South Carolina -- home of “Smiling faces. Beautiful places.” Once here, you will understand why. Known for its rich cultural history, temperate climate, vast ecosystems, thriving tourism and commerce, South Carolina is a distinguished place to call home. Only a short drive separates mountain towns from coastal villages. Bustling metropolitans are offset by local farmer’s markets. In essence, South Carolina offers it all — the perfect balance of lifestyle and commerce.

South Carolina’s vibrant economy is multi-faceted and matched to national and international trends. In the past fifteen years, the South Carolina economy has undergone a dynamic change. This region has adapted to changes in the world economy and has emerged as a leader in certain fields of knowledge-based technology and research. Technology is quickly replacing South Carolina’s textile focus and is growing in significant part due to foreign capital and expertise.

The foreign capital and expertise can be seen across economic categories and is felt statewide. In fact, South Carolina is home to some of the highest per capita foreign direct investments in the U.S. Many international companies are relocating their North American headquarters to South Carolina. For example, Spartanburg, South Carolina has the highest International Headquarters on a per capital basis, in the United States. Greenville, South Carolina has 70 corporate headquarters with more than 75 Fortune 500 companies including BMW and Michelin North America, as well as dozens of other automotive corporations, both American and international. The combined synergy of foreign direct investments and foreign expertise paves the way for immigration familiarity and is in direct alignment with the goals of CCFI.

The focus of the Regional Center will be on commercial real estate development in the following six target industries:

1. Technology
2. Health Services
3. Tourism and Hospitality
4. Manufacturing and Trade
5. Automotive Research
6. Mixed Use: Retail, Office, Hotel and Residential

1. Technology: South Carolina has proven successful in recruiting capital investment in the field of technological research. The foundation of these corporations gives rise to opportunities to cross-pollinate job opportunities across the state of South Caroline to those areas in economic need. Greenville serves as the economic hub for the Upstate region and also has one of the highest rates of engineering professionals per capita in the United States. The Upstate region contains the 9th largest number of engineers, scientists, and computer professionals in the United States. The automotive research center and the attraction of engineering professionals are integral in the advancement and attraction of Technology which is closely tied to the technology areas and headquarters of many national companies.

2. Health Services: South Carolina boasts a gorgeous temperate climate, with mild winters and moderate summers. Temperatures typically range from upper 30’s in winter to the upper 80’s in summer. The projected primary demographic for growth is ‘Baby Boomers’ flocking to the state to enjoy the temperate weather. This population growth increases the need for good Health Services throughout the state.

3. Tourism and Hospitality: is South Carolina’s largest industry, with $16.7 billion in annual revenues and more than 30 million visitors each year. As example, tourism has had a major impact on the City of Greenville (Upstate, South Carolina) who has seen retail sales increase with a 39% growth rate over the past six years.

Statewide, tourism and hospitality accounts for over 10% of jobs and the will continue to grow with population increase. South Carolina Office of Research and Statistics has projected that South Carolina will add 1.1 million new residents to the existing 4 million by the year 2025.

4. Manufacturing and Trade is heavily tied to many other components of this state. This area continues to grow and provide jobs for needed rural areas. The Greenville-Spartanburg Metro area is on the top five metropolitan areas for European expansion in the United States as recognized by the New York Times, USA Today, Business Week, and Expansion Management magazine.

5. Automotive Research: With the right sustainable development opportunities, other cities in South Carolina can increase retail opportunities for their cities as well. South Carolina’s business leadership has in recent years focused on grouping or “clustering” innovation throughout the state. One such cluster is the Automotive Research industry. In collaboration with Clemson University, the state of South Carolina is currently developing 250-acre site just east of Greenville, South Carolina known as The Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research “CU-ICAR”. CU-ICAR is designed to be the premier automotive and motor sports research and educational facility in the world.

6. Mixed-Use Development: Hotel, Retail, Office and Residential: South Carolina Office of Research and Statistics has projected that South Carolina will add 1.1 million new residents to the existing 4 million by the year 2025. Despite the trends leading away from Mixed Use Development throughout much of the 20th century, countervailing influences, primarily empty nesters and baby boomers, have now brought mixed-use development and urban place-making concepts back to the forefront of development trends around the world. These developments serve as sustainable hubs, creating jobs and gathering places for communities that produce sustainable economic viability for the long-term.

These six targeted areas are intimately connected by economic development and job opportunities for the State of South Carolina. These targeted opportunities, coupled with the proper capital investment, and South Carolina’s Department of Commerce’s strong push to increase economic investment and job creation in the targeted employment areas and rural areas provides tremendous potential to secure economic growth and job opportunities throughout our State.

North Carolina Overview
North Carolina -- a state that embraces you with gorgeous mountains and hills, hundreds of lakes and rivers, waterfalls, and a very desirable climate. The economy is varied, ranging from an established agricultural sector, to areas of industrial and high tech growth.  From the grandeur of the Great Smoky Mountains, and the beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway, to the coast and the fragile islands of the Outer Banks, North Carolina has plenty to offer. And with her mild winters and comfortable summers, North Carolina is a great place to live, and a very attractive place to visit again and again.  [www.netstate.com]

In 2006, North Carolina had $26 billion in Direct Foreign Investment.  It has the tenth largest international presence in the U.S., with international firms haling from more than 30 countries, with several corporations locating their corporate headquarters in North Carolina.

North Carolina has identified several growing industries that the state believes are key to the future success of the state, and has targeted these segments with support and services.

1. Automotive Research and Technology: North Carolina ranks among the top national and worldwide centers in telecommunications, networking and software development for Information and Communications Technology.  It also has the third largest biotechnology industry in the United States.

2. Health Services: South Carolina boasts a gorgeous temperate climate, with mild winters and moderate summers. Temperatures typically range from upper 30’s in winter to the upper 80’s in summer. The projected primary demographic for growth is ‘Baby Boomers’ flocking to the state to enjoy the temperate weather.
The North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management has projected that between 2000 and 2029 the overall North Carolina population will grow by 58.7%.  Of that increase, 65.4%of that growth will be from migration into the state. This population growth increases the need for good Health Services throughout the state.

3. Tourism and Hospitality: Travel and Tourism remains one of the most vital industries to the Carolinas.  Annually, visitors to North Carolina spend over $16 billion, generating over 190,000 jobs for North Carolinians. State and local tax revenues, as a result of the visitor spending, total more than $1.3 billion. 
Manufacturing and Trade North Carolina has a segment focus on motor vehicle and heavy equipment; more than 1,000 manufacturing operations supply parts, accessories and components for automotive, truck, bus and heavy equipment industries.  This area continues to grow and provide jobs for needed rural areas.

4. Mixed-Use Development: Hotel, Retail, Office and Residential:   Despite the trends leading away from Mixed-Use Development throughout much of the 20th century, countervailing influences, primarily empty nesters and baby boomers, have now brought mixed- use development and urban place-making concepts back to the forefront of development trends around the world.  The art of creating or enhancing viable and attractive mixed-use environments in cities and suburbs is flourishing and is being energized from many directions.  These developments serve as a sustainable hub creating jobs and gathering places for communities that produce sustainable economic viability for the long-term.

These six targeted areas are intimately connected by economic development and job opportunities for the State of North Carolina. These targeted opportunities, coupled with the proper capital investment, and North Carolina’s Department of Commerce’s strong push to increase economic investment and job creation in the targeted employment areas and rural areas provides tremendous potential to secure economic growth and job opportunities throughout the State.