Local Data
Location & Expansion Log
Diverse companies – from startups to multinational corporations – continue to relocate and expand existing operations in the Charleston region.
Archive: 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
New, Expanding, and Mergers & Acquisitions
2024
LifeTagger
September 27, 2024
Software application that uses proximity to help businesses and organizations easily connect, engage, and communicate with customers and other users
South Carolina Research Authority's investment affiliate, SC Launch Inc., has invested $250,000 in LifeTagger. The tech firm became an SC Launch Inc. Portfolio Company when they received their first investment of $100,000 in 2022. "This investment is a testament to the innovation we are driving at LifeTagger. We've built a platform that helps businesses truly connect with their customers, employees, and stakeholders by delivering personalized and timely interactions without overwhelming them. With SCRA and SC Launch's continued support, we're excited to take our technology even further, helping more companies transform how they engage and grow in this digital-first world," said LifeTagger Co-founder Marlon Brown. SC Launch, Inc. supports advanced technology and technology-based businesses with seed and follow-on capital to supplement funding from other sources, such as venture capital firms, strategic investors, angel investment groups, individual investors, and private equity firms. Returns from SC Launch, Inc. investments help fund future investments to continue to achieve its mission of fueling the state's economy.
September 26, 2024
Expansion of Berkeley Data Center Campus
In conjunction with an announcement of the ground-breaking on two new data center campuses in Dorchester County of the Charleston Metro Area, Google also announced the expansion of its Berkeley Center in the Mount Holly Commerce Park in Moncks Corner. Data centers support digital services such as Google Cloud, Search and Maps. These tools have become an essential part of modern daily life, molding Google into a global brand with 17 operational data center campuses in the U.S. Established in 2007, the Berkeley County operation was the company's first in South Carolina.
September 26, 2024
2 new data center campuses
Google released a statement in Feb. 2024 about this development: "We have been proud to call South Carolina home for over fifteen years since we first put down roots in Berkeley County. Since then, we have partnered closely with local leadership, schools, and nonprofits to lift up the great work happening here. As we look to expand in the state, we have acquired property in Dorchester County for the development of a new data center campus. We look forward to growing our community here in South Carolina and will share details as this long-term project progresses." In September, a formal announcement was made regarding the ground-breaking for these two new campuses to "help meet growing Google Cloud demand in the region and deliver the digital products and services that people and organizations use every day." Monique Picou, Google's Global Vice President of Cloud Supply Chain and Operations noted, "Today marks a significant milestone in Google's collaboration with South Carolina. Our continued investment is a testament to the state's exceptional workforce and thriving business environment. Google data centers are the backbone of digital services that underpin our modern lives, along with tech innovation like AI. We're grateful for the collaboration with leaders in the state to not only grow our digital infrastructure here, but contribute to this thriving community." The new facilities, located in the Pine Hill Business Campus in Ridgeville and Winding Woods Commerce Park in St. George, will support growing demand for the company's cloud services and artificial intelligence (AI). In addition to the new local investment, the company also announced new support for energy affordability programs and a local watershed health improvement project. Google will be providing $1.6 million in new funding to expand the reach and impact of an initiative designed to help fund critical pre-weatherization and energy efficiency improvements for low- and moderate-income (LMI) households in South Carolina.
East Coast Warehouse & Distribution
September 6, 2024
3PL service provider specializing in temperature-controlled logistics
East Coast Warehouse & Distribution announces the company's first South Carolina operation at 2015 Tellico Road in North Charleston in the Shipyard Creek Logistics Center near the SC Ports Authority's Hugh K. Leatherman Sr. Terminal. The new facility will be 259,000 square feet of warehousing space on 17.6 acres of land, with an additional nine acres for parking and storing 350 trailers and containers. "This new facility--our first in the market--will allow us to expand our footprint, improve productivity, maximize flexibility and offer increased speed to customers in the greater Charleston area," said CEO Jamie Overley. The company currently operates other strategically located facilities along the East Coast near the ports of New York and New Jersey, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Savannah. Operations at this new Charleston area facility are expected to begin in the summer of 2025.
Eveon Containers
August 20, 2024
North American headquarters for a global online supplier of decommissioned shipping containers
Founded in 2020 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Eveon expanded into the United States and Canada, offering 24/7 purchasing and delivery options for decommissioned shipping containers. The company provides these sustainable building, shipping and storage solutions for its customers nationwide including businesses, educational institutions, government agencies and others. Eveon CEO, Aad Storm, remarked on the choice of Charleston for the expansion: "During our tour of various cities, Charleston distinguished itself through the strategic significance of its port, the emerging digital corridor and its distinctive charm. These factors were pivotal in establishing our foundation and launching our headquarters here. As part of our expansion, we relocated our customer service team from the Northeast to Charleston to ensure the southern hospitality organic to the Lowcountry was conveyed to our customers nationwide." This expansion will further support the online platform as it continues to grow globally.
Portside Technology
July 9, 2024
IT services and technology infrastructure design and support
Founded in Charleston in 2020, Portside Technology provides professional IT services and technology infrastructure to small and midsize businesses in the Charleston area and beyond, with services ranging from design and procurement to installation and ongoing support. The firm is located in the Charleston Tech Center located at 997 Morrison Drive, and expanded into two larger office spaces across the second and fifth floors of the Center. "We are thrilled to continue our rapid growth in Charleston County; while it's a beautiful place to live and work, it's also a business-friendly environment for us to attract and retain top technology talent. With exciting opportunities and more growth ahead, we're proud to call Charleston our home," noted Portside Technology CEO Zach McNamara.
Allegiance Flag Supply
May 22, 2024
Manufacturer of American flags
Founded in 2018, Allegiance Flag Supply recently expanded into a new 24,000-square-foot building located at 7600 Southrail Road in North Charleston. The firm produces high-quality, hand-sewn flags using locally-sourced materials and makes over 1,000 American flags each day, distributing to customers in all 50 states.
Fexillon
May 16, 2024
Digital asset management solutions for the building and property management fields
The Charleston Digital Corridor recently welcomed Fexillon to its esteemed community as the company establishes its US office in Charleston, South Carolina. The Irish firm is a leader in digitizing the built environment and is capitalizing on the Digital Corridor's thriving tech scene as an ideal platform to expand into the U.S. market. "Our expansion into Charleston marks a pivotal moment for Fexillon and the broader Irish tech community," said Kieran Beggan, CEO. "We're proud to bring Irish expertise and innovation to the global stage as we enter the U.S. market. Basing our U.S. operations in Charleston provides comprehensive coverage for our customer base, with promising growth opportunities in South Carolina and neighboring states....With South Carolina's tech-friendly environment and skilled workforce, we're positioned for growth while driving innovation, forming partnerships, and showcasing the prowess of the Irish tech sector worldwide." Learn more: https://www.charlestondigitalcorridor.com/news/1715614917871-charleston-digital-corridor-welcomes-irish-trailblazer-fexillon-thriving-tech-community/
TTS Studios
May 7, 2024
Custom fabrication firm specializing in creative design and fabrication
Founded in 2016 and located in North Charleston, TTS Studios custom designs and fabricates installations, equipment, and other items in support of industries such as arts and entertainment, premium events, and experiential marketing. The firm recently expanded to a larger, 67,000-square-foot facility located at 2130 N. Hobson Ave. on the Charleston Marine Manufacturing Corporation (CMMC) Navy Yard Industrial Campus in North Charleston. "While much of our theatrical work is New York-based, projects with Spoleto Festival USA, High Water, Charleston-based artists and our developing brand partnerships solidify our roots here," noted company president Mike East.
GovCIO
May 1, 2024
Advanced technology solutions and digital services for the federal government
GovCIO announced the opening of its new Charleston office, strategically located near Joint Base Charleston. This past year, the company has grown to over 3,000 employees globally. For several years, Fairfax, Virginia-headquartered GovCIO has maintained a long-standing military partnership in the Charleston region working on various programs including the U.S. Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic's submarine broadcast system's Fixed Very Low Frequency / Low Frequency (FVLF/LF) Engineering Services. GovCIO also provides engineering, technical, and sustainment Life Cycle Management (LCM) support services as part of the Shore Submarine Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) Integrated Program Team (IPT) Program Office for NIWC Atlantic. "By establishing a physical presence in Charleston, we are strengthening our customer and community relationships and delivering even more tailored solutions, allowing us to better support our customer's missions," said Jim Brabston, GovCIO CEO. The new office space increases the GovCIO footprint and supports the company's growth strategy.
Tradd Advisory Company
April 25, 2024
Freight transportation services
Tradd Advisory Company (Tradd), a freight transportation services provider, recently expanded into its first established office space in the Harbor Entrepreneur Center located at 11 eWall St. in Mount Pleasant. Established in 2018, Tradd is a third-party logistics provider that advises agents, clients and carriers on the most effective strategies for handling freight transportation. The company works with a network of over 93,000 carriers and offers premium service options for moving all types of cargo. Operations are already in progress.
Carolina Dream
April 23, 2024
Hemp-based products for medical and wellness use
Marine Corps Veteran owned company; premium and transparently produced hemp products with full chain-of-custody record on all products
Pensievision
April 15, 2024
3D imaging technologies using Artificial Intelligence (AI) with medical applications as well as in consumer electronics, smartphones, astronomy/physics and more
Pensievision, Inc., an imaging technology startup, was awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Phase II grant to perform research and clinical testing of a handheld, 3D imaging system for improved screening of cervical cancer. Pensievision's patented 3D optical imaging technology is unique in its approach of using astronomy imaging techniques, coupled with artificial intelligence, for imaging of lesions inside the human body. The company is currently working to develop additional medical applications, including imaging of skin lesions and esophagus and pharynx lesions. The firm has begun developing non-medical applications for industrial inspections, nondestructive testing, and aerospace. A prototype imaging device designed to monitor biological payloads in space is currently undergoing simulated space environment testing and is planned for launch into space within the next couple of years.
eHouse Studio
April 11, 2024
E-commerce website development and design agency specializing in maximizing the combination of UX design, technology and analytics
A Shopify Plus Partner and Recharge Partner agency, Charleston-based eHouse Studio has acquired Maryland-based Commerce12 with backing and support from growth-oriented investment firm Periscope Equity. This acquisition of a Klaviyo Master Elite partner edifies eHouse's strategy to create an "end-to-end" agency to manage large enterprise complexities and eliminate the need for multiple niche agencies to serve client needs. As global online sales surge and Shopify Plus emerges as the dominant enterprise e-commerce platform, the merger of eHouse and Commerce12 positions the agency at the forefront of strategy, innovation and services, according to a press release. The resulting business integration will retain all team members from both agencies, with former eHouse CEO Aaron Quinn serving as CTO and Commerce12's founder Adam Hanin serving as head of business development, according to the release. The agencies support more than 130 brands across the U.S., Canada, Australia and Europe.
Gnosis Freight
February 27, 2024
Supply chain and logistics software
The company, founded in Charleston in 2017, recently doubled its existing facility within the Charleston Tech Center to allow for growth over the next several years. Gnosis' Container Lifecycle Management platform combines supply chain visibility and execution software to help companies track and manage shipping containers from booking through empty return. The firm's CEO and Co-founder Austin McCombs said, "Charleston has been home to Gnosis Freight since very early in our journey. It's unsurprisingly ranked one of the best cities in the country to live in and has been a cheat code for attracting top talent. The support we've received from the local community as we've grown has been humbling, and we're committed to finding ways to return the favor. The culture of Charleston is embedded in our company's DNA, and we are forever grateful to represent such a special city."
Leonardo DRS / DRS Naval Power Systems
February 27, 2024
Defense products and technologies manufacturing and testing
Multinational firm Leonardo DRS, through its subsidiary, DRS Naval Power Systems, has announced it will build a 140,000-square-foot manufacturing and test center at 1588 Bushy Park Road in Berkeley County within the Charleston region. DRS Naval Power Systems provides naval power and control technology solutions for the U.S. Navy and allied navies, as well as for commercial applications. The new facility will expand the company's capability to integrate its next-generation electric propulsion system into current and future naval platforms including the U.S. Navy's priority program, the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine. Operations are expected to be online by 2026.
MOONDOG Animation
February 21, 2024
Animation and immersive experiences studio
Established in Charleston County in 2013, the company provides multimedia client services such as story development, character design, animation, augmented and virtual reality experiences, and interactive content creation. MOONDOG has moved to a larger office at the Harbor Entrepreneur Center at 11 eWall St. in Mount Pleasant. "We're looking forward to the growth ahead and couldn't be more excited about our new home in the Harbor Entrepreneur Center. Being here allows us to connect with like-minded companies, collaborate on new projects and bring creative solutions to our customers worldwide. Here's to the future of animation, made in Charleston!" said MOONDOG Animation Studio CEO and Co-Founder Ben Davis.
Alcami
February 8, 2024
Contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) serving pharmaceutical and biotech companies of all sizes through every stage of the development cycle
Alcami Corporation, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announces the expansion of its sterile fill/finish manufacturing capacity with the addition of a new sterile fill/finish line with isolator and two lyophilizers at its existing Charleston, SC, manufacturing campus. The new state-of-the-art, fully automated GMP sterile filling line offers the flexibility to fill liquid and freeze-dried vials under isolator technology to minimize the potential for contamination, providing the capacity and scalability for clinical and commercial needs and is fully integrated with the company's network of formulation development, packaging / labeling, lab services and pharma storage and services facilities. The expansion aims to meet growing industry demands for onshore sterile fill/finish capabilities amidst supply constraints, industry consolidation and tightening capacity as the pipeline of biologics and specialty therapeutics continues to grow.
Evonik
January 31, 2024
Manufacturer of precipitated silica
Evonik plans to expand production of precipitated silica at its Berkeley County plant by 50%. Construction of the new production line is scheduled to start in mid-2024, and operations will begin in early 2026. Silica is a key ingredient for fuel-efficient tires and other products such as coatings. South Carolina is home to 12 tire manufacturing plants, producing 144,000 tires per day. The state is also the nation's leading exporter of tires, with sales exceeding $1.7 billion in 2021. Lauren Kjeldsen, head of Evonik's Smart Materials Division (which includes the silica line) noted, "With this expansion, our state-of-the-art Charleston site becomes a major hub for precipitated and sustainable silica products in North America." The expansion is noted as part of Evonik's plan toward carbon neutrality for its Charleston site. "North America is an important strategic growth region for us," Maike Schuh, chief financial officer of Evonik's Americas region. "With the investment in Charleston, we are strengthening our strategic customer-centric approach and improving our cost and sustainability position." The Germany-based company did not specify how much it would invest in the expansion but gave an estimate of "mid-double-digit million Euro" range, along with the addition of an unspecified number of full-time jobs.
Pegasus Steel and Metal Trades LLC
January 26, 2024
Super Tier-1 manufacturer of complex structures for the highest priority programs within the Navy, Army, and Air Force
Arlington Capital Partners, a Washington, D.C.-area private investment firm, has formed Keel Holdings LLC, a "super tier-1" manufacturer of complex structures for multiple branches of the U.S. military. Keel Holdings was formed through the merger of two Charleston area firms (recently-acquired Pegasus Steel and the newly-acquired Metal Trades LLC) with Michigan-based Merrill Technologies Group. The merger creates a "vertically integrated suite of design, engineering, fabrication, machining, integration, assembly, finishing and surface treatment capabilities across its nine facilities in Michigan and South Carolina," according to press releases from the various firms.
SHL Medical
January 15, 2024
Medical device manufacturing
Swiss-based SHL Medical has acquired US manufacturing company Superior Tooling, Inc., known for plastic injection molds. This move aims to strengthen SHL's in-house manufacturing capabilities, especially for its upcoming US site in North Charleston, South Carolina, scheduled to start operations in mid-2024, in line with SHL's global strategy and emphasis on tooling.
