It seems that the typical summer slowdown for local news has not yet landed. This month, we bring you interesting news related to aviation (yet again!) and shipping, business and industry (ever-growing!), civic and community initiatives (think planning!), and recent awards and rankings (these you have to check out!). For topics of most interest to you, follow the links where you see bold blue font to learn more. Happy summer reading!
We realize that aviation news is a common thread in our monthly news blog, so we’re adding some shipping news. Charleston International Airport has been selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation as one of eight airports across the country to get a new, state-of the art air traffic control facility. The airport also fared quite well in a recent passenger satisfaction survey completed by the McNair Group, with its restaurants, retail and concessions, and TSA rated most highly (but its baggage claim calling for improvement). Breeze Airways continues to expand its web of nonstop flights from Charleston, with a new twice-weekly service to the Jersey Shore. And here’s the shipping-related news: the State Ports Authority is seeking design proposals to expand its North Charleston Terminal onto the adjacent 280-acre site of the former WestRock paper mill. Demolition of the mill facilities will be getting underway this summer.
As for business and industry news, perhaps the findings of the College of Charleston’s Office of Tourism Analysis’ recently released 2025 Economic Impact of Tourism report are most notable, with these record highs achieved: a $14.3B impact generated by 7.91M visitors, including 6.34M airport travelers, and serviced by 55,500 industry workers! All the better, with individual visitor spending levels increasing faster than overnight visitor numbers. Two local beverage companies are also doing well and are now undergoing expansions. Buttermilk Bottling Co., maker of nonalcoholic beverages using all-natural ingredients, is investing $8.2M in a new 12,000sf facility in Ravenel. Low Tide Brewing, a craft beer company, is nearing completion of its new $22.2M, 26,800sf facility on James Island that will include a state-of-the-art brewing system and event space. And just in: Allegiance Flag Supply of North Charleston has secured a new multi-year sponsorship deal for NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series race at Nashville Superspeedway!
Civic and community news continues to be made across the Lowcountry, with a heavy emphasis on planning this month. Here’s just a glimpse! For Downtown Charleston, the City of Charleston is in the early stages of updating its tourism management plan to balance visitor growth with local quality of life, preparing its new Peninsula Plan to manage the growth and evolution of this significant area and will also be proceeding with the next phase of its Battery Extension project to protect the area from severe storm surges and tidal flooding. Historic Charleston Foundation held a forum last month to provide input to the Peninsula Plan, and its website has an overview of development activity and opportunities which allows resident feedback. Mount Pleasant is working to preserve the low-density of the Ten-Mile community with an overlay zoning district, with a final vote on its proposed ordinance expected this month. It is also considering, as part of its five-year strategic plan, how to redevelop a portion of Long Point Road near the Wando Welch Terminal, possibly into an innovation hub.
Continuing with civic and community news… In North Charleston, the City is also updating its plans for future growth and is holding public meetings to seek input in early June. It has also donated four vacant lots to non profit organizations to help them expand affordable housing, and a Charleston Workforce Housing Fund - Ascent Housing partnership has purchased a rental complex to ensure that its units remain affordable. In West Ashley, the City of Charleston is planning to acquire a parcel of riverfront marshland located between the two Highway 17 bridges in order to connect the pedestrian and bicycle bridge now under construction with a sidewalk that would allow continuous access to paths along Highway 61 and the West Ashley Bikeway. Reaching across municipal jurisdictions, Charleston County Council has approved $11.5 million in Transportation Sales Tax funding for Greenbelt projects covering 900 acres, and the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCD COG) held three community workshops last month to seek input on a transit-oriented growth plan along the planned Lowcountry Rapid Transit Corridor.
We always love to share local news about recent awards and rankings and here are the latest we’ve come across. WalletHub has ranked Charleston as the 6th best city in the U.S. to start a career, the 8th best city to raise a family, and the 25th best city for a summer job. Charleston City Paper has released its list of 2026 Best of Charleston winners, with a few new categories and surprise winners. Five K-5 students across the tri-county public school system submitted winning names for four cranes at SC Ports’ Wando Welch Terminal, each receiving $500 for their school, a plaque and a tour of the facility. Yes, you have to open the link to see how creative they are! And here’s a chance for you to have your say – You have until June 14th to submit your nominations for our state’s 35th Annual Humanities Awards to recognize those who work hard to strengthen their communities.
That’s it for now! Be sure to keep an eye out for July’s Charleston in the News blog. We want to help keep you up-to-date with what’s happening.
