Local Data

Location & Expansion Log

Diverse companies – from startups to multinational corporations – continue to relocate and expand existing operations in the Charleston region.

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CRDA-Facilitated Projects

2002

Le Ore USA, LLC

December 18, 2002

Jobs: 5
Investment: $0.1 Million

Distribution center for Italian manufacturer of inlaid furniture, clocks and music boxes

Le Ore, an internationally recognized manufacturer of inlaid furniture, clocks and music boxes, is establishing its North American distribution center in the Charleston region. In moving to the Charleston region, Le Ore is seeking to strengthen its North America distribution. The U.S. presently represents about 40% of the company’s sales.

ArborGen, LLC

December 17, 2002

Jobs: 47
Investment: $1.0 Million

Biotechnology improvements for the Forestry Industry

ArborGen, a research and development firm developing and commercializing biotechnology improvements for the forestry industry, announced that it will locate its headquarters, laboratory and greenhouse space in Summerville, where it will employ nearly 50 scientists and technicians.

MTU Drive Shafts LLC

December 5, 2002

Jobs: 200
Investment: $25.0 Million

World’s largest manufacturer of passenger-car drive shafts

MTU Drive Shafts, a DaimlerChrysler company and the world’s largest manufacturer of passenger-car drive shafts, is creating a new U.S. subsidiary and manufacturing operation, MTU Drive Shafts LLC, based in the Charleston region of South Carolina. The Charleston area plant will produce drive shafts for premium automotive companies in the United States. Company officials expect production capacity in the new operation to reach one million drive shafts per year. A total workforce of more than 200 is expected by 2006.

Transportation Management Concepts, Inc (TRAMCO)

October 29, 2002

Jobs: 8
Investment: $0.08 Million

Specializes in transportation logistics for the food service industry

Transportation Management Concepts, Inc. (TRAMCO) has selected the Charleston region for its east coast operations center. Founded in 1990, TRAMCO specializes in transportation logistics for the food service industry. The company’s East Bay Street location falls within the Charleston Digital Corridor, a stretch of specially zoned properties from peninsular Charleston to Daniel Island.

Pilot Therapeutics

October 4, 2002

Jobs: 100
Investment: $2.0 Million

Develops a range of pharmaceutical and over-the-counter medical food products, with a commercial launch of an asthma product planned for later this year.

Specialty pharmaceutical company Pilot Therapeutics plans to construct a $2 million headquarters and research & development facility in the Charleston region that, within five years, is expected to create 100 new jobs.

The Scotts Company

August 30, 2002

Jobs: 8
Investment: $8.0 Million

World’s largest marketer of lawn and garden products and services. Brands include Scotts, Miracle-Gro, Ortho, Round-Up, Osmocote

The Scotts Company will triple the capacity of its facility here, investing $8 million in the region. The company is the world’s largest marketer of lawn and garden products and services, employing over 4,200 worldwide. In addition to the planned expansion, Scotts will consolidate operations from a facility in California into the Charleston plant.

Sea Fox Boats

August 20, 2002

Jobs: 75
Investment: $2.0 Million

Manufacture and distribute fishing and pleasure boats

Local boat manufacturer Sea Fox Boats announced that it will expand its manufacturing operations in the region, adding 75 new, direct jobs. The firm considered other possible locations for the expansion before committing to stay in the Charleston area. Sea Fox will move its manufacturing operations and over 100 employees to a 200,000-square-foot plant between Goose Creek and Moncks Corner.

American LaFrance Corporation

July 22, 2002

Jobs: 590
Investment: $61.5 Million

Manufacturer of firetrucks and ambulances

American LaFrance Corporation, a subsidiary of Freightliner LLC, officially opened its new fire truck and ambulance manufacturing facility in North Charleston. American LaFrance has invested $12 million to prepare the facility for production.

Giant Cement Holding, Inc.

June 25, 2002


Investment: $100.0 Million

Manufactures portland cement

Giant Cement Holding, Inc. announced that it will invest more than $100 million in its Dorchester County manufacturing facility. Among the reasons cited for investing in the Charleston area facility were a strong relationship with the state of South Carolina and the depth of the local workforce.

Signature Building Systems

June 4, 2002

Jobs: 80
Investment: $1.25 Million

Manufactures modular homes

Signature Building Systems manufactures new modular homes in a limitless range of styles. Headquartered in Moosic, Penn., Signature Building Systems sees the new St. George facility as offering a strategic location from which to service customers in the Carolinas, Georgia and other parts of the Southeast.

CropTech Corporation

May 30, 2002

Jobs: 110
Investment: $40.0 Million

Corporate headquarters for pharmaceutical manufacturer

CropTech Corporation, an emerging leader in biotech manufacturing, announced plans to relocate its operations from Blacksburg, VA to the Mt. Holly Business Park in Berkeley County. CropTech is commercializing its patented protein manufacturing technology, which uses specially prepared tobacco plants as molecular "factories" to produce biotech therapies for human diseases.

DAK Americas

May 15, 2002

Jobs: 40
Investment: $36.0 Million

Manufacturer of PET resin

DAK Americas plans to expand its Cooper River manufacturing site with the construction of a PET resin unit, doubling the company's total resin production capacity. The company offers a wide range of innovative resin products for use in carbonated soft drink containers, custom containers, thermoforming, crystallized PED and heat set containers.

American LaFrance Corporation

May 14, 2002

Jobs: 210

Corporate headquarters of manufacturer of firetrucks, ambulances and ladders.

American LaFrance announced that its corporate headquarters will move to the Charleston region from Cleveland, N.C. The 170-year-old fire truck manufacturing company will centralize sales, engineering, purchasing, customer support and some manufacturing functions at a state-of-the-art plant in North Charleston.

McNaughton Apparel Group, Inc.

February 20, 2002

Jobs: 200
Investment: $13.0 Million

Distribution of women's casual and career clothing

McNaughton Apparel Group, now part of Jones Apparel Group Inc., announced a second distribution facility in the region within two years of opening its first facility here. The company makes several lines of moderately priced women’s clothing and distributes its products to many national retailers, including J.C. Penney, Sears, T.J. Maxx, May Co., Federated Department Stores and Kohl’s. In announcing its expansion, the company cited the Port of Charleston and the quality of the local workforce as key factors.

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