Free Trade: BMW Guiding Principle

(BMW Photo)

President Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada took effect Tuesday, with Mexico's president saying his country would retaliate with a range of moves to be announced Sunday, The Wall street Journal reported.

Canada responded with plans to impose 25 percent tariffs on about $100 billion of U.S. imports and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Trump is acting in "bad faith," The Journal reported.

In the Upstate, BMW’s Plant Spartanburg receives parts from suppliers in Mexico. 

Regarding tariffs, Nathalie Bauters, head of Corporate Communications, BMW Manufacturing, said, “Free trade, which has always been a guiding principle for the BMW Group, is of immense importance worldwide. It is one of the most crucial drivers of growth and progress.”

Bauters added, “Tariffs, on the other hand, hinder free trade, slow down innovation, and set a negative spiral in motion. In the end, they are detrimental to customers, making products more expensive and less innovative.”

BMW Manufacturing employs 11,000 people at its eight million-square-foot Spartanburg campus.

The plant assembles the BMW X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, and XM Sports Activity Vehicles and Coupes and their variants.    

BMW Group announced on June 23, 1992, that it would build its first full assembly facility outside of Germany in South Carolina. 

Now over three decades later, the BMW Group has invested nearly $13.3 billion, and the plant has gone through six major expansions. 

The seventh major expansion was announced Oct. 19, 2022- a $1.7 billion investment to prepare the plant for the assembly of electric vehicles and to build a high-voltage battery assembly plant in Woodruff, SC. 

BE&K | Hitt Joint Venture Selected For Construction Of Boeing SC’s Site Expansion

Boeing South Carolina's expansion project in Charleston County has been awarded to the joint venture team of BE&K | HITT. 

HITT Contracting, a top national commercial construction firm with offices in 14 U.S. markets, including Charleston, and BE&K Building Group, a leading national design-build and construction management firm specializing in aviation and aerospace construction, are partnering to deliver the infrastructure upgrade that is part of Boeing's recently announced $1 billion expansion investment at its North Charleston campuses.

"HITT is proud to partner with BE&K and Boeing on this transformative expansion in Charleston," said HITT Co-President Evan Antonides. "This investment reinforces Boeing's commitment to growth in South Carolina, and we're honored to help bring their vision to life."

"We are honored that Boeing has once again entrusted BE&K to continue supporting their vision and goals through this significant expansion at their North Charleston campus," said Frank Holley, CEO of BE&K. "We look forward to a successful collaboration with HITT and Boeing and the positive impacts this project will bring to the surrounding community and Boeing's customers around the world."

BE&K | HITT will serve as the construction manager for the project, with BRPH as the architect of record.

Construction is slated to begin later this year, with completion expected in 2027.

HITT Contracting provides a range of commercial construction services across the nation, including complex core and shell buildings, renovations, interior fit-outs, and routine service work.

With 2024 projected revenues of $8.4 billion and nearly 1,900 team members across 14 office locations and jobsites nationwide, HITT is ranked among the top 20 largest general contractors in the U.S.

BE&K Building Group is an integrated construction services company offering a comprehensive range of services, including preconstruction, design-build, construction management, and program management, with offices in the Carolinas, Texas, and Illinois. 

SCRA Announces New Member Companies, Grant Funding

LCIX, Matty AI, and SE.ai were accepted as South Carolina Research Authority member companies.

Agricarbon US, Bio Streamline, Blotting Innovations, Green Cape Health, and Lumiq received new grant funding.

All SCRA member companies receive coaching and access to SCRA’s Member Benefits and Startup Resources, can apply for grant funding, and have the potential to be considered for investment from SCRA’s investment affiliate, SC Launch Inc.

Agricarbon US Inc. received a $50,000 Relocation Grant.

SCRA partnered with the South Carolina Department of Commerce and Anderson County Economic Development in recruiting and supporting Agricarbon to establish its U.S. headquarters in Piedmont, SC.

Agricarbon samples agricultural soil and natural landscapes and measures the carbon content to verify carbon dioxide removals from the atmosphere.

Bio Streamline LLC received a $25,000 Academic Startup Grant. The Clemson University-based life science startup is commercializing a model to accurately measure and assess the quality of donor allografts for transplants.

Blotting Innovations Inc. received a $50,000 federal matching grant. The Central-based life science startup is developing solutions for high-throughput and affordable Western Blotting. Its 96-well Western Blot product makes high-efficiency and precise protein analysis accessible for improved blood or tissue laboratory testing.

Green Cape Health Inc. received a $25,000 Project Development Fund Grant. The Greenville-based life science startup has developed a product called the RheumApp, which is the first patient-reported outcomes platform built for rheumatology.

RheumApp allows providers to better care for patients suffering from severe chronic diseases by integrating patient-reported symptom data into clinical care and decision-making.

Lumiq Inc. received a $50,000 Acceleration Grant. The Charleston-based information technology startup’s product, LightMap, displays and uses colored lights to project real-time information about the world around you within printed artwork, including airport weather, city traffic, boating conditions, and more.

LCIX LLC has been accepted as an SCRA member company. The Mt. Pleasant-based information technology startup has developed a platform that uses advanced AI and machine learning algorithms, enabling authors and publishers to interact with and manage content in unprecedented ways, ensuring each piece of work is tailored to its intended audience with precision and intelligence.

Matty AI Inc. has been accepted as an SCRA member company. The Greenville-based information technology startup has developed a B2B AI-powered investment platform delivered as a software development kit, enabling businesses to offer personalized financial growth solutions to their clients.

The platform enables companies to integrate a unique, AI-driven investment experience that builds personalized portfolios based on real-time data, including social media behaviors, financial patterns, and users.

SE.ai Inc. has been accepted as an SCRA member company. The Greenville-based information technology startup leverages AI to streamline FDA 510(k) approvals, cutting costs and time while increasing submission success rates. SE.ai empowers medical technology innovators to fast-track regulatory approval with confidence.

Grant funding is made possible, in part, by SCRA’s tax credit program, the Industry Partnership Fund.

Contributors to the IPF receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit.

Columbia International Festival Celebrates 30th Year April 5-6th

The 2025 Columbia International Festival will return to the South Carolina State Fairgrounds on April 5 and 6.

This year, the festival will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Officials said it will offer free parking and uphold the tradition of honoring South Carolina's rich and diverse cultural heritage.

"As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, the Columbia International Festival will be even better, showcasing a wider variety of delicious cuisines, dance, fashion, and gifts from different countries," said Raj Aluri, director of CIF, a nonprofit organization. "More than 100 countries will be represented in our National Exhibits."

Tickets can be purchased online at cifonline.org and through Cola Daily Tickets, which offers a $3 discount off box office prices until April 1st.

"One of the festival's signature events, the Parade of Nations, will present a fantastic spectacle in the Cantey Building on Saturday, April 5, at 2 p.m. After this, the Adult International Fashion Show, featuring vibrant designs, will take place at 4 p.m. on Saturday, while the Children's Fashion Show is planned for Sunday at 4 p.m.," Aluri said.  

Since 2025 marks the festival's 30th year, officials said the emphasis will be on celebrating three decades of bringing the many cultures that call South Carolina home under one roof.

Aluri mentioned that over 20 vendors will prepare and serve dishes from various cultures. The festival emphasizes sustainability, and the International Food Court utilizes eco-friendly packaging.

This year's festival hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, and from noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 6. 

Box Office Ticket Prices:    

$10 per adult admission 

$7 per teen (ages 13-19) 

FREE for children under 13.

Active-duty military personnel and families of Title I school students can find promotional codes for complimentary tickets at www.CIFonline.org

For the safety of all guests, only clear bags will be allowed. Most purchases at the festival are cash only.

Go to cifonline.org for complete festival details.

The Columbia International Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and promoting the diversity of the South Carolina Midlands.   

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