|
About the Economic Development Department
Our mission is to recruit, retain and assist in the expansion of companies creating “primary” jobs and making capital investments within the boundaries of Charleston County, and to assist in the improvement of the Charleston business climate for such companies.
History
The Charleston County Economic Development Department was created in 1993, following the news that the Base Realignment and Closure Commission would close the Charleston Naval Complex, which employed 22,000 employees. In 1994, the County decided on its three-part economic mission: to engage in business recruitment; to retain existing industry; and to improve the Charleston business climate. The following year, the County, along with neighboring Berkeley and Dorchester Counties, the three chambers of commerce, and the area’s five largest cities, formed the non-profit Charleston Regional Development Alliance to act as the tri-county regional marketing and recruitment coordinator. The same year, the county forged a collaborative agreement with Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce to work in partnership with the County on existing industry matters.
Our Role
RECRUITMENT: The department recruits manufacturers; large distribution facilities; corporate headquarters and office facilities; software-makers; and research and development facilities, including those dedicated to biotech and electronic engineering.
EXISTING INDUSTRY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: The department conducts an existing business assistance program targeted at businesses residing within Charleston County. The department offers direct assistance or referral to service providers in the areas of:
-
Expansion assistance: financial incentives, gap loans and capital formation
-
Workforce recruitment, testing and training
-
Manufacturing process improvements
-
Public infrastructure
-
Supplier sourcing
-
International trade
-
And more…
Results
-
Charleston County has experienced more capital investment and new job creation in the past 13 years (1993-2005) than in the 25 years previous to 1993.
-
From 1993-2005, companies in Charleston County invested nearly $2.5 billion and created nearly 15,000 new jobs in Charleston County alone. (S.C. Dept. of Commerce)
-
In the past decade (since 1996), Charleston County has been named to the S.C. Department of Commerce’s ‘Top Ten List’ of the 46 counties for capital investment and new job creation on nine occasions.
-
Charleston County has experienced the two best years in its capital investment history and its second largest job creation year since the inception of the department in 1993.
-
In 2004, Charleston County topped all 46 South Carolina counties, placing first for both capital investment and new job creation.
-
Charleston County companies made the largest publicly-announced capital investment announcement and the largest private sector job creation announcement in Tri-County history during 2004.
Contact Information
J. Steven Dykes
Director of Economic Development
(843) 958-4506
sdykes@charlestoncounty.org
Ashley Keene
Assistant Director of Economic Development
(843) 958-4510
akeene@charlestoncounty.org
Janel Spencer
Administrative Assistant of Economic Development
(843) 958-4511
jspencer@charlestoncounty.org
Charleston County Economic Development
Lonnie Hamilton III, Public Services Building
4045 Bridge View Drive
North Charleston, SC 29405
Fax: (843) 958-4505
From Left to Right: Ashley Keene, (Assistant Director);
Steve Dykes, (Director); Janel Spencer, (Administrative Assistant).
Back to Top
|
