Briefs

USC funding

External grant funding at USC increased to $206 million, up 11% from $185.7 million last year. Funding from the National Science Foundation rose almost 50% from $11 million to $16 million.

Irritation felt in Charlotte

Apparently, South Carolina is getting a little too ambitious in its business recruiting, enough to trigger an irritation felt in Charlotte. The Charlotte Business Journal is surveying its readers: "Do South Carolina's business- recruitment incentives help or hurt the region's economy?" The newspaper also stated: "The S.C. Department of Commerce recently denied incentives for three companies that were considering a move across the state line from Mecklenburg County. Does that bode well for economic development in the Charlotte region?"

S.C. up and N.C. down

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported a 20% increase in work- related deaths last year in S.C. On the job last year in S.C., 114 died, and in 2006, 95 died. In N.C. and in the rest of the country, there was a 6% drop in workrelated deaths.

China's pollution targeted

The chief executive of Charlotte- based Duke Energy Corp., Jim Rogers, reported to the World Affairs Council of Charlotte recently China leads the world in manufacturing solar energy panels. Rogers toured China for 12 days just prior to the Olympics. The Three Gorges Dam is scheduled to be completed next year with its 27 hydro- electric plants and 18,000- megawatt capacity. On the downside in its pollution fight, China plans to build another 1,000 coal- burning power plants by 2016.

VA- MUSC together in Charleston?

In Columbia, the Veterans Affairs hospital is connected on the same Garners Ferry Road campus with the Medical University of South Carolina, and in Charleston the same is proposed. Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake declared a low probability the Charleston VA and the MUSC would join forces on a hospital, but MUSC President Ray Greenberg is still talking up the idea as part of his long- term framework.

Bankrupt Protected Vehicles for sale

Bankrupt Protected Vehicles of North Charleston has attracted two local bids. Patriarch Partners first bid $5 million, and then Force Protection, also based in the Lowcountry, bid $5.2 million. Patriarch upped its bid to $6 million in response. The sale to Patriarch is expected to close by Sept. 3. Patriarch Partners is a New York investment firm that also owns American LaFrance, the fire engine manufacturer. Force Protection and Protected Vehicles manufacture mineresistant vehicles. Force Protection last week received a $17.9 million work order from the U.S. Navy to provide service and parts on mine-resistant vehicles.

SCE&G's case before the S.C. Public Service Commission

SCANA's SCE&G, in partnership with state- owned utility Santee Cooper, plans to expand its nuclear plant in Jenkinsville at a cost of about $9.3 billion. Last year state lawmakers signed off on the Base Load Review Act, which allows SCE&G to pass construction costs to consumers as they are incurred. Before the passage of the Base Load Review Act, the costs of new generating units couldn't be passed to the consumers until the new units came online. A rate increase hearing was set for Oct. 27 before the PSC, but now it appears the hearing may be delayed to Jan. 12 at the request of CMC Steel South Carolina, one of SCE&G's largest customers, and the S.C. Energy Users Committee.

Elliott Davis on the rise

Greenville- based Elliott Davis LLC, the state's largest accounting firm headquartered here, has been selected as one of INSIDE Public Accounting's "2008 Top 100 Accounting Firms." Last year, Elliott Davis experienced 20.6% growth and $48,235,267 in annual revenue. Based on annual revenue,

Elliott Davis was placed by INSIDE Public Accounting

as 60th nationwide, up from 67th the year before. Elliott Davis has 400 employees in 10 offices throughout the Southeast.

SC Supreme Court says no to stocks

Over the long haul, investing in equities returns more money than investing in government- backed bonds. Even with a proven higher return, investing in equities by the S.C. Other Retirement Benefits Investment Trust is not allowed because the investment choice is not constitutional, according to a recent decision by the S.C. Supreme Court. The S.C. Other Retirement Benefits Trust was established last year by the S.C. Municipal Association as a tool to help cities and towns meet a new accounting standard for other retiree benefits, such as health insurance, when they are earned instead of when they are paid.