Inland ports: Viable business or fantasy land? By Dan McCue It’s no secret: Ports across the United States, and particularly along the East and Gulf coasts, are in the midst of a tremendous surge in container cargo volume.
Region’s growth attracts lending companies, banks By Dan McCue If it sometimes seems as if a new bank is sprouting up on every corner, there’s good reason: The Charleston market is just too hot for any lender not to be in the game, said Lloyd I. Hendricks, president and CEO of the South Carolina Banking Association.
Economic development leaders keep close eye on court case By Dan McCue The business of luring new industries to the region, not to mention aiding their expansion once they set down roots here, may change dramatically in coming weeks when the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide whether certain tax incentive plans—one of the most commonly used economic development tools in the nation—are, in fact, unconstitutional.
Improved rail system an opportunity for Charleston By Dan McCue The Port of Charleston’s rail connections with markets in the Southeast flow well, but more needs to be done from a system-wide perspective to improve its connectivity with points north and west, according to Joseph H. Boardman of the Federal Railroad Administration.
Judge’s decision first step in determining Watson Hill’s future By Jessica Johnson A Dorchester County judge’s ruling March 6 that Summerville’s attempt to annex land to halt construction of the Watson Hill development fell 12 hours short was only the first step in determining which community it may call home.
Hunger among the employed should bother us all By Dennis Quick Recent stories from National Public Radio and the Associated Press address the growing number of working-class people feeding themselves at food banks, soup kitchens and shelters.
How is the S.C. General Assembly like an SUV? Rollover hazard strikes hard at public interest By Bill Settlemyer You might call it poetic injustice. A good 20 years ago, I was active as a civic leader and journalist in the fight to control billboard blight in Charleston County. I wrote several guest columns on the subject that were published in The Post and Courier and was asked to serve on a “Blue Ribbon Committee” to help the county develop a sign ordinance.
Higher education tuition cap would miss its mark By Andy Brack A quiet but growing debate at the Statehouse is over whether South Carolina should cap tuition increases at the state’s public colleges and universities.
Big Red Truck to brush aside painting contractor problems By Sheila Watson Pratt & Lambert Paints of Cleveland, Ohio, has selected Charleston as the exclusive test market for a new customer service concept: taking the paint store to the job site.
SPAWAR to enhance outreach to local businesses By Dan McCue The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in North Charleston is reaching out to technology businesses in the region interested in being considered for future subcontracting work with the agency.
Ice cream company hits Charleston market By Dennis Quick Blue Bell Ice Cream of Brenham, Texas, sold in only 16 states but touted as the nation’s No. 3 best-selling ice cream brand, made its Lowcountry debut March 13.
Unions eyeing local hospitality industry, lawyers say By Dennis Quick Although labor unions represent a small percentage of South Carolina workers, employers—particularly in the hospitality industry—should start preparing for the arrival of union organizers.
Writer’s interest buoys Hunley research By Dan McCue Best-selling crime novelist Patricia Cornwell’s donation of at least $500,000 to CSS H.L. Hunley researchers hasn’t merely kick-started a new phase of forensic scientific inquiry into what happened to the Confederate submarine and its crew on the night of Feb. 17, 1864. It also has greatly eased some financial worries.
Intellectual property violations concern China traders By Sheila Watson U.S. business groups have been lobbying the Bush administration to bring a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization against China’s enforcement of intellectual property rights, a step that could lead to economic sanctions against China if the United States won its case.
Online home-appraisal site only a shopping tool By Sheila Watson A new Web site, Zillow.com, is an online tool that is attracting attention in the real estate industry not only for its home-valuation tools and capabilities, but also for the players and investments involved.
Long Island developer files lawsuit against city By Shannon Cavanaugh Millionaire Joseph Kimmel and his silent partners with K&A Acquisition Group LLC of Asheville, N.C., are suing the city of Folly Beach, Island Pointe LLC and the South Carolina Department of Transportation for allegedly failing to follow proper procedures when abandoning what is left of an old state road that now dead ends on Peas Island.
FB council enforces height limit, owners may sue By Shannon Cavanaugh The owners of property annexed into the city of Folly Beach are considering suing the city for fraud after the city revoked its no height limits zoning.
Musicorp helps nation’s musicians play on By Dennis Quick Tony Award-winning tap dancer Savion Glover and Country Music Association award-winning band Rascal Flatts thrive in two different entertainment worlds.
Incentives fall short of small business’ expectations By Dan McCue While the U.S. Supreme Court struggles with the issue of whether tax incentives offered for economic development go too far to pass constitutional muster, some small business owners think such incentives don’t go far enough.
Governments unprepared for Mexican labor force By Dennis Quick South Carolina’s growing population of Mexican immigrants presents “promising and disquieting implications,” according to a recent study by Douglas Woodward, a University of South Carolina economics professor.
Carolinks: The players By Dan McCue Lucy Duncan-Scheman, president and CEO of Carolinks, is a Charleston native and self-described 14th generation South Carolinian. She attended classes at the New York Institute of Technology in Old Brookville, N.Y., but never graduated from the institution, she said.
Carolinks: The project By Dan McCue Lucy Duncan-Scheman, Carolinks’ founder and CEO, stood in front of a white board in the conference room of her Broad Street headquarters and sketched out her vision of how an inland port could work.
Carolinks: The money By Dan McCue One of the most oft-discussed aspects of the Carolinks’ inland development project is the speculation about where the company will get the $250 million to pay for the project.
Carolinks: The other inland ports By Dan McCue A sudden surge of inland port proposals followed the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the announced closure of several military bases, said Robert Harrison, deputy director of the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Texas, Austin.
Carolinks: The Orangeburg site By Dan McCue The conceptual plan for the 800-acre Orangeburg County terminal includes an intermodal rail terminal, a container yard, an intermodal barge terminal and extensive room set aside for warehousing and distribution facilities.
Carolinks: The deal killer By Dan McCue The design and actual location of the road that the South Carolina State Ports Authority intends to build to link its planned $545 million terminal to I-26 is still an open question due to opposition from Charleston County.
Carolinks: The studies By Dan McCue While the South Carolina State Ports Authority has steadfastly maintained that it has no interest in developing an inland port itself, the South Carolina Department of Commerce has been exploring the possibility in theoretical terms in two studies it commissioned in 2001.
Women are growing market for financial planning By Dennis Quick About every other month, Melody Bundschuh, a financial planner with Commonwealth Financial Group on Daniel Island, holds “lunch-and-learn” sessions for women.
Align your career with your life purpose By Barbara Poole According to research from the Gallup Organization, 20% of people are working in jobs that provide them with the opportunity to excel in what they do best.
Motivational environments encourage staff success By Wayne Outlaw Everyday you hear leaders and executives saying they wish employees would be more productive. I’m sure you’ve heard something like, “People are just going through the motions,” or, “We really need to improve sales, increase operating efficiency and reduce expenses.” Some executives even voice the feeling that, for an employee, “having a job should be motivation enough.”
Entrepreneurs turn aspirations into actions By Ted Albenesius Entrepreneurship can ignite a spark of motivation within those who never thought of themselves as leaders. The chance to set the direction for a new business, inspire employees and pursue long-held dreams often turns dreamers into doers.
People in the News Tom Mitchell and Maria L. Zone have joined Coldwell Banker Coastal Properties. Mitchell previously worked as a branch manager for Sears in Virginia, a marketing director for NOVA Exteriors in Virginia, a business development manager for Regency Commercial Construction, a marketing and sales director at Computer Engineering Associates, and has
19 years of experience as a registered technologist. Zone previously spent 14 years as the owner/operator of Advantage Advertising and Travel Inc. and published the Guest Guide Magazine for the town of Mount Pleasant.
Calendar • MARCH 20: Learn Basic Conversational Spanish. 10 a.m.-Noon at the Lifelong Learning Center, Mount Pleasant. A six-week program. Cost: $149. Information: 216-6393.
Giving Back Golf tournament raises money for pediatric leukemia research
The Ninth Annual Monica Kreber Golf Tournament, sponsored by the Charleston Contractors Association, raised $25,000 for pediatric leukemia research at the MUSC Children’s Hospital. During the past nine years, this tournament has raised $259,000 for the hospital’s leukemia research. Pictured, from left, Bailey Williams, tournament co-chair; Courtney Ellicott, MUSC Children’s Hospital Fund, Dave Kreber, father of Monica Kreber, tournament co-chair; and Kathryn Sherrod, MUSC Children’s Hospital Fund.
Accolades & More Gil Shuler Graphic Design was showcased in the Communication Arts 2005 Design Annual. The winning entry was in the trademark category for Bass Botanicals, a local landscape design firm owned by Pam and William Bass. Founded in 1959, Communication Arts is the leading trade journal for visual communications.
Photo Finish EAST COOPER HABITAT CELEBRATES COMPLETION OF COMMUNITY
East Cooper Habitat for Humanity recently celebrated the completion of Hope Row, a 14-home community located on Eagle Street in the Greenhill Community of Mount Pleasant. Homeowners received rose boutonnières donated by Belva’s. Children were treated to face painting and balloons by Susan Fedor. Joe Gunter and his wife donated the music. Food was provided by Sticky Fingers and Papa Johns. Door prizes were donated by local businesses.
Appointments Julius J. Anderson Jr. of Anderson Insurance Associates LLC, Kathy D. McKay of McKay Stelling & Associates, and Russell G. Parker of Riley & Associates Inc. have been elected to serve on the board of directors of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of South Carolina. Anderson was elected to a two-year term as the chairman-elect and treasurer. Parker was elected to a three-year term on the IIABSC board of directors. Jensen was elected chairman of the board for 2006.
News Briefs State retains ASA to encourage drivers to buckle up
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety has selected the Advertising Service Agency of Mount Pleasant to help encourage South Carolinians to buckle up and adopt safer driving habits.
