Best places to work

The S. C. Chamber of Commerce, the Society for Human Resource Management and SCBIZ magazine have announced the Best Places to Work in South Carolina. The Columbia firms included among the 2010 winners: Mars Petcare; McAngus, Goudelock & Courie, LLC; Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union; S. C. Education Lottery; VC3, Inc.; AgFirst Farm Credit Bank; Colonial Life; and Palmetto Health.

Buses

The Charleston bus system (CARTA) has its half–cent sales tax in force, unlike Columbia’s. CARTA had to raise its fares from $1.50 to $1.75 to cover a $1.3 million shortfall in Charleston County half–cent sales tax revenue. In Columbia the bus fare is $1.50, but a 10–ride ticket can be purchased tor $12.

Transportation research

U. S. Majority Whip Jim Clyburn says he has no idea what happened to the $31.7 million S. C. State University claims it spent in federal and state funds for transportation–related programs at the James E. Clyburn University Transportation Center. An investigation by the Charleston Post and Courier newspaper concluded in June no research at the center was under way, and school officials could point to only a few accomplishments. The state Legislative Audit Council is investigating the transportation center, action Clyburn supports.

Spend money to get money

South Carolina missed out on the latest round of federal education stimulus money. A jobs bill passed in Congress earlier in August, and it targeted teachers in danger of losing their jobs. South Carolina was supposed to collect $143.4 million. The state failed to qualify because it no longer meets requirements for higher education funding. South Carolina increased spending for K–12 education, but it is $110.8 million short of federally required higher education funding. The state still has until September 17 to meet federal requirements for higher education funding and to collect the $143.4 million, but there appears to be no plan to rewrite the budget. Last year, South Carolina cut 1,400 teaching jobs, and this year another 2,500 teachers are expected to lose their jobs.

And more money was missed

South Carolina was one of 19 finalist in the second round of the national Race to the Top federal grant competition. The state applied for $175 million but was not included in the 10 winning applications for a total of $4.35 billion in federal funding for education in the Race to the Top. North Carolina, on the other hand, will receive about $400 million in Race to the Top federal education funding.

Local attorney flouts the law

On Tuesday, August 24, Columbia attorney John Fitzgerald O'Connor Jr. pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering. According to The State newspaper, he could face five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. O’Connor’s client, William J. Trier II of Aiken, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and money laundering on April 30, 2008. Trier embezzled millions of dollars from Crane Co., an Aiken–based vending machine manufacturing firm. Trier was 'sentenced to 63 months in prison, and he was ordered to pay $5,272,556 in restitution. He was also ordered to forfeit millions of dollars in assets.

PGA Championship

In 2012, Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course will be the host for the PGA Championship. The 2014 PGA Championship is coming to Pinehurst, N. C. The 2017 PGA Championship is coming to Charlotte’s Ouail Hollow Club. Ouail Hollow is already home to a regular PGA Tour event, the Wells Fargo Championship.

Business activity

A survey by the Federal Reserve in both Carolinas revealed business activity continued to soften in August. For the first time since November 2009, the Carolinas company-specific current activity dropped into negative numbers, implying the Great Recession could be headed for its second dip. Even though more firms surveyed plan to add to their payrolls over the next six months, hiring in August slowed from recent months.

And now for some good news

Charlotte–based Belk Inc. had a 31.9 percent increase in net income for its second quarter ending July 31. Belk’s net income for the quarter was $12.4 million, up from $9.5 million for the same time period a year ago. Belk operates 306 stores in 16 Southern states.