Scott to hold biz conference here Oct. 1

Boeing CEO Jim McNerney is expected to join other public and private sector heavyweights to discuss the future of South Carolina’s economy.

U.S. Rep. Tim Scott, R-S.C., organized the morning conference on Oct. 1 at the College of Charleston to address one of the biggest issues here and across the country: creating good new jobs.

“Our goal is to identify the arteries of our economy, how to improve the flow, so to speak, and hopefully capture the attention of would-be listeners around the country about the opportunity to do business in South Carolina,” he said.

McNerney will be joined by S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell; S.C. Commerce Department Director Bobby Hitt; Charleston businesswoman Anita Zucker, CEO of the InterTech Group; and BMW Manufacturing Co. President Josef Kerscher, among others.

About 200 members of the public also will be allowed to take part. Those interested are being asked to contact Scott’s office.

Scott held a related conference in Washington, D.C., in May to encourage entrepreneurship, an event that featured Domino’s Pizza CEO Patrick Doyle and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. “My hope is we create a buzz,” Scott said, “and we also recognize the role that the South Carolina economy is playing to push the American economy forward.”

Scott said the timing of the Oct. 1 conference was determined largely by McNerney’s schedule and is not part of his re-election bid. Scott faces a challenge from Democrat Bobbie Rose on Nov. 6 in the newly drawn 1st Congressional District, which now includes portions of Beaufort County instead of the Grand Strand.

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771.