S.C. Dept. of Commerce and S.C. Chamber of Commerce Partner to Encourage Businesses to Buy and Sell in South Carolina
September 17, 2008
COLUMBIA, SC – September 17, 2008 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce are partnering to encourage South Carolina businesses to buy and sell more in South Carolina. The Department of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce today announced that they will be providing manufacturers and service provider directories. In an effort to bolster economic development activities throughout the state, free copies of the directories will be given to the lead economic developer in each county, each regional development alliance, the South Carolina Economic Development Association and each of the state’s 16 technical colleges.
The directories include information on 198,000 businesses in South Carolina. With this extensive resource, businesses can contact their county economic development professionals for guidance or purchase their own through Commerce or the Chamber.
Commerce and the state Chamber are partnering to make these directories available in an effort to encourage more businesses to work with local suppliers. Working closely with local suppliers can help keep state businesses be more competitive by lowering transportation and freight costs and will also help build the state’s economy.
“With gas prices and transportation costs on the rise, now is the time for South Carolina businesses to buy and sell more in South Carolina. These directories are a great resource to help businesses find local suppliers, reduce costs and increase their bottom line. We are excited to partner with the state Chamber to encourage South Carolina businesses to do more locally,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.
The manufacturers directory provides company contact information in a range of sectors including chemicals, electronics, industrial machinery, paper products, pharmaceuticals and textiles (advanced materials). The service provider directory has information on many non-manufacturing sectors, including banking and finance, communications, construction, education, healthcare, real estate, retail and transportation. Additionally, the directories provide four different means to look up a business – by geographic region, SIC code, alphabetical listing or product category. The manufacturers and services directories are published in cooperation with Harris InfoSource, a division of Dun & Bradstreet®.
“Information is key to making the right decisions in the business world. We are pleased to help companies get the comprehensive information they need about suppliers and services in our state. These directories are the definitive resource for businesses to work with other businesses throughout South Carolina,” said S. Hunter Howard, Jr., president and chief executive officer of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.
An online Selectory database is also available. The Selectory offers its users the same information contained in the print guides, but also provides constant updates to that information. The subscription to the Selectory provides unlimited searching, viewing and printing of detailed, location-specific company profiles with contact information for one year.
To purchase the manufacturers and service provider directories, contact the Department of Commerce at 800-868-7232 or 803-737-0400 or the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce at 800-799-4501. The directories can be purchased together for $165 or separately for $115. Online access to the Selectory can be purchased for both the manufacturers and services databases for $670 or separately for $485.
