state of south carolina - South Carolina Department of Commerce

location target or facilitating an expansion). The Research Department
supports the project managers in amassing information on the company,
the project, and the project’s requirements. The Research Department
completes Requests for Information and Requests for Proposal from
project managers and gathers all information from the respective counties
and local development allies. This includes gathering data on buildings
and sites, permitting, infrastructure, workforce and quality of life issues,
amongst other factors. The Research Department manages the proposal
process, conversing with local economic allies as well as consultants,
allowing the project managers to continue to focus on building the
personal relationship with the target business.
5) Project managers review all information before dissemination to the client
company.
6) After the decision is made and a facility becomes operational, the Existing
Business Department establishes contact to monitor the progress of the
facility and offer advice and help should problems arise.
7) Assuming the facility operates successfully and profitably it will expand
within the first five years of operation at which time a project manager
from Global Business Development Division will be assigned to facilitate
the process.
8) A quality workforce plays a vital role in businesses locating, expanding,
and remaining competitive. Utilization of workforce services and
resources provides for on-going identification, assessment, and training of
current and prospective employees to meet business needs.
The process has remained virtually unchanged for the last ten years with one
major exception – the time it takes for the process to run its course has become
compressed. What used to take years now frequently only takes months and
sometimes even weeks. In order to meet the increased time demands of clients,
the Agency utilizes technology whenever possible to reduce turn-around time.
6.2 Project managers maintain contact with customers regularly in order to stay
abreast of new developments and to ensure information needs are met. As the
project “matures” and moves toward a final decision, contacts intensify and the
Agency’s senior leadership may be briefed daily.
6.3 Each of the other divisions is tasked with supporting the front-line sales team.
Each uses the latest technology available to maximize their outcomes.
6.4 The Department of Commerce builds alliances with key economic developers
in each county. These alliances consist of those members of the State’s
economic development community that are crucial to the success of the State’s
South Carolina Department of Commerce 24
2011-2012 Accountability Report