VOLUME 25 NUMBER 4 ■ GSABUSINESS.COM
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MARCH 7-20, 2022 ■ $2.25
Russian exports from SC are small piece of export pie Growing stronger R&D drives state’s most robust sector. Page 6
Only one other state exports more to their country, but Russians account for just 1.2% of Palmetto State exports.
By Molly Hulsey
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mhulsey@scbiznews
outh Carolinians may be more than aware of damage the Russian invasion of Ukraine has wreaked at the gas pump. But while Russian exports barely register on
the economic radar for many states, South Carolina is the second largest exporter to the country by value. The Palmetto State’s Russian export industry is worth $351 million each year, according to 2021 U.S. Census data, and makes up 1.2% of all export value for the state — higher than anywhere else in the United States but still a small part of the state’s $30 billion export industry. A 162% or $17.9 million increase in state
exports to Russia last December, along with the trade of gas turbines and precious metal compounds, contributed to South Carolina’s year-over-year export value, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity. The country was the fifth largest importer of vehicles from BMW’s Plant Spartanburg in 2020, according to the company. Vehicles, aircraft parts and rubber tires See RUSSIA, Page 16
Mini ride share
Greenville to put micro cars on streets for ride-sharing initiative. Page 9
Diversified expands again
Greenville-based life science company invests in expansion. Page 7
Rebuild Upstate seeks new chief Nonprofit’s only CEO is stepping aside but not stepping away. Page 14
The U.S. Army made its first investment in Clemson’s VIPR-GS program in 2020. A ceiling of $100 million has been allocated for the autonomous vehicle program since. (Photo/Provided)
Clemson, Army move ahead on autonomous tank By Molly Hulsey
INSIDE
Leading Off........................... 2 SC Biz News Briefs................. 3 C-Suite................................. 4 In Focus: Real Estate and Construction....................... 13 LIST: HVAC contractors........ 18 At Work.............................. 20 Viewpoint............................23
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mhulsey@scbiznews.com
ome of the greatest losses over the past few wars in the U.S. have been in the supply line convoy, Sen. Lindsey Graham told an audience of engineers, politicians and soldiers. He hopes a total of $40 million from the U.S. Army piped into Clemson University’s prototype development program for autonomous combat fleets may change that.
“This project here today is going to be transformative for the Army,” Graham told those gathered for the Feb. 28 announcement at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research campus. “And it is one of the most important days in the history of Clemson University.” The U.S. government recently committed up to $100 million toward the project moving forward as the university’s Virtual Prototyping of Autonomy-enabled Grounds Systems (VIPR-GS) Research Center rolls out design-
In Focus
City-building mill villages Developers unveil plans for old plant. Page 13
to-build simulations and digital engineering technologies for the U.S. Army’s development of on- and off-road autonomous vehicles. The U.S. Army’s DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center first invested $18 million into Clemson’s program in 2020 and granted an additional $22 million Feb. 24. “We would not be here today without the visionary leadership and steadfast support of my friend, Senator Lindsey Graham, and See AUTONOMOUS, Page 10