SCRA’s SC Launch receives national award

SCBIZ Daily
SCBIZ Daily Staff
October 17, 2008

The S.C. Research Authority’s SC Launch was honored with the Building Entrepreneurial Capacity award by the State Science and Technology Institute.

The Science and Technology Institute recognized four programs nationally, selected as best practice models in knowledge-based economic development. The awards follow a national competition emphasizing impact and replicability in approaches to building and sustaining tech-based economies.

“A crucial component to growing the nation’s economy is supporting programs that are successful in developing and implementing initiatives that create high-paying jobs and provide U.S. businesses with the tools they need to compete in the global economy,” said Dan Berglund, the institute’s president and CEO.

“SC Launch demonstrates a balanced and broad-based approach to entrepreneurial support that effectively links together key resources within the state. The judges were particularly impressed with the use and issuance of tax credits by the state to those contributing to the SC Launch Industry Partnership Fund. This is both innovative in approach and effective in addressing the ability to successfully sustain the initiative.”

Awardees were honored Wednesday during a ceremony at the institute’s 12th annual Conference in Cleveland, where more than 300 of the nation’s top economic development professionals convened to explore the challenges and opportunities of encouraging regional innovation.

“We are honored to be chosen for this prestigious SSTI award,” said Bill Mahoney, the SCRA’s chief executive. “SCRA has provided funding and support for 83 new knowledge-based startups in South Carolina since its inception through its SC Launch program.

According to a recent survey by The University of South Carolina Moore School of Business, jobs facilitated by SCRA and SC Launch provided per capita annual wages of approximately $77,000 in 2007.”

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