Berkeley County Economic Development
Berkeley County, South Carolina — July 8, 2026 – Bushy Park, a premier industrial utilities company and multi-tenant manufacturing site located in Berkeley County, SC, has been selected as the location for a significant new U.S. production facility by Alzchem Group AG, a global leader in specialty chemicals and ingredients. The decision marks an important milestone in Alzchem’s U.S. expansion strategy and further strengthens Bushy Park’s position as a leading destination for advanced manufacturing investment. Bushy Park is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pacolet Milliken, LLC, of Greenville, SC.
Following an extensive site evaluation process, Bushy Park was chosen for its ability to support complex, large-scale chemical manufacturing operations. Bushy Park’s 1,530-acre campus offers a variety of established industrial infrastructure, including integrated utility systems, multimodal transportation access, and proximity to the Port of Charleston, which enables efficient logistics and long-term supply chain reliability.
The investment will expand domestic production capacity in the nitroguanidine sector, which is supported by sustained demand driven by evolving global market conditions. Bushy Park’s location within the growing Charleston region also provides access to a deep pool of skilled talent in chemical processing and advanced manufacturing.
In addition to the region’s infrastructure and workforce advantages, the project benefited from strong collaboration with Berkeley County and the State of South Carolina. This partnership underscores the state and local commitment to fostering industrial growth and attracting high-impact economic development projects.
“Bushy Park continues to demonstrate its value as a strategic location for world-class manufacturers,” said William Crawford, CEO & President of Pacolet Milliken. “With its established infrastructure, strong logistics connectivity, and access to skilled talent, the site provides an ideal foundation for companies looking to expand their U.S. footprint and strengthen supply chain resilience.”
With the site selection complete, the project now advances into its next phase, including Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED), detailed technical planning, and permitting. A long-term lease structure will support flexible and sustainable development of the facility while ensuring efficient use of the site.
Construction is currently expected to begin in 2027, contributing to continued economic growth in Berkeley County and reinforcing the region’s role in supporting critical manufacturing sectors.
As owner of Bushy Park, Pacolet Milliken continues to support the long-term development of the company, positioning it to attract global investment and meet the evolving needs of industrial users. This latest project highlights the site’s importance in enabling expanded U.S. production capacity and enhancing supply security across key industries.
For more information about this release or to learn more about Bushy Park or Pacolet Milliken, please contact:
Cody Baker
Vice President, Business Development, Bushy Park
Phone: (843) 820-6172
Email: moc.cskrapyhsub@rekab.ydoc
About Pacolet Milliken and Bushy Park
Pacolet Milliken, LLC, headquartered in Greenville, SC, is a family-owned investment firm that directly owns and manages a variety of power & infrastructure and real estate assets located across the United States. Pacolet Power & Infrastructure owns a diverse set of power, renewable, and infrastructure assets, including a regulated electric utility (Lockhart Power), an industrial utilities company (Bushy Park), a biomass operation (Piedmont Green Power) and a substantial solar and landfill gas portfolio. Pacolet Real Estate has a national portfolio of industrial, multi-family, office, and retail properties, and currently focuses on multi-family and industrial warehouse development in the Southeast, the Southwest, and Southern California. In both Divisions, Pacolet seeks to positively impact the communities in which it operates and be a steward of the environment from a generational perspective.
Bushy Park is an industrial utilities company operating on a 1,530-acre site that is located on the Cooper River in Berkeley County, just north of Charleston, SC. The site is home to ten different industrial and manufacturing tenants having an aggregate of over 1200 employees. Bushy Park provides a suite of roughly 35 utilities and services to its tenants, including as steam, nitrogen, medical/environmental services, maintenance/spare parts, compressed air, and process water. The site supports logistics through an onsite rail line and barge slip. Bushy Park is owned by Pacolet Milliken, LLC.
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. – (Monday, March 2, 2026) – Berkeley County Economic Development will host a workshop to help small businesses become certified to compete for government contracts. The workshop, Government Contracting 101, will be held Thursday, March 12, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Berkeley County Administration Building, located at 1003 Highway 52 in Moncks Corner.
Small business owners interested in working with the federal government, military, the state of South Carolina, and other government entities throughout the state are encouraged to attend this FREE workshop. Register HERE.
Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the following organizations will be on site:
- Increasing H.O.P.E. Financial Training Center and Women’s Business Center
- Veterans Business Outreach Center
- APEX Accelerators
- South Carolina Small Business Development Center
- SC Commission for Community Advancement and Engagement
Business owners can use the SBA’s Size Standards Tool to check if they qualify as a “small business.” Learn more about the SBA’s federal contracting assistance programs at sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide.
“Small businesses are the heartbeat of our community, bringing people together and creating opportunities for our neighbors, families, and friends. We are excited about this new initiative to support small business owners and help them thrive in Berkeley County.” – John O. Williams, Berkeley County Economic Development Director
“Our partnership with Berkeley County reflects our shared commitment to strengthening the local small business ecosystem. By helping business owners better understand the contracting process, we are opening doors to new opportunities that support business expansion, job creation, and long-term economic growth in our communities.” – Melissa Lindler, SBA South Carolina District Office
For questions about the 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
ARLINGTON, Va. – Leonardo DRS, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRS) today announced the official opening of its new, state-of-the-art naval power and propulsion manufacturing and testing facility in the Charleston, South Carolina region. The more than 140,000-square-foot facility is a major investment to expand domestic production capacity in support of U.S. Navy submarine and shipbuilding programs, including systems for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program.
The purpose-built facility provides advanced manufacturing, final assembly, integration, and testing space dedicated to large components for Leonardo DRS’s naval electric power and propulsion systems. In addition to electric propulsion and power generation systems, the site supports naval steam turbine system design, manufacturing, and testing.
“This strategic investment is a national asset and represents our commitment to supporting the U.S. Navy’s efforts to increase production capacity across the submarine and shipbuilding industrial base,” said Jon Miller, senior vice president and general manager of the Leonardo DRS Naval Power Systems business unit. “This advanced multi-purpose facility enables us to increase production capacity, streamline our production processes, and rapidly respond to evolving fleet requirements.”
John Baylouny, president and CEO of Leonardo DRS, added: “The Department of War has been clear about the need to strengthen and expand the defense industrial base, and this investment answers that call. By increasing capacity and modernizing our manufacturing infrastructure, we are ensuring the U.S. military has reliable access to the critical capabilities it needs, when and where they are needed.”
As the Navy fields more power-intensive weapons, sensors, and computing systems, scalable integrated power architectures are essential to mission success. The Charleston facility positions Leonardo DRS to deliver those architectures at scale and with the schedule reliability required for next-generation surface combatants and submarines.
Leonardo DRS designs and delivers advanced power and propulsion solutions engineered for the world’s most demanding maritime and battlefield environments. Our technologies enable the U.S. Navy and allied forces to support advanced sensors, directed-energy systems, high-performance computing, and propulsion across surface ships, submarines, and ground platforms. From Columbia-class submarine power and propulsion systems to hybrid electric drive and onboard power solutions, Leonardo DRS is designing and delivering proven, reliable, and cost-effective capabilities backed by decades of operational performance.
About Leonardo DRS
Leonardo DRS Inc. (Nasdaq: DRS) is at the forefront of developing transformative defense technologies using its proven agility and delivering innovative solutions for U.S. national security customers and allies worldwide. We specialize in rapidly providing high-performance, multi-domain capabilities across next-generation advanced sensing, network computing, force protection, and electric power and propulsion. Our reputation as a trusted provider is built on a continuous focus on practical innovation, delivering quality, and meeting our customers’ most demanding mission requirements. For further information on our complete range of capabilities, visit www.LeonardoDRS.com.
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.
