Oct. 12, 2009 (Business Wire) -- TBC Corporation (TBC), one of the largest marketers of automotive replacement tires, today announced plans to occupy a 1.1 million square foot distribution center to be developed in Rockefeller Group Foreign Trade Zone/Charleston in Berkeley County, South Carolina. The 400-acre industrial park is a joint venture of Rockefeller Group Development Corporation (RGDC) and MeadWestvaco Corporation’s (MWV) Community Development and Land Management Group.

“We are excited about the opportunity to consolidate a portion of our distribution network to a new and larger facility in the Charleston area,” said Erik R. Olsen, president and CEO, TBC Wholesale Group. “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 East Coast Distribution Center will primarily support TBC’s wholesale operations.

The expansion of TBC’s east coast distribution center to the Berkeley County site near the I-26/Jedburg Road interchange will provide necessary access to the deepwater Port of Charleston, which will allow TBC to receive product from international as well as domestic suppliers, subsequently streamlining product and inventory management to the benefit of its customers.

TBC’s distribution center will have a dramatic positive impact on Berkeley County, the Charleston region, and the entire State of South Carolina. Accordingly, a collaborative private/public effort was forged to pursue TBC. Dan Davis of Berkeley County; Senators Glenn McConnell (R-Charleston County) President Pro Tempore of the Senate; Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence County), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee; Larry Grooms (R-Berkeley County), Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee; and Paul Campbell (R-Berkeley County); and the South Carolina Department of Commerce were instrumental in this effort. "Berkeley County is excited to be a part of the team securing the first business for the Jedburg Distribution Cluster," commented Dan Davis, Berkeley County Supervisor. "This is a win for the County and the Region."

Senator Glenn McConnell said, “This is great news for the people of the Lowcountry and for the citizens of South Carolina. This was a great team effort of the public and private sectors and I was pleased to be part of this team. This shows what we can do when we work together to bring investment and jobs to our state.”

"The announcement by TBC is a win-win,” said Senator Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr. “It is a win for the State Ports Authority since the number of containers moving through our port will increase significantly. It is a win because it will be the first of many millions square feet of distribution centers close to our port which should encourage other companies to locate there. And, it is a win for our dedicated workers who deserve opportunities to make a better life for their families. I am absolutely happy that I had an opportunity to work with my colleagues in the General Assembly to make sure that TBC Corporation came to South Carolina instead of the Port of Savannah."

Senator Larry K. Grooms said, "The more economic development negotiations that I'm involved in, the more I'm convinced that our Port is the engine that can move our economy down the road of prosperity.