About Advance Dorchester
The Dorchester Economic Development Corporation is an independently funded and operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to economic development, business recruitment and job creation in Dorchester County, SC. The public-private partnership markets Dorchester County as a premier business destination and fosters overall improvement on local quality of life. Our areas of strategic focus serve as the foundation of Dorchester County’s economic development and marketing success.
Who We Are
Advance Dorchester (DEDC) is a public-private partnership comprised of dedicated business leaders, local governmental officials, nonprofit, philanthropic, and business organizations to promote county-wide economic development. The DEDC is the designated fundraising arm for Dorchester County, SC and is committed to providing leadership that helps businesses thrive and grow.
The DEDC is the only organization focused solely on growing and diversifying the economy of Dorchester County. With investment from over 100 organizations, the DEDC leads initiatives to enhance the region’s competitiveness, promote entrepreneurship, and foster the talent attraction pipeline for Dorchester County. We govern ourselves with transparency and communicate results to our investors, DEDC Board of Directors, and the community.
What We Do
The DEDC works to help companies establish, expand, and flourish; creating new jobs, contributing to the economy and the tax base, and reducing vulnerability to external shocks that can undermine our community’s long-term economic health. The DEDC targets business locations and expansions that complement the local community, while leveraging strategic community partnerships that increase the public return on investment.
In 2023 alone, the DEDC leveraged resources to drive over $406 million in capital investment and an estimated 1231 new jobs. Investing in the DEDC ensures that Dorchester County has an expert professional team focused on year-round results in economic development.
The Pillars of Advance Dorchester
Marketing
Dorchester County is reliant on our Partners to fund major marketing efforts both locally and globally by positioning Dorchester County as a world class operation and optimal destination. Through targeted media, branding, industry outreach, events, and more we are able to attract premium business and promote the overall improvement on quality of life. Dorchester County also works to align its strategies with both the Charleston Regional Development Alliance and the SC Department of Commerce to support the advancement of greater regional development.
These strategies include: Advertise and promote the County as an ideal business destination, enhance our ability to effectively ’sell’ Dorchester County, and redesign Dorchester County’s gateway to the world with business-forward messaging.
Product Development
Dorchester County continuously works to enhance product development by producing more of both available buildings and “shovel-ready” sites. This involves conducting site work and due diligence to aid in the development of spec buildings, infrastructure improvement, and the enhancement of key business corridors.
Our goals are to align and promote road infrastructure improvements along key business corridors, prioritize water and wastewater infrastructure improvements, and conduct site work and due diligence to aid in responsible development.
Prospect Development
Prospect development is an essential function of any economic development organization. Our regional, state, and utility partners are a tremendous help on this front, but with additional resources provided by our investors, we are able to do even more. From research, to international exhibits, to leveraging ‘deal-closing’ options we are able to build and grow prospects on a variety of fronts.
We aim to embrace opportunities to better position Dorchester County, gain exposure and build global connectivity, and conduct, manage, and implement research for prospect activities.
Workforce Development
While the lack of available skilled labor is a nationwide challenge, the Charleston region is recognized as a leader in addressing this issue with innovative strategies. Dorchester County is actively working to enhance the workforce through an array of development tactics designed to expand, train, and strengthen the talent pipeline.
Our goals are to advocate for wall-to-wall academies in Dorchester County, assist companies in partnering with educational and employment resources, and building greater awareness of existing workforce development opportunities.
