June 22nd, 2009

For Immediate Release

The Upstate Piedmont Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce partnership with Elizabeth Belenchia, Founder and President, of Carroll Properties Corporation headquartered in Spartanburg, SC.Ms. Belenchia serves domestic and international entrepreneurial business owners. She worksdirectly with owners or personal representatives to locate, favorably finance, calculate tax implications and incentives as well as collaborate with institutions for research and development. Ms. Belenchia’s expertise includes locating international businesses in rural communities whilenegotiating a complex structure of relationships, land or buildings, infrastructure and supplementalincentives, layered financing, permit process and job training. Ms. Belencia most recently located DSE, Inc. in Cherokee County. Another of her clients, LovesTruck Stop, is under contruction on I-85 in Cherokee County. Other clients include Tyco Electronics,Safety Kleen, Somet, International Paper, Dana Corporation, Mermet Weaving, US EPA-BrownfieldPilot, Town of Cowpens, Ibena, SEW Eurodrive, Hess America, Interplex Metals, McDonalds, UPSand Comfort Inn. Affiliations include USC Upstate International Advisory Board, Clemson University Distance LearningBoard, South Carolina Jobs Economic Development Authority Board, Business Carolina FinanceBoard, South Carolina Ports Authority Advisory Board, SC World Trade Center Charter Member,Alliance Franciase du Piedmont, Southeast US/Japan Association, Society of International Business Fellows and Rotary International. She is a graduate of Leadership Spartanburg and Leadership South Carolina. Ms. Belenchia holds the following certifications: Certified Commercial Investment Specialist (CCIM), Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) , and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). She is a member of the National Association of Realtors, South Carolina Association of Realtors, Greenville Commercial Board of Realtors and the International Real Estate Federation. The Upstate Piedmont Chamber of Commerce is pleased to have Ms. Belenchia, with her global business experience, international clients and contacts, join us as Sustainability Strategist. She will also serve on the UPCC Board of Directors. This will be a team effort to bring jobs to Cherokee County and find investors and buyers for both existing and new commercial properties. This effort will also result in stimulating sales of existing and new residential properties. The addition of Elizabeth Belenchia complements the UPCC Board of Directors diversity which now includes expertise in labor force investment, downtown business associations, airport planning and development, industrial management, domestic and international marketing, site selection, exploration of financing and incentive packages and small business management. For more information concerningthe Upstate Piedmont Chamber of Commerce, you may call 864-490-2900 or visit www.upstatepiedmontchamber.org.

Gene MoorheadPresident / CEOCell 864-490-2900UPChamber@bellsouth.net