Charleston region businesses commit $2.2 million to build a strong economic future

The Charleston Regional Development Alliance today announced it has surpassed the $2 million mark in private-sector campaign commitments. The pledges comprise support from individuals and businesses throughout Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. The campaign, titled “Expanding Our Horizons,” will continue throughout the remainder of the year and aims to reach its goal of $3.2 million. Continue reading

European mission heightens Charleston region’s international business exposure

Two top economic development officials representing the Charleston region, along with a state of South Carolina economic development representative, recently returned from a marketing and sales trip to Europe. The officials held seven meetings, five of which were with qualified companies planning to expand their operations into the Southeast within the next 12 months. The Charleston region is one of the finalist locations for each of the companies. Continue reading

Charleston region to host homeland security technology conference

On December 2, 2004, ThinkTEC will bring focus to one of the fastest growing segments of technology development by presenting the Homeland Security Innovation Conference. The event, scheduled for 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown in Mount Pleasant, will showcase the companies, agencies and economic potential of this unique technology market. Continue reading

Local software firm finds niche in food safety

Established to acquire struggling Cambar Software Inc. in 2002, Integrated Supply Chain Solutions is building momentum under the stewardship of a few investors who had faith they could make money where others had fallen short. Continue reading

Test facility could revolutionize local building practices

An experiment under way in the Lowcountry may permanently change the way buildings are constructed throughout the entire Southeast. A partnership among private industry, the Department of Energy, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the town of Hollywood resulted in the realization of the National Exposure Test Facility. Continue reading

Charleston hosts South Carolina Investor Network’s fall meeting

The South Carolina Investor Network will hold its fall meeting in Charleston on Nov. 17. Hosted by Automated Trading Desk, the meeting will include a presentation by Steve Swanson, chief executive officer of ATD, with a tour of the company’s trading floor, and will also include a presentation by Ernest Andrade, executive director of the Charleston Digital Corridor, who plans to discuss the corridor’s current projects and future plans during a tour of the organization’s facility in downtown Charleston. Continue reading

Foreign investment in South Carolina supports more than 120,000 jobs

South Carolina ranks #2 in the nation in terms of the percentage of its private workforce employed by job-creating foreign investment, or jobs supported by U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies. Of the state’s private sector workers, 8.1% are employed by job-creating foreign investment. Continue reading

South Carolina makes gains in FTZ exports

Newly published federal figures, released late last month, indicate South Carolina has one of the most powerful exporting economies in the country. Charleston and its surrounding areas are being viewed with a greater sense of importance, given the impact the port has on both local and federal economies. Continue reading

Healthy economy spawns hot real estate market

On Oct. 19 some 300 of the Lowcountry’s commercial real estate players gathered at the Sheraton North Charleston Hotel for the region’s commercial real estate forecast. A week later, many of those same players met again, this time at the Francis Marion hotel downtown to get a commercial real estate review from BarkleyFraser.com. Both gatherings emphasized that the Lowcountry has a robust real estate market feeding off of a relatively healthy local economy. Continue reading

BMW increases shipping through Port of Charleston

Based on a new service agreement between the Port of Charleston and BMW Manufacturing Co., shipping of BMWs through the port will increase, officials for BMW and the S.C. State Ports Authority announced today. Continue reading