Alliance project manager, allies return from productive trip to Washington D.C.

MAY 22, 2004 – A contingent of Charleston region economic development professionals has returned from a productive trip to Washington, D.C., where a number of meetings and a national conference presented rich prospecting opportunities.

Over the course of three days, the team met with several prospective companies participating in TechNET International, an annual conference sponsored by AFCEA (the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association). This conference provided opportunities to connect with SPAWAR contractors currently doing business in Charleston, as well as with companies that have yet to operate or associate here.

The Charleston contingent included Paul Sparwasser, project manager with the Charleston Regional Development Alliance; Steve Dykes, Charleston County economic development director; and John Scarborough, Berkeley County economic development director. Dorchester County’s economic development director, Jim Friar, was unable to attend.

In addition to talking with more than 30 companies exhibiting at the conference, the team met with six targeted firms in the greater Washington D.C. area. Two of the meetings resulted in active projects for the Charleston region.

Having participated in several prospecting trips in recent years, Sparwasser notes a significant change with this trip: “We definitely received a better response when setting up appointments than we have in the past couple of years,” he said. “Companies seem to be operating in a more optimistic, growth-focused mode right now. Even if they aren’t moving or expanding right away, they seem to feel the possibility lies somewhere in the near future.”

In preparing for the trip, the Alliance staff culled many resources to identify firms that may be a fit for the Charleston region. Reviewing the list of current SPAWAR contractors, mining NAICS codes, researching firm size and growth projections, assessing national business trends, and networking with local allies as well as contacts in the target region all yielded a pool of potential appointments.

Target industries included defense contractors, software & systems development, life sciences and transportation-related manufacturers.

Founded in 1995, the Charleston Regional Development Alliance represents Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. Its mission is to broaden and diversify business investment in this region, with an emphasis on technology-intensive business sectors. Since its inception, the Alliance has facilitated more than 150 competitive expansions or relocations. To learn more, go to www.charleston-for-business.com.