Blackbaud, a provider of software and services for the global philanthropic community, will invest $154 million in an expansion of its existing world headquarters operations in Charleston, SC. The project is expected to create 300 new jobs over the next five years in Berkeley County.
“For nearly thirty years, we’ve called South Carolina home, and we’re proud to deepen our roots in this great state with this generational investment,” said Blackbaud President and CEO Mike Gianoni. “This community is very important to us, and this project improves our ability to give back in even more meaningful ways, while boosting the local economy. I’d like to thank the State of South Carolina, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, Berkeley County and City of Charleston for their continued support of Blackbaud and for their commitment in making South Carolina a place where technology companies and those they employ can thrive.”
In an effort to expand its already robust corporate headquarters in Berkeley County, Blackbaud is moving into a larger estimated 360,000-square-foot facility on Daniel Island. Expected to be completed in phases, phase one of the new facility will be located at the intersection of Fairchild Street and Central Island Street, while phase two will be located at the intersection of River Landing Drive and Fairchild Street. Construction of phase one anticipated for completion in 2018.
Once complete, the new eco-friendly campus will ultimately accommodate thousands of the company’s global workforce, and will serve as a hub for the advancement of philanthropic interests in the Lowcountry and around the world. The new headquarters will offer unique community space to incubate emerging nonprofits and connect people with common interests. The site will also include facilities to host the company’s ongoing community development and corporate citizenship activities, like Camp Blackbaud, an employee-led STEM program that teaches elementary school children how to design and code.
Blackbaud has operated in Berkeley County since 2000, is the largest publicly traded software company in the state, and was recently recognized on Forbes’ 25 Fastest-Growing Public Tech Companies list. More than half of Blackbaud’s rapidly growing workforce resides in the Charleston area.
“We’re proud of the competitive environment for business development that Team South Carolina has worked to create in our state, and to see one of our most innovative companies choose to make a significant investment and create 300 new jobs here proves that those efforts are paying off,” said Governor Nikki Haley. “We couldn’t be more excited to congratulate Blackbaud on the success they’ve found here, and we look forward to watching this fantastic company continue to grow here for many years to come.”
Blackbaud, which was ranked among South Carolina’s best places to work for six consecutive years and recognized on Forbes’ America’s Best Midsize Employers list, plans to use the expansion to keep and attract top talent by adding innovative ideation and collaboration spaces, game rooms, ergonomic work stations, a coffee and tea bar, a modern cafeteria sourcing local food, a fitness center, hiking trails, and creative outdoor sporting, meeting and event space.
“We are a purpose-driven company with employees who are deeply committed to advancing the social good movement,” said Blackbaud Executive Vice President of HR John Mistretta. “Our new headquarters project allows us to build a workplace that cultivates collaboration, promotes disruptive innovation and inspires employees to reach their full potential.”
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved job development credits related to the project.
“The significant expansion of Blackbaud’s headquarters in the Charleston region demonstrates that this global market offers the competitive advantages innovative companies and entrepreneurs need to succeed – highly-skilled talent pool, access to capital, and the available space to locate/expand,” said Charleston Regional Development Alliance Board Chair Anita Zucker. “The Charleston region is a very robust and growing technology hub, offering tremendous opportunities for career mobility.”
Relocating or Expanding Your Business In South Carolina
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