Allison Barry to Serve as S.C. Department of Commerce’s Lead Agribusiness Recruiter
January 25, 2012
COLUMBIA, SC – January 25, 2012 – The South Carolina Departmentof Commerce announced the addition of Allison Amick Barry to theagency’s Global Business Development division as the new agribusinessproject manager.
Barry will be part of the S.C. Department of Commerce’s Global BusinessDevelopment team and will focus exclusively on agribusiness projectsthat will bring investment and job creation to South Carolina. Companiesin this sector provide a range of goods and services relating to theproduction, processing, and distribution of food, feed, fiber and fuel.
“Agriculture and agribusiness have long been an important part of SouthCarolina’s economy. Allison Barry brings a wealth of knowledge andexperience, and will play the lead role in helping recruit newagribusiness-related firms as well as helping our state’s existingbusinesses in this sector expand,” said Bobby Hitt, Secretary ofCommerce.
Barry has been part of Commerce since August 2010 and worked in theagency’s Research division. She holds a bachelor of arts in PoliticalEconomy and a master of arts in Economics, both from Clemson University.A Columbia native, Barry grew up immersed in her family’s agriculturalbusiness in Gilbert, S.C.
“In our long term strategic planning, we determined that a focusedagribusiness recruitment effort was vital and that the office should bestaffed with professionals,” said Hugh Weathers, Commissioner ofAgriculture. “Agribusiness grows South Carolina. With the help of thenew project manager in recruiting new and expanding agribusinesses, wecan create jobs and achieve economic growth and prosperity for SouthCarolina.”
Agribusiness, agriculture and forestry have been a bright spot in theeconomy for the past few years. The economic impact of agribusiness inSouth Carolina has been measured at nearly $34 billion providing almost200,000 jobs. Part of Barry’s focus will be on ensuring that thebusiness climate is open and conducive to the expansion and developmentof agribusiness firms in South Carolina.
The funding for the new position was appropriated by the S.C. GeneralAssembly last year. In the fall, Secretary Hitt and Commissioner ofAgriculture Hugh Weathers signed a memorandum of understanding creating apartnership between the two agencies to recruit agribusiness firms andestablish the agribusiness project manager position.
About S.C. Department of Agriculture
As South Carolina’s lead agency for the growth and development ofagriculture and its related businesses, the South Carolina Department ofAgriculture also assures the safety and security of the buying public.The Department of Agriculture’s vision is for the state’s economy togrow and prosper providing everyone, producers and consumers,opportunities to enjoy the fruits of agriculture. The base for manyother businesses, agriculture is an essential cog in the wheel thatturns the state’s economy especially in rural areas. For moreinformation, visit www.agriculture.sc.gov.
About S.C. Department of Commerce
As South Carolina’s leading economic development agency, the Departmentof Commerce works to recruit new businesses and help existing businessesgrow. In 2011, Commerce won the Gold Shovel Award and the Deal of YearAward from Area Development magazine. Commerce has been part ofrecruiting world-class companies to South Carolina such as Boeing,Bridgestone, Continental, Monster.com, Heinz, ZF Group, BMW and GoogleInc. Commerce also supports small and existing business, ruraldevelopment initiatives and offers grants for community development. Formore information, visit www.SCcommerce.com.
