SCMEP Joins With Upstate Organizations to Assist New and Existing Industry in Greenville, SC

COLUMBIA, SC - October 9, 2003 - The South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP) has joined with the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Greenville Technical College, and the Greenville Area Development Corporation to help existing and new companies in the Greenville area solve business and technical problems standing in the way of growth. So far, the alliance has visited 38 companies while maintaining contact with numerous existing SCMEP clients through performance of business assessments and projects, with an economic impact of more than $19 million.

The group was formed to fill a void in the wake of budget cuts at the S.C. Department of Commerce.

"The alliance is working to solve both short-term problems for industry, such as governmental or zoning issues, as well as long-term problems like workforce development," said John Irion, SCMEP president.

"Our goal is to let companies know about Upstate resources available to help them," said John Moore, vice president of economic development and small business at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. "Each organization has different strengths and capabilities, which we are leveraging as a group to help more companies and enhance economic development in the area."

About SCMEP
The South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP), headquartered in Columbia, SC, is a not-for-profit organization that helps manufacturers throughout the state solve business and supply chain process problems. Supported by the state legislature and an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST), SCMEP offers business and technology assessments, engineering expertise and lean manufacturing solutions to South Carolina manufacturers in search of a single solution for supply chain synchronization and internal optimization processes. SCMEP provides this business and technology support to manufacturers through onsite consultations, partnerships with state technical colleges, research universities, and the S.C. Department of Commerce to provide educational programs, online assessment, an e-services portal, and other business tools. Using SCMEP's services enables manufacturers to see business benefits at a faster rate and enhances economic development in South Carolina. To learn more about SCMEP, call 803.252.6976 or visit the web site at http://www.scmep.org.
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