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Digital Corridor expands to 27 companies

Submitted by: John Warner on Nov 15, 2002 at 6:00 am Tagged with: General Archives Source:

Digital Corridor expands to 27 companies
Charleston Regional Business Journal, November 2002
By Peter D. Lucash

Despite the lack of a major university found in other high-tech communities
such as Silicon Valley, the Research Triangle, Boston and Austin, Texas,
Charleston's lower housing costs, smaller size and recreational amenities have
begun to attract knowledge-based companies.

Some 27 of these companies now reside in one of four areas that comprise the
Charleston Digital Corridor: the Wharf District, the University District and
the Gateway District on the peninsula, and the Cainhoy District that includes
Daniel Island.

These companies are eligible for a variety of incentives, including waivers of
fees, property tax abatement , discounted rates at public parking facilities
and a presence in digital corridor marketing materials. Private contributions
fund these perks.

''The corridor is not a program,'' says Ernest Andrade, director of the
Charleston Digital Corridor. ''It's a marriage of effective private seӪctor
resources with an accessible and responsive public sector.'' Andrade attributes
much of the success to the cooperation of public and private sector service
providers that responded to his pleas to help businesses cut through red tape.

Marketing and graphic design firm Sans Locus, for example, was able to move
into new King Street offices within 24 hours of signing the lease. Adds
Andrade, ''It's important to perform at national and international levels if we
want world-class companies.''

Andrade believes recruiting firms to Charleston benefits local companies,
citing that workers may be reluctant to relocate where there are few options
should they want or need to leave their employer. ''As long as we have
opportunity, we will get the labor,'' he says. ''When there are multiple
opportunities for workers, this attracts more and better qualified talent and
builds momentum.''

A small, West Coast software firm is expected to announce later this month that
it has opened its East Coast office on the peninsula. Charleston was selected
for several reasons, including its temperate climate. The senior local company
executive, who development officials have asked the Business Journal not to
identify, says the company ''wants to be in the digital corridor.''

The company found the Charleston Regional Development Alliance through a web
search and the CRDA then put them in touch with Andrade. The company is
relocating a small group of employees and making several local hires. Andrade
''made us feel important,'' says the official. ''It was one-stop shopping …Andrade
was always available for us.''

Future plans for the corridor involve MUSC and the development of a biotech
incubator. Central to such a facility will be lab space, something lacking in
the area. In 2003, the city plans to commit budget dollars for program
development. The corridor's web site, www.charlestondigitalcorridor.com, is
also being revised to include a search capability for office space and provide
more information on corridor companies.