New Carolina Returns to “SC Council on Competitiveness”; Announces New Website

COLUMBIA, SC – In the late 1990s and early 2000s, South Carolina’s business leaders began to look for new approaches to the state’s economy. The recruitment of BMW to upstate South Carolina in 1992, the loss of the textile industry to overseas locations, and the recognition of the importance of the South Carolina Ports Authority to the state’s economic health triggered a new discussion of how South Carolina competes in the global economy.

South Carolina’s business leaders began to meet and discuss how to position the state as a global competitor. In 2004, the group commissioned a detailed analysis of South Carolina’s economy and formed a non-profit organization called the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness. The formation of the Council marked the first time South Carolina’s business, government, and academic leadership came together to address long-term competitiveness factors. The Council added the brand name New Carolina shortly after its founding. Both names have been used for the organization.

Ten years later, the Council on Competitiveness remains a strong player in developing and advancing South Carolina’s competitive assets, but the economic landscape has changed. South Carolina weathered a national recession and emerged a leader in advanced manufacturing. We now see an aerospace industry cluster beginning to emerge, and the state has thriving automotive, transportation, distribution and logistics industry clusters. Leaders from the state’s public and private sectors have developed a statewide Innovation Plan that led to the creation of the Office of Innovation at the state Department of Commerce to nurture entrepreneurial activity. South Carolina is now a national leader in establishing apprenticeships, and there is unprecedented momentum to transform the state’s public education system.

Building on these new developments in the state’s economy, we are restructuring our work into three main areas. First, we address ongoing threats and opportunities in the state’s economy through actionable research. Second, we advance the competitiveness of South Carolina’s companies by supporting industry clusters. Finally, we advance the competitiveness of South Carolina’s citizens with education and workforce initiatives.

We are also returning to our original name, “South Carolina Council on Competitiveness.” We feel that this more clearly conveys the organization’s identity and mission to advance the long-term economic competitiveness of our state, industries and citizens.

Our office location remains in downtown Columbia and phone number (803-760-1400) remain the same. Our new website address, is www.sccompetes.org. We are also migrating our social networks to this new identity.