South Carolina Business Awards, home of the Official SC 25 Fastest Growing Companies® program, is pleased to announce the recipient for the 2020 South Carolina Economic Impact Award is Milliken & Company. 

The SC Economic Impact Award, sponsored by BMW Manufacturing Co., is one of the most prestigious award recognitions that a company can receive. It recognizes companies in the Palmetto State whose activities have produced extraordinary results. This award honors companies from all regions of the state and across multiple industries for their outstanding contributions to South Carolina’s economy. BMW believes strongly in the economic investment in South Carolina that thousands of companies have made from numerous industry clusters.  Max Metcalf, Manager, Government & Community Relations BMW Manufacturing Co., states “It is an honor for BMW to sponsor The SC Economic Impact Award and recognize Milliken & Company for contributing to the growth and sustainability of our great state.” 

“I speak for our associates across South Carolina when I say it is an honor to receive the SC Economic Impact Award,” says Halsey Cook, president & CEO for Milliken & Company. “Our roots are firmly planted in the state—more than 3,000 associates from 15 locations in South Carolina come together each day to positively impact our world manufacturing a range of innovative textile, chemical, floor covering and healthcare solutions. Our commitment here inspires our geographic footprint globally, emphasizing the importance of supporting the communities in which we live and work.”

 Additionally, at the SC 25 Fastest Growing Companies® awards ceremony, four companies will be rewarded with the South Carolina Excellence in Business Awards. These companies represent the exceptional work recorded across the state of South Carolina through revenue growth, longevity of its employees, longevity of its clients/customers and community outreach. The awards program is proud to recognize and honor these well-respected companies and their executives from a variety of industries and in various forms throughout the South Carolina business community. The following companies will receive this recognition:

Excellence in Business: 

Revenue - JEAR Logistics

Philanthropy – Defender Services

Client Retention – New South Construction Supply 

Employee Retention - McMillan Pazdan Smith

The Rising Star Award recognizes a company that is establishing itself in the Palmetto State and a company to watch for its future activities. This year’s Rising Star is Palmetto Technology Group.

The SC 25 Fastest Growing Companies® Business Awards is presented by The Capital Corporation, and co-sponsored by Integrated Media Publishing (publisher of Greenville Business Magazine, Columbia Business Monthly and Charleston Business Magazine), and HUB International Carolinas.

Event details:

Tuesday, October 27th, 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM

Capital City Club: Governor’s Ballroom 1201 Main Street, Suite 2500 Columbia, SC 29201

Keynote speaker: Jim Newsome, III, President and CEO of South Carolina Ports Authority. To learn more about South Carolina Business Awards visit www.scbusinessawards.com

Methodology: Criteria for Economic Impact: The nominee should be headquartered in South Carolina and have been in operations for at least ten consecutive fiscal years with reported minimum revenues of $100 Million in the last fiscal year for judging. The nominee will exhibit its involvement in the community and its footprint in the state.

Criteria for Excellence in Business: Nominated companies must have cumulative revenue growth for the last three fiscal years plus (i) employee retention by reporting the average tenure of full-time employees as of the company’s last fiscal year, (ii) customer/client retention by reporting the average tenure of the company’s top ten customer/client as of the company’s last fiscal year. (iii) community involvement by the number of employees that participate in community philanthropic activities supported by the company in the last fiscal year.