SwampFox

SCRA's SC Launch Recognized by the International Economic Development Council

Submitted by: Jill Hirsekorn on Oct 06, 2009 at 8:21 pm Tagged with: IEDC, SCRA Source: SCRA, International Economic Development Council

For Release October 7, 2009
Contact: Jill Hirsekorn
SC Launch, an SCRA affiliate
843-819-5115
jill.hirsekorn@scra.org

Erin Way
IEDC Media Relations
202-942-9474
eway@iedconline.org

SCRA’S SC LAUNCH RECEIVES RECOGNITION AT ANNUAL
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (IEDC) CONFERENCE
South Carolina-based Organization Recognized for its Annual Report

Acknowledging SC Launch for its exceptional annual report, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) recognized the South Carolina-based company, an SCRA affiliate, with an honorable mention at IEDC's Annual Conference in Reno, Nevada. SC Launch was acknowledged for this achievement during an awards ceremony on Tuesday, October 6th.
"Furthering economic development is rarely a simple task in the best of times, and advancing the cause in the midst of a global financial crisis is nothing less than arduous," said Ian Bromley, IEDC chair. "As the consequences of the widespread economic turmoil have taken hold, we have seen our members become even more ardent proponents of economic development, flying in the face of one of the most challenging economic environments we have experienced in our careers. We tip our hats to SC Launch for its superior work during these difficult times."
Competing in the category of Annual Report by organizations serving areas with populations exceeding 200,000, SC Launch made a notable impression. The SC Launch Annual Report describes how SC Launch--a collaboration among applied research and commercialization services organization SCRA and South Carolina's university research foundations--helps strengthen South Carolina's Knowledge Economy by providing a pathway to commercialization for entrepreneurs to grow companies, create jobs and bring innovative products and services to market.
Technology sectors that SC Launch has identified as having the greatest benefit in South Carolina are cited in the report: Advanced Materials, Alternative Energy, Engineering, Life Sciences and Information Technology. Additionally, the document describes how SCRA provided a $12 million investment through its retained earnings to fund the first three years of the SC Launch program, and then established the Industry Partnership Fund, which provides ongoing financial support of the program through individual and corporate donations. This strategy has been quite successful: IPF contribution goals have been met each year at least six months earlier than expected.