SC names Rock Hill as a hub city where it aims to grow high-tech jobs, startups
Rock Hill is one of six cities across South Carolina chosen to grow the state’s high-tech economy as an innovation hub for start-up businesses.
The network also will include hubs in Aiken, Charleston, Columbia, Florence and Greenville. Those areas will provide spaces for collaboration, resource sharing and support for “high-potential tech companies” as they grow from ideas to businesses, according to an announcement Thursday from the South Carolina Research Authority.
The announcement doesn’t list a location for the Rock Hill innovation hub. But Winthrop University has an economic development announcement planned on Thursday afternoon with the Research Authority.
“South Carolina’s tech ecosystem is poised for significant growth, and these innovation hubs represent a strategic investment in our future,” said Research Authority Interim President and CEO Bill Kirkland.
The Research Authority is a public nonprofit that began in 1983. It provides grant funding and support for technology-based companies, startups academic programs statewide.
How the SC tech program will work
Grant funding will be available starting next month for entrepreneurial groups, business accelerators and incubators, colleges, universities and industry associations to launch the hubs.
Grants will go to those groups working with “early-state high-tech and high-growth companies” looking to accelerate their innovations.
Mentorship programs, pitch competitions, tech workshops, investor matchmaking events and specialized training programs also would be eligible for grants. Thursday’s announcement didn’t list how much money would be available through the grants.
The goal of the hubs and grants is to help companies advance ideas and technology faster, and scale their operations within South Carolina. The state has a strong foundation for innovation, Gov. Henry McMaster said in Thursday’s announcement.
“This is the next step in accelerating that momentum,” he said. “By connecting entrepreneurs with the resources they need, we will expand opportunity and keep our state competitive.”
This is a developing story.