County Official Visits Japan on Economic Development Mission

One of Dorchester County's largest manufacturers received a visit from a county elected official earlier this month at their headquarters in Japan.

Dorchester County Council Chair Larry Hargett met with Showa Denko executives and with other Japanese exucutives looking to relocate to the area. The trip was funded through the county's economic development and Charleston Regional Development Alliance. 

Showa Denko recently expanded its presence in Dorchester County, and County Council approved incentives for that expansion.

It was the first time in its 30-year presence in the county that Showa Denko received a visitor from the county. 

"They really liked that," Hargett said. "They already know us, so it was strong on information about their company."

Hargett made the trip with SEUS-Japan, also called The Japan-U.S. Southeast Association, which promotes trade between Japan and southeastern states like South Carolina. Gov. Nikki Haley was on the trip.

Visiting an existing company in its home country was just one of many steps the county is taking to help support existing industry here, Dorchester County Economic Development Director Jon Baggett said. 

"We've tried to do more outreach at the corporate level," he said. This included training more than 100 plantworkers in CPR and disaster-readiness training, he added.

But the trip was also about recruiting new business too, though Hargett and Baggett did not have any details on companies interested in relocated to the county.

"It's a longterm thing," Hargett said.