b'STRATEGIC AND MANAGED GROWTHNewsome validates the partnerships thatwere very good at attracting manufacturingthe electric vehicle trend coming to the extent exist between the Chamber, state governmentbusinesses like BMW, Michelin, Volvo andit has since I left the Port. and the South Carolina State Ports AuthorityMercedes-Benz Vans. BMWs website says to manage the next wave of growth. SC Portsthe company chose South Carolina for itsI believe well also experience a resurgence employs approximately 750 people today andfirst full production facility outside Germanyin exports driven by emerging market econo-the extended maritime community, largelybecause of the deep-water port of Charleston,mies. I dont see challenges in assimilating the based in the Lowcountry, employs upwards ofits advanced technical college system and thegrowth. We could not have done a better job 10,000 people. Directly and indirectly, SCSPAstates strong work ethic.of anticipating needs and building world-class accounts for one in nine jobsin the state andinfrastructure to be prepared for the future. has a total economic impact of $87 billion. According to Newsome, SC Ports always projected container cargo volume to double In my 13-year tenure, we were a port that wasbased on the doubling of advanced manufac-very based on manufacturing because weturing jobs in South Carolina. Today, he antic-could be. South Carolina has the distinctionipates continued growth in retail distribution of being a manufacturing juggernaut, and weand the retail import business. We didnt see 14 CHAMBER RETROSPECTIVE250 YEARS'