Core Program

The CRDA focuses on leveraging our region’s physical and intellectual assets to compete globally and build regional prosperity. Our goals are to strengthen regional employment, build our base of high-value industries, and significantly improve the economic future of all who live and work in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.

Priorities

1. Engage top-tier business leadership to drive the CRDA's agenda for a more prosperous, forward-thinking, globally competitive region.
2. Globally position the region to attract high-value / high-tech jobs and talent, entrepreneurs and capital investment.
3. Accelerate inbound investment and help to facilitate local business expansions, especially among companies in the region's existing and emerging high-value industry clusters.
4. Aggressively leverage our region's physical and intellectual assets to drive a sustainable, regional economic development strategy.

Key Strategies

The CRDA is implementing six core strategies designed to address our four overarching priorities.

Business Development

• Attract competitive business investment & high-value jobs based on fit within existing assets, existing and emerging high-value industry clusters, and ability to strengthen the regional economy.
• Position the region both nationally and internationally as a premier location for business and talent.

Regional Competitiveness

• Develop a robust market/business intelligence capability to 1) strategically enhance business development efforts; 2) support a regional cluster growth strategy (including business retention & expansion support); and 3) strategically inform and guide regional competitiveness efforts.
• In conjunction with other partner organizations, serve as a convener and collaborator for talent and workforce strategies, including talent retention and attraction.

Engaged Leadership

• Provide new opportunities for leadership and engagement to drive a sustainable, regional economic development strategy.
• Involve emerging leaders in substantive ways, leveraging their talents and passion for a stronger, more prosperous region.