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A City Where Family and Business Both Benefit

Finding the perfect location for your business is your utmost priority, but why should you have to give up a great quality of life?

You shouldn’t. In Goose Creek, we have the best of both worlds. Our population is young and diverse, our public works are dependable, and our recreation department is one of the regions’ finest with modern facilities and activities for all ages. We’re also a short drive from one of the most important seaports on the east coast and one of the largest South Carolina cities: Charleston.

In short, business in Goose Creek is the best of both worlds: big-city amenities with a small-community feel.

Target Industries

We welcome all businesses that want to set up shop in Goose Creek, but especially those that help contribute to economic growth and/or quality of life for our residents. Our priorities are aligned with the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA). If your business falls into one of the following categories, we encourage you to explore Goose Creek’s demographic information, business incentives, and more!

hospitality
Hospitality
retail
Retail
information technology
I.T.
culture
Culture
aerospace
Aerospace
logistics
Logistics
restaurant
Restaurants
automotive
Automotive

Demographics

Our people are our greatest asset, so you should know a little more about them.

With the naval weapons station located in our backyard, we’ve always had a strong military personnel presence and a healthy mix of singles and family units. But as Charleston has continued to grow, we have watched our demographics change to reflect a younger population with more spending capital and a desire to enjoy all the Lowcountry has to offer.

By the Numbers
32.8% growth since 2010 (and still growing!)
$390M in economic overflow that new businesses can capitalize on
25-44, largest age bracket of residents
33% of our population is single
47% of our population are married couples
70% of our residents own their own homes

Take a Deeper Look At Our Area’s Demographics

Curious what development will impact our area over the next several years? Check out this map showing the total estimated build-out for Carnes, Cane Bay, and Nexton.

Incentives

The financial weight of starting a new business, or relocating an existing one, is no small thing.

We believe in the power of public-private partnerships and we’re willing to work with you to make Goose Creek your city of choice — whether by providing our own city-wide incentives or by referring you to other helpful resources. For our targeted geographic areas, check out this map of our incentive zones.

City Incentives

If your business falls into one of our sought-after industries, the city may provide the following incentives:

  • Up to 100% of the applicable Development Impact Fees collected by the City.
  • Up to 100% of the building permit fees collected by the City.
  • Up to 100% of the business license fees collected by the City for as many as five years.
  • Up to 100% of the local hospitality taxes collected by the City for as many as five years.
  • Up to 100% of the annual local accommodations taxes collected by the City for as many as five years.
State Incentives

If your business falls outside of the categories listed under City Incentives, you might qualify for state or regional incentives. Please note that specific industries can apply for both local and state assistance.

Grants and Loans

We want businesses to be healthy in our city, so incentives aren’t the only financial benefit we offer. We, along with our partners, provide business loans and grants to qualifying businesses. Check out how we can partner with you to Kickstart the Creek.

Kickstart the Creek – Small Business Loan Program

The City is pleased to partner with CLIMB Fund for our new small business assistance program: Kickstart the Creek 2.0. The program will provide loans to small businesses inside City limits.

The City is contributing $500,000 as seed funding, and CLIMB Fund will administer the program through its office in Charleston. Kickstart funds will be used as part of larger lending projects, helping small businesses and start-ups establish operations or expand inside Goose Creek.

For program information or an application, please contact Rob Wiggins at the City or reach out to CLIMB Fund direclty.

DETAILS
  • Be located within the city limits of Goose Creek
  • Be a small business
    • Small Business is defined as those businesses with 25 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees, including franchises with fewer than 25 employees in the City.
  • Be a target business or industry for the City of Goose Creek
  • Have a Goose Creek valid business license or license eligibility
  • Loan amount will be no larger than $150,000, any amount over this must be approved by City Council.
  • Borrowers must have a physical location within the corporate limits of the City, home based businesses must be approved by City staff.
  • All borrowers shall agree to maintain a physical presence in the City for the duration of the loan with the agreement that removing the business’s physical presence from the City will trigger an immediate recall of the loan funds.
  • CLIMB Fund will perform all the underwriting responsibilities and determine what type of loan is appropriate. They will also determine the interest rates. Rates will fall within CLIMB Fund’s risk rating. CLIMB Fund will retain 75% of the interest paid, and 25% of the interest will be reinvested into the program.
  • CLIMB Fund will consider jobs created by the project, investment of the owner, and the project size. A borrower must be denied by a traditional lender
  • The principal repayments will be reinvested into the program.
  • Application fee of $125, payable to CLIMB Fund.
  • Loan terms and duration will be set by CLIMB Fund, with a maximum of ten years. There is no pre-payment penalty.

The details listed in our FAQs are not exhaustive, and other terms and conditions may apply. Loans and eligibility are at the sole discretion of the City and CLIMB Fund. For more details about applying for a loan and the terms, please contact CLIMB Fund at [email protected] or visit their website.

Façade Grant

Applicable for properties zoned general commercial, these grants help business owners make improvements to their business exteriors. Eligible activities include: painting, landscaping, and other aesthetic improvements. This is a matching grant, and recipients may receive up to $5,000 in funding.

To apply, click here.

For program details, including eligible activities, click here.

Questions, contact Rob Wiggins.

Sign Replacement Incentive Program

The purpose of the program is to enhance the image and livability of the City, as well as promote positive economic growth. The City will provide monetary assistance for sign removal and replacement in parts of the City. The program is designed to encourage rapid removal of existing nonconforming signage. All pre-existing, non-conforming signs have until 2033 to come into compliance with the City of Goose Creek Sign Regulations.

For program details, including eligible activities, click here.

To apply, click here.

Questions, contact Rob Wiggins.

Workforce Statistics

Our workforce is skilled for a variety of industries — from large-scale manufacturing to tourism, retail, and hospitality.

We benefit from our proximity to Charleston and provide an enticing alternative to anyone hoping to avoid city traffic. We believe in investing in our people and we partner with incredible agencies and programs to help companies and workers succeed.

A division of the SC Technical College System, ReadySC is a workforce training program that works to help meet companies’ needs.

LEARN MORE >

SC Works is a program designed to bring employers and workers together. Their team works on programs such as WorkKeys assessments, on-the-job training, and even resume building for applicants.

LEARN MORE >

The Lowcountry Graduate Center (LGC) is a state-funded organization dedicated to providing Charleston-area residents with convenient access to graduate-level academic programs.

LEARN MORE >

Trident Tech is the region’s technical training institute. They work with students and employers in a wide variety of fields to prepare them for success in the workforce.

LEARN MORE >

An apprenticeship combines on-the-job training with job-related education in the classroom. Apprenticeship Carolina works to provide employers the information and assistance they need to create registered apprenticeship programs.

LEARN MORE >
Interested in more workforce information?

Find even more labor statistics for the Charleston area at crda.org or reach out to our Economic development team.

Utilities

Your business needs power, water, sewer, and a host of other services to function. We work with our local utility providers to get you the services you need at business-friendly rates.

Partners

Economic Development is a team sport. These community partners help us provide the resources you need to get your business ready for Goose Creek.

contact

Want more information about the benefits of starting a business in the City of Goose Creek?

Start the conversation with our resident experts.

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