Staff Report
Published Jan. 26, 2012
The S.C. Department of Commerce hired an agribusiness recruiter.
 Allison Barry |
The S.C. General Assembly appropriated the funding for the new position last year. In the fall, S.C. Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt and S.C. Department of Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers signed a memorandum of understanding creating a partnership between the two agencies to recruit agribusiness firms and establish the new position.
“In our long term strategic planning, we determined that a focused agribusiness recruitment effort was vital and that the office should be staffed with professionals,” Weathers said. “Agribusiness grows South Carolina. With the help of the new project manager in recruiting new and expanding agribusinesses, we can create jobs and achieve economic growth and prosperity for South Carolina.”
Barry has been part of the commerce since August 2010 and worked in the agency’s research division. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political economy and a master’s degree in economics, both from Clemson University. A Columbia native, Barry grew up with her family’s agricultural business in Gilbert.
“Agriculture and agribusiness have long been an important part of South Carolina’s economy,” Hitt said in a news release. “Allison Barry brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and will play the lead role in helping recruit new agribusiness-related firms as well as helping our state’s existing businesses in this sector expand.”
Agribusiness companies provide production, processing and distribution of goods and services of food, feed, fiber and fuel. The economic impact of agribusiness in South Carolina has been measured at nearly $34 billion, providing almost 200,000 jobs.
