Proximity to Other Manufacturing & Major Employers
AEROSPACE
Since Boeing announced that it would produce Dreamliners in Charleston, the region has become an emerging international hub for aerospace and aviation. The area has attracted:
- Aerospace regional suppliers
- Subassembly manufacturing
- Advanced materials manufacturing
- Non-destructive mechanical technical experts
Boeing’s economic impact on the area is estimated at $11 billion.
AUTOMOTIVE
South Carolina is also a major player in the growing Southeast automotive industry.
- Over 250 automotive-related companies and suppliers
- #1 in exports of tires and automobiles
- Recent investments from Volvo and Daimler/Mercedes in Charleston ($1 billion, creating an estimated 5,300+ jobs)
DEFENSE
Charleston is home to two major military-related operations:
Joint Base Charleston
- 60 Department of Defense and federal agencies
- Force of over 90,000
SPAWAR Atlantic
- Serves the U.S. Navy and other federal agencies
- Employs over 3,100 people/li>
- Supports more than 100 local defense contractors
Access to Distribution
INTERSTATE CONNECTIVITY
(I-26, I-526 & I-95)
More than 1/5 of the U.S. population is within 500 miles of Charleston.
THE PORT OF CHARLESTON
The Port of Charleston is the 9th largest U.S. container port and the 4th busiest deep-water port on the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast.
With the Harbor Deepening Project underway, Charleston will be the deepest port on the U.S. East Coast and the only East Coast port able to accept calls from Post-Panamax ships at full capacity (16,000 TEUs) by the end of 2019.
CHARLESTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Charleston International Airport connects businesses and travelers to Charleston, with:
- 1.5 million+ passengers a year
- 7 major airlines, 100+ daily flights
- Non-stop flights to 23 airports & 18 cities in U.S.
In addition, Boeing's facilities for fabricating, assembling and installing the rear fuselage systems for the 787 Dreamliner and for the Dreamliner's final assembly and delivery are located next to the airport.
GROWING
The Charleston MSA is experiencing a population boom:
- More than 750,000 residents today
- Growth rate of 50/day (3.5x the national average)
- Annual net migration of 12,400 people
EDUCATED
Charleston is home to several public and private universities and technical college systems graduating thousands of students per year.
More than 1/3 of the local workforce has a bachelor's degree or higher.
TRAINED
The region is known for its workforce training programs, which are designed to reduce costs for employers in identifying and building their labor force and include:
