Camp Hall named No. 6 best industrial park in the nation
June 28, 2024
Camp Hall Commerce Park has been named No. 6 best industrial park in the nation in Business Facilities Magazine’s 20th Rankings Report, the magazine’s annual assessment of economic development and location leaders. Camp Hall has been in the Top 10 for five years in a row.
“We are pleased to include Camp Hall on this year’s list, especially in light of the economic impact estimates released by Santee Cooper earlier this year,” said Anne Cosgrove, Editorial Director, Business Facilities. “A strategic location coupled with superb transportation infrastructure, a tech infrastructure to meet today’s business needs, and sustainability and community amenities built into the fabric of Camp Hall secured a place in our list of industrial parks for site selectors to consider for their next project.”
Camp Hall, located in Berkeley County, is unique among industrial parks because of its focus on the environment, workforce and technology. Camp Hall is being developed by Santee Cooper, South Carolina’s state-owned electric and water utility.
“The Camp Hall team is dedicated to creating a world-class commerce park where industries, employees and nature thrive. Camp Hall has been in a Top-10 commerce park for five years in a row, which is a testament to the Camp Hall vision – and the team’s commitment to that vision,” said Jimmy Staton, Santee Cooper President and CEO.
Santee Cooper recently announced results from a comprehensive impact study on Camp Hall Commerce Park. The study puts Camp Hall’s current annual economic impact at $3.8 billion across South Carolina and $3.4 billion in the Charleston tri-county region. The study concludes that at full development (after 2035), Camp Hall will contribute $7.9 billion a year in state economic impact and $7.3 billion in the tri-county region.
Volvo Car USA established its first North American manufacturing plant at Camp Hall in 2018, and in 2022, Redwood Materials, a recycler of anode and cathode battery components for electric vehicles, announced a $3.5 billion project at the park, which broke ground in February 2024. In addition, DC Blox, a leader in providing reliable and secure tier III data centers, connectivity services, and dark fiber solutions, purchased 27.5 acres in July 2023 with plans underway to construct a multi-tenant data center.
Camp Hall is also making visible strides building out Avian Commons, which will serve as the heart of the industrial park and will be home to amenities such as places to eat and take care of everyday tasks. Refuel Operating Co. purchased the first retail site at Avian Commons in 2023, and is constructing a Refuel gas station and convenience store. Recreational areas, including sports fields and exercise equipment, are onsite to help employees with work-life balance. Avian Commons is currently open to employees working within Camp Hall, and also includes a food truck court and Wi-Fi.
As a commerce park for the next generation of industry, an important aspect of the property’s infrastructure is its leading technology and advanced connectivity. Camp Hall is considered a “Smart Commerce Center Campus,” it is designed to support future operational needs for advanced industries like autonomous vehicles as well as supporting the growth of the Internet of Things (IOT).
Camp Hall’s readiness with water, power, sewer and fiber all onsite helped it earn its Palmetto Site designation by the South Carolina Department of Commerce in 2021. The designation signifies the property has undergone a comprehensive analysis to increase its marketability to prospective industry partners.
About Santee Cooper
Santee Cooper has served the people of South Carolina for 90 years. Santee Cooper is the state’s largest power provider and the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state. It also provides clean drinking water to more than 200,000 people. Through its affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper helps power South Carolina.
