“One-Half of all 2017 SC Industry Impact Awards are located in the Catawba Region!”

As part of the 26th annual Industry Appreciation series, the S.C. Department of Commerce recognized its 2017 Industry Impact Award recipients during an event on Thursday, May 11 at The Hall at Senate’s End in Columbia, S.C. Honoring businesses that have made significant contributions to their communities and state, the recipients were selected within a certain employment size and county development tier group.

“South Carolina continues to have one of the most pro-business climates in the world, and this couldn’t be possible without the partnerships we’ve forged with companies both large and small. These local businesses — and their leaders — form the backbone of our state’s economy, and I congratulate them on this deserved recognition,” said Governor Henry McMaster.

Each year, S.C. Commerce joins local communities to thank businesses for their vital contributions to South Carolina’s economy with an Industry Appreciation event. Nominees for this year’s Industry Impact Awards were judged based on a number of factors, including capital investment, job creation, community engagement and environmental stewardship.

“The secret to South Carolina’s economic success is its people, and we will always honor the fine work they do,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. “The state’s Industry Appreciation events are a long-running tradition, and we’re proud of this year’s recipients.”

In addition to presenting the 2017 Industry Impact Awards, the state also recognized three businesses with a South Carolina Export Achievement Award and one firm with a Recycling Industry Excellence award. S.C. Economics also recognized five students as Young Entrepreneurs of the Year.

For photos of the awards recipients, please visit S.C. Commerce’s flickr page.

2017 Industry Impact Awards:

 

Small Companies Medium Companies Large Companies
Tier 1 Anderson Hydra Platforms

York County

Mars Petcare

Richland County

Shutterfly

York County

Tier 2 Colombo Energy

Greenwood County

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

Greenwood County

BMW Manufacturing

Spartanburg County

Tier 3 Polyquest

Darlington County

North Industrial Machine

Darlington County

Nutramax Laboratories

Lancaster County

Tier 4 Vapor Apparel

Union County

Standard Textile

Union County

Gestamp

Union County

 

2017 Export Achievement Awards:

 

Company County
Measurement Technology Group Greenwood
Phoenix Specialty Manufacturing Bamberg
Stewarts of America Greenville

 

2017 Recycling Industry Excellence Award:

 

Company County
US Fibers Edgefield

 

2017 Young Entrepreneurs of the Year:

 

Name, Grade School Business Venture
Grace Cromer, 12th Grade Anderson Five Career Campus Pennies 4 Preemies
Landon Gray, 12th Grade Crescent High School BGFT Shoes & Apparel
Ava Grace Long, 4th Grade* Prosperity-Rikard Elementary School Native Nativities of South Carolina
Savannah McCants,

11th Grade*

Wando High School McCanter Equestrian
Justin Greer Mitchell, 11th Grade Blythewood High School Life As We Know It Teen Blog, TV and Radio Show

From South Carolina Department of Commerce