1. travel
2. vacation rentals

Why
SouthCarolina?
★
Many world-class
companies are
choosing South Carolina.
Find out why.
Contents
Strategic Location
2
Productive Workforce
3
Outstanding Quality of Life
4
Low Costs
6
Location Assistance
7
Industries Choosing SC
8
Area Development
magazine’s 2012 survey
of corporate executives
ranked these 10 factors
as most important for
site selection. As the
following pages illustrate,
South Carolina is strong
in all of these areas.
Most Important Factors
Corporate Survey 2012
COMBINED PERCENTAGE OF
RESPONDENTS WHO RANKED IT
“VERY IMPORTANT” OR “IMPORTANT”
1
Labor Costs
90.8
Highway
Accessibility
90.1
Availability of
Skilled Labor
89.4
Availability of
Advanced ICT
Services
85.1
Occupancy or
Construction
Costs
82.8
Energy Availability
and Costs
81.3
7
Corporate Tax Rate
79.3
8
Available Buildings
78.4
9
Tax Exemptions
75.4
10
Low Union Profile
73.5
2
3
4
5
6
WhyDo So ManyWorld-Class
Companies Choose South Carolina?
HERE ARE JUST A FEW ADVANTAGES SOUTH CAROLINA OFFERS
TO NEW BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY:
South Carolina is a right-to-work state with the 3rd lowest unionization rate (3.3%)
in the US (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
In the 2013 Corporate Tax Rankings by The Tax Foundation, South Carolina ranks
10th. The corporate income tax rate in SC is 5%.
Industrial power in South Carolina costs, on average, 5.94 cents per kilowatt hour –
one of the lowest costs in the Southeast US (U.S. Energy Information Administration).
50% of the U.S. market is within a one day drive of South Carolina.
South Carolina has 187 miles of Atlantic Coastline, more than 300 golf courses and
over 200 days of sunshine a year. South Carolina is a great place to work and play.
In short, companies invest in South Carolina because we are different. We enhance their competitiveness
and profitability like no one else.
Considering a new location for your business or industry? Try South Carolina! Read more to find out why.
Visit www.SCpowerteam.com
Facing Page: From the mountains of the Upstate (top), to the capital city of Columbia (center), to the beaches of the Grand Strand (bottom),
South Carolina has something for everyone.
Why South Carolina?
www.SCpowert eam.com
STRATEGIC LOCATION
South Carolina’s strategic location on the East Coast of the
United States, midway between Miami and New York, is within
one day’s drive of half the nation’s population and a number of
the nation’s fastest growing markets. A superior intermodal
transportation network within the state provides ready access to
these markets and the rest of the world. Seeking a competitive
location in the world marketplace?
Try South Carolina! Here’s why:
More than 800 miles of interstate highway
The Port of Charleston (pictured above) is one of America’s
most productive ports - 60% more productive than any on the
US West Coast. The average time for a container to go from
ship to truck at the Port of Charleston is 22 minutes.
The South Carolina Ports Authority operates two seaports
(Charleston and Georgetown) and is constructing an
inland port facility in Greer, SC slated to open in Fall 2013.
The port facilities move more than $63 billion worth of
international commerce annually.
(Photo provided by South Carolina Ports Authority.)
SOUTH CAROLINA
★
Nine commercial airports and over 40 general
aviation airports
AND THE EASTERN
UNITED STATES
11 rail freight carriers including 2 Class I carriers –
Norfolk Southern and CSX – with more than 2200 miles
of track
BOSTON
DETROIT
CLEVELAND
CHICAGO
700
400
200
ATLANTA
NEW YORK
WASHINGTON DC
CHARLOTTE
CHARLOTTE
ROCK HILL
GREENVILLE
SOUTH
CAROLINA
NORTH CAROLINA
SPARTANBURG
ANDERSON
FLORENCE
GREENWOOD
NEW ORLEANS
COLUMBIA
SUMTER
MYRTLE BEACH
MIAMI
Whether customers or suppliers, you can reach them from
South Carolina. Within a day’s drive of half the U.S. population
and featuring a complete intermodal transportation system,
positioning your company in South Carolina is positioning for
success.
AUGUSTA
WILMINGTON
AIKEN
GEORGETOWN
GEORGIA
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CHARLESTON
COMMERCIAL AIRPORT
SEAPORT
SOUTH CAROLINA
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
SAVANNAH
|2
•
•
•
•
INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS
MAJOR CITIES
PORTS
AIRPORTS
Why South Carolina?
www.SCpowert eam.com
PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE
With the nation’s 3rd lowest
unionization rate, South Carolina
employees don’t stop working.
They are also well trained. South
Carolina boasts 16 technical
colleges, a state-supported
workforce training program
and three research universities.
Looking for the best people
for your workforce?
Try South Carolina! Here’s why:
The nation’s third lowest
unionization rate
Manufacturing employs
15% of all South
Carolinians.
More than 60 postsecondary institutions
including three research
universities and 16
technical colleges
The new Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina is under
construction. The school’s international business programs perennially rank among the best
in the nation. (Rendering provided by the Darla Moore School of Business.)
South Carolina’s statefinanced workforce
training program –
readySCTM – has trained
over 265,000 employees
for our industries.
New and expanding
companies in South
Carolina can use
readySCTM to recruit and
train new employees at
little to no cost.
Assembly line at Honda of South Carolina Mfg., Inc. (Photo provided by of Honda of South Carolina Mfg., Inc.)
|3
Why South Carolina?
www.SCpowert eam.com
OUTSTANDING QUALITY OF LIFE
South Carolina’s favorable climate and geography – the
Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean are both right
here – help make the state a great place to live and one of the
nation’s top leisure capitals. In addition to South Carolina’s
favorable climate, attracting and retaining good employees is
made considerably easier by a low cost of living and close
proximity to a wide array of affordable leisure and cultural
activities. Medical facilities are exceptional and health care
costs are low. Want to find an unbeatable quality of life at an
unbeatable price? Try South Carolina! Here’s why:
In 2012, readers of Condé Nast Traveler voted
Charleston, SC as the top tourist destination in
the world.
South Carolina’s location on the Eastern
Seaboard yields warm summers and mild
winters. Averaging more than 200 days of
sunshine per year, residents enjoy outdoor
activities year-round and companies see
fewer weather-related interruptions.
South Carolina is the nation’s golf capital with
more than 300 courses.
Beach resorts including Myrtle Beach, Hilton
Head Island and Kiawah Island
Mountain retreats, wild and scenic rivers, and
unparalleled hunting and fishing
Numerous cultural activities such as Spoleto
Festival USA in historic Charleston
Hilton Head Island is home to the RBC Heritage, a PGA Tour event.
|4
Facing Page: South Carolina’s scenic
attractions contribute to a unique
quality of life.
Why South Carolina?
www.SCpowert eam.com
LOW COSTS
South Carolina provides great value.
In South Carolina:
Competitive wages; a productive
NO inventory tax
workforce; efficient generation,
electricity and pro-business policies of
NO sales tax on manufacturing
equipment, industrial power or
materials for finished products
state and local governments all
NO local income tax
contribute to low production costs.
NO state property tax
transmission and distribution of
South Carolina has the 6th lowest
construction costs in the nation and
the 4th lowest in the Southeast.
Want a better bottom line for your business or industry? Try South
NO unitary tax on worldwide profits
Carolina! Here’s why:
NO wholesale tax
5% corporate income tax rate
AK
15.71
4.09
12.27
5.27
9.17
6.47
5.47
5.10
6.20
7.73
5.21
6.42
5.10
6.17
6.71
5.85
6.55
5.46
6.06
5.33
6.24
5.94
6.60
6.25
5.69
CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR
(
)
TO
TO
TO
TO
5.99
6.99
7.99
28.40
Industrial
electricity costs in
South Carolina are
13% lower than the
national average.
8.65
Source: U.S. Energy Information
Administration, Table 5C. Industrial
average monthly bill by Census Division,
and State 2011.
★
Table 1. State Corporate Income Tax Rates – Southeastern US
State
SC
GA
NC
AL
FL
MS
KY
TN
Corporate Income Tax
5.0%
6.0%
6.9%
6.5%
5.5%
5.0%
6.0%
6.5%
Source: The Tax Foundation’s State Corporate Income Tax Rates and State Individual Income Tax Rates, as of February 1st, 2012. OECD Tax Database, OECD data are 2012.
|6
8.76
DC
6.89
6.01
5.63
6.53
AVERAGE RETAIL
PRICE – INDUSTRIAL
11.43
8.91
6.49
7.23
HI
28.40
13.24
6.12
6.18
7.06
10.11
11.27
7.32
6.43
6.65
13.38
7.83
7.33
5.41
4.00
6.00
7.00
8.00
8.88
9.83
6.24
Why South Carolina?
www.SCpowert eam.com
LOCATION ASSISTANCE
The South Carolina Power Team promotes the state on behalf of
the electric cooperatives and Santee Cooper, the state-owned
electric and water utility. We provide
professional,
experienced,
personalized and
confidential site
location counseling
at no cost. The
Power Team
maintains extensive
information on available
industrial parks and
buildings as well as
tric
e
The elec ves and Sante
ti
a
r
e
p
ew,
coo
offer a n
Cooper ctric rate
le
lower e to attract jobs
d
n
designe strial expansio
u
d
in
d
an
e
tate. Th
to the s development
ic
econom r new or
rate is fo g industries
in
expand result in
ld
u
o
c
and
uch as
of as m
savings lectricity costs
e
20% on ustry,
d
to an in g on the size
in
depend acteristics of
r
and cha ic load.
tr
c
le
e
e
th
greenfield sites.
Contact us for an accurate assessment of how South
With the public sector’s commitment to help the private sector
create wealth and opportunity, South Carolina government
means business.
The SC Department of Commerce maintains one
of the most rigorous certified site programs in the
country resulting in over 50 available industrial
properties in the state that are certified as
“shovel-ready” by third party engineering firms.
Carolina can meet the needs of your company and become
the home of your next production, office or distribution
facility. More detailed information is available on anything
mentioned in this publication. For initial information about
available industrial parks, buildings and certified sites, visit
our website, www.SCpowerteam.com.
South Carolina Power Team
1201 Main Street, Suite 1710
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Telephone: 803-254-9211
Fax: 803-771-0233
Email: [email protected]
Shell buildings are available throughout our service area, many
with access to one of South Carolina’s five interstate highways.
|7
Why South Carolina?
www.SCpowert eam.com
HERE’S WHY THESE INDUSTRIES ARE CHOOSING SOUTH CAROLINA

Automotive
Aerospace
Logistics
BMW’s South Carolina plant has the largest workforce of any U.S. assembly plant.
First in the nation in tire exports in 2012, second in exports of autos and gas turbines
Ranked No. 2 in auto manufacturing strength in 2012 by Business Facilities
A rapidly growing cluster of 250 auto-related plants
Clemson-ICAR offers a Ph.D. program in automotive engineering
Boeing selected South Carolina for its new Dreamliner 787 assembly plant.
A rapidly growing cluster of 160 aerospace-related companies
Customized pre-employment training programs for aviation
Technical school programs leading to FAA and NCATT Certification
University of South Carolina McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research
The Port of Charleston is ready for 2014 Panamax ships.
Most efficient port in the Southeast in Charleston
Medical
Renewable
Energy
Half of the nation’s population in a one day drive
No State Inventory Tax
Three research universities with medical and biological specialties.
The nation’s first statewide biomedical research collaborative
Enhanced corporate HQ incentives with R&D facilities
Special depreciation rates for Class 100 or better clean rooms
Ranked by the Kauffman Foundation as 5th among states “Moving to a Green Economy.”
Center for Hydrogen Research and Savannah River National Lab in Aiken, SC
Site of America’s large-scale wind turbine drive train testing facility in North Charleston
Nation’s first university site for NSF supported Center for Fuel Cells
Second highest potential for electricity generated from off-shore wind
Boeing’s SC plant has the largest solar installation in the Southeast
Food and
Agribusiness
|8
Ranked #1 in competitive utility rates and ranked #1 in certified sites/shovel ready programs.
$34 billion - estimated annual economic impact to state from agriculture and forestry industry
Customized pre-employment training programs for companies in food and forestry industry
Certified food processing sites available
H.J. Heinz, Starbucks and First Quality Tissue among recent major production facilities to select South Carolina
The South Carolina Power Team
represents the state owned electric
utility, Santee Cooper, and the
state’s 20 electric cooperatives in
their industrial recruitment and
retention efforts for South Carolina.
Together, Santee Cooper and
the cooperatives provide
electricity to more than 2 million
South Carolinians.
The Electric Cooperatives & Santee Cooper
1201 Main St., Suite 1710, Columbia, SC 29201 I (803) 254-9211 I www.SCpowerteam.com