South Carolina Unveils 10-Year Economic Roadmap
The plan establishes new advocacy priorities for workforce development and infrastructure investments across the state.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Regional Economics
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South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce has unveiled Blueprint 2036, a 10-year economic roadmap designed to guide state priorities through the next decade. The plan focuses on business climate, workforce development, infrastructure, rural growth, and innovation to maintain state competitiveness.
Why it matters
As the state experiences population and business growth, this roadmap seeks to address critical infrastructure and labor constraints. It provides a structured advocacy framework for businesses to influence state legislative agendas on issues like housing and transit.
The plan establishes a 10-year roadmap for state economic growth across five distinct focus areas. While setting broad policy priorities, the initiative currently lacks concrete funding figures for proposed infrastructure and workforce programs.
The players
South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce
A statewide trade organization that advocates for industry interests and shapes legislative priorities for businesses.
The details
The roadmap directs advocacy efforts toward recurring investments in essential infrastructure, including water, sewer, roads, and bridges. To improve workforce participation, the plan prioritizes addressing systemic barriers such as childcare availability, housing shortages, and transportation access. These objectives were shaped by feedback from business leaders aimed at solving localized growth issues, such as traffic congestion in Myrtle Beach.
Timeline
October 20, 2026: Business leaders gathered in Myrtle Beach to present the 10-year economic strategy.
Market Landscape
Blueprint 2036 follows a national trend of state-level planning initiatives designed to leverage and complement federal funding priorities. The strategy aligns with recent moves by regional industry groups to secure sustained infrastructure investment.
Operators should monitor future legislative sessions to see which specific infrastructure and workforce proposals gain traction from this roadmap. Engaging with local chambers can ensure business-specific needs regarding housing and transit are reflected in ongoing advocacy.
The takeaway
Blueprint 2036 serves as a long-term signal for where state-level resource allocation is heading over the next decade. Operators should track the organization's legislative agenda updates to identify when specific workforce development and infrastructure projects move from proposal to funding.
Further reading
Learn more about the local economic landscape in our Regional Economics section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WPDE.
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Does your local community have the necessary infrastructure and workforce to support continued economic growth?
