|
Upstate Alliance Completes Successful Trip to Canada
A group of over twenty representatives from the Upstate area recently completed a successful economic development mission trip to Canada. The trip was organized by the Upstate Alliance, a private/public group that markets the ten county region of the upstate of South Carolina.
The team traveled to Ottawa and Montreal Canada during the week of August 13-17, to meet with various company executives to market the Upstate Region as The Right Climate for Global Business. The highlight of the trip was a reception hosted by former Speaker of the House, Upstate-native and current US ambassador to Canada, David H. Wilkins at the US Ambassador’s residence in Ottawa. Ambassador Wilkins commented on the recent trip and its success by saying, "As a South Carolinian, I was proud to host the Upstate Alliance team recently and expose many Canadian businesses to the boundless opportunities that Upstate South Carolina holds for business investment. Seeing the work of the Upstate Alliance first-hand gives me a great sense of optimism for the future of South Carolina and for the continued strengthening of U.S.-Canada relations."
Laurens County was represented on the trip by Marvin Moss, Senior Project Manager for the Laurens County Development Corporation. Representatives from the South Carolina Department of Commerce, ICAR, and other private sector investors round out those that took part in this successful trip. "The Upstate Alliance investors and staff represented us well in Canada, and Ambassador and Mrs. Wilkins were wonderful hosts. The trip is bound to produce results for South Carolina, and I was glad to be part of it," U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis said. Representative Inglis attended the reception at the Ambassador’s residence in Ottawa and joined the group in showcasing the Upstate of South Carolina as the perfect home for new investment.
During the week, the Upstate Alliance team broke off into three teams of delegates and had individual appointments with 15 companies in the Toronto and Montreal areas. "Several meetings yielded solid opportunities for the Upstate region. Additionally, we met with numerous companies during our appointments and at the Alliance’s reception that are just beginning business plans that could lead them to the Southeast during the next 3 to 5 years. We are very pleased with the initial results of this endeavor," stated VP of Marketing for the Upstate Alliance, Jennifer Noel.
These companies represented various industry sectors including aviation, life science and plastics / allied chemicals. One team had the privilege of meeting with site selection consultants to promote Upstate South Carolina as a key location for international business. Hal Johnson, President and CEO of the Upstate Alliance, commented that "having the Upstate area show these companies the united front we have in regards to economic development was outstanding. The Canadian companies we were able to get in front of were intrigued by our wonderful quality of life that the Upstate region of South Carolina is blessed with but also were impressed by our concentrated effort to promote the Upstate to the world."
