Organized efforts to develop the aerospace cluster in South Carolina began in 2012 with Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt’s appointment of the SC Aerospace Task Force. This group of industry leaders and stakeholders issued a strategic plan to grow the cluster in 2013. As the Task Force was completing its report, New Carolina initiated a partnership with the SC Department of Commerce and received an Investing in Manufacturing Community Partnership grant from the US Economic Development Administration. Efforts are now underway to transition the Task Force into an industry-led Aerospace Council.
On August 19th, the Southeast’s leading aerospace innovators and companies will meet in Columbia for the Inaugural SC Aerospace Industry Day Conference and Expo. USC’s McNAIR Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research, New Carolina and the SC Aviation Association are the event’s organizing partners. The SC Aviation Association is also hosting the third annual aerospace industry dinner that evening.
Presentations and discussion will focus on the conference theme: A Roadmap for Aerospace and Aerospace-related Industry in South Carolina. The conference sessions will feature pivotal aerospace-related challenges and opportunities in the areas of education, research, innovation (e.g. manufacturing limits, speed and automation) and economic development. Participants will discuss and explore innovations and research regarding industry materials, structures, manufacturing and reshoring and have valuable networking time.
During the event’s afternoon session, New Carolina and the McNair Center will release the economic impact study of South Carolina’s aerospace cluster authored by Dr. Joseph VonNessen. The study is the first since 2006, prior to the arrival of Boeing, and will reveal the dramatic impact the aerospace cluster is having on employment, firm growth, average compensation and tax revenue in South Carolina.
Please visit the conference web site to register for the conference, purchase seats for the dinner event and find information about sponsorship and exhibit opportunities.
If you are affiliated with an aerospace firm in South Carolina and want to be involved in the exciting activities taking place around the industry, please contact Deborah Cameron at dcameron@newcarolina.org or Wayne Fritz atwfritz@newcarolina.org.
