“S” is for South Carolina Department of Commerce

“S” is for South Carolina Department of Commerce. The South Carolina Department of Commerce administers the state's economic development program. Created in 1945 as the Department of Research, Planning, and Development it later became known as the state Development Board. During the late 1940s and 1950's the board sponsored industrial recruitment missions through which governors and state businessmen cultivated relationships with northern corporate executives. In 1993 the Development Board became the South Carolina Department of Commerce. Since then, economic development has been a priority for the state’s governors. The agency maintains overseas offices in Munich and Shanghai to aid international recruiting and to help state companies reach foreign markets. Today the South Carolina Department of Commerce has divisions dedicated to industry recruitment, export development, existing industry and small business support, community and rural development, and workforce development.