Briefs
Another southern governor develops relationships in Buenos Aires Heading a delegation of Georgia’s economic development officials, Gov. Sonny Perdue arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 20. In 2009, Georgia’s exports to Argentina totaled more than $156 million. Georgia Gov. Perdue recently said he planned to continue relationships first developed when he was building Atlanta’s unsuccessful bid to host the Western Hemisphere’s free trade headquarters.
First phase of census As of Sunday, June 13, about 44 million census forms had been completed nationwide, leaving more than 3 million forms to be collected and processed. Across the country, 72 percent of U.S. households mailed back the form on time. In S.C. the mail participation rate was 73 percent.
Unemployment rates down a bit The S.C. unemployment rate dropped to 11 percent in May. Aiken County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 7.4 percent. Georgia’s unemployment rate fell from 10.3 percent in April to 10.2 percent in May. The N.C. jobless rate dipped to 10.3 percent in May from 10.8 percent in April. The national unemployment rate in April was 9.7 percent.
Local economic recovery status For its overall economic recovery in comparison among the top 100 metropolitan areas in the country, Columbia is ranked No. 14. Charleston and Greenville are tied at No. 47, according to a recent study by the Brookings Institute. The Augusta–Aiken area is ranked No. 23.
Port Royal sale criticized by Sanford The S.C. Ports Authority’s proposed sale of its 51– acre Port Royal property for $16.75 million is taking criticism from S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford, who wonders if the deal is best for the Town of Port Royal or the SPA. The sale is to occur in two $8.375 million parts, and Sanford warns of the possibility the buyer could take the waterfront property first and then drop the latter half of the deal, leaving the state stuck with the inland parcels. Sanford also objects to the buyer’s plan to take a 12.8–acre area slated for a park and build houses there instead. Sanford sits on the S.C. Budget and Control Board, that votes on the deal probably before the end of June. Columbia’s Bill Stern, a real estate developer and chairman of the SPA, argues the buyer’s requirements of a $250,000 deposit and the construction of the infrastructure for the second phase, the inland parcels, would connect the buyer with the completion of the project. Port Royal’s town manager Van Willis says Sanford’s park idea is not consistent with Port Royal’s town plan.
Clemson leadership conference in Greenville Clemson University’s five–day Leadership Summit, August 2–6 in Greenville, is designed and facilitated by industry leaders in companies such as Michelin, BMW, the City of Greenville, GE Energy, Wells– Fargo/Wachovia, Duke Energy, Hubbel Lighting, RBC Insurance, and BB&T. The summit will emphasize the study of five leadership traits: integrity, objectivity, creativity, courage, and passion. Tuition for the summit costs $3,995 per participant, all inclusive. The summit will take place at the Clemson at the Falls campus in downtown Greenville and on the last day, August 6, in the Westin Poinsett hotel on Main Street. For more information: http://odce.clemson.edu/leadership% 202010/index.html
Florentines issue construction bonds To build various capital projects on the main campus of the 453–bed McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, $344 million in construction bonds will be issued. Final terms are under negotiation, but the bonds are expected to expire three years from the issuance date. McLeod also owns and operates the 49–bed McLeod Medical Center in Darlington and the 79–bed McLeod Medical Center in Dillon.
