In economic development, our job is to provide opportunities for South Carolinians in all corners of this great state. That includes communities of all shapes and sizes. In fact, with nearly one-third of our total population residing in rural areas, South Carolina's smaller communities represent the state's economic backbone.
Recognizing this, Team South Carolina continues to recruit industry to the state's rural areas. Since 2011, we've recruited approximately $5.3 billion in capital investment and 24,000 new jobs to those communities. And, last year alone, we announced quite a few major projects in our rural counties, including Gestamp in Union County, Fiber Industries in Darlington County and Harbor Freight Tools in Dillon County.
This week, to advance those efforts and encourage discussions about the future of rural South Carolina, S.C. Commerce hosted the 28th Annual South Carolina Rural Summit. Gathering leaders from across the state, this year's event included leadership development sessions, opportunities to share best practices, presentations from a variety of speakers and an awards ceremony, honoring two firms and two students that have played an integral role in advancing their respective communities.
Moving forward, as the state's economy continues to grow and diversify, the advancement of rural South Carolina will be critical. After all, by supporting our economic backbone, we'll be able to ensure prosperity across our state for years to come.