Charleston, SC Economic Development

Location & Expansion Log

For a detailed list of Alliance facilitated projects, please visit our company announcements page.


New to the Region
Announced Company Name Product / Service Description New Jobs Capital Investment
10/29/2008  Surya Biofertilizers, LLC  Headquarters for organic fertilizer manufacturer and distributor  Surya Biofertilizers, LLC (www.SuryaGrow.com) is a Charleston-operated privately held company offering proven, safe, environmentally-friendly natural fertilization products as alternatives to synthetic fertilizers for the agriculture, turf, nursery, landscaping and land reclamation industries. The company plans to eventually build a manufacturing facility in one of the state’s more rural counties.   3   
09/25/2008  Innovation Center Incubator Collaborative (SC Research Authority, Medical Univ of SC, City of Charleston)  Life-sciences research and development laboratory and office incubator facilties  A collaborative effort between the South Carolina Research Authority, the Medical University of South Carolina and the City of Charleston, this $5 million overhaul of an existing 28,000 square foot building will provide clinically approved laboratory and office space for fledgling and start-up businesses in the life-sciences industry. The space could be ready for high-tech entrepreneurial tenants in about one year.    $5 million 
06/09/2008  2AM Group LLC  Technical services for automotive, aerospace and marine vehicle manufacturers  This South Carolina-based company provides bundled technical services for automotive, aerospace and marine vehicle and product manufacturers. 2AM Group chose the Charleston region because of anticipated growth of these industry sectors.  50   
05/22/2008  Continental Terminals Inc.  Warehousing services  This New Jersey-based company is leasing a food-grade warehouse in the Charleston region to serve as a holding tank for coffee en route from tropical foreign nations to Starbucks’ new South Carolina roasting facility.  30   
04/10/2008  Myconostica Ltd.  Medical diagnostics  This UK-based company, which specializes in tests for life-threatening fungal infections, is locating its new U.S. headquarters in the Charleston region. The company said it chose Charleston because of the growth of its biotech cluster.      
03/12/2008  Jafza International  Global free zone management and consultancy  This Dubai-based company has opened its North American headquarters in Charleston with plans to launch a $600 million logistics and business park project in Orangeburg by 2010. The office will be their base for the Orangeburg project as well as other business throughout the United States.      
01/21/2008  Delfin Group USA  Mixing and bottling of motor oil  Delfin USA, an expansion of Delfin Russia, has acquired a lube blending facility and will serve the automotive, commercial and industrial markets. Delfin was attracted to the site’s deepwater access; three rail spurs linking the site to both Norfolk Southern and CSX rail service; and the site’s easy highway access.  170   
12/04/2007  Venture Aerobearings, LLC  Jet engine aerobearings   This joint venture of SKF Group and GE Aviation will manufacture and repair aerobearings for GE jet engines. Company officials selected the Charleston region because of a skilled workforce and the support of state and local development authorities.  100  $28 million 
11/26/2007  MPW/Separ Worldwide  Diesel fuels manufacturing  Manufactures and distributes diesel fuel products that extend the life of diesel engines as well as the consumption of diesel fuel.     
10/29/2007  X-Calibur Plant Health Company  Controlled release fertilizer  A pro-business environment, cooperative community and deep water port convinced this start-up company to locate its headquarters and manufacturing facility in the region. X-Calibur Plant Health Company is the sole North American manufacturer of Plantacote controlled release fertilizer which allows plant growers a more efficient, economical and environmentally-friendly way to continuously feed nutrients.   25  $5 million 
10/24/2007  Nationwide Express, Inc.  Full service transportation logistics management company  This global leader in transportation logistics management opened it's first transloading facility in South Carolina. Key reasons for selecting our region for this competitive investment: state's infrastructure, access to markets and the Port of Charleston.  10  $2.5 million 
08/10/2007  Streit USA Armoring  Armored vehicle manufacturer  The Canadian-based company upfits automobiles with armor plating and glass, is opening the U.S. facility in order to compete for government contracts. It would provide vehicles for military officials, diplomats and other dignitaries and be used around the globe.   50   
07/19/2007  TWL Precision  Precision automotive components  TWL Precision Ltd, headquartered in England, will join the region's growing automotive cluster with their new North American Corporate Office. As a key precision component supplier for Toyota in Europe, TWL will grow their North American customer base by working with companies such as Cummins Turbo Technologies in Charleston.  70  $8 million 

Local Expansions
Announced Company Name Product / Service Description New Jobs Capital Investment
09/09/2008  Medical University of South Carolina Bioengineering Center  Biomedical engineering research and development  The S.C. Bioengineering Center at MUSC is a joint project between the Medical University and Clemson University to construct new, larger quarters due to lack of space for current activities in the field. The four-story, 100,000 square foot building including incubator space is expected to be completed by 2010 and will be physically linked to another 100,000+ square foot MUSC facility housing laboratory and bio-tech startup space referred to as the "drug discovery" building.    $55 million 
09/09/2008  Sawgrass Technologies, Inc.  Global corporate headquarters; manufacturer of digital printing products and R&D of digital printing technologies  Sawgrass Technologies is an industry leader in the development of specialty digital printing technologies. This global company, headquartered in the Charleston S.C. MSA, develops and manufactures digital products that allow for custom printing onto surfaces such as plastic, metal, films, ceramics, and textiles. The firm added an additional 4,000 square feet of office space to its existing 41,000 square feet of office, manufacturing and R&D facilities locally. Sawgrass also has offices in Switzerland and England.     
08/20/2008  American LaFrance  Specialty transportation equipment manufacturing  In a joint venture with Navistar Inc. of Warrenville IL, American LaFrance announced an expansion of its vocational truck manufacturing business (garbage trucks, construction vehicles, etc.) at its Summerville plant.     
07/15/2008  Cummins Turbo Technologies  Diesel turbochargers   Two years after opening a second manufacturing facility in the Charleston region, Cummins Turbo Technologies is expanding to meet growing worldwide demand for its products. The company will double assembly capacity and greatly increase machining capacity at its existing plant in North Charleston’s Palmetto Commerce Park.   100  $11 million 
06/30/2008  UEC Electronics LLC  Electronics for aerospace, advanced security, other sectors  Leasing a 25,000-square-foot building & acquiring another 20,000 square feet adjacent to existing space to meet growing demand.  100  $2 million 
04/02/2008  Arcadia Publishing  Book publisher  The nation's leading publisher of books on local history is expanding its corporate offices and national distribution center with an additional 22,100 square-feet of office and warehouse space.   25-30   
02/18/2008  MeadWestvaco Corp. - Specialty Chemicals  Performance chemicals manufacturing  Aquired Eastman Chemical Co.’s pine chemicals product line, which will result in MeadWestvaco acquiring all intellectual property and technology associated with Pamite® tall oil rosins and Pamak® tall oil fatty acids now manufactured at Eastman’s Franklin, Virginia, plant. MeadWestvaco will transition production to its Specialty Chemicals plants, which includes Charleston, SC.      
12/18/2007  DuPont  Manufacturing of Kevlar brand fiber  Following a highly competitive site selection process, this global technology innovator chose the Charleston region for the largest single investment in its Kevlar high-performance fiber, and the largest capacity increase since 1965.  100  $500 million 
12/02/2007  Weber Automotive Corp.  Manufactures high-end components and systems for the auto industry  Albert Weber, a manufacturer of high-end components and systems for the auto industry, will invest $10 million to expand its operation by 2010, more than tripling the size of its manufacturing plant and doubling its workforce.  50  $10 million 
10/31/2007  Robert Bosch Corp.  Manufactures anti-lock brakes and fuel system units.  The region’s largest manufacturer, Dorchester County’s Robert Bosch Corp., is adding 100 new jobs at its North Charleston facility, the result of continued strong demand for the company’s anti-lock brakes and fuel system units for gas and diesel engines.  100   
10/25/2007  Syn Strand Inc.  Monofilament manufacturing  Syn Strand is adding 14,000 square feet to an existing plant to enlarge the facility and the research & development department.  5  $2.5 million 
08/06/2007  AT&T  Telecommunications services  Telecommunications services; regional headquarters     
06/28/2007  Mediterranean Shipping Company  South Atlantic corporate headquarters for international shipping company  The second largest container carrier in the world announced the location of its South Atlantic corporate headquarters here. Among the reasons cited for this competitive expansion: a dedicated workforce, reasonable coastal living and a strong business climate.  120  $7 million 
06/21/2007  BookSurge  Digital publishing  An Amazon.com company, BookSurge has expanded its print-on-demand book publishing operation in the Charleston region.     

Downsizing
Announced Company Name Product / Service Description
10/14/2008  Piggly Wiggly Carolina Company Inc.  Regional corporate headquarters for retail grocery chain  Charleston-based Piggly Wiggly Carolina Company Inc. operates more than 100 supermarkets and employs 5,000 workers in North and South Carolina and Georgia. To remain competitive in the industry, the firm laid off approximately 30 workers at its Charleston area offices and warehouses. 
06/02/2008  Gates Corporation  Automotive timing belts   The Denver-based company will begin paring down the 197-employee payroll in early September with layoffs to follow for an additional five to six months and is expected to shut down entirely in the first quarter of 2009. 
05/31/2008  Enterprise Rent-a-Car Call Center  Car Rental Customer Service Call Center  Company officials reportedly chose to close this ten year old customer service center for reasons relating to technology capabilities of the physical facility, after acquiring it from another auto rental company in late 2007. The firm stressed its praise of the commitment and performance of the 250 workers affected. 
05/30/2008  Force Protection  Military vehicles  The Ladson-based company has trimmed its number of employees to 1,540 from a peak of about 2,000 late last year. In addition, the company is moving part of its operation from Summerville to Roxboro, N.C., where it bought a former automotive plant in 2007. The number of employees affected has not been determined.  
03/10/2008  Argolyn Bioscience  Biological research  Argolyn Bioscience will move its headquarters to Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The company will maintain its existing research and discovery activities in Charleston, South Carolina, where Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Tom Dix, will continue to be located. 
01/13/2008  Maersk Sealand  Steamship liner shipping agency  Maersk's Mount Pleasant customer service/call center will close in August 2008, consolidating these operations along with a similar one in Portsmouth VA to another facility in Charlotte NC to improve efficiency, according to company officials. All of its 140 customer service employees were offered the option of relocating to the Charlotte facility, and about 40 took the offer while the other 100 reportedly chose to remain in the Charleston region for other local opportunities. The rest of Maersk's local operations will also remain in the Charleston area.  
01/07/2008  American LaFrance  Firefighting Equipment  Corporate headquarters for firetruck and ambulance manufacturing. Furloughed 100 workers. Filing for bankruptcy and closing Hanahan and Jedburg facilities. UPDATE (May 27, 2008) - American LaFrance LLC announced it has emerged from bankruptcy after the company’s Plan of Reorganization was accepted by a judge on Friday. The company had filed for Chapter 11 protection in January, after putting about 100 employees on furlough and accruing more than $100 million in debt, according to court documents. The furlough ended March 31st and a “majority” of the workers returned, according to a company release.  
12/06/2007  Protected Vehicles Inc.  Military Vehicles  Laid off 400 person work force and is filing for bankruptcy. 
11/29/2007  Enterprise Rent-A-Car  Passenger car rental  Closing its Goose Creek reservation/customer service call center May 31, 2008. The decision will affect roughly 250 employees.  
10/19/2007  McNaughton Apparel Group  Clothing company   Owned by clothing giant Jones Apparel Group Inc., McNaughton Apparel Group will close two warehouses, affecting almost 300 jobs. The buildings, measuring about 300,000 square feet each, are in the North Pointe Industrial Park off North Rhett Avenue. The first of two warehouses will close in January 2008.  

Source: Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

*Charleston-N. Charleston MSA is comprised of Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties in S.C.