Dorchester County Special Section from the 2017 Summer issue of SCBIZ

Summer 2017

Driving economy

S.C. ships thousands of cars to the world each week, and that’s just the beginning

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DORCHESTER

Dorchester County is part of the rapidly growing Lowcountry, but still retains much of its Old South charm, like this plantation home. (Photos/Dorchester County Economic Development)

FAST-GROWING DORCHESTER COUNTY WORKS TO ATTRACT HIGH-QUALITY JOBS

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By Steve McDaniel, Associate Editor

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D

orchester County encompasses much of what defines the South Carolina Lowcountry, from its southeastern corner squarely amid Charleston’s suburban sprawl to the rural northern expanses of pine forests and lowlands.

The county sits at the inland gateway to the Lowcountry, a region that is swelling with new residents and businesses. According to U.S. Census data, the county grew in population from 136,500 in 2010 to an estimated 153,000 plus in 2016.

Summerville is the business and population center of the county and has been a main recipient in that surge of people and development.

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Dorchester Cou by the numbers nty

Population............

......152,355 (estim ated) Average household income............ $70, 164 Median age.............. ...............................

36 with 40% of the po pulation between 25 -54 ECONOMIC DEVELO PMENT PHONE NUMBERS : Dorchester County Economic Develop ment..... (843) 8759109 Source: U.S. Cens us Bureau, 2010 ce nsus; ESRI forecasts for 2016

COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: DORCHESTER

Bosch is the largest employer in Dorchester County.

More than 1,800 people work at the plant that manufactures fuel injectors and control systems for the automotive industry.

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“I think we have several things coming together. No. 1, I think is our leadership is interested in making Dorchester County a good place to live, work and play,” said Hank Taylor, chairman of the Dorchester Economic Development Corp.

Bosch, a manufacturer of fuel injectors and control systems for the automotive industry, is the county’s largest employer, with more than 1,800 workers after a $175 million expansion added 150 jobs in 2016. IGH and IQor operate customer call centers and employ more than 1,700 workers combined.

The county is also home to a large marine manufacturing cluster. SCANA Insights magazine recently gave it the title of “the boatbuilding capital of South Carolina,” because of the large concentration of marine manufacturers and suppliers in the county. According to the state Department of Employment and Workforce, those jobs pay an average of nearly $50,000 annually, 40% higher than the average of other jobs in the county.

One of the largest marine industry employers in the county, Scout Boats, has just announced its second expansion since 1989. It will add 370 jobs as part of a $10.9 million investment that includes a new 120,000-square-foot facility to build the company’s new 53-foot yacht model.

Kion North America has its headquarters in Summerville and recently announced a $5.7 million expansion that will add 50 jobs.

Kion has been selected as a supplier for the new Volvo plant in Berkeley County and will provide a fleet of forklifts and other material-handling equipment for the Swedish automaker’s first North American production facility.

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COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: LAURENS

KEY ATTRACTIONS

Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site 300 State Park Road, Summerville, SC 29485 Drayton Hall Plantation 3380 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414 Francis Beidler Forest 336 Sanctuary Road, Harleyville, SC 29448

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens 3550 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414 Middleton Place Plantation and Gardens 4300 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414

Rail service and industrial sites are important parts of Dorchester County’s economic infrastructure that help recruit and retain industrial and manufacturing operations.

Mercedes-Benz Vans is expanding its production capability with a $500 million project in Charleston County. The Mercedes-Benz and Volvo projects are expected to attract many suppliers and skilled workers to the region.

“From the economic development side, we’re looking to make sure we have the right properties to make sure people can bring jobs to Dorchester County,” Taylor said.

This includes a speculative building in St. George that can be fitted for any company looking for a place to land or grow, Taylor said. Also, a company from India is going in as the first tenant at the Ridgeville Industrial

Campus, a $50 million project slated for completion in early 2018.

“We see these things as creating the right kind of environment,” Taylor said. “Looking at the entire Charleston region, we see a tsunami of opportunity coming our way.”

North Charleston, one of the state’s largest cities, with more than 100,000 residents, sits partly in the southern tip of Dorchester County and is a key partner in the county’s economy.

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Flowertown Festival held in April, downtown Summerville

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World Grits Festival held in April, downtown St. George Indian Field camp meeting held annually in fall at Indian Field near St. George Spoleto Festival finale held in June, Middleton Place Plantation Special Advertising Section

The Winding Woods Industrial Park near St. George includes more than 600 acres of developable land for a variety of industrial and manufacturing needs. The proximity to Interstate 95 and the state ports in Charleston makes Dorchester County an ideal location for business customers.

COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: DORCHESTER

Abundant water access throughout Dorchester County enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors.

“The city of North Charleston is fortunate to have a strong partnership with the leadership of Dorchester County and its economic development team,” North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey said.

“Dorchester County is the fastest growing part of North Charleston, which accelerates the need to create high quality jobs and an aligned vision for robust economic development growth.”

St. George, the county seat, is situated at

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Downtown Summerville is a charming, walkable area of shops, restaurants, entertainment and other attractions throughout the year.

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COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: DORCHESTER www.scbizmag.com

A front porch in Summerville invites visitors to stop and rest a while with a glass of sweet tea. The town, while experiencing rapid growth in many areas, has retained its small-town charm and relaxed pace.

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the intersection of I-95 and U.S. 78. Its location along the major north-south interstate for the East Coast and proximity to the Charleston ports led to the development of several nearby industrial sites. The largest is the Winding Wood Commerce Park, a site four miles east of I-95 along U.S. 78 that includes approximately 1,100 acres of developable land with infrastructure available for electricty, water and sewer and natural gas.

Schoolchildren are served by two districts in the county. Dorchester District Two encompasses Summerville, Ladson and North Charleston. It includes 15 elementary schools, six middle schools, three high schools, one adult education and two alternative facilities.

District Four includes St. George, Ridgeville, Harleyville and Dorchester with three elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and one alternative education facility.

Large residential and mixed-use developments are in various stages of completion to meet a surging housing demand. The Ponds and Summers Corner have begun in recent years, while Nexton, a planned, mixed-use development projected to include more than 10,000 homes along with businesses, schools and medical facilities, along with other large-scale projects Cane Bay and Carnes

The historic Klauber Building in the Dorchester County seat of St. George was built around 1894.

Today it houses the local office of the Tri-County Chamber of Commerce, a visitors center and museum and is open to the public.

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COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: DORCHESTER

Workforce training is crucial to recruiting and retaining skilled workers in Dorchester County.

Above, two women learn machine skills at the Dorchester County Career and Technology Center.

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Crossroads are building near Summerville in Berkeley County.

The wave of new and expanding businesses in and near Dorchester County is increasing demand for skilled workers. With that in mind, Dorchester District Two is opening a Advanced Manufacturing Center at Summerville High School to give students education and real-world experience in jobs related to manufacturing technology and a focus on mechatronics. A partnership with S.C. Youth Apprenticeship Program and Trident Technical College will allow students to earn dual credit while completing their last two years of high school.

The Dorchester County Career and Technology Center has campuses in Dorchester and Summerville to train high school students in skills that include welding, machine tools, electrical, diesel mechanics and more. The county also works directly with state organizations such as ReadySC and SC Works to train and recruit skilled workers and the businesses that will need them.

Summey sees a bright future for economic prospects of Dorchester County.

“With plenty of available commercially zoned property in Dorchester County, we have a great opportunity to attract additional job creators to the area and build upon past successes,” he said. “I am excited for what the future holds.”

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