Distinctive Diversity

Central SC partners with many different types of companies to ensure economic expansion. We encourage the development of a variety of industries in order to create a thriving, lucrative business environment in Central South Carolina.

Many industries are already familiar with the benefits of doing business in Central SC. Our centralized location in one of the fastest growing areas of the country has attracted manufacturers, executives, and scientists in diverse fields.

Advanced Manufacturing

The Central SC Region has all the resources an advanced manufacturer could need: a highly skilled workforce, a pro-business regulatory and tax environment, low-cost operating climate, and a strong network of suppliers and customers. Some of the region's most notable advanced manufacturing companies include: Caterpillar, Eastman Chemical, Haier, Federal Mogul, FN Manufacturing, Michelin and ZEUS.

Subsectors of the Advanced Manufacturing industry:

• Automotive
• Aerospace
• Composites
• Food Processing
• Medical Device Manufacturing

Energy

A powerhouse in South Carolina, Central South Carolina's leaders in energy are on the cutting edge of nuclear power and renewable energy. SCANA and the area's Electric Co-ops have helped catapult the state to the nation's third highest nuclear energy generating state. USC's Innovista is developing future fuel cell technology and—along with the fuel cell collaborative—constructed one of the first hydrogen fueling stations in the southeast. Thanks to our favorable business climate, Central SC is electrifying the nation's energy industry.

Subsectors of the Energy industry:

• Nuclear
• Renewable Energy

Shared Services

Central SC has become a prime location for information technology, insurance, and customer service centers. Organizations like IT-Ology are bridging the gap between information technology industry needs and workforce skills. Verizon located their largest customer service center here, Staples centralized their financial support services here, and Intel develops groundbreaking telecommunications server technology, all right here, in Central SC. With all these new service and technology centers flourishing in the Central SC Region, it's no wonder Central SC is the state's mecca of shared services.

Subsectors of the Shared Services industry:

• Information Technology
• Finance
• Insurance
• Customer Service

Transportation, Distribution and Logistics

The Central SC Region is a TDL company's paradise. The area has four interstates for easy north/south and east/west access, two class one railways, a major airport, and is just a short drive to one of the nation's most efficient and productive ports. Ball State University's Bureau of Business Research recently ranked South Carolina 5^th in the nation for "Global Reach," and 8^th in the nation for "Demand Adaptability." Join the many transportation, distribution and logistics companies from around the world that have chosen to reap the benefits of the area's excellent transportation infrastructure.

Subsectors of the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics industry:

• 3PLs
• Big Box Distributors

Research and Development

The research and development industry in the Central SC Region is overflowing with activity. The region's Centers for Economic Excellence—a partnership between the state's research universities and industrial companies to create specialized research professorships--are developing new technologies that range from polymer composites to marine genomics. The Army's largest and most active Initial Entry Training Center in the U.S., at Fort Jackson has made Central SC the heart of defense-related research and development. The University of South Carolina's Innovista Research Campus is home to nearly 50 research laboratories, state-of-the-art equipment, and a highly regarded faculty. Central SC is more than a research and development hub, it's where research and development companies thrive.

Subsectors of the Research and Development industry:

• Defense
• Technology & Software