Charleston Digital Corridor Cuts Ribbon On New Downtown Learning Center Supported By Google At Charleston Tech Center

In a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local business leaders and elected officials on Tuesday, the Charleston Digital Corridor officially opened the doors to its new CDC Learning Center (CDCLC) located on its Charleston Tech Center campus on Charleston's upper peninsula. The centrally located and easily accessible Learning Center at 997 Morrison Drive features 1,250 square feet of classroom space with state-of-the-art technology and will offer a wide range of programming ranging from basic digital literacy courses to sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity training.

The CDCLC will serve as an asset to the community as it provides highly accessible and impactful training and skills development for residents across the Lowcountry, particularly in the tech sector. Located within a federally designated Opportunity Zone, an intentional focus will be placed on providing underserved communities with high-quality and inclusive educational programs in a supportive, applied learning environment.

Google provided $250,000 for the CDC Learning Center, as its mission aligns with Google's work to help upskill the regional workforce and remove barriers to entry in the tech industry. Google, with a data center in Berkeley County, has awarded more than $6 million since 2006 to local schools and nonprofits in South Carolina to advance this vision.

"The Learning Center here at Charleston Tech Center is a product of our tech community's bold vision, a symbol of our strong partnerships and a strategic investment in the future of equitable entrepreneurship in the Lowcountry," said Ernest Andrade, Executive Director of the Charleston Digital Corridor. "Thank you to Google for providing us with the critical resources to open this hub of opportunity for all in our community. We look forward to partnering with tech industry leaders to establish forward-thinking programming in this new space."

"This is an exciting day for Google, the Charleston Digital Corridor, and the greater community as we open the doors of the downtown Learning Center and take one step closer to closing the digital literacy gap in our region," said Amber Tillman, Google's Head of Data Center Economic and Community Development. "Google is proud to partner with the CDC as part of our long-time commitment to upskilling the workforce in the Lowcountry and provide pathways to brighter futures for local residents and students."

The CDC works to identify gaps related to the talent development of Charleston's tech economy and provides programming to address those gaps. As the city of Charleston and greater tri-county region experience an increase in economic growth, the demand for a skilled workforce continues to rise.

"The Charleston Digital Corridor's Learning Center, backed by Google, is a beacon of opportunity for our residents. It showcases our city's dedication to nurturing talent in our community and ensuring that Charleston remains a hub of technological advancement," said Mayor John Tecklenburg, City of Charleston.

SatQuote Introduces SatMeasure Free Plan

SatQuote™, a leading provider of property measurement and estimation software, has launched a new SatMeasure Free Plan. This new product is designed to introduce users to the SatMeasure and SatQuote suite of measuring and estimation tools. The new plan allows users to measure and save up to 10 properties each month, completely free of charge, with no credit card required.

Leveraging remote measurement and estimation technology is a great way for landscape and outdoor service companies to save time and money traveling to job sites, and can help customers and crews visualize where work will be done. The new SatMeasure Free product allows companies to get started with zero out-of-pocket costs.

• Key Features of SatMeasure Free:
• Measure Up to 10 Properties Per Month
• No Credit Card Required
• Free Hand Draw & Point + Click Measuring
• Multiple Area Measurements
• Perimeter, Area, and Volume Calculations
• Ability to Save Maps and Measurements

"SatQuote is committed to developing innovative property measurement and estimation tools to help outdoor service professionals increase efficiency. With the introduction of SatMeasure Free, we are taking the risk out of getting started with remote property measurements" said Drew Wagner, Founder and CEO of SatQuote.

To subscribe and start measuring with the SatMeasure Free plan, visit SatQuote.com.

Surety Bonds Direct Lands Spot on Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies List

Surety Bonds Direct, a high-growth company bringing technological innovation to the insurance industry, is pleased to announce the company has ranked #2846 on the 2023 Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list, a rare honor reserved for just one-half percent of all companies operating in the United States.

The company which commenced business operations in 2016 at the Charleston Digital Corridor's Flagship tech incubator, has experienced a three (3) year growth rate of just under 200%. Surety Bonds represents yet another Charleston company that has made the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list over the past 15 years and has been supported by the Charleston Digital Corridor.

Surety Bonds Direct co-founder, Eric Fauerbach, credits the company's success to "technological innovation along with a team of knowledgeable, talented, and energetic individuals who have embraced a highly customer centric business model."

"The efficiency we bring through technology saves our clients time with policy issuance, secures the most competitive policy rates, and eliminates cumbersome paperwork... a win-win for underwriters and customers," added co-founder, Jason O'Leary.

"Charleston's tech industry has grown a whopping 3,788% in the past twenty years and Surety Bonds Direct is another company with high growth potential that is contributing to the success of our community", said Charleston Digital Corridor Director, Ernest Andrade.

Surety Bonds Direct, which continues to experience robust growth, is expected to continue to grow their team in North Charleston. You can learn more about Surety Bonds Direct HERE.

About Surety Bonds Direct:

Surety Bonds Direct is a national bonding agency licensed in all 50 states. The company was rated Best Overall Surety Bond Company in the country for 2021, 2022, and 2023 by Investopedia. Surety Bonds Direct is authorized to offer thousands of different types of commercial and contract surety bonds across dozens of industries.

CDC Tech Life Podcast Episode 29 Features Baird Hall - Founder - Churnkey and Zubtitle

Episode 29 of the CDC Tech Life Podcast features Baird Hall, serial entrepreneur and founder of Charleston-SC based technology startups Churnkey and Zubtitle. Baird shares his journey from first-time entrepreneur to founder and CEO of multiple ventures and the lessons he learned along the way.

This episode is sponsored by Funnel. Funnel delivers a consistent, connected experience from inquiry through renewal, all while saving operators money and creating happier leasing teams. Visit them at Funnelleasing.com to learn more.

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Clinical Trials Firm Expands Its Reach With Charleston-Based US Headquarters

A global company that works with the pharmaceutical industry is making Charleston its U.S. headquarters, with expansion to the WestEdge complex near the peninsula's medical district. Read more:

SatQuote Acknowledged as a Green Industry Pros 2023 Editor’s Choice Award Winner

The 2023 Green Industry Pros Editor's Choice Awards represents the landscape industry's best products gaining interest from end-users and landscape professionals alike. The awarded products, exhibiting innovation and utility, were chosen based on submitted nominations and audience engagement during a 12-month period on GreenIndustryPros.com, and narrowed down by the editorial team and advisory board.

SatQuote is a cloud-based platform for desktop, tablet and mobile developed to help landscapers measure and map properties, estimate project labor and material needs, create landscape designs, and generate PDF quotes with map images, products, and photos that allow collaboration with customers on what and where work will be done.

"Receiving the Green Industry Pros 2023 Editor's Choice Award is an exciting achievement for SatQuote. This recognition underscores our commitment to innovation and excellence in serving landscape professionals," said Founder and Chief Technology Officer Drew Wagner. "We are thrilled to be named among the best products in the industry, and it fuels our excitement to continue pushing boundaries and providing top-notch solutions. Our journey is driven by the needs of end-users and landscape professionals, and this award motivates us to keep delivering technology that truly makes a difference."

SatQuote's features include:

• High-resolution aerial imagery: SatQuote uses high-resolution aerial imagery and measuring tools to provide accurate property measurements remotely and waste less time driving.
• AI measuring assistance: SatQuote's AI measuring helps landscapers quickly measure property features such as lawns, buildings, driveways, and roadways.
• Customer Collaboration: Share property maps and estimates via magic links, email, or SMS where customers can comment, markup, and add photos.
• Labor and material estimation: SatQuote's labor and material estimation feature helps landscapers profitably estimate project pricing. This feature takes into account the size of the property, the type of work that needs to be done, and the cost of materials.
• Landscape design & overlay: SatQuote's landscape design feature helps landscapers to create visually appealing and functional landscape designs. This feature includes a library of pre-made templates and a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create custom designs. If clients already have a design, you can upload and scale it to the map to confirm accuracy and determine material and labor needs.
• Estimate generation: SatQuote's estimate generation feature helps landscapers create professional-looking quotes that include scope of work, the cost of materials, and labor costs. Estimate generation syncs with Quickbooks.

"We're thrilled to showcase the winners of the 2023 Editor's Choice Awards," says Green Industry Pros Editor Sarah Webb. "Despite facing several hurdles the past few years, the green industry is going strong, and this year's winning products include innovative features that help contractors contend with those
challenges, become more efficient and boost their bottom lines."

Green Industry Pros magazine educates landscape contractors and equipment dealers on the latest products, trends, technologies and business strategies that help with growth, productivity and profitability for their operations. Additional information on award recipients can be found in the July/August issue of Green Industry Pros and at GreenIndustryPros.com.