S.C. selected to help shape national economic development

South Carolina has been chosen by the Harvard Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness as one of four states to participate in an industry-cluster mapping project for the United States, according to New Carolina: South Carolina’s Council on Competitiveness.

The other states selected were Massachusetts, Minnesota and Oregon.

New Carolina has been instrumental in cluster development in the Southeast, bringing companies together to facilitate, design and implement industrywide strategies.

“This project provides an excellent opportunity for us to help shape economic development, not only in the region, but across the country,” said George Fletcher, New Carolina’s executive director.

The selection includes a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration. That amount will be matched by the four states.

Over the next four years, the goal of the mapping is to provide policymakers and development practitioners across America with data and tools for understanding of industry clusters. In addition, the project will provide a tool kit for use in the formulation of economic development strategies.

Three leaders from New Carolina’s board of directors will work on implementing the grant: Joel A. Smith III, dean emeritus of the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina; S. Hunter Howard Jr., former president of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce and Upstate managing partner of Scott and Co.; and Irv Welling, president of Welling Strategic.