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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Downsizing
2016
Amazon
November 29, 2016
Book-printing fulfillment center
Amazon is closing a book-making facility in North Charleston in 2017, affecting 149 jobs. The Investment Drive site operations, which prints and ships books, will consolidate into the company's Columbia SC Metro Area distribution hub.
Impresa Aerospace
November 4, 2016
Manufacture metal parts for commercial aircraft
Closure by the end of 2016, affecting 20 jobs. The news of Impresa's local plant closing comes just weeks after the company announced the lay off 39 workers at its Wichita, Kan., location. The Wichita plant will continue to operate, as well as the Los Angeles, CA, area headquarters. The Goose Creek SC plant has only been open since 2015, and company officials say that in hindsight, maybe the expansion to South Carolina was premature. "We came to the conclusion that it wasn’t profitable for us to maintain that facility," CEO Scott Smith said. "It was a bit of a timing problem," he said. "We were too early. There wasn't enough tangible utilization of our resources in the near term" to survive.
Automated Trading Desk (ATD), a Citi co.
September 15, 2016
Predictive financial software used in high-speed electronic stock-trading
Citigroup Inc., which acquired ATD in 2007 and sold some of its assets this spring, notified labor officials that it is closing the Mount Pleasant office and permanently eliminating the jobs of the last 28 employees at the eWall Street address by Sept. 15. The written notice said Citi is eliminating the local jobs because of the sale of certain ATD business assets to Citadel Securities in May for an undisclosed price. The deal apparently did not include the South Carolina employees.
Southern Season
July 2, 2016
Gourmet foods and kitchenware retailer
North Carolina-based Southern Season, a 41-year-old specialty food and gift retailer announced mid-2016 that it is closing its big-box Mount Pleasant store by early July, affecting 96 jobs. The company is now seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to restructure its debt. The firm operates three other stores, including its flagship in Chapel Hill, and smaller-format stores called Taste of Southern Season in Raleigh and downtown Charleston. The smaller store format appears to be more successful, outside their large home-based flagship store, and that format will be in their growth plan going forward and following a successful debt reorganization.
Charleston Marine Containers Inc (CMCI)/Kratos Defense & Security Solutions
February 25, 2016
Specialized portable shelters for protection of military troops and equipment
The company will shut down its CMCI business unit in North Charleston due to lack of current contract activity, affecting 86 workers, but says they will maintain the 250,000 sq ft plant because they intend to re-open once contract activity rebounds.
Honeywell Technology Solutions
February 16, 2016
Engineering consulting firm; defense contractor
Honeywell Technology Solutions won a contract with the Army Prepositioning unit at the Naval Weapons Station in the Charleston region, but the contract requires that the firm reduce workforce at the site by 180 workers, roughly half of all workers at this location. The remaining 180 to 200 employees will fulfill the contract. Separated workers will be offered severance benefits, and the company expects many of them to be hired by its subcontractors.
DialAmerica Inc.
January 14, 2016
Call center
DialAmerica announced a layoff of 150 jobs at its North Charleston facility. The company said the cutbacks are due in part to a drop in business from health insurance clients as well as some of the healthcare industry work being moved offshore. In addition to the North Charleston layoffs, DialAmerica said it will be closing locations in Greenville SC and Amherst NY. The Charleston area office will continue to support DialAmerica's other clientele with the remaining 300 workers.
