CEO Guide to Site Selection

South Carolina

PROGRESS IN THE PALMETTO STATE

South Carolina has long been known as a business-friendly state with a strong talent market, so it’s no surprise that more companies and residents are moving there. While CEOs enjoy the lack of property taxes, inventory taxes and generous tax exemptions, workers like the quality of life, rich scenery, beaches and affordable home prices. TELUS International, Oshkosh Defense, Health Supply US and Robert Bosch all announced projects here in the past two years.

“Thanks to our talented workforce and strong business environment, South Carolina is booming.”
Henry McMaster
Governor

TAXES

0 %

top corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index ranking

EDUCATION

0 %

of adults 25 years of age and older graduated high school

0 %

of adults age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

0 %

RIGHT TO WORK STATE

Yes

QUALITY OF LIFE

# 0

POPULATION GROWTH

0 %

increase between 2010 and 2020

KEY INCENTIVES

Corporate Headquarters Tax Credit: Offers a 20% tax credit, which can be applied against the corporate

income tax or license fee, to companies that relocate or expand a corporate headquarters facility.

Investment Tax Credit: Offers a tax credit of up to 2.5% of investment in new production equipment to manufacturers locating or expanding in the state.

Jobs Tax Credit: Offers a financial incentive for new and expanding companies that create and maintain at least 10 net new jobs in the state.

Research & Development Tax Credit: Offers a credit of up to 5% of a company’s qualified research expenses as defined in Section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Job Development Credit: This is a discretionary pro- gram that offers a quarterly cash refund of a portion of the personal withholding taxes of new employees.

EDCs

South Carolina Department of Commerce

sccommerce.com

Columbia Economic Development

choosecolumbiasc.com

Charleston Regional Development Alliance

crda.org

Central SC Alliance

centralsc.org

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

The South Carolina Department of Commerce’s Business Services team has been working diligently with companies, assisting them in growth areas like small business support, trade and export, workforce and supplier support, innovation, emergency management and recycling. In 2021, the team conducted visits or consultations with 536 existing operations in South Carolina to help them be more productive, profitable and sustainable.

BIG DEALS

  • Proterra announced in December 2021 a $76 million expansion and more than 200 new jobs at its EV battery manufacturing facility in Spartanburg County.
  • Blue Diamond announced in February 2022 a $18 mil- lion investment and 90 new jobs in Laurens County.
  • Switzerland-based SHL Medical announced in July 2022 a $90 million investment and 165 new jobs in Charles- ton County.
  • Paxton Access announced in October 2022 a $10 million headquarters in Greenville County.
  • Electric car company Dash EV announced it will establish its headquarters in Greenville, South Carolina.

BIG COMPANIES

  • Sonoco Products (Fortune 1000 headquarters)
  • Domtar (Fortune 1000 headquarters)
  • ScanSource (Fortune 1000 headquarters)
Roundtable

Strategic Planning Workshop

1:00 - 5:00 pm

Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

  1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
  2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
  3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

 

Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

Limited space available.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

Golf Outing

10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS

General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.