Chimney Sweep in North Charleston, SC

A global manufacturer of aerospace components is investing about $43 million and adding 53 jobs in a customer-fueled expansion of its North Charleston operation.

Eaton Corp. announced Sept. 30 that it plans to build a 60,000-square-foot plant next to its longtime existing factory at 7230 Cross County Road to make hydraulic pumps and motors. The parts are "used on nearly every major aircraft today," according to a Charleston County Council document.

Eaton said the investment will partly support a recent, unidentified "program win" for the manufacturer. It also will give the company extra capacity to take on new business.

The new jobs will pay an average of $46 per hour, or $97,632 a year, boosting Eaton's existing local payroll by about $5.14 million, the S.C. Commerce Department said.

The capital investment will be split roughly between property improvements and equipment

The second plant is expected to ramp up operations starting in 2028.

"The expansion ... will enable Eaton to add machining, assembly and test capabilities and expand our existing additive manufacturing capability to support a key customer’s accelerated delivery schedule on a new program win,” company executive Armando Tellez said in a written statement.

The manufacturer considered about six of its other sites for the investment, according to Merle Johnson, Charleston County's economic development director.

The expansion is expected to generate about $11.7 million for government agencies over the next 20 years under an agreement that replaces Eaton's property tax bill with a flat fee.

Also, up to $2.3 million in state tax credits and government grants have been approved for the company to help pay for infrastructure upgrades and construction costs tied to the project.

County Council’s finance committee approved the incentive package last month. At the time, Eaton was identified by the code name "Project Modern."

The property tax break still must be finalized. County Council will hold a public hearing on the fee agreement on Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m.

The North Charleston plant is part of Eaton's aerospace division, a global supplier of mechanical, hydraulic and air-driven components that flight crews need to safely and easily control and operate aircraft.

The company has stated previously that it makes pumps and valves for Boeing Co.'s locally based 787 Dreamliner program, which is investing $1 billion to raise its production rate to 10 planes a month from seven.

Eaton Aerospace LLC acquired its 14-acre Cross County Road property in 1999 through its purchase of Aeroquip-Vickers Inc., an Ohio company that made high-precision metal parts at the North Charleston site.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of North Charleston is helping residents prepare for potential tropical weather impacts. City staff distributed free sandbags at several locations throughout North Charleston on Saturday morning.

Each of the three North Charleston locations gave away 2,500 sandbags starting at 11 a.m. while supplies lasted. At Gussie Greene Community Center, North Charleston Recreation Department staff loaded up to six sandbags in the trunks of vehicles lined down the road.

“We are just doing this community service to serve the people in our community,” North Charleston Recreation Director Kathy Kackley said. “This site is all the Recreation Department; the other departments are going around and delivering sandbags on trailers today to some of the low-lying areas to people that couldn’t get out.”

The North Charleston Athletic Center and North Charleston Aquatic Center were the two other locations where people could stop to get free supplies, just by providing proof of residency with their ID.

Kackley said the city’s public service was to help people prepare ahead of the possible heavy rainfall and flooding the Lowcountry could see early in the week. She added it’s important for citizens not to wait until Monday, and to get prepared ahead of when officials say there could be the biggest impact.

“We want everybody to be safe, and we want them to check on people that are in low-lying areas. Start checking on them and maybe see what they need and if you can help them,” Kackley said.

City staff urge residents to keep the sandbags for the season for future use. For more resources on storm preparation and North Charleston city operations during storms, check out the city’s ‘storm alert’ information on their website.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Drivers downtown will see some parking garage rate increases starting Oct. 1.

Charleston County officials announced price changes to county garages, including locations in the downtown area, on .

Current rates at the King and Queen Garage along King Street are $1 for every 30 minutes, with a daily maximum price of $20. Drivers who lost their parking ticket would pay $30 per day.

Monthly rates include a $145 fee on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The monthly fee for drivers with 24/7 access is $195.

The price changes below will begin on Oct. 1:

County spokesperson Chloe Field says the changes come after a comprehensive market analysis that found the prices were inconsistent with market value.

“Charleston County is committed to keeping our parking garages safe, reliable, and well-maintained for everyone who uses them.” Field says. “These updates will not only create consistent pricing across all downtown garages but also provide the revenue needed to sustainably cover operating costs and critical maintenance, ensuring we can continue to offer dependable parking options for residents and visitors alike.

Downtown service industry workers, including Duke Kroger, feel the increase in prices adds to the hurdles workers face.

“It’s already hard enough being in the industry downtown and then knowing that the rates are going up, it makes it even harder,” Kroger said. “There’s less and less places to park. It’s very oversaturated as it is, even on the weekends when it’s free parking, it’s almost impossible to find something,” Kroger continues. “So you’re kind of left to pay for parking, and now even that’s going up. So, it’s just another hurdle in the industry.

Reilley Siroys made the recent decision to leave the downtown area service industry as a result of parking fees.

“I used to work at the Mill’s House, and I changed because parking just got too much,” Siroys says. “I spend probably like $200 on parking. I live in Summerville, and it’s going to be well worth it in Summerville. I think the money is nice down here, but it’s not worth it for the parking.”

Siroys believes more price increases could lead to other workers making the decision to relocate as well.

“I think a lot of people are going to start moving away from the tourism business and probably go to other places like West Ashley or Summerville just because the parking is just so much for employees,” Siroys says. “We just don’t get that luxury of not paying for it.”

She feels parking discounts would be helpful in keeping service workers in the area.

“We should get a little bit of discount at least for employees, that way we can feed the tourism instead of going away from it,” Siroys says.

Kroger agrees on the solution.

“I think at least for industry workers downtown,” Kroger says. “I mean, we make a huge percentage of downtown workers. Hotels, independent restaurants, there’s really nothing where a lot of cities like Savannah have incentives for workers. Pipe dreams.”

Patrons with questions can contact the Parking Office at .

Accordia’s first commercial real estate acquisition in South Carolina is also the largest in the full-service real estate investment firm’s 20-year history.

As part of the firm’s strategic expansion into the Carolinas, Accordia acquired Remount I & II, a 305,114 square foot industrial portfolio in the up-and-coming North Charleston region of South Carolina. The buildings were purchased for $48.05 million.

Remount Business Park consists of two single-story dual-flex buildings on 25.88 acres. The buildings are currently 90% leased.

1101 and 1141 Remount Road, are minutes from the Charleston International Airport and is easily accessible by I-26, I-526, and other major highways. The property is directly across the street from the Naval Information Warfare Center’s Atlantic Base and immediately adjacent to the North Charleston Port Terminal and rail line.

“Remount Business Park has a lot of unlocked potential, our plan is to upgrade the entire campus and give it a brand-new reputation for both our existing and new tenants,” said Frank Recine, Principal, Accordia. “Its location is second to none in North Charleston, and we plan on matching that with a significant set of improvements worthy of our tenants and asset.”

The buildings feature flexible floor plates that can accommodate a range of operations and industrial tenant needs, including defense organizations, one of North Charleston’s top growing industries as well as traditional industrial users. Both properties are constructed with steel frames and reinforced concrete tilt-up walls and feature 6 dock slips, 13 drive-in doors,18’ clear ceiling heights, and 240-foot truck courts.

“This asset is a strategic acquisition for us, as it expands our southeast platform into a new region and state; and allows us to keep connecting the portfolio up and down the eastern seaboard,” said Jason Bogart, Principal, Accordia. “A year ago, we put our new acquisition program into place and it’s been working exactly as planned, this is our sixth closing in less than 12 months as we close in on our goal of $100MM in new deals by year end.”

About Accordia

Accordia Realty (“Accordia”) is a full-service real estate firm founded in 2005 and headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey. Accordia specializes in Joint Venture Investments, Asset & Property Management, Development & Construction Management and Marketing and Brokerage Services throughout the United States. For more information on Accordia, visit accordiarealty.com.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Families in need of financial support will have more access to resources as Trident United Way opens a new Center for Strong Families in North Charleston.

The facility, located at 6296 Rivers Avenue, is designed to help financially insecure households that earn above the poverty line but still struggle to cover basic living expenses. Services include career coaching, debt reduction and credit building, access to benefits, food assistance as well as housing and utility support.

Trident United Way leaders say talks about the center started when data showed families in the North Charleston area are facing increasing challenges in making ends meet. The new center joins existing locations in Berkeley and Dorchester Counties, as well as one that opened at the Charleston County Public Library last month.

While they plan on doing weekly food drives and routine billing assistance, like numerous other organizations, these services still remain a top need.

“A big service gap that we see is rental assistance,” Director of Communications Angie Williams says. “Not because other organizations aren’t providing the service, but just because the rent is really, really high right now.”

Inside the center, one of the organization’s most spacious facilities, families will find computers for job searches, a food distribution room and private offices for one-on-one counseling. Adding personalized career coaching or counseling is a newer approach to help families find financial support, one that Trident says sets them apart from other resources.

“Having a coach that will be able to walk you through each step of the way and have someone to check back in to… really just kind of be your cheerleader is the nice thing,” Williams says. “The other services… will come as we hear more about the needs.”

The project received a $50,000 grant from Charleston County through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Client service hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments can also be scheduled by phone.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.