Dorchester County - SC Biz 2

Summer 2011

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Dorchester County

Dozens of shops dot the streets of downtown Summerville.

Dorchester

It’s a pleasure doing business

D

orchester County is distinguished by an ideal blend of market access, a trained labor force and a high quality of life, not to mention its geographic position as the gateway to Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry.

The county has the attributes that economic developers dream about, but local leaders are working hard to make the county even more hospitable to businesses. From infrastructure upgrades to a new job training center, library improvements to environmental initiatives, it all comes down to one word — investment.

Dorchester County Council, which directs the county’s economic development strategy, aims to leverage county dollars by combining them with state and federal dollars to make a positive environmental, social and economic impact on the community. Through collaborative efforts and innovative thinking, the seven members of Dorchester County Council strive to improve the county for business and for life.

For example, the county successfully sought a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to improve water and sewer infrastructure to support the global headquarters of ArborGen, a biotech company with a focus on the forestry industry. ArborGen is nearing completion on a $14.3 million headquarters in East Edisto, MeadWestvaco’s Lowcountry development, and will create at least 25 high-paying jobs in the county.

More recently, Dorchester combined county funding with a $1.38 million EDA grant to build a water reclamation facility that will support the expansion of the county’s Robert Bosch automotive component plant.

The expansion is expected to generate more than 300 new jobs and $125 million in investment during the next five years.

These investments have made the county’s water infrastructure more robust than ever, with water and wastewater capacity to accommodate even the most intense users.

What’s more, the new water reclamation facility is especially “green” — it’s expected to save 80,000 gallons of water per day and reduce energy consumption, water pollution and the use of hazardous chemicals.

Green is good The water reclamation project is one of several green initiatives the county has launched as an investment in the county’s efficiency and competitiveness, and in its quality of life.

“One of Dorchester County’s many objectives is to endorse energy-efficient projects that will provide long-term benefits to sustain the county while expanding investment potential,” said Dorchester County Council Chairman Larry Hargett.

“We want to pursue activities that achieve economic growth while also protecting our considerable natural resources and ensuring that our quality of life remains high,” said Richard Rosebrock of the Dorchester County Council and Keep Dorchester County Beautiful.

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Dorchester County

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Francis Beidler Forest in the Four Holes Swamp provides the perfect backdrop for outdoor recreation.

In 2010, IMO USA Corp. unveiled the largest solar power tracker in the state, generating 42,000 kilowatts per hour annually. Pictured is IMO Chief Executive Officer Rüdiger Unverzagt.

The county knows first-hand that going green can have a big payoff. Dorchester recently received grants from the South Carolina Energy Office to install energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems in county buildings.

“This is saving the county more than $100,000 per year in energy costs,” said George Bailey, Vice Chairman of Dorchester County Council.

Also notable among Dorchester’s environmental achievements is the presence of the state’s largest solar tracker in Summerville, the county’s largest community. The solar tracker is there thanks to IMO USA, a Germanowned company that chose Summerville for a new manufacturing facility last year. The solar tracker sits on a rotating pole that allows it to follow the sun’s path during the day, capturing significantly more energy than a stationary solar panel.

IMO is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of slewing rings and slew drives, which are used in several alternative energy applications, including wind turbines and tidal stream systems.

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“The area’s strengthening profile in alternative energy, along with the proximity of the port, gave us complete confidence in our decision to locate in Dorchester County,” said Rüdiger Unverzagt, CEO of IMO USA Corp.

Logistics made simple Having the Port of Charleston just 30 minutes from the county line is a benefit for local businesses.

“The Port of Charleston is a real competitive advantage for us,” said Jon Baggett, Director of Economic Development for Dorchester County. “It’s the most productive port in North America, it has deep water, its terminals are closer to the open sea than any other port … combined with our rail and interstate access, it makes it so easy for companies to receive shipments and get their products to their customers.”

Indeed, the multi-modal components of Dorchester’s transportation infrastructure are impressive, combining to give companies access to markets across the country and across the world.

Charleston is not the only major port near Dorchester County; the Port of Savannah is also an easy drive. Interstate 95, the East Coast’s main north-south corridor, crosses the county, as does I-26. The growing Charleston International Airport features more than 120 daily flights to nearly 20 destinations and has air cargo facilities. Both CSX and Norfolk Southern operate large rail networks in the region.

“Our transportation network within the county is so extensive, and we’re right next door to so many great assets — plus, 75% of the U.S. population is within 1,000 miles. It just makes us a prime spot to do business,” said Dorchester County Councilman Willie Davis.

Baggett notes that prospective industries wanting to take advantage of Dorchester’s extensive transportation infrastructure can choose from more than 4,500 acres of available industrial sites in the county. “We have lots of certified product — it’s easy for companies to find the perfect site here.”

Smart, skilled and ready to work Dorchester is also investing in its most important asset — its strong, skilled labor force — by beefing up local education and workforce training resources.

The county joined state and local partners to build a QuickJobs Training Center, operated by Trident Technical College, in the county seat of St. George to increase the availability of manufacturing skills and training opportunities in the upper part of the county.

“In Dorchester, we understand that the quality of our workers plays a huge role in attracting industry,” Hargett said. “The QuickJobs center will provide job-specific continuing education to ensure that our workers are

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The $2.4 million QuickJobs Training Center, completed in mid-2010, offers the residents of St. George multiple training and continuing education opportunities, as well as a public computer center.

fully prepared to contribute to their employers’ success from the first day on the job. Logistics and transportation are major topics of training, in response to the growth of import and export businesses locating in the area.”

Trident Technical College contributed funds for the project and is also providing the training, which will be customized to the needs of local workers and local industries.

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Along with the county’s contribution, the state Department of Commerce provided a Community Development Block Grant to help fund the project, and local legislators contributed money from the Upper Dorchester County Economic Development Fund.

“We are very fortunate to have local representatives who are keenly attuned to the needs of business, as well as support from the

state level to maintain Dorchester’s businessfriendly environment,” said Dorchester County Economic Development Board Chairman George Tupper.

The QuickJobs center will further support Dorchester’s already strong labor pool; 88% of the workforce has a high school education, and 1/3 have earned a degree from a higher education institution.

“Technically trained and academically prepared workers are crucial to our success,” Unverzagt said. “We found that here.”

Local employers also give Dorchester’s labor pool high marks in areas such as productivity, reliability and positive attitudes.

Showa Denko Carbon Inc.’s President and CEO Bob Whitten said his company has “found a readily available workforce with a ‘right-to-work’ mindset. This mindset has enabled our company to establish a modern, employee-oriented human resources policy to ensure good relations with our workers to keep productivity high.”

Earlier this year, Showa Denko provided further proof of the company’s high regard for Dorchester County workers by announcing an expansion of its Ridgeville operations. The graphite electrode manufacturer will invest

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Robert Bosch recently announced plans to expand and create more than 300 jobs, with an investment of $125 million. Dorchester County will aid the plant’s expansion through the construction of a new water reclamation facility made possible by a $1.38 million EDA grant.

hundreds of millions of dollars in the county and create an estimated 100 new jobs.

“Our labor pool is extremely strong, yet our wages are very competitive,” Baggett added.

In addition to a ready supply of skilled labor, companies can take advantage of South Carolina’s nationally acclaimed workforce training program, readySC — customized to meet the specific training needs of each company — when they locate in Dorchester County. Companies in Dorchester County also benefit from the fact that South Carolina is a “right-to-work” state and has the third lowest unionization rate in the U.S. at 4.1%.

The area’s strong, diverse population growth also contributes to workforce strength.

Region-wide population has grown to about 600,000. Local college graduates also add to the workforce with nearly 6,000 degrees awarded locally each year.

offer many two-year, four-year, graduate and professional degrees.

Another of the county’s recent investment projects was to rehabilitate and expand the library in St. George. Community Development Block Grant funds helped the county revitalize the existing library, acquire adjoining land and build additional space to expand the computer resources that are available to the community.

Sean Bennett, a Dorchester County business owner and board chairman of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance,

Dorchester County or CRDA, acknowledges that this county is a special place to live and do business.

“Dorchester County’s assets are vital to our three-county region’s competitive mix, and are critical components of our region’s economic development strategy. As we continue to market our region internationally for new business investment, more and more companies are choosing to create jobs in Dorchester County. And that’s exciting,” Bennett said.

Unlimited possibilities for enjoyment Dorchester County has a lively arts and

RIGHT NEXT DOOR D O R C H E S T E R C O U N T Y, S O U T H C A R O L I N A

Easy living There are several reasons why Dorchester County is one of the fastest-growing areas in South Carolina. The communities are serene, friendly, charming and historic; and civic pride among residents and businesses is high.

Dorchester residents enjoy a quality of life that comes from living in a beautiful place full of amenities, such as cozy neighborhoods, great schools, high-quality health care, and a wide variety of ways to have fun and spend time with family and friends.

Dorchester County residents have access to excellent educational facilities. The county has an award-winning public school system and several private K–12 options. The Charleston area’s higher education institutions include colleges and universities that

Dorchester County, SC is perfectly positioned Right Next Door to the Port of Charleston, the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner final assembly site, the Clemson University Wind Turbine Drive Train Test Facility, and Historic Downtown Charleston. Dorchester County also offers low business costs, a highly skilled and productive workforce, access to rail and Interstates 95 and 26, and available buildings and certified sites.

Come see what’s right next door.

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Dorchester County

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By the numbers Labor Profile Information – March 2011 Labor Pool......................................... 63,999 Employed......................................... 58,914 Unemployed........................................ 5,085 Unemployment Rate............................. 7.9% Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Commuting Patterns Live & Work in County........................ 13,189 Commute into County........................ 14,558 Commute out of County..................... 38,738 Top 5 Commute Destinations Charleston County............................. 22,807 Berkeley County................................... 6,081 Richland County................................... 1,789 Orangeburg County.............................. 1,044 Beaufort County...................................... 848 Top 5 Commute Origins Berkeley County................................... 4,949 Charleston County............................... 4,577 Orangeburg County................................. 996 Colleton County...................................... 758 Richland County...................................... 349 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 Commuting Patterns Population Growth 2000 Population................................ 96,413 2010 Population.............................. 136,555 Percent Growth................................... 41.6% Source: U.S. Census, 2010 culture scene with many festivals and several theater and musical performance groups.

Community parks offer plenty of in-town space for people to gather, play and explore, while larger protected areas within the county feature beautiful scenery and the opportunity for all kinds of outdoor activities.

Givhans Ferry State Park, for example, offers camping, hiking, and fishing. The 988acre park borders the Edisto River, the longest free-flowing blackwater river in North America, and is part of the 56-mile Edisto River Canoe and Kayak Trail.

Francis Beidler Forest, owned by the National Audubon Society, promotes the conservation of birds and bird habitats. It contains the largest remaining stand of virgin bald cypress and tupelo gum swamp forest in the world.

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Showa Denko announced it will invest several hundred million dollars in its Ridgeville plant and will create roughly 100 new jobs. Pictured: Showa Denko President and CEO Bob Whitten and Gov. Nikki Haley.

Dorchester County has easy access to the fresh water of Lakes Marion and Moultrie in Berkeley County, and the salt water rivers and creeks of the Atlantic Ocean. More than a dozen local marinas offer boat or kayak rentals, sailing lessons, and in-shore and off-shore fishing charters.

Dorchester County also is just a short drive from the world-class city of Charleston and South Carolina coastal communities and resorts such as Edisto Beach, Kiawah and the Isle of Palms.

“Being a fast-growing county and being located where we are, we have a lot of amenities to offer that you would expect in more urban areas in terms of cultural resources, special events and entertainment options,” said Dorchester County Administrator Jason Ward.

The region’s cultural resources include historic homes, churches and public spaces; distinctive architecture; museums and art galleries; ballet, symphony and theaters; scenic parks and outdoor events; eclectic retail and antique shops.

Dorchester combines easy access to these Lowcountry gems with a very low cost of living. A home in Summerville, 30 minutes from Charleston, sells for a fraction of what a comparable home in the city would cost.

when it comes to prospect visits.

“Consultants are often surprised to see just how strong our quality of life is, the awards our schools have won, how attractive and affordable our neighborhoods are,” Baggett said.

“Also, the costs of doing business are very competitive here — from labor to the costs of sites and buildings — especially considering how well-located we are.”

Baggett said that prospective businesses can also expect a warm welcome in Dorchester County that will last far beyond a project announcement.

“The economic development department is very hands-on in our recruitment efforts; we truly try to get to know the companies that we are working to bring to the county in order to make sure their needs, and the county’s needs, are met,” Baggett said. “After a company locates here, we maintain contact with all of our existing industries to work with them to be successful.”

He noted that in 2008, economic development officials formed the Dorchester County Industrial Council as an outreach to existing industries. The group meets monthly to discuss topics of interest to industries, and also sponsors relevant training opportunities.

“We place a high value on our existing companies, and we feel it’s worthwhile to put in the time and attention to make sure that Ongoing support Dorchester’s economic development of- their needs are being met,” Baggett said. “It’s ficials take pride in exceeding expectations an important investment.”