Economic development is rarely an overnight success story. From the outside, ribbon cuttings and grand openings can appear to happen quickly, but behind every announcement are years of preparation, persistence, investment, and partnership.

That reality was on full display as we celebrated the official opening of Project Laundry on May 21, 2026 — more than three years after the project was first assigned to a project manager in February 2023.

Long before equipment was installed or employees walked through the doors, the groundwork was already being laid. In 2022, the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation (BCEDC) supported the development of a 25,000-square-foot pad-ready site that helped position the project for success. The total investment for the site was approximately $330,000, including a $200,000 grant awarded by the South Carolina Department of Commerce, along with support from Dominion Energy and BCEDC.

But infrastructure and funding alone do not bring a project across the finish line. Economic development succeeds because of people willing to collaborate, solve problems, and stay committed when challenges arise.

During the critical weeks between Christmas and New Year’s, partners came together to ensure MasterCorp, Inc. received its temporary certificate of occupancy and remained on schedule for opening. Without that coordinated effort, today’s celebration may not have happened.

Special recognition belongs to the City of Beaufort team, including Scott Marshall, John Badgett, and Bruce Skipper; the Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority and Charlie Stone; and the BCEDC staff members who worked tirelessly behind the scenes — John O’Toole, Kelli Brunson, and Brian Warner.

Projects like this are reminders that economic development is not measured by a single day or announcement. It is measured by years of preparation, relationship-building, problem-solving, and trust among partners who share a vision for the future of the community.

We invite you to visit the MasterCorp, Inc. facility in the Beaufort Commerce Park. As founder Alan Grindstaff said, “We’re family and would not be here if we did not see that in Beaufort County.”