South Carolina continues to build on its success as the premier Workforce Development Training Program in the country.

SC listed as one of "2011 Top States For Doing Business" in Area Development Magazine.

"South Carolina received high marks in several economic recovery categories. It was ranked second for its overall business environment and for each of the factors comprising that category, i.e., corporate tax environment, incentive programs, overall cost of doing business, and business friendliness (tied). The state also placed second for its certified sites and shovel-ready programs, third for labor costs, and fifth for its work force development programs."  – Area Development Magazine Special Presentation, Fall 2011

Area Development awards South Carolina the 2011 Gold Shovel for economic development.

The Annual Shovel Awards recognize state economic development agencies that drive significant job creation through innovative policies, infrastructure improvements, processes and promotions that attract new employers as well as investments in expanded facilities. The Gold Shovels are presented annually to the states that have achieved the most success in terms of new job creation and economic impact. South Carolina was the winner this year in the 4 million to 9 million population category.

Area Development awards South Carolina Project of the Year for First Quality Tissue.

South Carolina received Area Development’s Project of the Year award for work on the First Quality Tissue project in Anderson County. The $1 billion investment is expected to create 1,000 new jobs. The company chose Anderson County after an extensive site selection process and credited the state’s proximity to the growing Southeastern market, quality infrastructure and low energy costs among other factors in helping make the choice.

Columbia and Greenville are ranked as two of the 'Top Cities of the Future' by fDi Magazine, from the Financial Times Limited.

fDi Magazine names Greenville, SC as the #1 Micro City of the Future, and Columbia, SC as the #3 Small City of the Future in North and South America. Columbia also ranks #10 in the Small Cities – Quality of Life category. The ‘American Cities of the Future 2011/12’ focuses on a mixture of hard data and expert opinion to rank cities which have the best prospects for inward investment, economic development and business expansion.

Listed as a 2010 U.S. Giant by Site Selection Magazine, First Quality Tissue ranks in the top 5 companies in millions of dollars invested in the Top Projects by Capital Investment.

– Site Selection Magazine, March 2011

BMW Manufacturing Co. ranks as the #1 company in the category of “2010 Machinery” (excluding electrical) by Site Selection Magazine.

– Site Selection Magazine, March 2011

SC has been named an emerging epicenter of High Tech Industry in 6 fields.

WIRED magazine asked the Cluster Mapping Project at Harvard Business School to provide the top 20 job-creating areas in 11 fields of High Tech Industry. South Carolina areas are listed as top 20 job creators in 6 of 11 fields, including Aerospace Vehicles, Automotive, Plastics, Metal Manufacturing, Communication Technology, and Electrical Equipment.

See all of the Emerging Epicenters of High Tech Industry.