The Herald, Rock Hill, S.C., Business Briefs Column.

By Denyse Clark, The Herald, Rock Hill, S.C. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jun. 20--WASHINGTON--SCMEP GETS$185,000 GRANT: The South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership, or SCMEP, has been awarded a $185,000 Rural Business Enterprise grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist minority-owned businesses, according to Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

The money will provide technical assistance to about 10 new small to medium minority-owned manufacturing companies. The grant service area is 30 under-developed counties in South Carolina, including Chester County.

The SCMEP serves firms through five field offices, university …