Charleston Regional Development Alliance

Berkeley, Charleston & Dorchester Counties

Printed from www.crda.org

A Solid Business Climate

Greater Charleston has experienced unprecedented business growth over the past several years, with both multinational corporations and fast-growing startups taking advantage of our globally competitive business environment.

Charleston's success in attracting corporate investment - by both new and existing companies - is due to a number of factors including a pro-business tax and incentive structure, a highly skilled workforce, world-class infrastructure and an attractive coastal location. 		related information

Public & Private SectorInternationalManufacturingDistributionHeadquartersBusiness Statistics
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Largest Public Sector Employers, Charleston S.C. MSA

Company  Product or Service  Employees 
U.S. Navy Area U.S. Naval Commands 13,000
Medical University Of South Carolina (MUSC) Hospital, post-secondary education, research 11,000
Charleston Air Force Base U.S. Air Force 7,000
Charleston County School District Education/public schools 5,150
Berkeley County School District Education/public schools 3,650
Dorchester County School District II Education/public schools 2,800
Charleston County Local government 2,150
Santee Cooper Electric and water utility 1,750
City of Charleston Local government 1,700
College Of Charleston Post secondary education 1,200
Source: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 9/2009


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Largest Private Sector Employers, Charleston S.C. MSA

Company  Product or Service  Employees 
Roper St. Francis Healthcare Roper and Bon Secours St Francis Hospitals 3,800
Boeing Charleston Aircraft manufacturing 3,000
JEM Restaurant Group Inc. Taco Bell and Pizza Hut Franchises in the MSA 3,000
Trident Health System Hospital system 2,500
Blackbaud, Inc. Software development and service 2,000
Piggly Wiggly Carolina Co Inc. Grocery wholesaler/retailer headquarters, distribution center 1,900
Robert Bosch LLC Antilock brake systems, fuel injectors, common rail & unit injectors 1,625
Kiawah Island Golf Resort/The Sanctuary at Kiawah Resort 1,600
Bi-Lo Stores Charleston area retail grocery stores 1,350
Force Protection Inc. Mine-protected vehicles, military class vehicles 1,300
Source: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 9/2009


For a list of leading employers by county, visit:
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Largest International Employers, Charleston S.C. MSA

Nationality  Company  Employees 
Austrian Leinweber Maschinen GmbH 5
Belgian Agfa Corporation 120
British Charleston Place 530
BAE Systems 375
Cummins Turbo Technologies 350
VT Milcom 250
BP 225
Cummins Mercruiser Diesel 200
Canadian Stantec 150
Gildan Activewear announced 12/2009
Chilean Briggs Industries 60
Chinese Garden Zone LLC 80
Danish Maersk Sealand 75
Dutch Hagemeyer North America 200
Sun Chemical 160
Finnish Kemira Chemicals, Inc. 65
French Rhodia 130
Lafarge North America 130
Zodiac of North America 100
German Robert Bosch LLC 1,625
Behr Heat Transfer Systems, Inc. 240
Getrag Precision Gear 285
Linde Material Handling NA 200
Rotorion North America L.L.C. 150
Daimler Vans Manufacturing, LLC 180
Berchtold Corp. 170
LANXESS Corp. 100
ThyssenKrupp Presta SteerTec USA LLC 100
Greek Thrace-LINQ, Inc. 120
Italian Strand-Tech Martin, Inc. 40
Japanese Showa Denko Carbon, Inc. 220
Asahi Kasei Spandex America, Inc. 150
Mexican DAK Americas 250
Russian Delfin USA 170
South African Pegasus Steel 85
Spanish Giant Cement Holding Inc. 250
Swedish SKF Aero Bearing 75
Swiss Mediterranean Shipping Co. (USA) 225
Belimed, Inc. 75
Taiwanese Evergreen Shipping Agency (America) Corp. 50
UAE Jafza Americas 10
Source: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 12/2009


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Charleston S.C. MSA Largest Manufacturing Employers

Company  Product  Employees 
Boeing Charleston Aircraft manufacturing 3,000
Robert Bosch LLC Antilock brake systems, fuel injection 1,625
Force Protection Inc. Mine-protected vehicles, military class vehicles 1,300
Nucor Steel Manufacturing - steel roll & steel beam 900
KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp. Paper, packaging, forest products 850
Alcoa Mt. Holly Primary aluminum ingot; aluminum smelting 600
Cummins Turbo Technologies Manufacture turbochargers & air compressors 530
CR Bard, Inc. Medical products- specialty catheter manufacturing 455
Detyens Shipyards, Inc. Shipyard; general ship repairs & modifications 400
BAE Systems Electronic security and communications systems design, manufacturing and integration 375
MWV (MeadWestvaco Corporation) Diverse portfolio of specialty chemical products, community development, forest management 350
Hill-Rom Inc. Specialty medical equipment 350
J.W. Aluminum Aluminum foil and sheet products 345
Caterpillar Remanufacturing Powertrain Services Remanufacture automobile transmissions 325
Getrag Precision Gear Gears for autos and trucks 285
American LaFrance Manufacture heavy duty work trucks 280
Albany International Paper machine press fabrics (felts) 260
DAK Americas PET resin 250
VT Milcom Engineering, IT and technical services, fabrication and assembly 250
Behr Heat Transfer Systems, Inc. Manufacturer of engine cooling systems 240
BP Amoco Manufacture purified terephthalic acid (PTA) 225
Showa Denko Carbon, Inc. Manufacture graphite electrodes for steel-making industry 220
Source: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 9/2009


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Charleston S.C. MSA Largest Distribution Employers

Company  Product  Employees 
Piggly Wiggly Distribution Center Grocery items 600
DiMare Johns Island Inc Wholesale ornamental nursery products 250
Quoizel, Inc. Decorative lighting products 225
Fruit of the Loom Palmetto Distribution Center Undergarments 200
Hagemeyer North America Electrical/industrial equipment, tools 200
Linde Material Handling NA Industrial & commercial machinery 200
Berchtold Corp. Surgical equipment 170
Sea Fox Boats Fishing and recreational boats 160
Pearlstine Distributors Domestically brewed beers, imported ales, lagers, and specialty brews 150
Carotek Inc Wholesale trade - durable goods 150
UTi Integrated Logistics Warehousing, distribution, logistics services 140
Source: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 9/2009


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Headquarters Facilities, Charleston S.C. MSA

Company  Product  Type   Local employees 
Blackbaud, Inc. Specialty computer software development & design Corporate 2000
Force Protection Inc. Mine-protected vehicles, military class vehicles Corporate 1300
Evening Post Publishing Company Periodical publisher (daily and weekly newspapers) Corporate 700
Benefitfocus Custom-made benefits software Corporate 391
GEL Group Environmental lab and engineering services Corporate 350
Hill-Rom Inc. Specialty medical equipment Division 350
MWV - Specialty Chemicals Division Specialty chemicals World 350
JW Aluminum Flat-rolled aluminum products Corporate 345
American LaFrance Heavy duty work trucks, emergency vehicles Corporate 301
Cullum Mechanical Construction Inc. Mechanical contracting Corporate 300
Mediterranean Shipping Co. (USA) Inc. Shipping container manufacturing and steamship line U.S. 225
Quoizel, Inc. Distribution of decorative lighting products Corporate 225
Knight's Companies Concrete and other construction related products and services Corporate 220
Hagemeyer North America Electrical/industrial equipment, tools distribution Corporate 200
Berchtold Corp. Manufacture and distribute surgical equipment Corporate 170
Life Cycle Engineering Inc. Engineering and applied technology solutions U.S. 130
Thrace-LINQ, Inc. Heavy-duty, petroleum-based textiles U.S. 120
ArborGen LLC Commercialization of tree genetics Corporate 100
Sawgrass Technologies Specialty ink systems World 100
Ware On Earth Communications Inc. Information assurance, system integration, network engineering, and enterprise architecture & infrastructure Corporate 100
Zodiac of North America Inc. Rigid-hull inflatable boats (RIBs) Division 100
Modulant Software developer; systems integration World 96
CreateSpace On-demand book publishing Corporate 95
Pegasus Steel Heavy steel fabrication North American 85
AstenJohnson, Inc. Paper machine felt manufacturing Corporate 84
Giant Cement Holding Inc. Cement plant operations U.S. 78
TRUMPF Medical Systems, Inc. Surgical equipment North American 40
Source: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, 6/2010


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2007 Charleston S.C. Metro Area Business Patterns

  Total Establishments by Number of Employees
Industry Code Description Number of Employees Total Establishments 1-4 5-9 10-19 20-49 50-99 100-249 250-499 500-999 1000 or more
Total 247,833 17,243 8,977 3,452 2,374 1,585 508 259 58 17 13
Forestry, fishing, hunting & agriculture support 318 48 31 11 3 2 1 0 0 0 0
Mining 97 11 4 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
Utilities 1,000 to 2,499* 37 6 4 13 7 5 2 0 0 0
Construction 18,591 2,165 1,298 405 256 145 42 17 2 0 0
Manufacturing 24,314 496 180 84 80 76 26 32 12 2 4
Wholesale trade 9,859 762 367 172 123 74 15 8 2 0 1
Retail trade 38,860 2,797 1,194 713 491 249 86 56 8 0 0
Transportation & warehousing 9,408 633 335 103 85 74 21 11 4 0 0
Information 6,667 243 128 40 34 22 7 5 3 3 1
Finance & insurance 7,804 1,118 701 244 104 50 12 5 2 0 0
Real estate & rental & leasing 5,460 1,032 752 166 71 29 10 3 1 0 0
Professional, scientific & technical services 15,269 1,873 1,257 301 172 90 32 16 5 0 0
Management of companies & enterprises 3,348 80 35 13 10 12 4 1 3 2 0
Admin, support, waste mgt, remediation services 23,007 975 510 167 127 77 44 35 8 6 1
Educational services 4,044 176 84 28 19 29 9 6 3 0 1
Health care & social assistance 31,228 1,559 671 408 264 151 33 22 2 3 4
Arts, entertainment & recreation 3,925 233 116 32 29 34 19 2 1 0 0
Accommodation & food services 31,778 1,382 373 187 301 370 117 30 2 1 1
Other services (except public administration) 12,686 1,608 921 370 189 93 25 8 2 0 0
Unclassified establishments 21 15 14 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

2000 Charleston S.C. Metro Area Business Patterns

Major Industry Total Establishments by Number of Employees
Industry Code Description Number of Employees Total Establishments 1-4 5-9 10-19 20-49 50-99 100-249 250-499 500-999 1000 or more
Total 219,499 14,070 7,129 2,898 1,983 1,341 394 236 53 26 10
Forestry, fishing, hunting, and agriculture support 500-999* 56 38 9 6 2 0 0 1 0 0
Mining 100-249* 9 3 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0
Utilities 500-999* 33 6 4 11 7 4 1 0 0 0
Construction 16,670 1,650 915 329 223 137 28 14 2 2 0
Manufacturing 21,307 437 144 80 66 66 31 29 15 4 2
Wholesale trade 8,013 624 275 137 118 69 17 6 1 1 0
Retail trade 32,356 2,498 1,106 648 428 183 70 59 4 0 0
Transportation & warehousing 8,838 514 256 87 67 73 18 9 1 3 0
Information 5,000-9,999* 183 84 36 25 20 8 4 4 2 0
Finance & insurance 6,330 820 456 209 101 39 9 6 0 0 0
Real estate & rental & leasing 4,261 626 428 120 45 22 6 4 0 1 0
Professional, scientific & technical services 11,976 1,353 899 221 123 78 16 12 3 1 0
Management of companies & enterprises 2,500-4,999* 71 27 13 14 7 1 5 2 1 1
Admin, support, waste mgt, remediation services 10,000-24,999* 741 389 119 91 73 34 20 8 4 3
Educational services 2,509 121 57 17 17 18 6 5 1 0 0
Health care & social assistance 30,220 1,251 566 310 224 98 21 21 4 3 4
Arts, entertainment & recreation 3,129 227 103 41 37 32 12 2 0 0 0
Accommodation & food services 28,179 1,156 321 168 220 320 90 30 4 3 0
Other services (except public administration) 11,377 1,482 867 334 162 91 19 7 2 0 0
Unclassified establishments 251 201 185 13 2 1 0 0 0 0 0


U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns '00 & '07 editions, the latest available, 12/2009. Does not include self-employed workers.
*Where exact number of employees was not available, a range was provided by the Census Bureau for perspective.