Location & Expansion Log

STAR COOPERATION USA Inc.

March 13, 2025

Consulting services with specialization in the automotive manufacturing sector

STAR COOPERATION offers a broad range of services across multiple industry sectors, including vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. Charleston's rapidly expanding automotive manufacturing sector, skilled talent pool, and strategic proximity to key clients were cited by the firm as the driving factors behind its decision to expand into the Charleston region. The local office, located at the Charleston Tech Center on Morrison Drive, will primarily focus on consulting services in support of supply chain and electronics operations. "Charleston presents significant opportunities for new businesses, and we are eager to deepen our relationships with clients to ensure the delivery of top-tier services and products," said STAR CEO Joerg Gerstlauer. The company has additional U.S. offices in Atlanta, GA; Vance, AL; and Detroit, MI.

Keel / Metal Trades

March 11, 2025

Investment: $70 Million

Fabrication of large metal structures for maritime vessels including for the U.S. Navy

Keel Holdings will expand its Metal Trades campus on Younges Island in the Charleston region by constructing three new buildings: a preparation and paint facility, fabrication factory for Columbia-Class submarines, and an employee center. The expansion should be complete by 2027. Company CEO Brian Carter noted the company's choice to expand here relates to the growth of Charleston as a manufacturing hub, especially in the past ten to fifteen years.

IQ Fiber

February 24, 2025

Jobs: 25
Investment: $40 Million

Fiber optic broadband services

IQ Fiber, a Jacksonville, Florida based provider of 100% fiber-optic internet service, announces an expansion of its 10-gig capable network to the Charleston Metro Area. The first phases of the deployment include the West Ashley and Mount Pleasant areas within the Metro. This expansion continues the company's growth across the Southeast region of the United States. CEO Ted Schremp said that the company is making a $40 million investment in the area and plans to open a local office with 20 to 25 employees, choosing Charleston because of its above-average population growth. Construction of the Charleston area network has begun, and customers are expected to start coming online in late 2025.

HII

February 3, 2025

Jobs: 250

Manufacture of naval ships and defense technology for the U.S. Navy and other customers

HII, a global defense provider, has selected Berkeley County to establish the company's first South Carolina operation through the acquisition of virtually all of the assets of W International SC, LLC and Vivid Empire SC, LLC (collectively, "W International"), a South Carolina-based complex metal fabricator specializing in the manufacture of shipbuilding structures, modules and assemblies. In connection with the transaction -- completed on Jan. 22, 2025 -- HII will invest in new equipment as well as retrofit the acquired facility, located at 2040 Bushy Park Road in Goose Creek, to meet HII's manufacturing requirements. The renovated facility will operate within HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division and serve as a manufacturing center in support of Virginia-class, Columbia-class and aircraft carrier programs. "This transaction is a win-win with our new partners in South Carolina; we're excited to bring work and grow jobs. This lets us efficiently add trained talent and state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities to the urgent job of building ships, making it a unique opportunity to immediately accelerate throughput at Newport News Shipbuilding in support of the Navy and AUKUS," remarked HII President and CEO Chris Kastner.