Grant benefits South Carolina's rural manufacturers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Rural Develoment has awarded the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP) a $185,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant to assist small and minority manufacturers in South Carolina's rural areas. The one-year grant will facilitate development of small and emerging private business enterprises through October 2005.

Grant funds will be used by SCMEP to provide technical assistance to 10 South Carolina business. Services to be provided include:

• Performance of Competitiveness Reviews™, which are baseline assessments of facilities;
• Implementation of key improvements defined by Competitiveness Reviews;
• ISO/QS certification and implementation assistance;
• Lean manufacturing training and implementation;
• Plant and assembly layouts;
• Business plan assistance;
• Marketing plan assistance; and
• Financial evaluations.

The companies that will benefit from the grant are Aerostar, Hanahan, S.C.; J&F Manufacturing Inc., Conway, S.C.; J&J Services, Simpsonville, S.C., JBE Inc., Hartsville, S.C.; J.I.T. Manufacturing, Inc., Cowpens, S.C.; Oconee Machine and Tool Co. Inc., Westminster, S.C.; Precision CNC Manufacturing Inc., Duncan, S.C.; Precision Metal Finishing LLC, Abbeville, S.C.; SkR Inc., Summerville, S.C.; and Tanner Bananer, Johns Island, S.C.