Summer 2019
Building for the boom Multifamily construction continues unabated to meet demand, but for how long?
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BEAUFORT
An aerial view of the city of Beaufort’s downtown area. Southern Living magazine named Beaufort the South’s Best Small Town in 2017.
NATURAL BEAUTY AND NATIONAL DEFENSE Beaufort County seeks to build on solid foundation of coastal quality of life, large military presence By Jim Tatum, Associate Editor | Photos provided by Beaufort County Economic Development Corp.
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eaufort County continues to grow. With its storied, fascinating history, haunting beauty, friendly, welcoming people and virtually unmatched quality of life, it’s pretty much a given that so many continue to find Beaufort County such a desirable place to visit and call home. But there’s more to it than great beach weather and virtually limitless recreational opportunities. To be sure, such things are important selling points. But it takes a well-coordinated balancing act to achieve, maintain and increase the prosperity Beaufort County continues to enjoy.
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Beaufort Coun by the numbersty
Population............
................ 186,844
Average Per Capita Income.................. ....
........... $34,966
Median Age.............. Source: U.S. Cens
................... 43.6
us Bureau
COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: BEAUFORT
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COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: BEAUFORT Beaufort County is home to Hilton Head Island, which was named the No. 1 Island in the U.S. by Travel & Leisure magazine in 2018.
Beaufort County, and the municipalities within the county, continue the work of recruiting business and industry in order to bring greater diversity to an economic base that for many years was largely underpinned by the hospitality and retirement industries and a large military presence. Those efforts have focused on augmentation rather than replacement. “Our base has, for some time, been
something of a three-legged stool,” Beaufort County Council Chair Stu Rodman noted. “We never had too much beyond that, so recently, we have started to gear up for traditional economic development efforts.” One important step was the creation in 2017 of the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation (BCEDC), Rodman said. The BCEDC is charged with diversifying the county’s economy and ultimately im-
proving the lives of the citizens by attracting good-paying jobs and encouraging growth that is respectful of the environment. The county also joined the Southern Carolina Regional Development Alliance, which promotes economic development in Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties. Located between the ports of Charleston and Savannah, Ga., Beaufort County is
Leading local employers Rank Company: Number of Employees 1.
Department of Defense: 19,200+
2. Hospitality Industry: 17,200+ 3. CareCore National LLC: 400+
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4. Lockheed Martin: 200+
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5. BFG Marketing LLC: 100+ 6. Geismar North America: 45+ Geismar-Modern Track Machinery manufactures and distributes railway maintenance equipment. Geismar offers a comprehensive range of tools for track works, including hand-held machinery and heavy equipment. Geismar moved to Beaufort County in 2017.
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COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: BEAUFORT
well-situated for many who seek that proximity to major ports, Rodman said. He also notes the county is very attractive to those who simply do not wish to deal with the high taxes and costs of doing business in other parts of the country, such as New York or California. “The county is aggressive in incentivizing companies through cash grants tied to capital investment/job creation and reduced land costs,” Beaufort County Economic Development Director John O’Toole said. Indeed, Beaufort County has seen success in recruiting smaller and mid-sized companies in varying sectors. New announcements for 2018-19 included: • Blue Sky Processing, $3.1 million investment, 16 jobs • Dust Solutions, $1.75 million investment, 12 jobs • Burnt Church Distilleries, $7.7 million investment, 35 jobs • Watterson Brands Headquarters, $1.5 million investment, 19 jobs • Alpha Genesis Inc., $3.35 million investment, 32 jobs
Above, employees on the job at Harris Pillow Supply, a pillow manufacturer located in northern Beaufort County. Harris Pillow Supply has been in Beaufort County since 1980 and announced a $2.1 million expansion in 2016.
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COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: BEAUFORT Marines stand in formation during VMFA-115’s change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Jan. 11, 2019. During the ceremony Lt. Col. Jonathan Curtis relinquished command of the squadron to Lt. Col. Edmund Hipp. (Photo/Cpl. Terry Haynes III, Marine Corps Air Station)
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But the cost of doing business entails more than taxes and utilities. Work force availability is important. Fortunately, Beaufort County seems to be uniquely situated when it comes to that, O’Toole said. With three important military installations, Marine Corps Air Station — Beaufort, Marine Recruit Depot – Parris Island and Beaufort Naval Hospital, a significant sector of the industrial base is defense-related. More than 19,000 work under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Defense. Lockheed-Martin is currently the largest private employer
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in that sector, with some 200 employees. And with more than 1,000 highly trained and experienced personnel exiting the military each year in that area, the area has a strong skilled labor force. In fact, Lockheed-Martin completed some 75 new hires this past year. In one setting, they interviewed 30 individuals and hired 28 of them. “That’s just a microcosm of the work force available here,” O’Toole said. Also taking lead roles in workforce development are the University of South Carolina-Beaufort and the Technical College of
Hilton Head Island Distillery is a spirits manufacturer that uses a combination of age-old distillation techniques and modern technology to make rum and vodka. About 15,000 visitors tour the facility annually.
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the Lowcountry. With a student population of more than 2,000 and an annual graduating class of more than 300, USC-Beaufort offers four-year degrees in a variety of fields. With an enrollment of more than 2,200 students, TCL offers programs in areas such as Avionics, Agri-science, Basic Industrial Systems Technology and more. TCL graduates more than 350 yearly. Besides a robust military presence, Beaufort County also has long maintained a thriving hospitality industry, with more than 17,000 employed in this sector and opportunities growing. Other leading employers include CareCore National LLC, Lockheed Martin, BFG Marketing LLC and Geismar North America. Beaufort County is also constantly working with available infrastructure, from utilities to commercial space. It is home to several business/industrial parks, including Beaufort Commerce Park, a 209-acre industrial park located within the city of Beaufort; Buckwalter Place Commerce Park, a 4.72-acre business park owned by the city of Bluffton; the Port of Port Royal, which consists of more than 275 acres located on the deepest natural channel on the eastern seaboard; and Myrtle Business Park, a 7.7-acre county-owned business park. Samet Corp. is constructing a 50,000-square-foot
COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: BEAUFORT
The University of South Carolina – Beaufort has campuses in Beaufort, Bluffton and Hilton Head Island. The university has an enrollment of over 2,100 students and offers programs to train future workers to meet regional workforce demands.
spec building in Beaufort Commerce Park. And yet, underpinning it all is that nearly unbeatable quality of life, say officials and business owners alike. “Beaufort County and South Carolina have a plethora of resources for emerging businesses,” noted Jennifer Pfuhl, CEO/ owner of Maptech Packaging and Blue-Sky Processing. “However, far more important to us are the quality of life issues. My team and my family love the Lowcountry. The wildlife here is spectacular. The opportunities for boating, fishing, bird watching, camping and beach combing are unparalleled. The weather is unbeatable. We love the people we have met here. The more
we engage in what Beaufort County has to offer, the more ‘hooked’ we become. This is truly our home — and we are thrilled to stay close to it.” Geismar North America, which manufactures rail maintenance equipment, is a recent arrival to Beaufort County. According to Geismar president Al Reynolds, the move has been a very positive one for his company. “In 2017 we made the decision to locate our North American operations to Beaufort County — and we couldn’t be happier,” he said. “The welcoming climate, workforce availability, quality of life — Beaufort County has it all.”
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The Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park promenade provides a nice view of the Beaufort River and the Woods Memorial Bridge, one of a handful of swing bridges still in operation in South Carolina.
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