"This is likely to be one of the best settlements in the Indies," remarked William Sayle, the first governor of Carolina. His observation concerning Charlestowne couldn't have been more accurate. More than 300 years and a name change later, the three-county Charleston, S.C., region is still attracting people and commerce with its excellent quality of life, diverse educational resources, outstanding infrastructure and world-class seaport.

The region's business boom is all the more remarkable given the tough competition from other areas along the mid-Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Getinge/Castle, Inc., a leading manufacturer of surgical and sterilization equipment with headquarters in Rochester, N.Y., decided to establish its primary distribution facility in Charleston after analyzing other potential locations.

Much of the company's products are manufactured in Europe then shipped by ocean container to the U.S. "We manufacture surgical tables in Germany then ship them from Hamburg to Charleston," says operations director Jim Riggins. "We performed cost studies for other seaports, and Port Charleston was one of the most competitive."

Quoizel, Inc., a leading manufacturer of lighting and home furnishings, chose to relocate to Charleston in 1996. It was a wise decision, says operations manager Ed Clark. Quozel's industry is competitive, fast moving, and profit margins are thin. Therefore, the importance of maintaining a highly effective supply chain can't be overemphasized when it comes to staying ahead of the pack. "We import between 80- and 90 percent of our products from China," Clark says. "Most of our product comes in by ocean container via all-water service. Evergreen, Maersk Sealand, and K-Line are some of our major carriers."

The company introduces about 500 new products a year, supplying a range of retailers from chain retailers such as Lamps Plus to small family-run businesses. Transportation and logistics are a critical aspect of Quoizel's business, and Port Charleston figures prominently. "The close access to the ports has helped us get our products to the customer quicker," Clark says.

There were other attractions to relocating to the Charleston regional area, he says. "The training programs that were offered played a large part in our decision to move. We knew we would have to hire additional people, and the programs enabled us to bring in people to be trained on the job."

Karen Kuchenbecker, the director of marketing for the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, says, "Our state's workforce training program, the Center for Accelerated Technology Training, has made it easy for companies to obtain a highly productive workforce. CATT tailors its worker training to the needs of qualifying employers, so companies can 'hit the deck running' at little or no out-of-pocket cost."

There are a wide variety of companies expanding and relocating in the Charleston area. Finland-based Raisio Group, makers of the ingredient used in Benecol brand foods, opened a facility in Charleston four years ago, while Robert Bosch Corporation has undergone multiple expansions in Charleston.

Technology firms, too, such as Blackbaud and Cambar Software, Inc. are finding homes in the region. According to David Ginn, president and CEO of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, "Technology has changed business more than we could have imagined just a decade or two ago, both in how business operates and in where companies locate their facilities. In the process, technology has changed the makeup and direction of Charleston's regional economy."

The South Carolina World Trade Center is another key support for companies throughout the region and state. Executive director Mark Condon works hard to meet the needs of importers and exporters, whether they're simply looking for additional leads or embarking on a major overseas strategy. As part of a network of more than 300 offices around the world, the South Carolina World Trade Center is without doubt a tremendously valuable resource.

One of the biggest draws for the region, however, has been Port Charleston. Truly, the seaport offers its customers productivity and service that's hard to beat. Bernard Groseclose, president and CEO of South Carolina State Ports Authority, and Byron Miller, public relations manager, are proud to list the port's advantages. "On the operational side, the Ports Authority's employees operate all container lifting equipment [top lifters, empty handlers, RTGs, and container cranes]," Groseclose says. "Our employees also operate interchange gates for the common user customers, while stevedores and union workers run gates for licensed users."

This unusual blend of union and non-union labor allows the Ports Authority to consistently achieve excellent results in productivity. During 2001, the port averaged 37 container moves per hour for every ship of every class over the entire year. "This was up 15 percent from the prior year, which was 32 container moves per hour," Miller says. Trucker turn time in the common yard has also been drastically cut from 79 minutes to less than 25 minutes per trip.

Among East Coast ports, Port Charleston also boasts the shortest time to the open sea. Furthermore, it has a definite edge when it comes information technology. "Our ORION system was the first and best of its kind," says director of information technology Pam Everitt. "We were the first port to have 100 percent participation in U.S. Customs' AMS, the first port to make AES fully operational, and we are now rolling out what will be North America's leading yard management system."

Indeed, if William Sayle could only have imagined just how vibrant a "settlement" the Charleston region is today.