COLUMBIA -- The S.C. Department of Commerce has scheduled the 18th annual South Carolina Rural Summit for March 2-4 at The Conference Center and Inn in Clemson.

This year's conference will be the first ever held in the Upstate.

Some of the presentations on this year's agenda include:

* Joe E. Taylor, Jr. - South Carolina secretary of commerce.

* Mayor Alex Damon - Cordell, Okla., a renegade leader specializing in using the arts and tourism to redevelop and redefine what a community can do to foster economic growth.

* Joe Max Higgins Jr. - Columbus-Lowndes Development Link, Mississippi, the CEO of a rural Mississippi economic development partnership responsible for creating thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of investment.

* Angela Campbell-Mackey with the nationally celebrated story of the Anderson County Walgreens Distribution Center. Angela will address the revolutionary approach Walgreens has taken to integrate individuals with disabilities into its work force. With over 40 percent of employees at the Anderson County facility classified as disabled, Angela will explain why all employees are ABLE to get the job done.

* Jeffrey Black - Principal of Black Sheep Reputations, a nationally respected promotional firm, will offer guidance to conference attendees on how to successfully address local boards, civic groups and the press. Known for his work with everyone from Hollywood and the hit show Dynasty to local work in Manning, Jeffrey promises to provide helpful hints to conference attendees on how to grab and persuade an audience.

As part of the regular conference agenda, there will be off-site educational sessions to Duke Energy's "World of Energy" nuclear facility, Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research, and a rolling classroom exploring a portion of the National Heritage Corridor.

For more information about the conference or to register, visit www.sccommerce.com/scrs2008

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