"I am bullish on South Carolina. To the extent that we can partner together better, we have a great chance to be successful."

Chief Operating Officer for the South Carolina Department of Commerce Joseph James brought this message to a room full of business, education and government leaders at the seventh annual Business and Community Alliance Luncheon Tuesday at Claflin University's Ministers' Hall.

Utilizing this sentiment as a backdrop for his address, James described his visit to Orangeburg as one of touting "economic development opportunity" and the presentation of such an opportunity within the state's borders.

James, who serves as the right-hand man for state Secretary of Commerce Bob Faith, highlighted the recent refocusing of the state's commerce department and the emphasis placed on developing closer relationships with county and local economic development leaders.

The partnerships, he says, are crucial to enhancing the fruitfulness of development pursuits.

"We promised ourselves that we would work together on several initiatives," he said.

Among these James included:

-- A new marketing campaign for the state to better attract new business and industry.

"There was not a sense of ownership around the entire state, ... and we all across the state did not feel we were working together," he said. "Adversity, in the form of limited budgets, makes you think twice about those things we have done before. We have committed ourselves to leverage our marketing budgets ... across the state."

A strategic committee is scheduled to be set up early next year to better approach the issue, James said.

-- A closer examination of incentive packages that are most cost-effective.

-- Creating and nurturing relationships with the various media throughout the state and country to better share what the state has to offer prospective businesses and industries.

-- Becoming more proactive in suggesting new ideas that will stimulate economic development activity in the state.

"Playing defense is fun, but you have to be on offense as well," he said. "Our initial efforts have been very positive so far."

The key to successful implementation of these initiatives, James said, is being able to adjust to change.

"But, when you talk about making change, change is fearful. People are very concerned about changing the way things have been done before," James said.

Emphasizing this philosophy, James stressed the need to expand and "build a diverse and balanced economy."

"Working on both our traditional strengths in manufacturing and at the same time extending into emerging technology in businesses for tomorrow," James said, "we are not abandoning our traditional manufacturing sectors, but we are including them and in addition to them we are looking toward companies for the future."

Tapping into the power and expertise of the state's research-based universities to attract more technological-based industries, he said, will also be key to the future advancement of the state in the global sphere.

The promotion of industrial clusters is another initiative James said his department is eyeing.

"In general we have some opportunities to grow our economy in part using the cluster concept that means essentially to look at various sectors in our economy and try to fill in the missing gaps, the missing companies in our area," James said.

He said the state has engaged a Harvard-based group to examine and study the nature of the state's current economic clusters. Results of the study are expected to be released Dec. 8.

In addition, James said, a focus on helping small businesses, particularly minority small businesses, is crucial.

Some of the steps taken in this regard, he said, have been the formation of a small business initiative offering small businesses insight in how to progress through governmental bureaucracy, better access and assistance in the application of federal grants for operations, and the development of a strategy for minority business growth.

Kenneth Middleton, chairman of the 36-member Business Advisory Board, said James' vision is shared by the college's Division of Business Administration.

"The accomplishments of yesterday were wonderful, but now we have to press forward into tomorrow," he said. "Like a good football team when the game is over, we can't spend much time worrying about who we defeated; we have to prepare for the next opponent."

The mission of the university, Middleton said, also rings true to what the state leadership envisions for the future in business and economic development.

That future hinges on "preparing students for leadership and service in a multicultural global and technological society," Middleton said. "Students need to present themselves ... so they get an opportunity to show what they have done academically."

Middleton also related to those in attendance one of the university's out-of-the-box ventures in business development with the formation of the James E. Hunter Center for Entrepreneurial Development, a small business incubator to help businesses succeed.

"Small businesses are the backbone of America, but there is no process or system for development of small business," he said. "Most of our small businesses start out on their shoe strings."

Middleton said Hunter has put in a matching donation to jump start the center.

"You know what that means. ... We will be calling on you to assist Claflin University in making this happen," he said.

Following the meeting, the BAB presented Claflin President Henry Tisdale a plaque in recognition of his "visionary leadership" as president of the university.

Tuesday's event was sponsored by South Carolina Bank and Trust.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551.

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