© 2003, Rotary Club of Charleston

P.O. Box 21029
Charleston, SC 29413-1029

Club secretary:
Carroll Schweers
chasrot@comcast.net

Charleston Digital Corridor aids development
Andrate seeks to put Charleston on high-tech map

JAN. 27, 2004 - The Charleston Digital Corridor ("CDC") is a "creative effort" by the City of Charleston that aims to "attract, nurture, and promote knowledge-based enterprises" in four geographic areas of Charleston, according to its founder and President, Ernest Andrade.

Launched during February 2001, the CDC recruits small to medium-sized high-tech companies to the area and then tries to facilitate an environment where they can thrive. According to Andrade, the CDC is a "portal" to government, infrastructure, financing, real estate and other resources. The four regions that make up the Digital Corridor are referred to as Cainhoy, Gateway, Wharf, and University.

By attracting high tech jobs to the area, Andrade hopes the CDC will assist in: (1) increasing the per capita wages in Charleston; and (2) keeping highly talented students from leaving South Carolina upon graduation from school.

To date, the CDC claims to have attracted 36 companies to the region. Andrade says that that average wage in these CDC companies is $71,000 per year compared to $29,000 per year as the prevailing average wage in the area.

Among other projects for 2004, the CDC plans to create a fund to securitize loans for start up companies that could not otherwise get financing to get off the ground. It also hopes to develop a webpage akin to monster.com on which local employers could post job openings and individuals could post resumes.

Andrade acknowledges that the CDC is a long-term economic development initiative that cannot simply happen overnight.

In other business:

Anne Moise gave the invocation and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Sandy Ferencz welcomed our guests and visiting Rotarians. Earl Walker offered Health and Happiness, and the Club inducted two new members: Stovall Witte and Richard Horne. Emma Souder discussed Career Education Week, and John Tecklenberg and Tony Holz announced a benefit for Lowcountry Aid to Africa to be held January 31 at the Gaillard Auditorium. George Greene discussed the Ecuador water installation project, and Anita Zucker provided a Rotary Moment. Ellen Dressler-Moryl introduced our guest speaker, Ernest Andrade.

-- Amy Jenkins