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Inward Investment Guides
United States Inward Investing Guide

United States Inward Investing Guide

Location USA is a guide for international companies looking to invest or establish operations within the United States. Location USA provides practical advice and guidance about facilities deployment, labor force skills, taxes and incentives, and more. For specific information on all 50 states, utilize the State Resources links.


Global Appeal of the Southeastern United States
South Carolina is a leading location for foreign direct investment, with the South Carolina Power Team available for business assistance.
Area Development Online Research Desk (Location USA 2010)
 
The southeastern region of the United States has become a hub of activity for global capital investment. Small to medium-sized companies as well as large "global players" continue to select the Southeast for their North American operations, whether sales and service, distribution, manufacturing, headquarters, or R&D-related facilities.

A Leading Location for FDI
Among the southeastern states, South Carolina has emerged as a leading location for foreign investment. BMW, Daimler, Fujifilm, Bosch, Michelin, and Roche are just a few global companies that have chosen South Carolina for a major North American location. South Carolina and the Southeast are growing regions with a proven track record for being profitable locations.
South Carolina is first among all 50 states in the percentage of work force employed by international companies. According to the South Carolina Department of Commerce, these foreign-owned companies employ 112,800 South Carolinians. This represents 6.9 percent of the state's private industry employment. In the manufacturing sector, foreign-affiliated firms employ 54,400 South Carolinians, accounting for 21.6 percent of the state's work force, also ranking South Carolina first among the states in this regard.

A Strategic Location
The state's global success has resulted from both planning and from its geographical proximity to U.S. and foreign markets resulting from its strategic Mid-Atlantic location.
In the 1960s and 70s, South Carolina began recruiting European machinery and chemical companies that supplied the textile industry. With the transition and diversification of the region's industrial base, the state subsequently benefited from foreign direct investment in the automotive sector, most notably BMW's two assembly plants employing 5,000; Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers and Michelin's North American headquarters in Greenville, S.C. More than 640 foreign-owned companies representing 40 countries now have a presence in the state.

Fred J. Gassaway, Executive Vice President of Marketing
South Carolina Power Team
1201 Main Street, Suite 1710
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Phone: 803-254-9211
Fax: 803-771-0233
E-mail: fgassaway@SCpowerteam.com
www.scpowerteam.com
Global companies rely on an integrated transportation system. From the deepwater Port of Charleston to the state's extensive network of interstate highway and Class I rail systems, infrastructure is in place to reach U.S. and global markets. Also, South Carolina is strategically located halfway between New York and Miami, putting one half of the fastest-growing market in the United States within one day's drive.

Highly Skilled Labor Force
One of the greatest assets the state offers new and expanding companies is a highly skilled work force. Through its technical college system, a free customized recruitment and training program called readySC delivers a world-class work force, a key reason Boeing selected North Charleston, S.C., as its East Coast site to assemble the 787 Dreamliner. Of course the state and region's lower cost of manufacturing factors into its success. South Carolina consistently ranks as having one of the lowest-cost business climates and lowest percentage of unionized workers in the United States.

Resources
The South Carolina Department of Commerce has maintained a presence in Europe since 1974. That office, located in Munich, and another located in Shanghai, provide companies a source for obtaining information on the various resources and incentive programs that reduce the cost of locating and operating in the state.

In addition, the South Carolina Power Team, the state's largest electric power system, maintains an extensive database of available buildings and certified sites to enable global companies to become operational quickly at a lower cost than in other regions of the country. With over 150 years of combined economic development experience, the staff of the South Carolina Power Team is extremely qualified to respond to the needs of companies considering a U. S. location.

 
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United States Inward Investment Location Profiles
ARIZONA
Arizona - A Great Place For Business

Arizona is one of the fastest-growing, most dynamic economies in the United States. Both Fortune 500 and start-up technology companies call Arizona home, reaping the advantages of a competitive business climate and tax structure; a skilled, knowledge based work force; and world-class innovation, cultural, and scenic resources.

ARKANSAS
Your Success Story Starts In Arkansas

Arkansas's transportation network and central U.S. location define the state as a strategic distribution center. Midway between Mexico City and Montreal, Arkansas offers a valuable distribution advantage.

Little Rock, Arkansas: A Globally Recognized Brand

For two years in a row, the Little Rock region has been named "America's Fourth Strongest Economy" by the Brookings Institution's MetroMonitor. The Wall Street Journal calls it the nation's "Sixth Best Real Estate Market," while Forbes says it is America's "Seventh Best Place for Jobs."

KANSAS
Wichita, Kansas USA - Site of Choice for Advanced Manufacturing Enterprises

Wichita, better known as the Air Capital of the World, has also been ranked #1 U.S. metro for aviation manufacturing. Wichita has the highest concentration of aircraft and aircraft parts manufacturing employment (skills) in the United States.

KENTUCKY
Kentucky Is a Global Business Center

Kentucky remains a leader in attracting foreign direct investment, with nearly 35 percent of announced new investment in 2012 due to FDI activity. Today, about 420 foreign-owned firms from 30 nations employ nearly 80,000 people in the state.

NEW YORK
Think New York for Business Opportunity

When you hear "New York" you probably think of tall buildings and Wall Street — not cows, pastures, and a state whose leading industry is agriculture. In fact, we have both, and the world is taking notice of the abundant milk supply, sophisticated transportation system, and oneday access to almost 100,000,000 consumers.

OHIO
The Columbus Region Grows Increasingly Global Each Year

The Columbus Region is a thriving 11-county area located in Central Ohio. Home to 15 Fortune 1000 headquarters, with two million people and a population growth rate of 1.3 percent annually, the Columbus Region is one of the fastestgrowing major metropolitan areas in the Midwest, and is growing more and more global each year.

The New Ohio — A Leader in New Job Creation

Profitable. Diverse. Motivated. Strategic. Global. These are the words that describe the new Ohio and make us a leader in new job creation in the U.S.

OKLAHOMA
Tulsa - Where Business Grows

Home to more than 950,000, Tulsa, Oklahoma, perfectly balances convenience and affordability with the advantages of a highly skilled work force, a central location, a pro-business atmosphere, and an excellent quality of life. It is a dynamic, growing region that offers the fifth-lowest cost for doing business in the nation and is home to some of the nation's largest companies. These assets combine to make an ideal home for progressive companies competing in a global economy.

TENNESSEE
Select Tennessee for Your Next Investment

Tennessee's ideal location, strong transportation infrastructure, low costs of doing business, and high quality work force provide an attractive setting for investments from around the globe. With most major U.S. markets within a day's drive, Tennessee provides immediate access to eight interstate highways, an extensive network of railways and waterways, and the world's second-busiest freight airport in Memphis.

WEST VIRGINIA
Plastics - West Virginia's Multi-Billion Dollar Industry

Offering one of the highest concentrations of hightech, specialty, and engineering polymer production in the world; an abundance of necessary raw materials; a knowledgeable, highly trained and productive work force; and established transportation systems; it is no wonder West Virginia is home to a vibrant and growing plastics industry.