Charleston is home to the thriving Port of Charleston (sixth largest U.S. container port by cargo value), has a large military presence and is a popular tourist destination with over 4.33 million visitors in 2007 (source: Office of Tourism at the College of Charleston). In fact, according to the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, the visitor industry adds more than $3 billion to the local economy each year.
Vought Aircrafts, Hagemeyer North America (US headquarters), Bosch, Blackbaud…are all companies already located in the Charleston area. Google, one of the largest Internet search engines, recently purchased 514 acres in the Charleston area. Thus, our area continues to see tremendous growth with new companies moving to the area and local company expansions.
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DESIGNATION
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Description
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Publication/Date
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Five-Star Logistics Metro
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Listed among top 20 percent
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Expansion Management
Sept/Oct 2007 |
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Top Real Estate Markets for Expanding Companies
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A top 15 mid size metro
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Expansion Management
Sept/Oct 2007 |
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Economic Development Hotspots
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Ranked 6th among mid-sized markets
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Expansion Management
Sept/Oct 2007 |
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Best Performing Cities: Where America’s Jobs Are Created
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Ranked 12th among largest U.S. metros
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Milken Institute
September 2007 |
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Job Market Leaders
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Ranked 5th in private-sector job growth
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Bizjournals
September 2007 |
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Where to Live Now. Best Towns in America
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Best Big City on the East Coast
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Awards
August 2007 |
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Hot Growth for Incomes
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Ranked 5th in per capita income growth
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Bizjournals
June 2007 |
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Best Places for Business Attraction
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A top 15 midsize metros
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Expansion Management
May/June 2007 |
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Top U.S. Cities for Doing Business
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A top 15 midsize metro
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Inc.
May 2007 |
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Best Places for Business and Careers
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In the top 25 for job growth
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Forbes
April 2007 |
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North American City of the Future
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Ranked 2nd for infrastructure among large metros
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fDi (a Financial Times publication)
April 2007 |
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Five-Star Knowledge Worker Metros
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Listed among top 20 percent
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Expansion Management
March/April 2007 |
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America‘s 50 Hottest Cities for business expansion
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Ranked among top 25
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Expansion Management
Jan/Feb 2007 |
The websites below have current up-to-date statistics on not only our population but our future projections of growth:
Job Forecast—Business Environment
http://www.crda.org/ba_bizenvironment.html
Business Expansions and Relocations
http://www.crda.org/data_quickstats_expansion.html
Port of Charleston
http://www.port-of-charleston.com/
Population from US Census Bureau
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/45019.html
Population & Growth (Charleston area)
http://www.crda.org/business/market_profile/index.html
Cost of Living
http://www.crda.org/life_living_cost.html
Below please find a document prepared by the Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, that compares the Cost of Living in Charleston to other cities in the nation.
