This is a delegation from the Central Government of China, all from Beijing visiting thru a 4 month long Government leadership exchange program with Duke University.

This is the 2^nd time a delegation from this program has visited the Upstate and a special thanks to Mr. Jianli Wang, from Spartanburg, for allowing the Upstate SC Alliance to interact with these high-level governmental officials. The relationships developed will allow for the Upstate to further contacts that will prove to be beneficial as these officials will not only introduce us to many companies in their areas of responsibility but encourage them to invest in our region as their businesses call for them to have a global reach.

The Alliance has been invited by this delegation to visit the North East Region of China which will have a concentrated focus for development by the Central Government. Ironically, this group stated that the areas of business concentration are Automotive, Energy, Equipment Manufacturing and Advanced Agricultural refining and production. This region is the home of China’s largest domestic automotive company and their recent visit to CU-ICAR has encouraged further dialogue and connection.

In addition, a member of this delegation is considering expanding his operations in North America. His business focus is Green and Renewable Energy Financing. He was impressed to learn about the Upstate’s vast presence in Energy Engineering and the Alliance’s focus on Energy in our new Marketing Strategy.

More to come as we continue to build our relationships with the Chinese government, businesses and leaders.

Pictured (L to R)
Henry Lee, Dir, of TeamRun Group, Mr. Jianli Wang, CRP Development, Mr. Jiyuan Hu, Secretary of Second Bureau of Special Committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Hal Johnson, Upstate SC Alliance, Knox White, Mayor of Greenville, Mr. Hua Tang, Director, Dept. of NE Region Revitalization National Development and Reform Commission, Peoples Republic of China, Mrs. Vivian Wong, Founder of the Global Trade Consortium, Mr. Hai Jin, Division Director, Ministry of Water Resources, P.R. China, Department of International Cooperation Science and Technology

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The Upstate SC Alliance welcomes two new Board Level contributors to its membership roster: with their investments these two organizations demonstrate belief in the Upstate. Fairway Outdoor Advertising and South Carolina State Ports Authority join a diverse group of organizations driving the Alliance’s mission of marketing the Upstate South Carolina Region to attract business investment, supporting economic development efforts and building cohesive relationships among the region’s private and public sectors.

“In today’s increasingly competitive economic development arena, it takes a commitment like those of the South Carolina State Ports Authority and Fairway Outdoor Advertising for our organization to position the region to succeed,” said Hal Johnson, Upstate SC Alliance president and chief executive officer. “Economic development is a team sport that we must continue to aggressively pursue so the future of the Upstate is bright for years to come. Our work together results in new jobs and homes, increased port activity, new outdoor ad contracts, increased retail sales and an overall improved quality of life.”

The South Carolina State Ports Authority, established by the state’s General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston and Georgetown. An economic development engine for the state, port operations facilitate 260,800 jobs across South Carolina and nearly $45 billion in economic activity each year.

“The State Ports Authority supports the Upstate SC Alliance’s efforts to bring business investment and create economic opportunities in South Carolina, which parallels the port’s core mission,” said John F. Hassell III, interim president and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority.

Fairway Outdoor Advertising is one of the country’s largest outdoor advertising companies. Headquartered in Augusta Ga., Fairway operates five major divisions with ten offices in six southern states. In these markets, Fairway provides advertisers with opportunities to reach their target audience at the right place and at the right time via Bulletins, Single Sheet Posters, Digital Billboards and Mobile Billboards.

Upstate SC Alliance Chairman Leon Patterson noted that, “it is great to see the Ports Authority and Fairway Outdoor Advertising come on board with us. We feel strongly that it is a ‘win-win’ for all entities but more importantly it is a winning scenario for the Upstate as it allows us to make this region more competitive on a global scale for new business investment and talent attraction.”

About the South Carolina State Ports Authority
The South Carolina State Ports Authority, established by the state’s General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston and Georgetown, handling international commerce valued at more than $62 billion annually and receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy. An economic development engine for the state, port operations facilitate 260,800 jobs across South Carolina and nearly $45 billion in economic activity each year. Visit www.scspa.com .

About the Fairway Outdoor Advertising
Fairway Outdoor Advertising is one of the country’s largest outdoor advertising companies. Headquartered in Augusta GA, Fairway operates five major divisions with ten offices in six southern states. In these markets, Fairway provides our advertisers with excellent opportunities to reach their target audience at the right place and at the right time. In the Upstate SC region, the company is known as Fairway Outdoor Advertising of the GSA. This office covers South Carolina’s mega-growth corridor of I-85 and I-26. To learn more please visit www.fairwayoutdoor.com .

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The Office of General Counsel for Policy at the SCDOR has recently published the South Carolina Tax Incentives for Economic Development, 2010 Edition on the Department’s website HERE.

It is located under the section entitled “Information for Tax Professionals.”

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Press Release

Boeing [NYSE: BA] said today it has acquired Alenia North America’s half of Global Aeronautica, LLC, a South Carolina fuselage subassembly facility for Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, and is now the sole owner of that entity. Alenia North America is a subsidiary of Italy’s Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company.

Operationally, Boeing will integrate the Global Aeronautica facility with the rest of Boeing’s organization in North Charleston, S.C.

“The Boeing Charleston site is critical to the success of the 787 program,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Through this acquisition, Boeing benefits by joining together two solid operations – including their talented employees and state-of-the-art facilities – into one Boeing team. Ultimately, we believe integration of the site will increase productivity for the 787 program and allow us to maintain our long-term competitiveness.”

“We are proud of the major contribution we have made over the past four years through our partnership in Global Aeronautica to the 787 program and to the state of South Carolina,” said Giuseppe Giordo, president and CEO of Alenia North America. “We are confident that the foundation we have developed will continue to flourish as it is integrated into Boeing Charleston.”

The acquisition was effected through a wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing; other terms were not disclosed.

“We look forward to integrating the employees of both operations into one team in North Charleston, along with continuing our partnership with Alenia on the 787 program,” said Albaugh.

Global Aeronautica, LLC, began in 2004 when Alenia North America and Vought Aircraft Industries formed a 50/50 joint venture in support of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. In 2008, Boeing purchased Vought’s interest in Global Aeronautica, making the company a 50/50 joint venture between Alenia North America and Boeing.

Global Aeronautica’s integration entails the joining of the mid-fuselage sections, the installation and testing of associated elements, and the application of surface finishes to more than 60 percent of the 787’s fuselage. Global Aeronautica sits adjacent to the Boeing Charleston site and shares a 240-acre (97-hectare) campus.

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The South Carolina Department of Commerce, SCRA, Nexus Medical Partners, the Greenville Area Development Corporation, the City of Greenville and NEXT today announced that Lab21 Inc. will locate its new U.S. headquarters, a diagnostics service laboratory and product distribution operations, in Greenville County.

The new diagnostic service laboratory, which will conform to U.S. CLIA regulatory requirements, will have a particular focus on oncology and is expected to open early next year.

“We are pleased to move forward with Lab21’s growth plans outside of Europe and look forward to opening our new U.S. facility as Lab21 Inc. Greenville County provides us with an excellent business environment and skilled workforce. We seek to provide our diagnostic testing products and services to a wide range of clients across the U.S. market, and our partners in South Carolina will help us do that. We appreciate all the support we have received from state and local officials,” said Graham Mullis, CEO of Lab21 Group Ltd.

Lab21 Inc. is the result of the merger of Selah Technologies, located in the Upstate of South Carolina, and Lab21 Ltd., a rapidly growing United Kingdom-based medical diagnostics firm. Selah Technologies originated to commercialize basic research in advanced materials from Clemson University. Michael Bolick, CEO of Selah Technologies, said, “I have been looking for a partner in the diagnostic industry for some time in order to drive the development and commercialization process for the Selah technology. I expect Lab21 to be a great means to achieve our objectives. We are excited to become part of such a fast-growing and dynamic diagnostic company.”

Lab21 has received funding from SCRA’s SC Launch program, Nexus Medical Partners and other private investors. Nexus Medical Partners received capital from InvestSC, which is under contract with the S.C. Venture Capital Investment Authority to make investments pursuant to the Venture Capital Investment Act. The Venture Capital Authority is composed of individuals appointed by Governor Mark Sanford and is under the control of the S.C. Department of Commerce.

Nexus not only invested, but also helped recruit Lab21 to South Carolina. Dr. Edwin Snape, a co-founder of Nexus Medical Partners, and a member of the Board of Directors of Lab21, commented, “The Selah merger with Lab21 is an excellent example of Nexus’ ongoing commitment to bring quality companies into South Carolina. Nexus is pleased to support the establishment of Lab21’s South Carolina operations to facilitate its entry into the U.S. market.”

“South Carolina continues to see strong growth in the life science industries and the Lab 21 Inc. announcement brings another such company to our state. The company’s decision reflects well not only on our business-friendly climate, but also and most importantly on our state’s skilled workforce. We appreciate Lab 21’s decision to invest in South Carolina and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with them in the years ahead,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

“SCRA views the Lab21-Selah integration as a prime example of how effective public-private partnerships are achieving outstanding knowledge economy development results in South Carolina today. The event sequence from Clemson discovery, then licensing to Selah, investments in Selah by SCRA’s SC Launch Inc. affiliate and private investment partners, leading to premium acquisition by Lab21, and their ultimate landing of U.S. operations in S.C., demonstrates exactly how the knowledge economy development playbook works,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA CEO.

“Lab21 is a great example of how a company that combines world-class life science technology with an Upstate base can grow their business in North America,” said Mike Buiter, Chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation Board. “The company is research-based, innovative and a case study of our area’s plans to expand the knowledge economy, and is a wonderful reflection of the opportunities to be found in Greenville County and South Carolina.”

“This is a tremendous day for Greenville. Lab21 will be an excellent addition to our growing community of knowledge-based companies and we look forward to supporting their success here for many years to come,” said Andrew Kurtz, Chairman of NEXT.

A key reason Lab21 executives selected Greenville for the operation was the collaborative effort of numerous parties within the region that supported the project, officials noted. Entities cited included the City of Greenville, the Greenville Hospital System, Hughes Development, NEXT and the Upstate Carolina Angel Network. Assistance also occurred through commitments from the Greenville Local Development Corporation and Duke Energy’s Carolinas Investment Fund.

“We are thrilled that Lab21 has selected downtown Greenville as the location for its new U.S. headquarters,” said Greenville Mayor Knox White. “This decision speaks to our exceptional climate for entrepreneurship and support of the life science industries.”

The company intends to begin hiring in January. Phase one hiring plans include 65 positions over the first five years. For more information, contact Lab21 Inc. at Lab21Opportunities@SelahTechnologies.com .

About Lab21
Lab21 supports healthcare providers and pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries with technically advanced testing services. The company’s experience and know-how is coupled with a rapidly growing portfolio of molecular and viral diagnostics, plus pharmacogenetic and patient profiling tests, which all use cutting-edge technology. For more information, please visit www.lab21.com .

Related News Coverage -

• Greenville News HERE
• The State HERE
• South Carolina Department of Commerce Offical Release

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AdvanceSC has awarded $10.6 million in total grants to Upstate organizations in 2009. Since its inception in 2004, AdvanceSC has invested a total of more than $55 million in Upstate projects.

AdvanceSC, which is funded with profits from Duke Energy’s Bulk Power Marketing program (BPM) and managed by an independent board of directors, issues grants to organizations that fall under one of four categories: economic development, education, manufacturing and/or public assistance.

“Due to the current economic climate, these are arguably some of the most important funds we have ever donated,” said Carol Burdette, president of AdvanceSC. “These funds make a tremendous impact throughout the Upstate and reaffirms the need for an organization such as AdvanceSC. Each member of our board feels honored to contribute time and energy into making wise choices with the funds Duke Energy entrusts to our stewardship. The AdvanceSC board remains keenly aware of the importance of collaboration among local leaders, and we are grateful for each organization’s continued commitment in helping to pave the way for a brighter future for Upstate South Carolina.”

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The South Carolina Department of Commerce, the Greenville Area Development Corporation and the Upstate SC Alliance today praised the news that Global Performance LLC, a Mustang company, has been awarded the project and construction management contract for The Boeing Company’s (NYSE: BA) new 787 Dreamliner final assembly plant in North Charleston, South Carolina.

“We are pleased that Boeing has shown such confidence in choosing our team for this important project for the state of South Carolina,” said Dennis Braasch, president of Global Performance. “Global Performance brings strong construction management expertise and experience to this vitally important investment and we are excited to serve Boeing as a member of their team.”

Based in Greenville, Global Performance’s responsibilities encompass an owner’s representative role with oversight of both the design and construction phases of this project, as well as assisting Boeing with the program management responsibilities. Groundbreaking for the new facility took place on November 20 in North Charleston.

“Global Performance has a strong history of construction management and has been important part of our state’s business community for a number of years. This announcement continues a string of positive news and business opportunities arising across the state as a result of Boeing’s investment in Charleston County. We congratulate Global Performance and look forward to more good news as work progresses on Boeing’s new South Carolina facility,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

“I want to congratulate Charleston and South Carolina on winning the Boeing project, as ultimately the entire state will benefit,” said Jerry Howard, president and CEO of the Greenville Area Development Corporation. “And it’s not surprising that Boeing selected Greenville-based Global Performance as a key partner for the project, since we know firsthand from their continued support of economic development in the Upstate that they have a top flight team of talented people. Boeing will certainly benefit from their world-class experience and capabilities.”

“This is great news for Global Performance and its highly specialized team. Boeing’s choice of Global Performance as the project and construction management contractor for the new 787 Dreamliner final assembly plant in North Charleston is proof that our construction and engineering capabilities in the Upstate are world class. Congratulations Global Performance,” said Hal Johnson, CEO of the Upstate SC Alliance.

Founded in Greenville more than a decade ago, Global Performance has performed similar services on other landmark projects in South Carolina and worldwide, including the $750 million, 1.5 million-square-foot expansion that is nearing completion at BMW Manufacturing Co. in the Upstate of South Carolina.

The contract award to Global Performance follows Boeing’s selection of a Greenville-based construction team for the design-build contract for the new final assembly line for the Dreamliner. All project-specific subcontractor inquiries should be directed to boeingsc@kbr.com.

Mustang is an independent services provider to the global oil, gas, chemical and manufacturing industries. The company, part of Wood Group, specializes in design, engineering, procurement, project management and construction management and offers these services through its six business units: upstream oil and gas, midstream, pipeline, automation and control, refining and petrochemicals, and process & industrial. Global Performance LLC, acquired by Mustang in March 2006, is an international provider of project management, construction management and engineering and design services to the industrial, manufacturing, chemical and process industry sectors. Mustang has offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, India and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.mustangeng.com.

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Rodney A. Smolla, dean of the School of Law at Washington and Lee University, has been named the 11th president of Furman University.

Smolla will succeed David Shi, who will retire as president June 30, 2010. Smolla and his family will meet university alumni and friends at a reception following the news conference, which is set for 2pm on Dec. 15th.

Smolla is dean and Roy L. Steinheimer Professor of Law at Washington and Lee School of Law. He previously served as dean and Allen Professor at the University of Richmond School of Law and, prior to that, director of the Institute of Bill of Rights Law at the College of William and Mary. He is a 1975 graduate of Yale University and graduated first in his class from Duke Law School in 1978.

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The first 10 celebrity commitments for the 10th annual BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation were announced recently

Participants in the 2010 tournament include actors Kurt Russell, Oliver Hudson, Patrick Warburton and Gary Valentine; Clemson University Head Football Coach Dabo Swinney; CNN news and weather anchor Rob Marciano; musicians Pat Green, Javier Colon and Steve Azar; and NFL Super Bowl champion Kordell Stewart.

“Each year we extend invitations to 30 celebrities, but typically we don’t release the names until April,” said Tournament Director Darin MacDonald. “The response from our invitations was so quick this year, we thought the fans would appreciate knowing some of the names early. We hope to have the next 10 commitments to share with our fans in the near future.”

“In celebration of our 10th anniversary, we thought it would be a nice touch to release our celebrities in groups of 10,” said Bobby Hitt, president of South Carolina Charities, Inc. “It’s exciting that we already have 10 commitments to share and we’re six months out from the event. The tournament has become such a popular charity event for celebrities that they want to commit as early as possible to ensure their spot in the lineup.”

Actor Kurt Russell has starred in movies including Overboard, Back Draft, Captain Ron, Tombstone, 3,000 Miles to Graceland, Vanilla Sky, and Miracle. This will be his fifth time participating in the tournament.

Actor Oliver Hudson stars alongside David Spade and Patrick Warburton in the CBS comedy Rules of Engagement. Hudson’s other roles in TV shows and movies include Dawson’s Creek, Black Christmas, The Mountain, New Best Friend and The Out-of-Towners. Hudson is the son of Goldie Hawn and brother to Kate Hudson. This is Hudson’s third time participating in the tournament.

Patrick Warburton has appeared as David Puddy on the hit TV series Seinfeld and stars alongside Hudson in the CBS comedy Rules of Engagement. Warburton has also lended his voice to animated movies such as The Emperor’s New Groove, Family Guy, Open Season and Bee Movie. This is Warburton’s second time participating in the tournament.

Actor and Comedian Gary Valentine appeared in Paul Blart: Mall Cop and has also had roles in the movies I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry and Stuck on You. Valentine had a reoccurring role on the CBS comedy The King of Queens alongside his real-life brother Kevin James. Valentine appeared on Comedy Central Presents and tours across the country with several comedy tours. This is Valentine’s fourth time participating in the tournament.

William “Dabo” Swinney is the head football coach at Clemson University. An Alabama native, Swinney attended the University of Alabama, where he joined the Crimson Tide football program as a walk-on wide receiver in 1989. Swinney joined the Alabama coaching staff as a graduate assistant, serving from 1993–95. In 2002, he joined Clemson’s staff as wide receivers coach. Swinney became Clemson’s head coach in December 2008. This is Swinney’s second time participating in the tournament.

Rob Marciano is a news and weather anchor for the CNN News Group and is based at CNN’s world headquarters in Atlanta. His enterprise reporting contributed to the network’s comprehensive coverage of the historic 2005 hurricane season. Marciano also serves as a correspondent for Anderson Cooper 360. This is Marciano’s first time participating in the tournament.

Musician Pat Green got his start in country music while attending Texas Tech in the mid-’90s. Green, who has always been known for his “let the good times roll” attitude and guy-next-door charm, released his new studio album, WHAT I’M FOR, in January 2009. The album presents a versatile and passionate artist whose contagious enthusiasm for life is the foundation of this collection. This is Green’s third time appearing in the tournament.

Musician Javier Colon burst onto the scene in 2003 with the release of his self-titled album. His 2006 release, Left of Center, contains 13 tracks and is a mix of R&B, hip-hop, rock, pop balladry and straight-up soul. It also contains Latin, jazz, acoustic and gospel aspects. This will be Colon’s fifth appearance at the tournament.

Musician Steve Azar became a radio sensation with the release of I Don’t Have to Be Me (‘Til Monday) and his video Waitin’ on Joe. His latest CD is Slide on Over Here. The come-on title refers both to the romance in some of the tunes and to the fact that the record is full of slide-guitar licks. This is Azar’s third time participating in the tournament.

A former quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kordell Stewart helped lead his team to the Super Bowl his very first season in the NFL in 1995. Stewart also saw service as a wide receiver, running back, and punt returner, making him one of pro football’s most versatile players and earning him the nickname “Slash” from former head coach Bill Cowher. This will be Stewart’s third time participating in the tournament.

The 2010 BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation will be played May 13-16, 2010, at Bright’s Creek Golf Club, The Carolina Country Club and Thornblade Club golf courses. All four rounds will be televised live by the Golf Channel.

The BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation is the only tournament on the PGA TOUR’s Nationwide Tour where amateurs and celebrities are grouped with Nationwide Tour professionals in a four-day better-ball competition over three courses.

Amateurs, celebrities and pros rotate between three courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with the 14 lowest scoring pro-amateur/pro-celebrity teams advancing to play Sunday’s final round at Thornblade Club. Celebrities play once at each course on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The professional winner of the overall 72-hole event will take home $108,000 from the total purse of $600,000. Amateurs and celebrities will compete for individual prizes and cash donations to the charity of their choice out of the beneficiaries selected by South Carolina Charities, Inc.

The first nine tournaments have raised more than $7.3 million for more than 125 area charities. The charities selected to benefit from the 2010 tournament are listed online at www.bmwcharitygolf.com.

For more information about the 10th annual BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation, sponsorship opportunities, amateur playing spots or volunteer opportunities, call (864) 297-1660. You can also learn more about the tournament online at www.bmwcharitygolf.com.

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The South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) released an economic impact study regarding the State’s manufacturing sector and its impact in South Carolina.

Prepared by Miley, Gallo, & Associates, LLC, the study reveals that:

• The direct and indirect impacts from manufacturing total over $141 billion per year.
• The Manufacturing sector supports over 585,000 jobs.
• The average manufacturing wage is 27% higher than the State’s average.
• The manufacturing base is extremely important to local governments and school districts.

“While the manufacturing sector has declined in total number of jobs in the state, it still pays some of the highest wages of any sector in South Carolina,” said Dr. Harry Miley of Miley, Gallo & Associates, LLC. “The average manufacturing job pays more than 27% above the statewide average. One of the most striking aspects of the manufacturing sector is the role it plays in the property tax base of the state. This is extremely important to local governments and school districts. The manufacturing sector pays almost 13% of all property taxes in South Carolina although it represents only about 5% of all establishments in the state. When viewed as one aggregate industrial sector, South Carolina’s manufacturing sector represents the largest industry cluster in the state’s economy. ”

“The benefits and economic impact of manufacturing in South Carolina are great – historically and today,” said Bobby Hitt, Chairman of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance and Department Manager of Corporate Affairs for BMW Manufacturing Co. “Contrary to what we too often hear and see in the public dialogue, manufacturing still matters and the growth potential for South Carolina’s manufacturing sector is significant.”

“This study makes the case that manufacturing is the foundation of our economy,” said Lewis Gossett, President & CEO of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance. “Manufacturing still matters and its impact is enormous. If South Carolina hopes to emerge from the current economic downturn soon, the State must adopt and maintain pro-manufacturing public policies.”

A copy of the report can be viewed here: http://myscma.com/associations/4797/files/ManufRept_FINAL.pdf

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ABOUT THE SCMA – The South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance is the only statewide organization dedicated exclusively to the interests of manufacturers. Its mission is to elevate the quality of life for all South Carolinians by advancing the state’s manufacturing industry. The SCMA membership is comprised of more than 200 manufacturing companies that represent 94,837 associates in South Carolina. For more information, please visit www.myscma.com

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