News and Notes

In December I was asked to lead the City of Charleston’s new Office of Business Development while remaining the Director of the Charleston Digital Corridor. I accepted, knowing that my new role would provide those of us in the knowledge economy and our professional resource partners more business opportunities, thus supporting the long-term viability of our community.

Business License Fee Reimbursement

In an effort to further the growth and development of Charleston’s knowledge economy, the Digital Corridor Foundation Board has agreed to reimburse business license fees for start-up businesses in the areas of computer software, life sciences and medical devices for a period of up to two years.

iFive:k

Please join us for the third annual Innovator’s 5 K run / walk / shuffle on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 6:30 PM. As in the past, the iFive:k will start and finish at the Charleston Maritime Center on the Harbor. The race will wind through historic downtown Charleston and finish with a post-race celebration at the Charleston Maritime Center. Please click here to register.

Again, a portion of the race proceeds will be donated in the form of a scholarship to a Burke High School student seeking higher education in a technology related field.

The "Flagship"

While a lot of communities have hunkered down to ride out this economy, the city of Charleston has decided to invest in the development of a business accelerator. Affectionately referred to as the 'Flagship', this discriminating business destination is broadly designed to support knowledge based business formation while serving as the venue for the Digital Corridor’s programming. If you are interested in learning more about the space, please contact us. Look for an official announcement regarding the opening and details for a party later this summer.

InnoVenture Southeast 2009

The sixth annual InnoVenture conference will take place on March 24, 2009 at the Carolina First Center in Greenville, SC. InnoVenture will host several hundred of the most talented, connected people creating what’s next. In addition to the Innovation Hall filled with dozens of exhibits by major corporations and universities, and fifteen entrepreneurs making elevator pitches, InnoVenture also features an awesome line-up of global thought leaders. Please visit www.swampfox.ws for more information.

New Member Companies

The Digital Corridor welcomes four new companies to its distinguished list of members -- First String Research, Solute, Surya Biofertilizers, and Sync Creative.

First String Research is a biotech company focused on developing peptide-based therapies for wound healing, reduced scarring and tissue regeneration.

Solute specializes in program management, systems engineering, business process engineering, and software engineering, bringing subject matter expertise, operational knowledge and technical excellence to numerous clients throughout the Department of Defense.

Surya Biofertilizers offers proven, broad spectrum, natural biofertilizers to the U.S. agriculture, turf, nursery, commercial landscaping and land reclamation industries. An alternative to synthetic fertilizers, Surya’s products have been successfully in use across the globe for over 14 years.

Sync is a creative agency that has been producing market-leading creative solutions for over 12 years. Sync develops campaigns for its clients that utilize a variety of advertising mediums from interactive, to print, packaging, broadcast and social media.

Thank You

Finally, thank you for your continued support of the Charleston Digital Corridor. Our success is a reflection of the terrific civic engagement and collaboration we have received from you. Continued Success!

Sincerely,

Ernest Andrade, Director
Charleston Digital Corridor
392 A Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29403
USA