Department of Commerce holds Annual South Carolina Rural Summit
March 23, 2016
State honors individuals for leadership in rural economic development
The South Carolina Department of Commerce gathered leaders from across the state on Monday, February 29 and Tuesday, March 1 for the 2016 South Carolina Rural Summit. Held at the Madren Conference Center at Clemson University, this year’s event featured leadership development sessions, opportunities to share best practices between community leaders, an awards ceremony and a keynote address, given by renowned television journalist, Sandra Pinckney.
Now in its 26th year, the Rural Summit provides community leaders, economic developers and state officials the opportunity to come together and hold collaborative discussions on ways to improve rural South Carolina. Additionally, the Summit serves as a venue to honor individuals for work they’ve done to advance their respective communities.
“All communities throughout our state possess a unique charm and remarkable appeal, making each and every one of them ideal locations to live, work and play. Through collaboration with local leadership and a true team-first approach, we can help advance all of our communities, ensuring prosperity for South Carolinians in every corner of the state,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.
Five awardees were recognized during the awards ceremony portion of this week’s conference; among them were the City of Hartsville, Phoenix Specialty Manufacturing Company, South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP), Haleigh Philips of Abbeville County and South Carolina Department of Commerce Senior Project Manager Ted Campbell.
As the recipient of the 2016 Rural Progress in Motion Award, the City of Hartsville was recognized for its downtown revitalization efforts. An ongoing project, the revitalization of Downtown Hartsville has fostered significant development in the city’s downtown district, including the opening of 14 new businesses in 2015. Hartsville Administrator Natalie Zeigler and local business leader Bob Brown accepted the award on behalf of the city.
The 2016 Rural Manufacturer Award was presented to Phoenix Specialty Manufacturing Company, a leading supplier of custom specialty parts to original equipment manufacturers. Established in 1907, the company, which is located in Bamberg County, moved to South Carolina from New York in 1966. Phoenix Specialty Manufacturing Company President Robert “Bob” Hurst accepted the award on behalf of the company.
As the recipient of the 2016 Rural Problem Solver Award, SCMEP was recognized for its efforts to accelerate growth in rural South Carolina communities. Established in 1989, SCMEP is a private, non-profit group that provides South Carolina businesses with a range of innovative strategies and solutions to drive growth, eliminate waste and develop resources. SCMEP Regional Vice President Andy Carr accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
The 2016 Rural Summit Outstanding Student Award was presented to Haleigh Phillips of Abbeville County. As a senior and current Student Body President at Dixie High School, Phillips has been involved in a variety of organizations during her four-year high school career, including Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America, National Honors Society and National Society of High School Scholars. In addition to being a member of both the yearbook and newspaper staffs, she has participated as a varsity volleyball team member for each of the last five years.
Each year, the Department of Commerce also recognizes one of its own – a project manager who has had the most positive impact on rural South Carolina – with its Rural Development Project Leader Award. This year’s recipient, Ted Campbell, a senior project manager at the Department of Commerce, accounted for the announcement ofmore than 500 new jobs and a capital investment of approximately $312 million in rural South Carolina last year. This equates to eight new projects in five different rural counties.
“It’s important to recognize the tremendous members of Team South Carolina,” said Secretary Hitt. “In economic development, we all play a role, and the individuals and organizations we honored today are vital to the advancement of both their respective communities and our state as a whole.”
About S.C. Department of Commerce
As South Carolina’s leading economic development agency, the Department of Commerce works to recruit new businesses and help existing business grow. Commerce has recruited world-class companies to South Carolina such as BMW, Boeing, Continental, Giti Tire, LPL Financial Holdings, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Toray and Volvo Cars and also supports startups, small and existing business, innovation and rural development initiatives. Commerce partners with the S.C. Technical College System via readySC to support workforce training and recruiting, and with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, which provides worker training and employment opportunities within the state. IBM-Plant Location International reports in 2012, 2013 and 2015 ranked South Carolina first in the nation for attracting jobs through foreign investment. The state won the Gold Shovel Award and the Project of Year Award from Area Development magazine in 2012, 2014 and 2015. For more information, visit www.SCcommerce.com.
