From our Executive Director

Fall is in full swing, which means more work projects have kicked off, students are in school and residents are spending more time out and about in our local community after summer vacation.

The increased activity on all of our calendars has boosted business support, and we’re grateful to see our local economy continue to thrive.

So far this year, we are proud to have supported significant economic activity, including:

Four new project announcements
82 new jobs
$2.16M in capital investment
$2.05M in universal Pre-K funding

Our team is energized by the impactful progress happening across Charleston County. Thank you for supporting Charleston's Global Future.

Merle Johnson,

CCED Executive Director

Charleston County Wins

Obatala Sciences Ribbon Cutting

Medical University of South Carolina's (MUSC) Blue Sky Labs

CCED Updates

Project Ready Launches

Charleston County Economic Development (CCED) has announced a $2.025 million investment in Charleston County School District’s expansion of Universal Pre-K in North Charleston, a major partnership designed to support young children, working families, and the region’s workforce.

Through the partnership, funding donated will help create at least 229 new Pre-K seats in North Charleston. Projects like this highlight the momentum of our Community Competitiveness initiative, which takes a holistic approach to economic development by collaborating with partners on key issues such as workforce retention and childcare.

We were also proud to celebrate Charleston County-based company Allegiance Flag Supply winning the grand prize in the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW)'s annual SC@Work: Photo Contest!

Congratulations, Allegiance Flag Supply!

Workforce Development Month 2026

To celebrate Workforce Development Month, we were thrilled to welcome more than from across the community to the Charleston County Career Fair on September 9.

Each participant had a valuable opportunity to connect with employers representing a wide range of industries, including defense, hospitality, healthcare, and logistics.

Job Development Incentive (JDI)

Apply Today

Business Resource Corner

Hurricane Preparedness

EMDConnect allows businesses and industry leaders to sign up for various information and notification services offered by Emergency Management, including upcoming weather threats, invitations to Business and Industry calls, and opportunities for businesses to be included in our resource directory.

CHSAlerts is our public-facing mass notification system designed to keep employees informed about important events and emergencies, including weather, traffic, public safety, and utility alerts.

Veterans Day Career Fair

Located on the iconic U.S.S. Yorktown at Patriots Point on November 17, Operation Employment is a premier career fair that connects veterans and jobseekers with employers across various industries, including manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and defense.

Learn More

AI Training for Businesses

Charleston Digital will continue to host community-sourced AI classes and workshops to educate and empower learners at all levels.

We encourage local businesses to attend this class to understand how AI can best support your business and contribute to long‑term growth.

Learn More

Storytelling Through Industry: SHL Medical

Celebrating National Manufacturing Awareness Month!

Company Award Drop-offs

Congratulations on your 2026 investment in Charleston County!

Bittermilk

Horse Spot

Red Metals

Charleston County by the Numbers

90,000+ people supported | $12B+ annual economic impact | $7.5B in assets

Joint Base Lindsay Graham is home to more than 60 Department of Defense and federal agencies and supports a total force of over 90,000 service members, civilians, dependents, and retirees across four installations.

As South Carolina's largest military presence, it generates an annual economic impact of more than $12 billion and over $5 billion in labor income.

Sources: Joint Base Charleston; USC Darla Moore School of Business, The Economic Impact of South Carolina’s Military Community (2022)

Ready to Grow in Charleston County?

Whether you're launching, expanding, relocating, or simply exploring opportunities, CCED is ready to help.

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