The director may, in his discretion establish an advisory committee of the Division of State Development (hereafter, in this section, the "advisory committee") which if established, would be comprised of twenty-four citizens of the State to be appointed by the Governor upon the advice and consent of the Senate. One member must be appointed from each of the following two-county areas:

1. Richland and Kershaw counties;

2. Spartanburg and Cherokee counties;

3. Laurens and Newberry counties;

4. Abbeville and Greenwood counties;

5. Berkeley and Charleston counties;

6. Oconee and Anderson counties;

7. Florence and Marion counties;

8. Greenville and Pickens counties;

9. Horry and Georgetown counties;

10. Union and York counties;

11. Lee and Darlington counties;

12. Marlboro and Dillon counties;

13. Chester and Fairfield counties;

14. Lancaster and Chesterfield counties;

15. Sumter and Calhoun counties;

16. Clarendon and Williamsburg counties;

17. Beaufort and Jasper counties;

18. Dorchester and Colleton counties;

19. Orangeburg and Bamberg counties;

20. Allendale and Hampton counties;

21. Aiken and Barnwell counties;

22. Lexington and Saluda counties;

23. Edgefield and McCormick counties.

The Governor shall appoint one member from the State at large who shall serve as chairman. The terms of the members are for a period of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Terms for all members commence on July first of the year of appointment. Of the members initially appointed from the two-county areas, the Governor shall appoint one member from each of the following counties for a term of two years: Kershaw, Cherokee, Newberry, Greenwood, Charleston, Anderson, Marion, Pickens, Georgetown, York, Darlington, and Dillon, and the Governor shall appoint one member from each of the following counties for a term of four years: Fairfield, Chesterfield, Calhoun, Williamsburg, Jasper, Colleton, Bamberg, Hampton, Barnwell, Lexington, and McCormick. Upon the expiration of the initial terms of the members appointed from the two-county areas, the Governor shall rotate the appointment of these members between the counties in each of the two-county areas. The advisory committee may select other officers from its membership to serve for terms designated by it. Vacancies must be filled in the manner of the original appointments for the unexpired portions of the terms. The members of the advisory committee must be paid the usual mileage and subsistence as is provided by law for members of state boards, commissions, and committees. The advisory committee must meet four times a year, and may meet more often if the chairman considers it necessary or if ten members request the chairman to call a meeting, and the director approves such additional meetings. The advisory committee may not meet at any location outside the boundaries of South Carolina. The advisory committee shall advise and consult with the director on the following matters:

(a) the condition of and prospects for economic development in the State – particularly in the rural areas;

(b) the fostering of a close working relationship between the primarily rural, or primarily agricultural, counties of the State and the counties which are primarily nonrural or nonagricultural;

(c) the identification of problems facing smaller rural counties and of solutions to those problems;

(d) having input to the director regarding industrial prospects throughout the State; and

(e) any other matter which the director considers necessary to assist the director, in the way of consultation or advice, in carrying out any of the director’s duties or functions under this article.