News and Press Releases for July 2007

Governor Sanford and Secretary Taylor Work to Streamline State’s Economic Development Efforts

July 20, 2007

Columbia, S.C. -Gov. Mark Sanford today issued two Executive Orders transferring the Trade Adjustment Assistance and Labor Market Information programs to the Department of Commerce, a move that will better consolidate South Carolina’s economic development efforts into a more consistent and cohesive mission and maximize the effect of federal and state dollars aimed at economic development.

The Trade Adjustment Assistance program, currently administered by the Employment Security Commission, helps those who’ve lost their job due to global competition find suitable long-term employment as soon as possible. The Labor Market Information / One Stop Core Services program collects and provides economic and workforce information, including employment projections and annual economic reviews of the state. Moving these two programs under the umbrella of the Department of Commerce will create clear lines of executive accountability and increase coordination by placing them alongside the Workforce Investment Act program, which is already housed in Commerce. 

“For South Carolina to remain competitive in a rapidly changing world, we have to continue to look for ways to increase coordination, enhance accountability and improve the cohesiveness of our state’s economic development efforts,” Gov. Sanford said. “Moving these programs to the Department of Commerce will help keep our economic message consistent and allow us to maximize the dollars we have available to create jobs and improve soil conditions for companies big and small across South Carolina. Whether it’s retraining manufacturing workers who have lost their jobs because of overseas competition or simply getting an accurate take on the state’s economy, we think it’s vital that state government be as coordinated and accountable as possible – especially when you’re talking about taxpayer dollars.”   

Last year alone, the Department of Commerce generated $7 billion in capital investment, while there are over 171,000 more people working today in South Carolina than when Gov. Sanford took office. South Carolina continues to receive national recognition for its business-friendly environment. For example, the Pollina Corporation, a Chicago-based corporate relocation publisher, ranks South Carolina as the #1 Most Business Friendly State, while Entrepreneur Magazine ranked South Carolina 5th among the “Most Dynamic States for Entrepreneurs.”