Cargo Container Firm Brings 40 Jobs to Lowcountry

The Charleston region picked up another aeronautics win Thursday with the announcement that Cargo Composites, an air cargo container manufacturer, will bring 40 jobs to the area.

Parent company Advanced Composite Structures hopes to open its new facility in early 2012 to handle the booming market for its environmentally-friendly containers.The site is located off of Clements Ferry Road in Berkeley County.

Company President Tom Pherson said there is room to grow at its new 32,000-square-foot facility.

The company considered several port cities. "From a logistical point-of-view, L.A. was the place to be," Pherson said. But from a business and quality-of-life perspective, it didn't fit the bill.

So, the company looked elsewhere and found that Charleston offered a unique opportunity with a quality port and an emerging aerospace industry anchored by a major investment from Boeing at its Dreamliner facility.

"Boeing isn't our customer," said Pherson. "But their customer is our customer."

Pherson expressed interest at a few ports of call, but he said he was wowed by the reception in Charleston. Economic development leaders, led by the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, provided location, hiring and other assistance to attract the firm. And it worked.

"I was a little overwhelmed by what we got," Pherson said. "If other people are treated like we were, we'll be followed."

CRDA Chairman R.M. Singletary welcomed the praise from Pherson. He also noted that Charleston's economic development leaders have primed the market for this kind of growth.

"Cargo Composites' decision to relocate its global headquarters and new assembly plant to our market reinforces that targeted economic development efforts prove effective," Singletary said.