Area Development
TBC Corporation, a manufacturer of automotive replacement tires, will locate a 1.1 million-square-foot distribution center at an industrial park near Summerville, South Carolina. A company statement says the location, a foreign-trade zone, was chosen for its easy access via Interstate Highway 26 to the Port of Charleston. "We are excited about the opportunity to consolidate a portion of our distribution network to a new and larger facility in the Charleston area," says Erik R. Olsen, TBC Wholesale Group's president and CEO. "The infrastructure and location of the Port of Charleston complements our growth and will allow us to meet the growing demands of our customers." The company says the center will primarily support the company's wholesale operations and is expected to begin operations in late 2010. The Charleston Regional Business Journal reports that TBC will become the South Carolina State Ports Authority's fourth-largest business customer, with what is called a significant amount of volume that will be imported through the Port of Charleston. The Journal says the company also considered sites in Georgia and Virginia. No information was released regarding possible new job creation or incentives.