Joining HSSC are AnMed Health, based in Anderson; McLeod Health in Florence, and Self Regional Healthcare, based in Greenwood.

These organizations join existing members Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center, Palmetto Health, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina, and the University of South Carolina.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome these new partners,” says Jay Moskowitz, HSSC president and CEO. “By contributing their expertise and resources to our efforts, they will add even more strength to HSSC’s drive to improve public health and economic well being in South Carolina through better health care and health research.”

“At AnMed Health, a core part of our mission is to take proactive steps toward optimizing the health of our patients, staff, and community,” says John A. Miller, CEO of AnMed Health. “We have a long-standing commitment to this core value, and as a result we view our new relationship with HSSC as tremendous positive. This new partnership matches our strategic and organizational goals as it relates to research, patient care and quality.”

“This new partnership also aligns with AnMed Health’s belief that collaboration among institutions will be critical to facing the challenging and changing environment we see not only in health care, but across a broad spectrum of arenas in South Carolina,” Miller said. “We are excited to join in the efforts of Health Sciences South Carolina, and we look forward to contributing to the building of a stronger and healthier state.”

“Health Sciences South Carolina is truly to be applauded for their progress,” said Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence. “As the nation’s first statewide biomedical-research collaborative, they are continuing to improve the lives of all South Carolinians.”

“The selection of McLeod Health into this group of research universities and major health care systems is further proof that McLeod continues to produce first-class medical services and professionals. I have no doubt McLeod Health will be a pivotal player in this collaborative, as they seek to further study disease treatment and prevention,” Leatherman said.

“The mission of Self Regional Healthcare is to bring advanced health care closer to home, so affiliating with HSSC and its statewide biomedical research collaborative is another step in this direction,” said James A. Pfeiffer, president and CEO of Self Regional Healthcare. “Our focus on quality care and continuous improvement in patient and employee satisfaction has earned our hospital recognition at the state, national and even global level.”

“Joining forces with HSSC compliments these efforts and places us in the forefront of major efforts to expand information technology for the betterment of our patients. HSSC is also involved in clinical trials networks for cancer trials and other cutting edge advances in medicine,”Pfeiffer said. “Further, the collaboration is actively working on research to improve the quality of rural healthcare and reduction in healthcare associated infections. We see these benefits as an asset to the Greenwood area.”

South Carolina is the only state in the nation in which all major research universities and six teaching hospital systems have joined forces to improve the quality of healthcare. Among its many activities, HSSC is leading efforts to provide better education and training for the state’s health care workforce, to develop a statewide strategic plan for e-health, and to develop a statewide health information technology infrastructure to support research and advanced patient care.

Established in April 2004, Health Sciences South Carolina is a statewide public-private collaborative of research-intensive universities and major health systems possessing the shared vision of using health sciences research to improve the health, healthcare and economic well being of South Carolina. HSSC includes Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina, the University of South Carolina, Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center, Palmetto Health, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, McLeod Health, Self Regional Healthcare and AnMed Health.

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“Demand for our products is constantly growing, and this new facility will give our company a broader reach as we seek to increase our market share. We are pleased to locate our new production facility in Greenwood. South Carolina offers us an excellent business environment and we look forward to starting up our operations there. We appreciate all the support we have received from state and local officials,” said Paul Appelblom, CEO and chairman of Jatco Incorporated.

Jatco Incorporated will establish its East Coast production facility in Greenwood, S.C. The company is moving into an existing facility at 210 Bond Avenue, and will be renovating and upfitting the facility in the coming weeks. The company expects to begin production at the facility in the fourth quarter of this year.

“South Carolina continues to be an attractive location for companies looking to expand their market reach to customers along the East Coast and the growing Southeast region. Jatco’s decision to locate its new manufacturing facility in Greenwood is another indication that our state’s exceptional market access, coupled with a business-friendly climate and skilled workforce, is working to attract new investment and job opportunities for South Carolinians. We welcome Jatco to South Carolina’s business community and wish the company much success in its endeavors here,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Jatco to the Greenwood business community. This decision is the result of teamwork at the local and state level between the Greenwood Partnership Alliance, Greenwood County, and the South Carolina Department of Commerce. This project has been in the works for quite some time, with many people in each organization involved. This is also a good example of how a lead from an existing company can develop into a new business locating in the county,” said Mark Warner, CEO of Greenwood Partnership Alliance.

John W. Pillman, president of VELUX Greenwood, said, “Jatco has been a valued supplier to our company for the past eight years. We have been very happy with their product quality and their willingness and ability to support us as we have developed new designs. With their expansion to this new facility in town, our delivery of products and ease of communication will be greatly enhanced, allowing us to build on our already strong relationship.”

The company plans to begin hiring for the new positions in mid-December. Employment information will be posted through the South Carolina One-Stop Workforce Center at a later date.

Jatco Incorporated, based in Union City, Calif., is a full service plastic molding, product manufacturing and distribution company with more than three decades of experience. The company’s customers come from a wide range of industries, from printing to the medical sector. For more information about the company, please visit www.jatco.com.

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Clemson University has received a $2 million pledge from a private foundation to help fund an endowed chair in human genetics. But, it comes with a challenge: University officials and state leaders will have to work together to address the needed state match requirement in order to receive the gift.

The Self Family Foundation envisions the Greenwood area as a genetic economic cluster, offering businesses genetics expertise, skilled research personnel and research park resources. The goal is to develop Greenwood Genetics Center as a magnet campus that will attract health-related industries with an education and research component similar to CU-ICAR in Greenville.

“Clemson’s relationship with the internationally recognized Greenwood Genetic Center presents an excellent opportunity to attract a prominent geneticist-scientist in human genetics to fill an endowed position,” said Virginia Preston Self, foundation chair. “Over the years we have seen Clemson transform into one of the nation’s leading research universities and are excited about the economic impact our ties with the university and this investment could have on Greenwood and South Carolina.

“It was my late father, Jim Self, who understood the enormous potential of genetics research that led him to help Dr. Roger Stevenson establish the Greenwood Genetics Center over 35 years ago. We hope our pledge will help realize his dream of diversifying Greenwood’s economy and forging an ever stronger relationship between two institutions he deeply cared for.”

Clemson University and the Greenwood Genetic Center are long-time partners in research, education and economic development. Grateful for the gift pledge and vote of confidence, Clemson President Jim Barker said, “The Center of Economic Excellence in Human Genetics has tremendous potential to further that collaboration, to create life-changing new tools and therapies, and to improve the economy of Greenwood.

“Clemson University’s ties to the Greenwood community go back many years, and they are very deep. Some of our university’s strongest leaders have come from Greenwood and from the Self family. This is a proud legacy and an important responsibility for us both.”
“The partnership between the Greenwood Genetic Center, Clemson University and the Greenwood Partnership Alliance presents a unique opportunity. This collaboration combines resources and capabilities in human genetics education, research, health service and community outreach. It is poised to become a major economic development engine in our region by providing knowledge-based, high-wage jobs at the Greenwood Genetic Center campus and the Greenwood Research Park,” said Mark Warner, CEO of the Greenwood Partnership Alliance.

Transforming the challenge into reality will require Clemson and Greenwood leaders to work with state officials to meet funding goals for the endowed chair and for a major construction project.

South Carolina’s Research Centers of Economic Excellence Program helps fund endowed chairs at the state’s research universities. The program in the past has provided a $30 million annual public contribution from state lottery funds to help state universities recruit top scientists and develop Centers of Economic Excellence that focus on cutting-edge research and economic development.

The state dollar-for-dollar match for funding endowed chairs has been suspended because of revenue shortfalls. As the South Carolina economy rebounds in the next year or so, Clemson will work to make a case to state leaders to renew investment in the Centers of Economic Excellence.

University leaders also will seek state support through the South Carolina Research University Infrastructure Act to build a graduate education center on the Greenwood Genetic Center campus.

Clemson University, the Greenwood Genetic Center and the Partnership Alliance are investing in the joint effort through an ambitious fundraising campaign to meet matching-fund requirements.

“The prospects for improved health, as well as for economic development in South Carolina, are extraordinary,” said John Kelly, university vice president for economic development and public service. “This initiative will strengthen the appeal of Upstate South Carolina for genetics-related companies.”

The Greenwood Genetic Center is a nonprofit institute, organized to provide clinical genetic services and laboratory testing, to develop educational programs and materials, and to conduct research in the field of medical genetics. Each year more than 20,000 families from throughout South Carolina and the Southeast receive clinical, laboratory diagnostic and counseling services through the center’s clinical and laboratory operations.

The Center works closely with the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs to provide diagnostic services, treatment and prevention programs to reduce the risk and severity of disabling conditions.

“We are determined to break new ground in clinical service, laboratory and diagnostic testing, educational programs and research and we intend to lead the way into the 21st century with hope for every family at risk of genetic disease,” said Dr. Roger Stevenson, center director.

The Greenwood Genetic Center maintains its own research division: the JC Self Research Institute of Human Genetics. Opening in 1996, the institute is a state and national resource where scientists seek a greater understanding of the causes, treatment and prevention of birth defects and intellectual disability. In addition to the center’s own research initiatives, these scientists serve as adjunct faculty for Clemson’s Ph.D. program in human genetics. The continued collaboration between the center’s inherent research division and the center of economic excellence will increase the impact of both programs.

In 1999, the Partnership Alliance and Greenwood-area legislative delegation helped secure a $3.5 million grant from the General Assembly to establish the South Carolina Biotechnology Incubation Facility, a 22,000-square-foot west wing addition to the Self Research Institute.

About 8,000 square-feet of the facility is used for laboratory modules and related office space, available for start-up companies developing commercial applications for life sciences products and processes. The building also includes a library, conference facility and space for central services and other support activities. Economically viable projects are encouraged to grow into separate operations in the surrounding Biotechnology Park. This experience provides a model for the potential of the center of economic excellence made possible by the Self Family Foundation’s commitment.

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“Having the ability to check one’s work during surgery is critical,” said Dr. Michael Kilburn, a neurosurgeon with Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Center. He along with fellow neurosurgeons Dr. Sumeer Lal and Dr. Gregory McLoughlin will be using the advanced technology in their practice, which has been ranked in the top five percent in the United States by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization, for the past two years.

“The patient images and data available to me in this new operating suite will enable me and my associates to make timely and informed decisions,” Dr. Kilburn noted. “This can minimize complications and help confirm placement of pedicle screws and spiral implants that my associate, Dr. Lal, performs. Cervical procedures are also greatly enhanced, especially operations done in the back of the patient’s neck where placement of instruments is critical.”

BrainSUITE iCT is a digitally integrated operating room (OR) solution that combines VectorVision® sky surgical navigation with a multi-slice intra-operative computed tomography scanner (iCT) and comprehensive OR data management. The CT travels on rails over the OR table, providing high quality intra-operative scanning without waking the patient from anesthesia.

Using Automatic Image Registration from BrainLAB, the scanner will enable seamless surgical navigation for surgeons through instant registration of images without the need for fiducial markers or landmark recognition, a key time-saving feature for surgeons.

“Where otherwise post-operative imaging would be relied upon, intra-operative information allows us to ensure that a complete surgical outcome has been achieved prior to the patient leaving the OR,” Dr. Kilburn said. “The integrated navigation system links real-time, intra-operative images with the spatial position of the surgical instruments. This is a key technology that supports a higher level of accuracy, making surgery more precise and safer for the patient.”

The new technology also incorporates BrainSUITE NET, digital data management system. With this system, patient data from the hospital’s Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) can be accessed by surgeons or staff in the operating room.

The introduction of the iCT BrainSUITE, along with the opening this fall of the South Carolina Spine Center and its comprehensive patient services, is expected to enhance and expand spine care at Self Regional Healthcare, which already treats patients from across the state and Southeast.

Dr. McLoughlin, a neurosurgeon completing his spinal fellowship training at Johns Hopkins, will be joining the practice in October. He already has considerable experience with BrainLab iCT.

For more information about Self Regional’s new BrainSUITE or the South Carolina Spine Center, call (864) 725-7272 or e-mail: scspinecenter@selfregional.org. The center’s web site is www.scspinecenter.org.

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Beginning with the 2010-11 school year, the mobile science laboratory will be available to travel to high schools across South Carolina to provide laboratory-based activities and instruction facilitated by employees of the Greenwood Genetic Center. This opportunity is provided at no cost to the school.

“We are so thrilled to be able to provide this genetics laboratory experience to students all across South Carolina,” said Leta Tribble, PhD, Director of Education at the Center. “Genetics and biotechnology are rapidly growing fields of study. With this mobile laboratory, we can provide the opportunity to students in our state to have first-hand exposure to the vast technologies used in the medical genetics arena.”

The Greenwood Genetic Center was awarded a grant from the National Human Genome Research Institute in 2009 which allowed the Center to acquire the mobile science laboratory. This grant also provided funding to convert existing space on the Greenwood campus into a Genetic Education Center. This refurbished space, which has been in use since May, provides a dedicated site for visiting groups to attend lectures as well as participate in laboratory and computer-based genetics activities.

Teachers who schedule a mobile laboratory visit or bring their students for a tour of the Greenwood campus will be able to select from multiple laboratory modules or ‘cases’ for their students to complete. Each module includes a real-world scenario, laboratory techniques and genetic testing activities as well as consideration of ethical implications. Students will also be exposed to various career opportunities in the biotechnology and genetics fields. Educators can schedule a visit from the mobile laboratory or a tour of the Greenwood campus by contacting Dr. Tribble at (864) 943-4170 or toll free at (888)442-4363. Additional information is also available at www.ggc.org. The mobile laboratory is also available to exhibit at educational conferences and meetings.

About Greenwood Genetic Center

The Greenwood Genetic Center is a nonprofit institute, organized to provide clinical genetic services and laboratory testing, to develop educational programs and materials, and to conduct research in the field of medical genetics. The Center focuses on identifying the causes of birth defects and intellectual disabilities with a special interest in X-linked intellectual disabilities. The Greenwood Genetic Center also operates South Carolina’s only postgraduate Medical Genetics training program and is one of 43 accredited programs in the nation to offer training in four or more specialty areas. The Greenwood Genetic Center has clinical offices in Greenville, Columbia, Florence and Charleston in addition to the main campus in Greenwood. For more information, visit www.ggc.org.

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Bringing in new businesses and helping previously established businesses.

In economic development, that’s the name of the game.

In Greenwood, Bill Demuth is looking to bolster both aspects.

Demuth recently joined Greenwood economic development firm Partnership Alliance as the organization’s director of new business. Demuth joins Partnership after a long stint working in economic development in Iowa.

Demuth said he will have a number of roles with Partnership.

“My role here in Greenwood County is to recruit business to the area, but at the same time never lose sight of what is already here,” Demuth said. “It is a lot easier to keep someone than recruit someone. When I refer to recruiting, it’s not just me doing the recruiting. It’s the Partnership Alliance, it’s the community and it’s the county. All of those that are here, because that is what gets evaluated.”

Demuth has been in economic development for about 21 years. He is a native of Iowa and said he “grew up on a farm.” He worked at the Iowa Department of Economic Development from 1989 until he recently joined the Partnership.

When working with the Iowa firm, his role was in project management and he often worked with existing industries, recruited companies from across the nation and also worked on insurance development initiatives, among other tasks.

Demuth said his role in Iowa will translate well to his new job in Greenwood.

“I saw (Partnership) wasn’t looking for someone to run the organization, they were looking for someone to do the business recruitment and work with existing business,” he said. “I’m very comfortable in that role.”

Demuth said, as he was investigating a move to Greenwood, he was impressed with the county’s industrial growth, population growth and proximity to mountains and oceans. He said he also was greatly impressed with the Greenwood Genetic Center and its campus, as well as the local medical community.

“I said to myself in the beginning, ‘I’m not going to go someplace that I know I can’t either turn it around or sell it,’” Demuth said.

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“Project Lead the Way meshes with the goals of the Education and Economic Development Act (EEDA) of 2005,” said Sandy Warner, department head for engineering technology. “Piedmont Tech was the first technical college in South Carolina to be involved in this project.”

The law calls for the creation of clusters in schools to provide a well-rounded education for students by fostering artistic creativity, critical thinking, and self-discipline through the teaching of academic content, knowledge and skills that students will use in the workplace, further education and life.

The certification process begins as a self assessment, says Warner. This process requires schools to demonstrate they meet PLTW’s quality standards in professional development of teachers and counselors; the implementation of curriculum using required equipment and software; the formation of a Partnership Team, and demonstrate fulfillment of several additional aspects of the PLTW program. Then the program is evaluated by a team of experts.

“The self assessment gives us the opportunity to examine what we are doing and look at ways we can improve our program, not just for Project Lead the Way, but for the students enrolled in the engineering technology program at Piedmont Tech,” Warner said.

The primary purposes of the PLTW Certification Program are to recognize schools which have successfully initiated the PLTW program and to provide an opportunity for students to apply for college credit for selected PLTW courses.

“Piedmont Tech has always been a great supporter of Project Lead the Way,” said B.T. Martin, South Carolina state leader for PLTW. “They have shown an outstanding effort in supporting secondary PLTW programs in the region by forming a Memorandum of Understanding with many area high schools.”

For more information about Project Lead the Way, contact Warner at (864) 941-8466 or warner.s@ptc.edu.

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Fujifilm inkjet photo paper will be produced for use with Fujifilm’s Frontier Dry Inkjet Minilabs as well as its wide format inkjet printer solutions for retail customers. Fujifilm’s inkjet photo paper achieves vivid colors, high black density and pure whites. In addition, it delivers excellent image clarity enabling the highest quality prints with outstanding glossiness and sharpness.

“The Greenwood factory began manufacturing operations in South Carolina in 1988. Now Fujifilm is leading the way in digital print systems and is investing an additional $25 million to produce this new line of high quality inkjet paper,” said Shinji Kataoka, President, FUJIFILM Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc. “We are pleased that the company can accommodate this product expansion right here in Greenwood and continue to grow as a strong member of the local business community.”

The Science of Manufacturing at Fujifilm
The inkjet photo manufacturing process employs Fujifilm’s decades of technical advances in materials science and precision thin-layer film coating manufacturing, a technically demanding process discipline. Over the last seven decades, Fujifilm has invested billions of dollars in research and development to create superior coating technology – giving the company a competitive edge in the creation of high performance films, photo papers, and data tape storage media, among other high-growth products areas.

The recent introduction of inkjet photo paper by Fujifilm represents the latest application of this advanced manufacturing technique. Just as traditional silver-halide photography paper utilized color sensitive photochemical layers, Fujifilm engineers have applied this knowledge to inkjet printer photo paper – applying more layers to create more saturated, rich colors.

About FUJIFILM
FUJIFILM Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc. began manufacturing operations in South Carolina in 1988. The Greenwood manufacturing complex is currently comprised of five high technology manufacturing plants, the Greenwood Research Laboratories, and the largest Fujifilm distribution center in the world. The 500-acre complex is home to manufacturing for ink jet photo paper, digital and conventional pre-sensitized printing plates, QuickSnap one-time-use recyclable cameras, and color photographic paper. For more information, please visit www.fujifilm.com/northamerica, or go to www.twitter.com/fujifilmus to follow Fujifilm on Twitter. To receive news and information direct from Fujifilm via RSS, subscribe at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss.

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including electronic imaging, digital printing equipment, medical systems, life sciences, graphic arts, flat panel display materials, and office products, based on a vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. The company was among the top 20 companies around the world granted U.S. patents in 2009, and in the year ended March 31, 2010, had global revenues of $23.5 billion*. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmholdings.com.

* At an exchange rate of 93 yen to the dollar.

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Raising $4.5 million in five years — a lofty goal, particularly in this economy.

However, that is the goal Greenwood economic development firm Partnership Alliance has set for itself as it officially embarks on its Partnership for Tomorrow capital campaign. Partnership is looking to raise the $4.5 million by 2015 and put it toward five strategic economic development initiatives.

The Partnership for Tomorrow campaign had its official kickoff Tuesday afternoon on the campus of the Greenwood Genetic Center. The event featured speeches from Partnership CEO Mark Warner, Partnership board chairman R. Thornwell Dunlap III and Clemson University vice president of research and economic development Christian Przirembel, along with a taped address from Clemson president James Barker.

Numerous elected and public officials attended the conference.
The five initiatives Partnership seeks to address over the course of the capital campaign include:

- Business retention and expansion — Partnership would be the preferred partner for existing businesses and employers to create wealth and recruit and retain talent. The five-year investment would be $100,000.

- New business recruitment — Partnership would execute a recruiting strategy to capitalize on the strength of the Greenwood community, with a five-year goal of creating 1,000 jobs and $400 million in capital investments. The five-year investment would be $1,012,500.

- Talent recruitment and retention — Under this goal, Partnership would be the “collaborative focus point” between the local education community and Greenwood County employers. Efforts would be made to develop education and training systems that would support employers in Greenwood County.

The five-year investment would be $850,000.

- Community development — The focal point of this goal would be to continue to develop communities and neighborhoods in Greenwood that would provide entertainment, shopping, quality health care and quality education, along with attracting young professionals and retirees.

The five year investment would be $500,000.

- Greenwood Genetic Center — Partnership would partner with the Greenwood Genetic Center, the Genetic Endowment of South Carolina and Clemson University to develop and market the Greenwood Research park as the top location in North America for bio-science research, treatment and commerce. The five-year investment would be a minimum of $2 million.

The Partnership for Tomorrow campaign has received $1.28 million in pledges to date.

“We named the campaign the ‘Partnership for Tomorrow: An Innovative Past and a Bold Future’ because we wanted to honor the efforts that have been made over the years by people — a lot of whom are sitting in this room (Tuesday) — to get us where we are,” Warner said. “We also recognize, in these economic times, we are going to have to make some bold moves and be strong and innovative to win the economic development game in the future.”

In his videotaped address, Barker said Clemson is pleased to be a part of the campaign.

“Clemson University is proud to be a part of this economic and community development effort,” Barker said. “It’s compatible with the very essence of Clemson’s heritage and our mission as a public research university. Our founder, Thomas Green Clemson, envisioned a high seminary of learning, where intellectual development and economic development would go hand in hand. Today, this 19th century dream is a 21st century reality.

“The entire state of South Carolina is our campus and it always has been.”

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The company was recognized during a luncheon Friday at the Heyward Career Center in Columbia.

Fujifilm was cited for demonstrating its commitment to hiring people with disabilities at its Greenwood manufacturing plant.

“Fujifilm’s willingness to provide employment opportunities to these deserving citizens of our state is commendable and worthy of special recognition,” said Marjorie Butler, chairwoman of the S.C. Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. “This award is an indication of Fujifilm’s appreciation of the abilities and contributions that individuals with disabilities bring to the work world.”

Fujifilm was nominated by the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department. The Greenwood center often sends applicants to Fujifilm for interviews and, as a result, many qualified candidates have been hired.

“Fujifilm has been an exemplary partner for vocational rehabilitation,” said Barbara G. Hollis, commissioner of the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department. “Our focus is getting good jobs for qualified people with disabilities, and Fujifilm has embraced our Skilled Workforce Apprenticeship Training program, which has resulted in excellent jobs for our clients.”

Fujifilm’s human resource and organizational effectiveness manager Jean Berrien said the corporation was pleased to receive such an honor.

“We are very proud and honored to be recognized by the S.C. Governor’s Committee as well as the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department,” Berrien said. “While it is Fujifilm’s strictly followed policy to seek out qualified people according to EEO guidelines and regulations, in these times, it is a wonderful feeling to be able to provide jobs to people who also face additional life challenges.”

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