Charleston

This month, we reveal the athletes with ties to the Lowcountry who medaled in the 2024 Paris Olympics, as well as inform you about some newcomers to the Charleston area, property purchases, expansions and renovations, and mobility improvement efforts that include "pedestrian scrambles" (our new favorite word!). You can click on the links provided where you see bold blue font to learn more about the topics of most interest to you.

In last month’s News Blog, we named some athletes with roots or ties to the Lowcountry who were participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics. We’re happy to report that three have earned medals: Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, a Fort Dorchester High School graduate, won Br...

While life often slows down in the dog days of summer, we have some exciting local news to share this month about area athletes, accolades and records, improvement projects and environmental initiatives. Read on and be sure to use the links provided (click on the bold blue font) to find out more about the topics that interest you.

Let’s begin with news about some of our top area athletes. We have three Charleston natives participating in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics! They are Ashley Hall graduate Emma Navarro in Women’s tennis, Fort Dorchester High School alumnus Jasmine Camacho-Quinn in Women’s 100 hurdles and Burke High School graduate Raven Saunders in Women’s shot put. Former Col...

The Charleston area economy continues to thrive! This month, we highlight recent news related to development, restoration and renovation projects and the life sciences. Follow the links provided for each news item to find out more.

Several major development, restoration and renovation projects are underway or planned across the Lowcountry. Those on our radar include…

• The Archer School Apartments - a $43M restoration and adaptive reuse of the 90-year-old building that was the historic Henry P. Archer School into an affordable housing complex for seniors - has just opened in Charleston’s Eastside. The project, spearheaded by The Humanities Foundation, Charleston County and the City of...

We have some wide ranging local news to share this month. Be sure to follow the links provided to find out more about any items of special interest to you.

On the transportation front, two airlines are adding nonstop services from Charleston: Breeze Airways will offer four flights per week to Los Angeles (LAX) starting mid-June and Spirit Airlines will fly four times per week to Detroit (DTW) beginning mid-July. Tradd Advisory, a third-party freight transport logistics services provider that advises clients, carriers and agents on effective freight handling strategies, will be expanding its operations in Mount Pleasant, creating 100 new jobs over the next five years.

In the technology...

Image courtesy of SC Ports - Matthew Peacock

What a diverse mix of local news we have to share with you this month! Since we’re short on space (and time) to provide many details, be sure to use the links provided to find out more about the items that interest you most.

In industrial news, SC Ports experienced a significant increase in year-over-year container volume growth in March, driven largely by “a 17% increase in loaded imports and strong intermodal cargo movements”. TEUs increased 12%, pier containers 11% and vehicles 15% over March of last year. Containers moved at Inland Ports Greer and Dillon were up 8%, while rail moves were up 22% at Inland Port Greer. This growth in port ...

This month, we focus on local news relating to our waterfront and waterways. Across Greater Charleston - from our barrier islands to Charleston Harbor as well as along and over our rivers - these areas are abuzz with new developments big and small, in planning and underway! Here are some on our radar.

On the Isle of Palms, a small waterfront park along the Intracoastal Waterway is close to completion near the marina. It will consist of a boardwalk, a public dock with kayak launch, kayak storage, green space, seating and parking for golf carts and bicycles. Another park is planned for an undeveloped, long and narrow 24-acre tract of land along the Stono River on James Island. Known as...

There’s been a lot of great news about the Charleston area recently and we can only graze the surface. This month, we’re highlighting the environment, requests for public input, and industry expansions and new arrivals. We hope you’ll follow the links provided to find out more about the topics that interest you.

Regarding the environment, we’re happy to report that South Carolina - and Charleston - are recognized as regional leaders in proactive climate planning and that there’s a new app called Recycle Coach available to help Charleston County residents with recycling. 

As for requests for public input, public meetings and open houses have been held and/or are planned regarding the R...

The Charleston area economy remains sound, attracting a growing number of industries, out-of-state relocatees and visitors. Charleston International Airport set a record in 2023 with more than 6 million travelers. Allied Van Lines’ 2023 Annual US Moving Migration Report revealed that not only was South Carolina the top inbound state for moves, but that Charleston was the top inbound city across the US and was the destination of 70% of those moving to our state! Check out the report if you’re curious to find out why people are moving here. Airlines - such as Air Canada, Breeze and Spirit - are responding to growing interest in Charleston by introducing new routes (including internation...

The Charleston area economy is doing well! Here's some of the latest news...

Air Canada is adding Charleston as a nonstop destination from Toronto, Canada.  The daily international service between Charleston International Airport (CHS) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) begins March 28, 2024. It will be the state’s only daily nonstop international flight.

Contract agreements for the Battery Park riverfront development, a 50-acre project in North Charleston, have recently gained approval from the City Council. The collaborative effort of Jamestown, Weaver Capital Partners, and WECCO Development will play a crucial role in the city's initiative to revitalize the former Ch...

November 2023 News

After Closing N. Charleston Paper Mill, WestRock Co. to Be Sold for $11 Billion
WestRock Co. has agreed to be sold to Dublin-based Smurfit Kappa in an $11 billion deal, creating a global packaging giant. When combined, the two companies will become the second-largest packaging company globally, and will be known as Smurfit WestRock. The deal follows WestRock's recent closure of its North Charleston paper mill due to high operating costs and capital investment needs. This transaction “is expected to be finalized by mid-2024”. Read more here and here. 

New 23-Acre State Park on James Island to be Completed 2024
A new 23-acre state park is being developed on the northe...

AUGUST 2023 NEWS

Startup Vehicle Manufacturer to Open $34M Summerville Facility 
"Honor LSV, a startup manufacturing company, will design, manufacture and assemble golf carts and luxury low-speed vehicles in Berkeley County". The company plans to invest $34 million into the project and create 65 new jobs in the Summerville area. According to South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, “This investment will bring our people even more opportunity and help continue to propel the state’s rapidly growing economy forward.” Read more here. 

Marvel Actor Jeremy Renner New Co-owner of Local Sweet Grass Vodka
Jeremy Renner, a two-time Oscar nominee known for his roles as Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic U...

JULY 2023 NEWS

Mount Pleasant Named as a 2023 All-American City
Mount Pleasant has been recognized as one of 20 finalist cities nationwide for the 2023 All-American City Award! This honor is given to “municipalities that demonstrate innovation, civic engagement, and collaboration in their efforts to create a positive impact on their communities.” According to the National Civic League, Mount Pleasant’s "new Intellectual Disability Inclusion Movement" and the strong relationship the town’s police force have with their community were some of the main factors behind being chosen. Mount Pleasant has been nominated for this award twice before, in 2010 and 2018. Read more here, and here. 

Intern...

JUNE 2023 NEWS



North Charleston, the No. 1 Place for EV-related Manufacturers in the Eastern US
A new report from The Boyd Co. ranks North Charleston as the No. 1 place in the East for EV-related factories. Not only does North Charleston offer “the lowest annual operating costs of any market along the East Coast”, but it also has the $3.5 billion investment by Redwood Materials for a lithium-ion battery recycling plant in nearby Ridgeville, cultivating a thriving EV industry. Read more here and here.

Charleston’s Record-Breaking Tourism Year
According to a new College of Charleston study, area tourism spending hit an all-time-high record of $12.8 billion in 2022, a 21% increase over 2021! Not...

MAY 2023 NEWS

Logistics Company Investing $9.4M to expand North Charleston Operations

Neal Brothers Charleston Inc., a global logistics company, is set to invest $9.48 million to expand its operations in Charleston County, creating 10 new jobs in the first year. The company plans to build a 100,000-square-foot facility at its existing location in North Charleston, which will increase shipping operations and serve the region’s waterfront and logistics community. Neal Brothers is a world leader in export packing, storage, freight and distribution services, as well as project shipping management. They have operated in North Charleston for over 30 years, currently employing over 100 peopl...

APRIL 2023 NEWS

Metals Recycling Company Coming to Berkeley County 

ZEB Metals, a company that “buys and trades non-ferrous scrap and also recycles metals and other material”, is relocating from Kentucky to a new facility near Highway 52 in Moncks Corner. This new facility will process secondary aluminum scrap that would otherwise be put in landfills. According to the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the company’s new operations will create 28 new jobs and is anticipated to be up and running by late 2023. “This is the first secondary re-melt facility of its kind in the Southeast region of the United States.” Read more here. 

Historic Charleston School to Become Low-Income H...

MARCH 2023 NEWS

If Passed, SC Bill Could Deter Local Bans on Short-Term Rentals
According to a recent study, short-term rentals now contribute over $4 billion to SC’s economy and generate “nearly $2 billion in revenue for property owners” each year. Given the growing number of local bans and regulations on them and the importance of the tourism industry to the state, a new bill was recently introduced to the SC State House to deter local governments from imposing laws that ban renting a residence (including individual rooms) for fewer than 29 days. If it goes through, any city or county that continues to impose short-term rental bans would face penalties. Read more here and here. 

Pa...

Charleston, SC

This is the recommended preferred Alternative G route of 2021. | Screenshot via SCDOT.

As reported by The Post & Courier: https://www.postandcourier.com/news/charleston-countys-75m-approval-clears-way-for-dot-to-buy-homes-in-mark-clark-path/article_57c9c442-a0d4-11ed-8310-2f5b168e63f3.html

"On Tuesday, Charleston County Council voted to approve millions in funding for the Mark Clark Extension project, which plans to extend I-526 from West Ashley, to Johns Island, to James Island.

This funding will allow the project to move forward but does not guarantee that it will be completed. The source of the remaining funds needed is uncertain (we’ll share updates in a future news...

FEBRUARY 2023 NEWS

Charleston Metro Area Sees 2nd Highest Job Growth in Nation in 2022
As shown by recent data from 2022, Charleston and North Charleston Metro saw a 6.6% increase in employment last year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that makes it one of the largest over-the-year percentage increases in the nation! Despite growing worries of a recession, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce is anticipating “nearly 36,000 new jobs by the end of 2026.” Read more here and here. 

“Navy Base Redevelopment District” to Join New Pedestrian Bridge
New development plans proposed by the City of North Charleston for the former Navy Base could bring new single- and multi-family ...

Charleston, SC - January 26, 2023

The Post & Courier reported today that construction on the new access road to Charleston International Airport could begin by mid-2024, after South Carolina officials committed to help fund the nearly $144 million project.

Read more here.

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JANUARY 2023 NEWS

SC’s Largest Economic Development Investment To-date Coming to Berkeley County

Redwood Materials, a domestic recycler of lithium-ion batteries and re-manufacturer of anode and cathode battery components for electric vehicles, will invest $3.5 billion to establish a new Battery Materials Campus and a “circular supply chain for electric vehicles” on a 600-acre site in Ridgeville in Berkeley County. This is the largest economic development announcement in the state’s history and one that will create 1,500 new jobs, help address the need for domestic sourcing of supply, and drive down costs and emissions. Groundbreaking is planned for early 2023 and the first recycli...