A Backbone Rooted in the Marine Industry
Dorchester County’s marine cluster has grown by leaps and bounds for reasons that include a convenient location near the Atlantic Coast, a unique boat-building success story, and a vast transportation network that rivals communities of a much larger scale. Anchoring the region, Scout Boats is one of the most innovative companies in the business that has spurred interest among the marine industry and spawned such start-up companies as Sportsman Boats that has led to a 50-job expansion for the new company. Home to a thriving marine industry, Dorchester County has what it takes for boat manufacturers to make a splash in the Charleston Region.
Fast Facts
- Dorchester County has the largest concentration of boat manufacturers in the state.
- Average annual growth in the Dorchester Region over the next five years is expected at a rate of 4.1%.
- Charleston boasts a growing, highly productive workforce for this sector with competitive wage rates
- The region provides a large, multimodal transportation network to transport finished products quickly
Who's Already Here
Industry Spotlight: Key West Boats
Since 1986, their goal has been to provide high quality, high value products enhanced by our commitment to customer service giving you the best value on the water. Key West has maintained skilled employees through an employee ownership program giving each employee pride in building a quality product. With two locations and over 160,000 square feet of operational facilities for design, manufacturing, sales, marketing, and customer service, we can maintain our leading edge on quality, technology, and value today, and for the future.