DENMARK, SOUTH CAROLINA / June 27, 2008 -- Government Training Institute, Inc., a leading military and law enforcement training organization for first responders, has selected South Carolina to be the new home of its corporate headquarters and advanced tactical operations training facility currently located in Idaho. The relocation will bring approximately 15 jobs, $2 million in capital investment, and more than 3,000 visitors to the area annually.

"GTI is a top-notch organization, and we are thrilled that they have chosen our region for their headquarters and training facility," said SouthernCarolina Alliance President Danny Black. "With its law enforcement and military characteristic, the GTI project is a great example of the diverse types of industry located in our area."

Black added, "SouthernCarolina Alliance is especially delighted that GTI will bring hundreds of first responders, some of our country's most outstanding citizens, into the region on a regular basis."

GTI will locate its headquarters in a 195,000 square foot facility, formerly owned by NIBCO, in Bamberg County. The company will also locate training facilities and operations at a site located in the S.C. Advanced Technology Park in Barnwell County.

"We were careful to select a location where we could consolidate our training operations, expand our curriculum and improve our efficiencies," said GTI President Chadd Harbaugh. "The Southern Carolina region became the obvious choice in terms of selecting a location that is conducive to partnerships with other organizations in order to assure that our country's military, law enforcement and first responders all well prepared to attack challenges regarding homeland security with knowledge and confidence."

According to Bamberg County Council Chairman Chris Wilson, "This is the type of project that will not only create jobs in the region, but will also help stimulate the local economy through the military and law enforcement individuals visiting our area during month-long training courses. We welcome GTI, their staff, and their trainees to Bamberg County and stand ready to assist them any way that we can."

Lowell Jowers, Chairman of Barnwell County Council, added, "GTI will be a welcome addition to our regional community, and we look forward to having their training operations conducted at our Advanced Technology Park in Barnwell County."

An announcement ceremony and training observation are planned for late July. For more information, please contact Kay Maxwell.

About Government Training Institute (GTI) www.gtitraining.org

Founded in 2003, GTI is a center of excellence for law enforcement officers and military personnel whose mission is to train the nation's first responders. GTI's staff comprises 400 years of operational military and law enforcement experience and combines traditional classroom work, research-based training and real-world field exercises to address the requirements of government and law enforcement agencies. GTI delivers more than 30 highly-specialized training programs in the fields of anti-terrorism, terrorism countermeasures, police sniper operations, specialized patrol, high-risk policing activities and a host of law enforcement and military topics relevant to the post 9/11 world.

GTI's Type III SWAT, Type II SWAT, Type I SWAT, Immediate Action Teams (IAT) Active Shooter, Basic SWAT and IED Awareness curricula are approved by the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) grant funding program. In 2008, GTI relocated its training facility from Boise, Idaho to South Carolina.

About The SouthernCarolina Alliance www.southerncarolina.org

The SouthernCarolina Alliance (SCA) was formed as a non-profit economic development organization to aggressively market the Southern Carolina area for industrial locations. Our economic development team consists of site location professionals prepared to quickly assess site location needs and formulate sites and present existing buildings that will meet the clients' business needs. Working with the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the Alliance prepares incentive packages that are the most competitive offered in the Southeastern United States.

SCA Media Contact:
Kay Maxwell
SouthernCarolina Alliance
kmaxwell@southerncarolina.org