Record Growth and Expansion Plans for CHS Airport
As the number of passengers traveling through Charleston International Airport (CHS) continues to rise, so does its need to expand. The airport served close to 487,000 air travelers this April alone - second only to July of 2021 when over 490,000 arrivals and departures were recorded. During the first four months of this year, CHS welcomed almost 1.5 million passengers, which is greater than the same period in 2019 before Covid-19 impacted travel. CHS CEO Elliott Summey believes the airport will set a new record in the summer months to come and projects 5 million passengers by the end of this year, due to both new carriers and route expansions. With the expected increase in traffic and revenue, CHS’s proposed spending budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year will reach $100 million. $18 million of this is intended for the addition of three temporary boarding gates to Terminal “A”, $2.8 million for the creation of a “globe monument” at the entrance and $2.5 million for upgrades to the passenger screening area. Funds will also be allocated to hiring more employees, paying down debt from recent expansions and setting aside funds for future expansions. Read more here and here.
Blackbaud Achieves Carbon Neutrality
Blackbaud, a publicly-traded and leading cloud software company headquartered in Charleston, became carbon neutral in 2021. To achieve this feat, the company focused on emissions reduction, energy efficiency and investment in environmental projects. It first looked at three facets of its business that produced emissions and consumed energy: its own buildings, those it rents and those it uses indirectly (eg., data centers, cloud centers and the homes of work-from-home employees). Its efforts to achieve a zero carbon footprint were accelerated by its “remote-first workforce strategy,” which gives employees the option to work entirely from home and thereby cut their commute emissions. To help reduce its footprint, Blackbaud also invests in renewable energy credits and carbon offsets, supports reforestation and renewable energy projects and donates to science-based climate research, education and advocacy around the world. Read more here.
Darius Rucker’s New Home Renovation Show
Darius Rucker, a beloved Charlestonian and music icon, has purchased a new house in the heart of downtown Charleston. He is starring in a renovation show called Rucker’s Reno on The Design Network, where he takes viewers through the process of transforming his historic house into a home. Rucker will also be exploring the Charleston area in each episode, highlighting some of the best attractions the city has to offer. Read more here.