Southeastern U.S. Canadian Provinces (SEUS-CP) conference to kick-off on Sunday

South Carolina will open the 5th Annual Southeastern U.S. Canadian Provinces (SEUS-CP) trade conference on Sunday in Myrtle Beach. Sen. Lindsey Graham will address conference attendees during the Sunday dinner.

More than 300 Canadian and U.S. business and government leaders will connect at the Marriott Resort at Grand Dunes to promote trade and investment opportunities during the three-day conference. The conference highlights promising areas for collaboration, encourages two-way trade, promotes technical partners and includes a B2B matchmaking program.

A number of other speakers and panelists will address the conference, including: Gary Doer, ambassador for Canada to the United States; Marco Cavazzoni, vice president and General Manager Final Assembly and Delivery of Boeing South Carolina; Geoffrey S. Aucoin, general manager of Michelin North America Inc.; Derek Burleton, vice president and deputy chief economist of TD Bank Financial Group; Mark Vitner, managing director and senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities; Inta Zvagulis, president of BuildIT Software & Solutions; John Costanzo, president of Purolator International; Mike Fisher, general manager of Consolidated Cargo Carriers; and Dr. Robert Perkins, vice president of Brokerage Strategy for Livingston International Inc.

SEUS-CP is a formal, strategic partnership between states in the southeastern United States and member provinces from Canada. Delegations convene annually for a business-to-business conference.

SEUS-CP member U.S. states include Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Member Canadian provinces include Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.

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The first project cargo shipment for Westinghouse Electric Company in a series of deliveries spanning several years has arrived at the Port of Charleston’s Columbus Street Terminal. This high, wide and heavy cargo is being shipped through the port to support South Carolina Electric & Gas Company’s (SCE&G) nuclear plant expansion near Columbia, SC.

Over the next two days, crews will be offloading a large amount of specialty cargo from the vessel HR Recommendation, operated by BBC Chartering. From here, the cargo will travel on rail cars and trucks to SCE&G’s project site.

“This is a project that will boost port volume and maritime jobs over the course of several years,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority. “We are very pleased that Westinghouse selected the Port of Charleston for this project, which further establishes our port as the premiere East Coast port for power generation moves.”

In 2011, the Port of Charleston held a full half of the South Atlantic ports’ market share in the non-containerized power generation segment.

Crews offload Westinghouse project cargo at the Port of Charleston on Wednesday.
“For this project, we are managing first-of-a -kind logistics, unprecedented in our business,” said Carl Rossi, Westinghouse’s director of Global Logistics. “Westinghouse is combining multiple companies including Toshiba Logistics, Landstar Logistics, the Port of Charleston, stevedores, major railroads and multiple trucking companies into a fully integrated delivery system.”

The project, which is scheduled for completion in 2018, involves handling about 24,000 tons of equipment that will be deployed at V.C. Summer Units 2 and 3 in Jenkinsville, SC.

A total of about 30 ships will deliver machinery and equipment – some pieces weighing up to 700 tons apiece – for delivery by rail and truck to the site approximately 30 miles northwest of Columbia.

A $23-million improvement project completed last year at the 135-acre Columbus Street Terminal enhanced the facility’s mix of on-dock rail, storage and heavy-lift capabilities. The terminal handles a variety of non-container cargoes, including autos, other rolling stock, breakbulk cargoes, heavy-lift and project moves, including power generation equipment.

Westinghouse Electric Company, a group company of Toshiba Corporation (TKY:6502), is the world’s pioneering nuclear energy company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world.

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The New World Alliance consortium of ocean carriers and Evergreen are launching a new Far East weekly container service in June, marking the third new container service announced this year for Charleston and the first service for the port with a direct call in Vietnam.

The SVS (South China/Vietnam-US Southeast) service is a Suez service deploying 10 ships of capacity between 4,600 and 5,600 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs). The service originates in Cai Mep, Vietnam and includes calls in Hong Kong and Yantian in China, Singapore and Tangier, Morocco.

Significantly, Charleston is the last port outbound on the service, which highlights the port’s prominence in handling the region’s and the nation’s export demand.

“Charleston’s position in this service demonstrates that ships will be taking on a significant amount of cargo here, relying on our deep water to fill up the ship with heavy exports,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority.

Charleston Harbor is the deepest in the Southeast region, with 45 feet of depth at mean low water (MLW), and can handle ships drafting up to 48 feet on the tides. Charleston’s next harbor deepening project is currently underway.

Participating in the SVS service are the alliance carriers of APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine and Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), as well as Evergreen. The weekly service will call the Port of Charleston’s Wando Welch Terminal on Saturdays, adding 52 ship calls a year to the port and supporting jobs across the maritime industry.

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We are proud to announce the Upstate SC Alliance’s newest investor: Hire Dynamics! Welcome!

Hire Dynamics is an industry leading staffing provider for contact (call) centers, manufacturing facilities, supply chain, e-commerce operations, and corporate offices. Hire Dynamics is consistently recognized as one of the fastest growing private companies and was named Top 5 “Best Staffing Firms to Work For in the U.S.” out of 10,000 (Staffing Industry Analyst, 2012). Hire Dynamics operates out of 10 offices with an additional 20 client on-site locations. Our placements range from short-term contract to high volume direct hire. Hire Dynamics employs over 3,000 associates every day and in 2011 placed over 1,000 Hire Dynamics associates in full-time positions with our clients.

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The CKYH alliance of ocean carries has picked the Port of Charleston for a new, weekly container service with coverage across Northeast Asia.

The AWE-6 is a new service offering for the carrier group, which includes COSCO, K-Line, Yang Ming and Hanjin. Charleston is the last U.S. port call on the service, providing South Carolina exporters additional options to reach markets in Asia, which have demonstrated increasing demand for products from the U.S. Southeast.

“Exporters from this area are finding additional trade opportunities in Asia, and we have been heavily marketing the Port of Charleston for more shipping services in that trade lane,” said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority, which owns and operates the Port of Charleston. “Our state not only has goods that are attractive to overseas markets, but we are also ideally positioned to serve a broad import base across several states in the region.”

Shippers will be able to take advantage of direct trade routes to Yantian, Ningbo and Shanghai in China as well as Pusan, South Korea via the Panama Canal.

The carriers will deploy nine ships for the service, which will add 52 ship calls a year at North Charleston Terminal. The first Charleston call is expected around June 19.

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Growth brings new jobs, investment, opportunity to Upstate

aeSolutions, a supplier of performance-based process safety engineering and automation solutions for the petroleum, chemical and process manufacturing industries, today announced the consolidation of multiple Upstate facilities in a single corporate headquarters location in Greenville, S.C., investing upwards of $2 million and adding in excess of 40 new jobs in the process.

aeSolutions was founded in Greenville in 1998 by CEO Brian Merriman, Vice President of Engineering Ken O’Malley, and Vice President of Process Safety Mike Scott. The company has added service and delivery offices in Anchorage, Alaska; Baton Rouge, La.; Johnson City, Tenn.; and Houston, and currently boasts a skilled workforce of nearly 140 associates.

“Our mission is to continuously improve the safety performance of the process industry, and our vision is to be recognized and preferred by industry for our sustainable process safety lifecycle solutions,” said Merriman. “We are pleased to expand our corporate headquarters, engineering, and research and development operations here in Greenville County, and appreciate the support and leadership of the Greenville Area Development Corporation, the South Carolina Department of Commerce and all who assisted in making this advancement a reality.”

aeSolutions has experienced 100 percent growth over the last 18 months. The company will consolidate multiple Upstate facilities into 24,000 square feet of office space at 250 Commonwealth Drive in Greenville, updating and upfitting the space to accommodate its corporate headquarters, engineering and research and development teams in a single, state-of-the-art facility. The expanded operations will also provide for increased sales, marketing and administrative operations. Local automation manufacturing will remain at its current location in the Merovan complex on Woodruff Road.

“aeSolutions is an excellent example of a local, startup business that continues to prosper and grow in South Carolina. It’s always exciting to see one of our existing businesses expand right here. We celebrate aeSolutions’ decision to invest and create new jobs in Greenville,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.

Since its inception, the aeSolutions’ engineering and automation business has provided process control systems, safety instrumented systems, combustion and burner management systems and fire and gas systems to the process industry. In recent years, the company’s service offering has expanded to include process safety and operations and maintenance consulting services. The new Process Safety Division enhances the services aeSolutions provides to the chemical, petrochemical and oil and gas industries.

Additionally, aeSolutions has created a Software Products Group, chartered to develop world-class internet-based applications, to leverage its full range of engineering knowledge. The first new software product, called aeShield, automates the process industry-standard safety lifecycle and has recently been released to industry and is growing in popularity.

“South Carolina continues to see its manufacturing sector grow, and we appreciate aeSolutions’ decision to continue doing business in the Palmetto State. Our state also boasts a large proportion of engineers in its workforce, and this announcement helps bolster that reputation,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.

“aeSolutions is a wonderful example of a company that is using world-class technology, performance-based processes and locally developed talent to grow and succeed here in the Upstate,” said Chris Riley, chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation. “The company is an entrepreneurial business with innovative processes that is experiencing rapid growth, and is a great example of the opportunity to be found here in Greenville County.”

The jobs being added include process safety engineers, controls engineers, instrument and electrical engineers, application developers, and quality support positions, along with sales, marketing and administrative positions to support the organization’s rapid growth, noted Ken O’Malley, vice president of Engineering. To fill the remaining positions, aeSolutions is recruiting both locally and nationally; the new positions will pay “competitive-market wages with full benefits based on experience,” he added. Anyone interested in being considered for positions should submit resumes via the company’s career openings page at www.aesolns.com/careers.

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The Upstate SC Alliance is proud to have a new Board-level investor: Cargo! Read the rest of this entry »

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$102 million investment expected to create 80 new jobs

JTEKT Automotive South Carolina Inc., a manufacturer of automotive components today announced plans to expand its operations in Greenville County. The $102 million investment is expected to generate at least 80 new jobs over the next two years.

“We are excited about expanding our manufacturing operation in Greenville County. The South Carolina facility will give us the opportunity to expand our product line and reach new customers as well as grow our overall production capacity and operations. This is an important step in the life of our company,” said Katsuhiko “Ike” Ishikawa, president of JTEKT Automotive South Carolina Inc.

JTEKT Automotive South Carolina will build a new building near the company’s existing facility, located at 1866 Old Grove Road in Piedmont, S.C. The new addition will increase JTEKT’s driveline component capacity and flexibility.

“It’s another great day in South Carolina when one of our existing businesses chooses to increase its footprint here. We celebrate JTEKT Automotive’s decision to invest $102 million and create 80 new jobs in Piedmont with this expansion,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.

In 2011, South Carolina recruited more than $4.7 billion in investment and more than 13,000 new jobs in the manufacturing sector.

“With announcements like this, we see South Carolina’s manufacturing renaissance continuing to gain steam. We also see our reputation in the automotive club grow. We appreciate JTEKT Automotive’s confidence in South Carolina as the right place to make new products,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.

“JTEKT is a world leader in the automotive industry, and had no shortage of options of where to place this investment and new positions, so we’re delighted that they have selected Greenville County,” said Chris Riley, chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation. “As a global manufacturer with a diverse array of technology-driven quality products and a history of success, the company is a valued member of our business community, and another indication of the strong momentum we are experiencing in South Carolina.”

“JTEKT’s decision to substantially increase its presence in Greenville County underscores the advantages that are available here, including our highly trained workforce and strong pro-business environment,” said Butch Kirven, Greenville Area Development Corporation director and chairman of Greenville County Council. “We are proud to be home for JTEKT and our growing family of strong international companies.”

JTEKT Automotive will begin hiring for the new positions in October. For more information about the company, please visit www.jtekt-na.com.

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$291 million invested, 3,092 jobs created; County sees 7-to-1 return on investment

The Greenville Area Development Corporation, charged with promoting and enhancing quality of life in Greenville County by facilitating job growth and investment, announced a record 3,092 new jobs in 2011, strong capital investment, and a 7-to-1 return in county revenues for each dollar invested at their annual Investor Appreciation luncheon Thursday.

GADC President & CEO Jerry Howard and Board Chairman Chris Riley also honored Tony Allen, senior project manager for the South Carolina Department of Commerce, with the Greenville Area Development Corporation’s eighth annual William D. Workman III Buffalo Hunter Award, presented since 2004 to an individual or organization that has had a major impact on the local economy. Howard also recognized Larry Jackson, chairman of Jackson Marketing Group and longtime supporter and advocate of economic development in the region, who was named as Greenville County’s Economic Development Ambassador for 2011 earlier in the week by Governor Nikki Haley.

David J. Posek, a member of the Board of Directors of the South Carolina State Ports Authority, served as keynote speaker for the event, saluting the historical job- and investment-producing accomplishments of the GADC and its partners in economic development, and stressing the continuing importance of deepening the Port of Charleston and improving other statewide infrastructure as key to continued growth.

In reporting to a standing-room-only gathering of private and public sector leaders, Mr. Riley noted that in 2011 the GADC worked with relocating and existing companies to create a record-setting 3,092 new jobs and attract new capital investment of $290.6 million. Since inception in mid-2001, the GADC has announced in excess of 15,000 new jobs and $2.6 billion in capital investment in the county for projects they have managed.

Greenville County revenues from fee-in-lieu-of-tax (FILOT) agreements generated by GADC-assisted companies continue to grow, producing a 7:1 return on investment for public dollars invested in the organization since the GADC’s inception.

Mr. Allen coordinated the efforts of the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Governor’s Office in helping to secure the November 2011 expansion announcement by Bosch Rexroth, which created the company’s primary facility for mobile hydraulics and its largest facility in the Americas. The expansion added 160 new jobs to more than 600 already in place at the facility. Since joining Commerce, Mr. Allen has facilitated over 20 economic development projects statewide, including local announcements for Scio Diamond Technology and Bosch Rexroth.

A graduate of the University of Toledo, Mr. Allen joined the South Carolina Department of Commerce in 2007 from the Ohio Department of Development as regional economic development representative for a nine-county region. Prior to that, he had served as executive director of both the Fostoria (OH) Economic Development Corporation and the Waupaca (WI) County Economic Development Corporation.

As project manager at Commerce, Mr. Allen works with business clients from around the world to identify sites in South Carolina for relocation or expansion of facilities, and is an active participant in Commerce’s sales missions, trade shows, consultant referral programs and collaborative events with economic development representatives, business leaders, and state and local government representatives.

“Throughout his professional career, Mr. Allen has gone above and beyond the call of duty in helping ensure that positive economic growth – and the hundreds of good jobs and millions of dollars in economic contribution and taxes that go with them – are situated right here in Greenville,” said Howard in making the presentation.

Past award honorees have included Nancy Whitworth, economic development director for the City of Greenville in 2010; Morgan Harrell, former Project Manager at the South Carolina Department of Commerce in 2009; Duke Energy’s grant-making AdvanceSC in 2008; Willson “Will” Williams of the South Carolina Department of Commerce in 2007; Alan “Daniel” Young of the Department of Commerce in 2006; Dr. Wayne Bennett of the Clemson University Foundation in 2005; and Bob Marriott of the South Carolina Department of Commerce in 2004.

The award is named for former Greenville mayor and South Carolina economic development advocate Bill Workman, and has been presented annually to an individual who is a champion of economic development, and a standard bearer for public/private collaboration in marketing the Greenville community.

In other comments, GADC Vice Chair Bob Howard noted that private sector support of the organization is near an all-time high, thanking attendees from the more than 140 investor organizations now contributing to the GADC’s success.

“Without all of our investor companies, the Greenville Area Development Corporation’s ability to produce such great returns for the people of Greenville County – in quality jobs, increasing tax revenues and a robust and vital economy – would be severely restricted,” said Howard. “Every penny our investors provide goes to our marketing budget, and every penny you invest is working hard and producing better jobs and a brighter future for our community.”

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The South Carolina Department of Commerce today announced that Charlie Farrell will direct the new S.C. Aerospace Task Force, an advisory council to the Secretary of Commerce on the development of a strategic initiative to enhance and grow the state’s aerospace industry.

“Boeing is our grand slam. Our challenge is to leverage that success with other great assets for South Carolina, including government, industry and education,” Farrell said.

“With a rich history in aviation, South Carolina now has a vibrant and growing aerospace industry that includes everything from aircraft manufacturing to space technology and defense,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. “The task force will provide an even better framework to support this industry through statewide communication and collaboration.”

As director of the S.C. Aerospace Task Force, Farrell will oversee a committee to align efforts and priorities across the state in the aerospace industry. By coordinating among key players and developing a statewide strategic initiative, the task force will promote continued growth in this sector of South Carolina’s economy.

South Carolina has more than 180 aerospace manufacturing companies and suppliers, employing more than 20,000 people. These companies are widely distributed throughout the state and include industry leaders such as Boeing, Champion Aerospace, Eaton, GE, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Michelin Aircraft Tire and SKF.

Farrell is a banking and finance graduate of the University of South Carolina with extensive military and professional experience. He flew more than 3,000 hours as a fighter pilot for the Marine Corps and Air National Guard before owning two commercial printing companies then moving into professional development training. Specializing in programs to develop skills in leadership, teamwork and personal productivity, Farrell has conducted over 3,000 programs for repeat clients such as General Electric, 3M, Mayo Clinic, Federal Reserve Bank, Ocean Spray Cranberry and Michelin.

Among his accomplishments, Farrell has published articles and two books, including Courage to Lead, which is used by organizations and universities in their leadership training. He has been an adjunct faculty member of the University of South Carolina Moore School of Business since 1992 and served as director of Executive Education for three years. He travels extensively, having visited all 50 states and 30 foreign countries.

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