chamber's Donohue to Congress: ‘The Time Has Come’ for a 21st Century Infrastructure System

  May 07, 2019

  Rebuilding and modernizing America’s infrastructure is a major priority for the business community. “This year, we are calling on our lawmakers to take bipartisan action on a meaningful infrastructure package now,” said U.S. Chamber and CEO Tom Donohue in February at the America's Infrastructure: Time to Invest event.

• Tourism Boost for South Carolina Cities, Midlands Cycling Group Hopes New App Will Encourage Riding, Tourism

  May 06, 2019

  The Cola Town Bike Collective launched Sprocket, which will identify commuter-friendly routes and bike-friendly businesses. It's a model many cities in South Carolina are considering to attract tourists among other benefits.

• Bank of America: Small Business Outlook Remains Strong

  May 02, 2019

  U.S. entrepreneurs continued to project a strong business outlook this spring even as confidence in the national and local economy weakened, according to the spring 2019 Bank of America Business Advantage Small Business Owner Report. Health care costs and the political environment topped the list of small business owners’ concerns for the year ahead, while entrepreneurs reported a mixed view on the impact of last year’s landmark tax reform and shifts in trade policy.

• Commentary: South Carolina Bill Would Open Door for More Businesses to Install Solar

  April 29, 2019

  In South Carolina, though, those high bills are the norm - in fact, “per capita retail electricity sales in South Carolina are among the highest in the nation,” according to a 2018 report from the Energy Information Administration.

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