July 2018 Features

• CEO Activism in 2018: Half of Americans Say CEO Activism Influences Government

  July 31, 2018

  Significantly more Americans in 2018 believe that CEOs who speak out on hotly debated current issues influence the decisions and actions of government (48 percent vs. 38 percent in 2017). This is according to CEO Activism in 2018: The Purposeful CEO, a survey of 1,006 adult Americans.

• South Carolina Department of Education Releases Annual Student Dropout Report

  July 26, 2018

  The South Carolina Department of Education released the statewide Report on Student Dropout Rates for the 2016-2017 school year. The overall state dropout rate increased from 2.3 percent during the 2015–16 school year to 2.4 percent during the 2016–17 school year.

• Exclusive: South Carolina Logistics Industry Continues to Grow

  July 25, 2018

  The opening of Inland Port Dillon and recent announcements totaling more than 250 new jobs underline the significance of South Carolina’s logistics industry. A nationwide study says the state still has room for improvement.

• Boeing Forecasts Unprecedented 20-Year Pilot Demand as Operators Face Pilot Supply Challenges

  July 24, 2018

  The demand is being driven by an anticipated doubling of the global commercial airplane fleet — as reported in Boeing's Commercial Market Outlook — as well as record-high air travel demand and a tightening labor supply. This year's outlook also includes data from the business aviation and civil helicopter sectors for the first time.

• AT&T South Carolina President Named Columbia Chamber’s 2018 Ambassador of the Year

  July 20, 2018

  The Columbia Chamber will honor AT&T South Carolina President Pamela P. Lackey at the Chamber’s 116th Annual Gala, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield, Thursday, October 4, 2018.

• SC Ports Posts Milestone 2018 Fiscal Year

  July 19, 2018

  South Carolina Ports Authority posted strong performance across multiple business segments in fiscal year 2018, achieving new records for monthly and annual container volumes as well as progress of key capital projects.

• CNBC Places South Carolina 30th in ‘Top States’ Ranking

  July 13, 2018

  Economic development officials around South Carolina aren’t fazed by the state’s middle-of-the-pack finish on a recent “top states” list – but they aren’t ignoring it, either. The “America’s Top States for Business” ranking by CNBC came out July 10. South Carolina finished 30th this year, down from 29th in 2017.

• Aging South Carolina Population Creates Opportunities, Challenges

  July 12, 2018

  According to recently released estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, the median age in every South Carolina county rose between 2010-17. Statewide, the median age rose from 37.9 at the time of the 2010 census to 39.4 as of July 1, 2017.

• UofSC Opens Richard W. Riley Collection, President Bill Clinton to Speak at Opening Event

  July 12, 2018

• SCRA Announces SC Launch Investment in REsimplifi

  July 11, 2018

  SCRA recently finalized an SC Launch investment in REsimplifi a Columbia-based IT company. The $200,000 investment marks the second tranche for the company that was accepted as an SC Launch Client Company in February 2016.

• Trade Works for South Carolina, Tariffs Don’t

  July 09, 2018

  Retaliatory tariffs imposed by other countries on U.S. exports will make American-made goods more expensive, resulting in lost sales and ultimately lost jobs here at home. This is the wrong approach, and it threatens to derail our nation's recent economic resurgence.

• Sen. Scott Secures Two Important Provisions For South Carolina Farmers As Farm Bill Passes Senate

  July 06, 2018

  The United States Senate successfully passed the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, colloquially known as the Farm Bill, which included two important provisions secured by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC).

• Legislature Overrides Governor McMaster's Veto on Expungement

  July 05, 2018

  South Carolina lawmakers returned to Columbia to take up Gubernatorial vetoes, finish the budget, and finish several bills still in conference committees. The house and Senate voted to override Governor McMaster’s veto of the Coalition's top priority: expanding expungement laws for one-time, low-level offenders in order to expand South Carolina’s workforce.

• Summer Travel Report: Trending International Destinations in Every State

  July 05, 2018

  A new report from InsureMyTrip ranks the top trending international destinations for summer travelers state by state. The data shows twenty-three states favor trips to the United Kingdom, while other states prefer visiting Canada, Mexico or Italy. Results are based on all 2018 travel insurance purchases for international trips with June, July or August departures.