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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
