NESA

FLORENCE – On Friday, the Northeastern Strategic Alliance (NESA), an economic development organization encompassing South Carolina’s northeast region, held its first board meeting of the year.

During the meeting, Jack Ellenberg, Vice President of Cargo Development at the South Carolina State Ports Authority, updated participants on developments at the State’s ports. In addition, Bob Marriott, Deputy Director of Global Business Development at the South Carolina Department of Commerce, discussed the importance of agribusiness to the state and touched on efforts to grow this industry in the region.

NESA executive director Jeff McKay briefed attendees on the organization’s efforts thus far this year. His remarks included a discussion of the leads NESA is pursuing, executive and consultant visits to the region hosted by the organization, and the outreach to potential employers in which NESA team members engaged.

“So far in 2012, we have contacted 302 companies to explore the possibility of their bringing jobs to our communities,” McKay noted. “Day-in and day-out, we will continue to identify and reach out to potential employers across the country and around the world.”

McKay also discussed NESA’s effort to secure funding for economic development efforts through a South Carolina State matching funds program. In previous years, NESA has successfully raised the $450,000 necessary to take full advantage of the matching program. As a result of these efforts, more than $4.2 million was invested into regional economic development programs.

NESA once again has the opportunity to participate in this year’s state match program which allows economic development alliances in the state the opportunity to receive more funding than the previous programs have allowed, thus giving them the opportunity to implement more programs.

“The opportunities provided to our great region’s counties in the form of grants as well as the programs that are able to be implemented through this state match program are invaluable to the region,” said Sen. J. Yancey McGill, chair of NESA’s Executive Committee.

“The state program is an incredibly valuable part of our efforts, and I am exceptionally proud of the commitment members of our community have made to ensure we take full advantage of this opportunity,” McKay said.