South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce recently opened up the nomination period for its 2026 Workforce Champion Award.
The Workforce Champion Award was first recognized in 2023 by Governor Henry McMaster, in partnership with the Department of Employment and Workforce (SC DEW), to acknowledge employers who demonstrated extraordinary effort, innovation, and commitment to connecting students and educators to career awareness, exposure, and experiential learning opportunities. As a well-earned recognition awarded in September during Workforce Development Month, this award serves as inspiration for other employers to customize programs to impact and uplift the future workforce.
In prior years, the Workforce Champion Award was nominated by the Regional Workforce Advisors (RWAs), who work hand in hand with businesses across the state. Now, we welcome all businesses in South Carolina to nominate themselves and spotlight their unique initiatives to connect with young people and amplify the workforce!
Does your business help students and educators become aware and explore careers in your respective industry? Is your business actively participating in internships, apprenticeships, and other career-relevant opportunities? Are you actively participating or offering unique initiatives, and are you open and eager to highlight those best practices for other businesses to follow?
If you answer yes to these questions, we encourage you to nominate your business for the 2026 Workforce Champion Award!
Nomination Key Things to Know:
- Eleven regional finalists will receive recognition from SC DEW after Workforce Development Month
- The business selected as the Workforce Champion:
- Must be willing and able to accept the award as part of an official ceremony with Governor McMaster on September 1, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
- Will be featured in a press release published by SC DEW in September during Workforce Development Month.
- Will receive the 2026 Workforce Champion Award & video content featuring the business program and unique initiatives.
- All business nominations will be categorized per region:
- One finalist per region will be identified by the judges and considered for the Workforce Champion Award
- The finalists not selected as the Workforce Champion will be grouped into the eleven regional finalists
Submit nomination HERE.
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Wednesday, April 29, 2026) – Berkeley County Economic Development will host a free, virtual workshop to help small business owners understand financing options to support their needs.
The workshop, Borrowing for Small Businesses, will be held Thursday, May 7, at noon via Microsoft Teams. Small business owners interested in learning how the lending process works are encouraged to register HERE.
Representatives from Truist Bank will share:
- Why businesses need funds
- Where to find funding
- How to select the right type of financing
- What lenders look for
- The borrowing process
- How to create your business borrowing profile
- Next steps after a financing decision
For questions about this virtual workshop, contact Berkeley County Small Business Manager Diamond Curry at vog.csytnuocyelekreb@yrruC.dnomaiD.
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-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office
Century Aluminum in the Goose Creek area of Berkeley County, SC was named in early March among the 16 finalists for the annual “Coolest Thing Made in South Carolina” contest, as announced by the South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce (SCMC). The contest is part of the 5th Annual Manufacturing Madness, a contest in which voters decide the Coolest Thing Made in South Carolina. The finalists represent the best of manufacturing in the Palmetto State.
Learn more at www.scmanufacturingmadness.com.
2026 Top 16 Finalists included the following:
- Constant Velocity Joint – JTEKT, Greenville
- 787 Dreamliner – The Boeing Company, Charleston
- PowerLine Transmission – ZF Gray Court, Laurens
- PFX Flex Sub-Lite-Wall – Zeus Industrial Products, Orangeburg
- BMW X3 M50i – BMW, Spartanburg
- CardioEducator – NursEdvance Innovations, Richland
- Artemis 23 – Volare Boats, Dorchester
- DWS06+ The American Legend – Continental, Sumter
- Aluminum –Century Aluminum, Berkeley
- Robotic Battery Swapping System – Lion Power, Greenville
- PlusWater Color Diffusing Paint 6 Pack – Roylco, Anderson
- Element TVs – Element Electronics, Fairfield
- Copper Foil – Camden Copper, Kershaw
- Gearboxes – SEW Eurodrive, Spartanburg
- 120-60 – Shakespeare Military Antennas, Richland
- Low Enriched Uranium Nuclear Fuel – Westinghouse, Richland
Key Dates & Remaining Voting Rounds
- March 2 – 5: Top 16 bracket voting
- March 9 – 12: Top 8 bracket voting
- March 16 – 19: Top 4 bracket voting
- March 24: Winner announced at the Statehouse with Governor Henry McMaster
The full bracket can be found here. Learn more here.
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Wednesday, March 4, 2026) – Berkeley County Economic Development, in partnership with SC Works Trident, is hosting a Workforce Career Fair on Friday, March 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Berkeley County Administration Building, located at 1003 Highway 52 in Moncks Corner.
This event is FREE and open to the public. Anyone seeking a job or career change may attend.
Several employers from Berkeley County’s industrial sector and other organizations from various career fields around the Tri-County region will be on hand to meet with potential employees.
Please bring an updated copy of your resume and be prepared to interview on the spot.
For more information and an ongoing list of employers, go HERE.
For questions, please contact Corey McClary, Berkeley County Workforce Development Manager, at vog.csytnuocyelekreb@yralccm.yeroc.
“We are proud of our diverse and talented workforce here in Berkeley County and look forward to offering this event to showcase our many great industries and other organizations seeking to fill high quality open positions. Whether seeking a career change or simply looking for a job, this event is for you.” -Corey McClary, Workforce Development Manager, Berkeley County Government
“By bringing employers, partners and motivated job seekers together, we are ensuring that opportunity is within reach for anyone who is ready to work. This event is to discover opportunities, build relationships and find your next step towards meaningful, long-term success.” -Sharon Goss, Workforce Development Director, Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments
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-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Friday, January 9, 2026) – Berkeley County is pursuing an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) FY26 Brownfield Cleanup Grant for the former St. Stephen High School property located at 1266 Russellville Road, which closed to the public in 1996.
This application is part of a large-scale revitalization initiative commenced by the County in 2022, when County Council approved a $500,000 EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant to fund environmental assessments in the St. Stephen Area. The former St. Stephen High School was identified as a potential for redevelopment in the area through the initial EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant.
Part of the EPA’s Brownfields Program, the Cleanup Grant would provide funding to remove hazardous materials and/or petroleum products identified at the property.
A virtual community meeting discussing Berkeley County’s FY26 EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant Application will be held on Wednesday, January 14 at 5 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. The meeting will be an opportunity for the public to review and comment on the draft application. A link to the meeting is available here: Join the meeting now
The County plans to submit an EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant Application in January of 2026. Prior to submitting the application, the County is encouraging community members to click HERE or visit berkeleymeansbusiness.com/brownfield to review the draft application, which includes a draft Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA). Physical copies will also be available at the St. Stephen Library located at 1104 S. Main Street, St. Stephen, SC 29479.
Should you need assistance accessing the grant, require accommodations, need language assistance, are unable to attend the public meeting, or wish to submit public comments, please contact Corey McClary, Workforce Development Manager for Berkeley County Economic Development at vog.csytnuocyelekreb@yralCcM.yeroC or 843-719-4096. For more information on the Brownfields Grant Program, visit berkeleymeansbusiness.com/brownfield.
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-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Tuesday, August 26, 2025) – Berkeley County Economic Development, in partnership with SC Works Trident and SC Department of Social Services, is hosting a Workforce Career Expo on Wednesday, September 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Berkeley County Administration Building, located at 1003 Highway 52 in Moncks Corner.
Industries and business across Berkeley County and the Tri-County area will be on site to meet with potential employees. This event will coincide with Workforce Development Month across South Carolina. It’s FREE and open to anyone seeking a job or career change.
Please bring an updated copy of your resume and be prepared to interview on the spot. For more information and an ongoing list of employers, go HERE.
For questions, please contact Corey McClary, Berkeley County Workforce Development Manager, at vog.csytnuocyelekreb@yralccm.yeroc.
Berkeley County Economic Development hosted its 2025 Industry Luncheon on May 8, 2025 at Cypress Gardens. The annual event brought together more than 150 businesses from across Berkeley County. Elected leaders and other organizations were also in attendance. Speakers touched on workforce trends across South Carolina, Berkeley County and the Charleston region as well as the Future Ready program – a collaboration among Berkeley County industries, Trident Technical College and Berkeley County School District.
Berkeley County Economic Development will host its annual Industry Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Dean Hall at Cypress Gardens, located at 3030 Cypress Gardens Road in Moncks Corner. More than two dozen industry partners are invited.
Networking will begin at 11:30 a.m. and the program will start promptly at 12 p.m. A full lunch buffet will be provided.
South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce Director, William H. Floyd III, will speak on meeting the needs and challenges of the changing workforce. Trident Technical College Dean of Manufacturing and Maintenance, Robert W. Elliott, Jr. will speak on the Future Ready Workforce Program with Berkeley County School District.
Please RSVP by May 1 to vog.csytnuocyelekreb@yesmaR.leahciM.
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Thursday, April 10, 2025) – Berkeley County Economic Development, in partnership with SC Works Trident, is hosting a Workforce Career Expo on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Berkeley County Administration Building, located at 1003 Highway 52 in Moncks Corner.
While this event is meant to offer employment opportunities to military Transition Assistance Program (TAP) participants, their spouses, and individuals impacted by federal layoffs, it is FREE and open to the public. Anyone seeking a job or career change may attend.
Several employers from Berkeley County’s industrial sector and other organizations from various career fields around the Tri-County region will be on hand to meet with potential employees.
Please bring an updated copy of your resume and be prepared to interview on the spot.
For more information and an ongoing list of employers, go HERE.
For questions, please contact Corey McClary, Berkeley County Workforce Development Manager, at vog.csytnuocyelekreb@yralccm.yeroc.
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-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-
Congratulations to four different Berkeley County-based manufacturing companies on being recognized by the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) for their “exceptional workplace safety performance” in 2024. They include the following industrial facilities, out of 105 across the state: Volvo Cars US Operations; Agfa Materials Corporation; Celanese Polymer Products, LLC; Nucor Steel Berkeley; and Cooper River Partners & Hydera,
LLC.
To earn an SCMA Safety Award, plants had to achieve an incident rate below the statewide average for their NAICS code.
To view the full list of award recipients, go here. To view the full release from the SCMA, go here.
