WHEREAS, the economic well-being of South Carolina's citizens is a matter of paramount public interest, and

WHEREAS, for South Carolina to prosper in the 21st century it must become a recognized leader in attracting, creating, growing, and retaining world class technology-intensive companies, and

WHEREAS, the 1997 report Strategies for Developing a Knowledge-based Economy defined the strategic direction needed to nurture a knowledge-based economy in South Carolina, and

WHEREAS, implementing bold new strategies will require leadership, vision, and a passion for achieving sustainable results which can be accomplished only through strong partnerships involving industry, schools, institutions of higher learning, and government.

NOW, THEREFORE, I hereby call upon the South Carolina Technology Alliance, a public/private partnership sharing my vision for the future in this vital area, to develop and create South Carolina Technology Initiative 2000, a comprehensive plan addressing policy, legislation, and funding initiatives which will lead South Carolina boldly into the 21st century.

MOREOVER, South Carolina Technology Initiative 2000 should concentrate on strategies which will:

1. create new academic programs at our State's research universities to address critical shortages of technology-intensive workers for industries identified by the South Carolina Department of Commerce,
   
2. increase the length and academic content of value-added Special Schools training programs up to the associate degree level through the nationally recognized State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education,
   
3. promote technology careers, and
   
4. provide for stronger linkages between South Carolina's colleges, universities, and research institutions and the state's businesses and industries.

IN ADDITION, the report should address initiatives which will:

1. promote the growth of technology-related businesses,
   
2. stimulate research and development, and
   
3. expand the infrastructure required to support increasingly complex and sophisticated technology-based operations.

FURTHERMORE, the South Carolina Department of Commerce is hereby authorized to allocate or reallocate, to the extent possible, funds to any South Carolina research university for the purpose of creating and enhancing academic programs which address critical shortages of trained workers in technology-related fields and to the South Carolina Technical and Comprehensive Education System to support high technology Special Schools training programs.

IT IS FURTHER DIRECTED that all state agencies, public schools, and institutions of higher learning place a high priority on cooperating and providing assistance to the Alliance, and to the extent possible, state agencies may allocate or reallocate existing funds, to the extent possible, for the express purpose of enhancing or facilitating those initiatives identified by the South Carolina Technology Alliance as critical to the development of a globally competitive, knowledge-based economy for South Carolina. In addition, business, industry, and other organizations are strongly encouraged to support and assist the Alliance in this important endeavor.

South Carolina Technology Initiative 2000 should be presented to the Governor, State Senate, and House of Representatives by December 1, 1999.

This order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THIS 9th DAY OF JULY, 1999.

JIM HODGES
Governor

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 11:20 A.M.