SC CHamber Response on Port Restructuring

On Feb. 18, the South Carolina Senate passed S.351, legislation to restructure the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA). The legislation restructures the port’s board of directors and establishes long-term strategic planning.

The South Carolina Chamber opposed the inclusion of the creation of a port advisory board, and the Senate removed that portion from the legislation. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives.

South Carolina Chamber Response
The following response may be attributed to Otis B. Rawl Jr., President and CEO of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce thanks Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell, Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, and Senators Larry Grooms and Nikki Setzler for their leadership on moving the port restructuring bill forward this week. We thank them for their willingness to work with the business community to ensure the port continues to be one of the primary economic development engines for South Carolina and serves as a port of entry for South Carolina businesses operating in global markets.

The South Carolina Chamber believes the state must continue to move forward on expansion of the Charleston and Jasper ports and stabilize the current structure for the SCSPA board of directors. S.351 accomplishes both of these items. The Chamber encourages the House of Representatives to act swiftly for passage of the legislation.

Search Committee to Find New President & CEO for S.C. State Ports Authority

House Speaker Bobby Harrell issued the following statement about the search for a new President and CEO for the State Ports Authority:

“Last week Bill Stern was selected to serve as chair of a search committee to find a new president and CEO for the State Ports Authority. My confidence in Bill Stern was confirmed today when I saw the quality of the people he has named to serve on the search committee.

“He selected a group of top leaders in business, industry and government with impeccable credentials to serve, including two former Ambassadors, Bob Royall and David Wilkins, who is also a former Speaker of the House. The high caliber of the people serving on the search committee underscores the importance of the search.

“Our port system is a tremendously valuable resource for economic development. It is the heart beat of commerce in South Carolina and our state’s gateway to the global marketplace. That’s why finding the right person to lead the Ports Authority is so very important.

“Bill Stern is a great choice to chair the search effort. I am confident he and his committee will find the best qualified person in the nation to fill this important job.”