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Developer And Government Officials Break Ground On Multi-Million Dollar Charleston Trade Center

Local and state officials joined the developers for the Charleston Trade Center groundbreaking.
Local and state officials joined the developers for the Charleston Trade Center groundbreaking.

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–It was a tiny flick of some dirt on some undeveloped land just off I-26, but it signified a major development.

Several partners from the Charlotte-based Keith Corporation, stakeholders in the project, and state and local leaders joined in Berkeley County for the groundbreaking event.

Construction will soon begin on the Charleston Trade Center, a $19-million project, which will be located in Berkeley County near the limits of Town of Summerville.

“We are here to talk about growth and prosperity and the future of Berkeley County,” the Berkeley County Economic Development Director Barry Jurs said as he welcomed a crowd for the announcement.

County officials are happy about the potential jobs and economic growth this facility could bring to the area. “This is one of the hottest areas around right now. We are the hottest county in the state right now when it comes to industrial, business development,” Berkeley County Supervisor Bill Peagler said.

The site is visible from I-26 and located between exits 199 and 194.
The site is visible from I-26 and located between exits 199 and 194.

At this point, it’s unknown who will move in to the Charleston Trade Center. The first of several buildings is expected to be complete by the end of this year or first quarter of next year.

For now plans are for crews to put up a 307,000 square foot shell building. The Keith Corporation Development Partner Alan Lewis says the use of the building will be flexible.

A potential tenant company could use the space for distribution, manufacturing, or vendors for other manufacturers located nearby.

“We’re throwing a very wide net into the market,” Alan Lewis said.

He says any company needing a space from 300,000 up to 900,000 square feet could be a prospect for the site. The hope is that a large company rents the space with the possibility of growing, as the building will be permitted and expandable to 923,000 feet.

“The timing is great with the new Sheep Island Interchange that is being developed, the increase in port traffic, a good market demand for what we’re developing. We’re excited about it. I feel the timing is really good,” Lewis said.

Berkeley County Supervisor Bill Peagler addresses the crowd.
Berkeley County Supervisor Bill Peagler addresses the crowd.

The State Department of Commerce, Berkeley County Economic Development Department, South Carolina State Ports Authority, and the Charleston Regional Development Alliance all played a role in securing the Charleston Trade Center project here.

“We’ve been looking at this market for ten years, for the right opportunity. When that opportunity presented itself, we knew that that was the opportunity we were looking for,” said Lewis. “Berkeley County did an outstanding job and continues to in the way they approach economic development, as does the Port, as does the South Carolina. There’s just a very good team here.”

Eventually five buildings will be built on the Charleston Trade Center site. When complete the project is expected to be a$175 million investment.

Nicole Johnson Shealy

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