SPOTLIGHT
Three South Carolina cities are among the 10 best metros for purchasing a newly built home, according to the second annual Realtor.com Top Metros for New Construction report, led by Charleston-North Charleston, where the median newly built home is priced 12.2 percent below the median existing home. The ranking finds that markets with builder-friendly conditions are giving buyers more opportunity to find a new home with a competitive price, ample availability and strong demand. Charleston takes the top spot among the 100 largest U.S. metros, earning an overall score of 84.7 out of 100. The metro's median new-build listing price is $443,273, compared with $504,832 for existing homes, the strongest new-construction price advantage among the top 10 markets. Greenville-Anderson-Greer, South Carolina, ranks second, with prices for newly built homes at 1.6 percent below the median existing home. Columbia, South Carolina, comes in at No. 10, with newly built home prices 3 percent below the median existing home price. In total, eight of the top 10 markets are located in the South.
Trident Technical College has named Marshall Connor vice president of Economic Development. In this role, Connor will lead the college’s efforts to strengthen workforce development, business and industry partnerships, government relations, community engagement, and continuing education initiatives across the region. Connor brings nearly 20 years of experience at Trident Technical College and a deep understanding of the college, the regional economy, and the workforce needs of employers throughout the Lowcountry. Since joining TTC in 2008, he has served in a variety of leadership roles, including assistant director of admissions, assistant dean of the Berkeley Campus, and most recently, assistant vice president of Economic Development, and Dorchester Thompson Campus dean. Connor is widely engaged in regional economic and workforce development efforts. He currently serves on the Charleston Regional Development Alliance Board and has held leadership roles with the Summerville/Dorchester Chamber of Commerce, including serving as chair of both the chamber and its foundation.
The Huntington National Bank has announced the opening of its first branch in Mount Pleasant, continuing the expansion of its branch network across South Carolina. The newly built, freestanding branch at 3149 N. Highway 17 brings Huntington to five full-service branches in South Carolina and builds on its presence in the Lowcountry. "Our Mount Pleasant branch gives us another opportunity to meet customers where they are as we continue to bring the full Huntington franchise to more customers and communities in the Carolinas," said Trent Holland, regional president for North Carolina and South Carolina. "This new branch reinforces our commitment to growing locally, supported by local bankers and relationships rooted in the community."
SPOTLIGHT
More than 1.7 million South Carolinians live in federally designated dental professional shortage areas, ranking among the highest populations impacted in the nation. To help address this challenge, Delta Dental of South Carolina is partnering with the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine located at the Medical University of South Carolina through its new Partnering for Access to Care and Training (PACT) pilot program. The initiative will expand access to dental care for underserved patients while helping educate the next generation of oral health professionals. Delta Dental of South Carolina awarded a $25,000 grant to the state’s dental school to support student-delivered care and help offset unreimbursed services for uninsured and underinsured patients. PACT also provides students with opportunities to connect with industry leaders through lunch-and-learn sessions, clinical showcases and discussions focused on patient outcomes and career pathways into community-based care.
Sustain SC announced a partnership with the Public Policy Institute (PPI) at Charleston School of Law, pairing a team of PPI Student Research Fellows with Sustain SC this fall to examine how South Carolina can responsibly prepare for continued growth in energy-intensive industrial development like data centers. “This partnership brings rigorous legal and policy research to a question our members are asking right now — how South Carolina prepares for the energy, water and land demands that come with new industrial investment, while protecting our environment and natural resources,” said Leslie Skardon, CEO of Sustain SC. “Working with PPI’s student fellows expands the depth of analysis we can bring to that conversation, and it gives the next generation of South Carolina’s legal and policy leaders direct experience at the intersection of commerce and conservation.” The partnership is one of three community collaborations PPI announced for the fall 2026 semester, alongside projects with Able SC and the Lowcountry Food Bank.
Luxury wallcovering company Phillip Jeffries has announced plans for a showroom in the Charleston Design District at the historic Navy Yard Charleston. The 1,458-square-foot space, which was set to open in September, marks the company’s first location in the Lowcountry region and will offer an immersive destination for designers to explore wallcovering collections and collaborate with industry professionals in person. "We are excited to bring the Phillip Jeffries brand to the coastal Carolinas region,” said Philip Bershad, co-CEO, Phillip Jeffries. “Charleston Design District’s vibrant community was a natural fit for our newest showroom, and we cannot wait to build on the creative, passionate environment that continues to grow in North Charleston.” The showroom will be located in Suite 121 within Storehouse 8 in the Charleston Design District.
Procaccianti Companies and its joint venture partner, Rugger Capital, has announced the acquisition of Charleston Harbor Resort, a 217-key waterfront property in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The resort will be managed by Procaccianti's hospitality affiliate, TPG Hotels & Resorts. In parallel, Suntex Marinas announced its acquisition of the adjacent Charleston Harbor Marina, one of South Carolina's largest in-water marinas, with more than 450 slips accommodating vessels ranging from recreational cruisers to superyachts. The resort and marina together anchor one of the Southeast's premier waterfront destinations, combining resort hospitality and boating with access to historic downtown Charleston. Each property will be managed separately, with both the marina and resort maintaining specialized ownership and operating expertise. In the coming months, Procaccianti will explore a comprehensive renovation and repositioning of the Charleston Harbor Resort that is designed to enhance the guest experience and unlock long-term value. At the Charleston Harbor Marina, Suntex, whose national portfolio now exceeds 100 marinas across 17 states, will own and operate the marina.
Stöbich Fire Protection Systems , a manufacturer of smoke and fire protection systems, has announced it is expanding its operations in Dorchester County. The company’s $2.53 million investment will create 33 jobs. Founded in 1980, Stöbich produces multiple structural and technical fire protection products including curtains, closures, gates and controls. The German company is represented in more than 50 countries worldwide. Stöbich is expanding its existing facility, located at 5301 Indigo Fields Blvd. in North Charleston, to support the U.S. manufacturing and assembly of the GX Smoke Curtain. Previously built in Germany, the curtain is a code-driven life safety system designed to contain smoke at elevator openings and other critical building junctures.
Four Charleston-area leaders are joining the American Heart Association’s Leaders of Impact campaign, a seven-week initiative to raise awareness and funds to prevent cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death nationwide. The campaign launched Sept. 17 and runs through Nov. 4. Leaders across the country will begin a seven-week competition to improve health outcomes in their communities. They will leverage their collective influence to educate people on the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR and raise funds that are critical to drive pioneering scientific research and support health and well-being for everyone, everywhere. Charleston’s 2026 Leaders of Impact nominees are: Tiffany Crumpton, Blackbaud; Adam Ferrara, Ferrara Buist Contractors; John Hoekman, Endeavoring Capital; and Dr. Anne Kroman, MUSC Health. The nominee who raises the most money will be named the Charleston 2026 Leaders of Impact Winner. In addition to local market winners, the changemaker who raises the most nationwide will be named the American Heart Association’s National Leaders of Impact Winner.
Advanced Technology International (ATI), a public service nonprofit based in Summerville, has been awarded an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) by the United States Air Force to serve as the consortium manager for the Department of the Air Force Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities (DAF TENCAP) consortium. This consortium is focused on enhancing the warfighters’ lethality, survivability, and combat effectiveness, by delivering cutting edge technology and prototypes in the relevant technology areas of Air, Space, Cyber, and Intelligence. “We are honored to partner with the Department of the Air Force to support DAF TENCAP, uniting industry, academia, and non-traditional innovators to rapidly convert promising technologies into operational capabilities that protect and empower warfighters,” said Mica Dolan, ATI president and CEO.
Thompson Thrift will develop a 327-unit Class A multifamily community in North Charleston, South Carolina, its first project in South Carolina and one that pushes the Indianapolis-based developer’s footprint to 25 states. The Whitmore at Ingleside will rise within the Ingleside master-planned development. The development is being capitalized with equity from Thompson Thrift 2026 Multifamily Development, LP, the $222 million vehicle the sponsor closed in February 2026 with commitments from more than 350 investment partners. The fund was built to finance seven Class A developments across five states: Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, South Carolina, and Tennessee. “Expanding into South Carolina and reaching 25 states is an important milestone for Thompson Thrift,” Josh Purvis, managing partner of Thompson Thrift Residential, said in a statement. “We are excited to enter the Charleston market with The Whitmore at Ingleside, a thoughtfully designed community that will meet the region’s growing demand for high-quality rental housing in a well-connected location.”
Production has overtaken Information Technology as the fastest-growing occupation category in the Charleston metro region, according to the Charleston Metro Region Talent Demand Study 2026, produced by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and Charleston Regional Development Alliance. Production jobs are projected to grow 16.7 percent between 2025 and 2030, adding approximately 3,945 net new jobs. Architecture and engineering follows with projected growth of 14.3 percent while information technology is expected to grow 12.6 percent. The shift reflects continued investment in advanced manufacturing as automation and AI-enabled processes become more integrated into how work is done across the region. Overall, the Charleston metro is projected to add approximately 33,200 net new jobs by 2030. The study looks beyond the total number of jobs being created to examine where demand is growing, how occupations are changing and whether the region’s workforce pipeline is producing people with the skills, certifications and degrees employers will need.
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