COLUMBIA, SC  - SCRA, the University of South Carolina (USC) and the City of Columbia are holding a grand opening ceremony Thursday for the SCRA USC Innovation Center, Columbia.

The fully-renovated facility houses knowledge-based companies emerging from research at the University of South Carolina and the general marketplace which are entering commercialization and advanced manufacturing stages. The facility is situated and designed to stimulate and sustain clean, next-generation manufacturing, along with related development and support services.

It is the second of three facilities SCRA is providing in conjunction with its university and civic partners in South Carolina to grow the knowledge economy in the state.

“This facility is a knowledge-based technology cornerstone to serve start-up companies with intellectual property coming out of USC as well as the private sector,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA CEO.

Wachovia is providing financing for the SCRA USC Innovation Center.

At the grand opening Thursday, Mahoney will also present SCRA “Knowledge Economist” awards to: South Carolina Representative Joan B. Brady; Dr. James L. Hudgins; Thomas E. Persons, Sr. and Dr. Barry W. Russell.

Drs. Hudgins and Russell have both served as presidents of Midlands Technical College, and as head of the South Carolina Technical College System.

Brady has been a strong advocate of Knowledge Economy initiatives, both with SCRA and EngenuitySC.

Persons is CEO and President of the South Carolina Technology Alliance, which provides collaboration opportunities among the state’s business, academic, economic development and legislative leaders. His organization also assists in developing workforce skills for knowledge-based entrepreneurial companies.

The SCRA Knowledge Economist Award Program recognizes outstanding citizens who have

made significant contributions to South Carolina’s Knowledge Economy