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For about a 1% investment of the Federal budget, the State Department yields a large return for the American people by advancing U.S. national security, promoting our economic interests, providing services, and reaffirming our country’s exceptional role in the world. Read on to learn how the work of the Department benefits this state’s residents.

South Carolina

• Jobs and Diplomacy

  • In partnership with agencies across the federal government, the Department of State advances U.S. trade policy objectives by opening new export and job opportunities for American businesses and workers through trade initiatives. In South Carolina, approximately 154,000 U.S. jobs were supported by goods exports (2014) and foreign direct investment supported about 127,000 U.S. jobs (2013). This resulted in $30.9 billion in goods exports from South Carolina (2015). (EB) More»

  • The Department supports the SelectUSA initiative, which facilitated Carbures, a Spanish company’s $6.5 million investment in South Carolina which is expected to create 50 new jobs, and facilitated Crescent Dairy and Beverage LLC’s $30 million investment in South Carolina which created 60 new jobs. SelectUSA is a President Obama initiative that promotes and facilitates investment in the United States as an engine for job growth and economic development. (EB) More»

  • One of the 2015-2016 Veterans Innovation Partnership (VIP) fellows is from South Carolina. The partnership offers U.S. citizen veterans of the American armed forces a one-year paid fellowship to gain experience by working in a U.S. government international affairs agency. More information on the partnership is available here. (S/GP)

  • South Carolina hosted foreign physicians, teachers, camp counselors, au pairs and others as part of work and study-based international exchange visitor programs. (ECA) More»

  • The Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services is headquartered in Charleston. CGFS is ISO-9001:2008 certified; it supplies the Department’s core financial services and supports nearly 24/7 financial services to the Department, USAID, and more than 45 federal entities worldwide. CGFS is active in recruiting at local colleges and universities. (CGFS) More»

  • The Department invested more than $1.4 million in human resources for its Charleston Service Center. (M/DGHR) More»

  • The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) contributed more than $1.5 million to the South Carolina economy through contracts and federal grants that directly supported INL missions. (INL) More»

  • U.S. Department of State was at the forefront of interagency U.S. Government advocacy leading to General Electric winning its largest power agreement in company history, approximately $2.7 billion with SPE, an affiliate of Sonelgaz – Algeria’s national electricity and gas company. Through this agreement, the majority of equipment will be exported from South Carolina and New York, with input from suppliers throughout the U.S. (ENR) More»

  • Savannah River National Laboratory received $45,056 from the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Program of Technical Assistance to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safeguards, which funds the U.S. Support Program and provides budgetary assistance for research and development projects on technical safeguards. (ISN) More»

  • Click here for more information about Department career recruitment events in South Carolina. (HR)

• Education

  • 26 Scholars and Students from South Carolina were awarded Fulbright Scholarships/ (ECA) More»

  • Diplomat-in-Residence (Jasper Daniels): Diplomats in Residence (DIRs) are career Foreign Service Officers located throughout the U.S. who provide guidance and advice to students, professionals and the community about Department careers. (HR) More»

  • 220 exchange visitors from overseas visited South Carolina and 139 South Carolina residents travelled overseas as part of the Department’s educational and cultural exchange funded programs. (ECA) More»

  • 44 Brazilian students attended several educational institutions in South Carolina through the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program. This program is funded by the Brazilian government and the private sector and sends 101,000 Brazilian university students of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to study and conduct research abroad. The U.S. is a priority destination for scholarship recipients, and the program strengthens U.S. and Brazilian institutional partnerships, develops a workforce prepared for 21st century opportunities, and contributes to long-term economic growth for both countries. (WHA) More»

  • Claflin University received a $250,000 grant from the Obama-Singh 21^st Century Knowledge Initiative to partner with the University of Calcutta on an eco-friendly entrepreneurship initiative for women. (SCA) More»

• Partnerships

  • The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs partnered with the Department of Homeland Security will host 18 Peruvian ports and customs security officers to conduct international seaport drug interdiction training. (INL) More»

  • The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) sponsored 20 Mexican officials to attend the Techno Security & Forensics Investigations Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in order for them to learn about new challenges in Cybercrimes investigations. (INL) More»

  • South Carolina hosted 67 students from allied and friendly nations for International Military Education and Training. (PM) More»

  • The Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Office of the Foreign Policy Advisor program has one Foreign Policy Advisor (POLAD) position assigned to U.S. Army Central Command (ARCENT) based out of Shaw Air Force Base. POLADs are U.S. diplomats that serve typically two year tours at U.S. military commands and provide foreign policy advice to senior military leadership. (PM) More»

  • Refugee Arrivals in 2015: 249. The Department works with nine domestic nongovernmental organizations, which place refugees in over 300 affiliated offices in roughly 180 communities around the country. These local offices work closely with community partners, congregations, volunteers, and state and local officials to provide a successful start for refugees rebuilding their lives. Refugee communities have historically enhanced the economic dynamism and cultural vitality of our nation. Refugees contribute to the United States in numerous ways, including by starting businesses and joining the U.S. military. (PRM) More»

  • The Department facilitates the South Carolina National Guard State Partnership Program with Colombia founded in 2012. (PM) More»

• Travel and Security

  • Total Passports Issued in Fiscal Year 2015: 233,625. (CA) More»

  • The Charleston Passport Center comprises 229 government employees and 187 contract employees. (CA) More»

  • 80 Passport Application Acceptance Facilities. (CA) More»

  • Number of overseas adoptions for South Carolina families in Fiscal Year 2014: 105. The Office of Children's Issues plays an active role in the intercountry adoption process. Its work is dedicated to assisting parents as they seek to provide a home to orphans abroad. (CA) More»

  • Diplomatic Security Miami Field Office serves South Carolina: Diplomatic Security has offices throughout the United States staffed with special agents and contract investigators, who conduct criminal, counterterrorism and background investigations. Agents assigned to field and resident offices assist in providing support to the protection of the Secretary of State, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and visiting foreign dignitaries. Liaison with federal and local law enforcement, foreign mission personnel, local officials, and the private sector complements their major responsibilities. (DS – Resident Office: Charleston Investigative Field Office) More»