CRDA Releases 2025–26 Annual Report: A Year of Regional Momentum

Explore the full CRDA 2025–26 Annual Report to see the projects, partnerships, data and people behind another year of progress for the Charleston region.

The Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA) has released its 2025–26 Annual Report, highlighting a year of shared progress, strategic partnerships and continued momentum across Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.

Economic development is rarely the result of one organization, one project or one announcement. It happens when businesses, educators, government leaders, economic development partners and community organizations work together around a shared vision for the region’s future.

Throughout FY25–26, CRDA continued its work to attract investment, connect talent, provide actionable market intelligence, strengthen the region’s innovation economy and bring partners together around opportunities and challenges that will shape Charleston’s long-term competitiveness. As CRDA leaders note in the report, the region’s willingness to work together remains one of its greatest competitive advantages.

Momentum You Can Measure

The report offers a closer look at the numbers behind the Charleston region’s continued economic momentum.

During the fiscal year, seven announced projects represented 249 direct new jobs, $15.57 million in new payroll and more than $265 million in annual economic impact.

But those project announcements represent only one part of the story.

CRDA’s Global Business Development team maintained an active presence in priority markets across the United States and around the world, conducting 17 economic development missions while building relationships with companies, consultants and decision-makers across Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and beyond. Those efforts generated more than 130 new leads and helped keep the Charleston region visible in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

Behind the scenes, data also continued to play a critical role. CRDA’s Research & Business Intelligence team responded to nearly 500 requests for customized data and analysis, helping businesses and regional partners better understand workforce trends, industry conditions, economic impacts and site selection factors.

Building More Than a Business Pipeline

Long-term competitiveness also depends on the people who live, work and build careers here.

Nearly 200 interns representing 65 regional employers participated in the Charleston Intern Network during summer 2026, connecting emerging professionals with employers, peers and opportunities to build careers in the Lowcountry.

Through CharlestonCareers.org, CRDA connected 5,857 qualified applicants with regional employers, while Operation LAUNCH brought together education and industry partners to introduce local high school students to career pathways in advanced manufacturing.

The year also demonstrated what can happen when regional partners tackle broader competitiveness challenges together. The Charleston Workforce Housing Fund raised $40 million in its inaugural year and completed two acquisitions representing 500 units, helping preserve housing affordability near regional employment centers.

Innovation remained another important piece of the region’s story. From bringing 30 venture capital investors representing $10 billion in investable capital to Charleston through the MUSC VC Investor Summit to convening entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders through Charleston Tech Week and other partnerships, CRDA continued working to strengthen connections across the region’s growing innovation ecosystem.

The Story Continues

While the 2025–26 Annual Report reflects on the progress of the past year, it also looks ahead.

CRDA’s next chapter will focus on four interconnected priorities: Market Globally, Cultivate Talent, Convene & Collaborate and Advance Innovation. From expanding business attraction efforts in areas such as corporate headquarters and defense to strengthening talent initiatives, supporting regional solutions and advancing the Charleston Region Innovation Strategy, the work underway today is designed to position the region for continued success in the years ahead.

The progress reflected throughout this report is the result of a region working together toward a shared vision for long-term success.

CRDA is proud to work alongside the investors, businesses, public-sector partners, educational institutions and community leaders who contribute their time, expertise and resources to this mission. Their collaboration makes this work possible and continues to strengthen the Charleston region for the future.

Explore the full CRDA 2025–26 Annual Report to see the projects, partnerships, data and people behind another year of progress for the Charleston region.