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County Spotlight: Dorchester | Trending: Made in S.C. | S.C. Delivers
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DORCHESTER
Kayakers enjoy a day on the Edisto River in Dorchester County. (Photos/Dorchester County Economic Development)
LONG-TERM PLANNING, PERSISTENCE KEY TO SUCCESS By Jim Tatum
jtatum@scbiznews.com
D
orchester County’s quality of life, cost of living, and prime location in the South Carolina Lowcountry has made it a sought-after destination for many years. Consistently rank-
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ing in the top 10 fastest-growing counties in the state, more than 161,000
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people call Dorchester County home, according to the 2020 Census. Despite being one of South Carolina’s “newer” counties — Dorchester County was formed from land previously located in Colleton County in 1897 — it has a rich history. The county takes its name from a colonial town founded on the northern bank of the Ashley River in Special Advertising Section
Dorchester Co By The Numbeunty rs Population: 151,540
(U.S. Census) Median Household Income: $63,080 (U.S. Census) Median Home Price : $320,000 (Realtor.com) Source: U.S. Cens us Burea
u
COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: DORCHESTER
1696 by Congregationalists from Dorchester, Mass. Proprietary- and colonial-era planters settled on the upper branches of the Ashley River and the middle reaches of the Edisto River. Dorchester County would ultimately be known for a number of things, the birthplace of tea cultivation in America,
a resort area for the wealthy seeking relief from the humidity and mosquitoes of the Carolina coast, to name a few. In more modern times, its highly regarded educational opportunities, proximity to popular amenities, wide variety of housing and living situations and reasonable cost of living have
This illustration of an industrial site at 240 Deming Way in Summerville is one example of the numerous warehouse and manufacturing facilities available in Dorchester County.
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COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: DORCHESTER
An aerial view of Dorchester County’s Eastport Commerce Center.
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made it a popular place to live. Dorchester County’s industrial/manufacturing community has experienced growth as well. The county has been home to such companies as BID Group, Robert Bosch, KION North America, and boat manufacturers such as Key West Boats, Scout Boats and Sportsman Boats. However, the sector has seen significant growth in recent years. In fact, 2022 alone will see groundbreakings for nine new, large projects. But these recent gains are actually the
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result of more than two decades of careful planning and investment. “The county realized about 15-20 years ago that they weren’t really in the economic development game, and one of the reasons they weren’t was because they didn’t have water and sewer infrastructure capable of meeting the needs of major industry, especially in the western part of the county,” Dorchester County Economic Development Director John Truluck said. “They’ve invested heavily, but such investments are expensive, and it
takes a long time for them to pay off. Now, we fast forward 15 years and we can see those investments coming due.” The past seven years have brought several major announcements representing millions of square feet of new space and millions of dollars in new investment. The biggest announcement thus far is the Walmart distribution center. “Walmart is excited for the grand opening of its newest distribution center in Dorchester County this spring, a three
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million-square-foot facility located in the Ridgeville Industrial Campus along Interstate 26,” Walmart Global Communications Senior Director Scott Pope stated. “We are creating more than 1,000 jobs for residents of the Charleston region. Our newest distribution center is just one example of Walmart’s continued investment in South Carolina, where we now operate four distribution centers, 122 retail stores and employ over 35,000 associates. In addition to our business efforts in the state, the Walmart Foundation gave $15.3 million in cash and in-kind donations to local South Carolina organizations in 2020. Walmart distribution centers like the new Dorchester County facility are an important part of our growing nationwide supply chain network. These facilities are focused on receiving, storing and distributing product to Walmart stores for our customers across the region. With the opening of our newest Dorchester County distribution center, Walmart continues to
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At top, Dorchester County’s Quickjobs Training Center, located in St. George, provides short-term training to county residents who need job-specific skills for quick employment. Above, McQueen Industrial Park is located in Jedburg, just outside Summerville.
COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: DORCHESTER
invest in the local South Carolina community by creating jobs in one of the fastestgrowing sectors of supply chain as well as providing products to our local customers with greater speed and convenience than ever before.” That project alone represents a $125 million capital investment, Truluck noted.
“This drives everything,” Truluck said. “All sectors are doing well; housing is booming, and rooftops drive commercial and retail.” Available inventory of raw land, industrial parks and shell buildings and, most importantly, a trained and ready workforce, are important factors for attracting industry.
Above, the ribbon cutting for the new Trident Technical College Dorchester Campus, held in May 2021. The college offers a variety of classes tailored to workforce training needs of area companies.
WHERE PROGRESS MEETS POSSIBILITY DORCHESTER COUNTY FAST FACTS:
Part of the Charleston metro region Unique proximity to rail, air and sea freight Over 3.3M sf of industrial space to be delivered by 2023 Offers quick access to Interstates 26 and 95
Scan here to view our available industrial sites and parks!
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In fact, workforce development is a major focus now, Truluck noted. “If you look at the census, 60 percent of the people moving here are between 18 and 44 years old. We want to put them to work,” he said. To that end, programs are available not only through Dorchester County’s two highly regarded public school districts, but also through the Dorchester County Career and Technology Center, Dorchester County Quickjobs Training Center, ManuFirst SC, and Trident Technical College-Dorchester Campus. Students at high school, secondary and postgraduate/adult education levels can receive training and coursework in such areas as mechatronic, logistics, information technology, advanced manufacturing, engineering, health and biomedical science, and heavy equipment. Still, none of this would have happened without vital infrastructure upgrades, the most important being water. Through the Lake Marion Regional Water Agency and working with LMRWA, Santee Cooper,
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At top, an employee works at Showa Denko, which manufactures graphite electrodes, granulated graphite and carbon products. Above, an aerial view of the new Walmart Distribution Center. Both facilities are located in Ridgeville.
and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Dorchester County has constructed lines to bring potable water to the western part of the county, not only helping residents gain access to a better supply but also provid-
ing water to industrial sites and spurring economic development. “This was definitely the missing piece,” Dorchester County Council Chair Bill Hearn said. Hearn, who has been involved
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with these efforts since being elected to council in 1995, said patience, persistence and tremendous work from many people were the key elements to making it happen. “It’s taken a lot of effort from so many people for a long time,” Hearn said. “Some of them aren’t with us anymore. I know I’ve said it many times, but the fact is, we just can’t thank them enough.” For all its efforts in economic development, Dorchester County has also worked hard to preserve its quality of life, Hearn and others note. Indeed, preserving the quality of life at a reasonable cost is an important motivator behind economic development, as the alternative to a smaller industrial base is significant tax hikes. The overall cost of living in Dorchester County is slightly lower than the national average. The median price of a home is around $30,000 less than the national average, and residents enjoy a wide spectrum of housing choices and locations, from urban and suburban areas to quaint small towns and rural settings. Many interesting and unique amenities, from The Audubon Center and Sanctuary at Francis Biedler Forest, Middleton Plantation, Colonial Dorchester Historic Site, numerous parks and natural resources and modern facilities such as Oakbrook Sports Complex are available. Brad Mallett, owner of Coastal Coffee Roasters in Summerville, who serves on the Dorchester Economic Development Board, said he and his family came to Dorchester County to launch their business because of the welcoming people and superior quality of life. Serving on this board, however, has given him a stronger understanding of economic development and the importance of the manufacturing/industrial sector, as well as insight into, and great appreciation for, the county’s vision. “I’ve seen a lot of good things come to pass that started out years ago as conversations,” Mallett said. “That’s how such things start, but here we are getting ready to break ground on another beautiful park. Quality of life can get lost sometimes, but our leadership decided long ago that it’s important and they worked hard to take care of it. I am very proud to live in a place that truly believes in responsible growth.”
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