Page 32 - Tri-County NCG 2023

Grow and

Prosper.

By Glenn Carson

D orchester County Economic These “big five” are

Development (DCED) supports
new businesses and works to
provide an environment for all
businesses to thrive. In the fast-growing the driving force of
Tri-County Region, DCED matches
people and places, so the economy
stays on the move. the area’s economy

There are five industries specifically and together employ
targeted by the agency: Advanced
Manufacturing, Automotive, Recreational With the Atlantic Ocean minutes thousands of people.
away, the area is a natural for the
Marine, Logistics & Distribution, and marine industry. Dorchester County
Construction Materials. These “big five” boasts a concentration of boat
are the driving force of the area’s manufacturers that dwarfs the rest of
economy and together employ the state. There are four boat builders
thousands of people. With the help in Dorchester County, including Scout
of DCED, these industries benefit not Boats, which makes high-end luxury
only Dorchester County but also the boats that are distributed around the
entire Tri-County Region. world. Key West Boats has two locations
in the county with more than 160,000
Over the last decade, employment square feet of space.
in manufacturing has increased by The construction materials industry is
18 percent in South Carolina, with about a big employer for Dorchester County.
5,000 of those jobs in Dorchester All told, there are more than 2,300
County. Companies like BID Group workers producing these products.
Technologies and Showa Denko For over 50 years, Knight’s Companies
Carbon are among the largest has fabricated septic tanks and now is
manufacturers in Dorchester County, a noted manufacturer of commercial
producing goods like graphite concrete products. Global companies
electrodes and industrial fabrication. Argos and Giant Cement also have
facilities in Dorchester County.
The automotive industry is equally
active in the area, with more than A booming economy and the potential
$27 billion annual revenue throughout With quick access to the Port of for further growth keeps DCED quite
the state. Robert Bosch is Dorchester’s Charleston, a railroad network, and busy. Through their partnership with
largest private employer. They develop two interstate highways, companies business and industry, they are ensuring
clean diesel injection systems, antilock here can move their products the region not only continues to grow,
braking, and electronic stability control. efficiently. Walmart recently opened a but also prospers.
In 2022, Bosch announced an investment $220 million distribution center in
of $260 million, bringing an additional Dorchester County, creating more Learn more at
350 jobs to the county. than 1,000 new jobs for the county. dorchesterforbusiness.com.

Economic Development 28 Tri-County Regional Chamber of Commerce