Nominations Being Accepted for Manufacturing Excellence Award

CONTACT: NEIL LARK, EXT. 2208

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1/11/2002

PENDLETON --- The State Technical College System will honor outstanding small, medium and large manufacturers in South Carolina this year with the first annual South Carolina Silver Crescent for Manufacturing Excellence Award.

The award will be presented May 8 in conjunction with the Automated Manufacturing Exposition show at the Palmetto Exposition Center in Greenville. Governor James Hodges will present the award.

Last September the technical college presidents from across the state unanimously agreed to participate in this award honoring manufacturing excellence.

Companies from across the state are asked to participate. Any individual or group can nominate a company that has been in business in S.C. for at least three years as of May 1, 2002. Company self nominations are encouraged. The selection committee will use three criteria to choose the first recipients of Manufacturing Silver Crescent Award:

The Company's Economic Impact on South Carolina: examples may include, but are not limited to, demonstrated growth in new jobs, corporate revenues, and capital investments.

The Company's Commitment to the Workforce: examples may include, but are not limited to, programs that have improved the quality of life for its employees, such as: employee education programs; diversity awareness programs; employee recognition programs and employee assistance programs.

The Company's Involvement/Contributions to the Community: examples may include, but are not limited to, community volunteer programs, community environmental programs and educational partnerships.

Award categories are as follows:
Small Manufacturer - Awarded to a company that employs 50 or fewer full-time employees.
Medium Manufacturer - Awarded to a company that employs 51-499 full-time employees.
Large Manufacturer - Awarded to a company that employs 500 or more full-time employees.

Approximately 3700 companies in the state have already been mailed an award application. In addition, the application can be electronically downloaded from the State Tech website by accessing www.sctechsystem.com and clicking on Silver Crescent for Manufacturing Excellence Award. It includes a link to the online nomination/application form.

Nominations must be sent to Jo Ellen Cantrell at Spartanburg Technical College no later than February 1, 2002, for presentation to an Award Selection Committee, which is comprised of 16 individuals nominated by each technical college.
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