Charleston County Government is pleased to announce the return of Merle Johnson as its new Economic Development Executive Director, effective February 7, 2025. Johnson, a highly regarded economic development professional with 20 years of experience, previously served in multiple leadership roles with Charleston County Economic Development for over seven years.
Johnson returns to Charleston County after serving as the Executive Director of the Orangeburg County Development Commission (OCDC) for the past two years. During his tenure, he led efforts that resulted in over $1.1 billion in new investment and more than 600 new jobs in Orangeburg County. His expertise in business recruitment, process improvement, and strategic site development played a key role in expanding the County-owned mega site and developing infrastructure growth plans to support industrial and residential development.
Prior to his leadership in Orangeburg, Johnson was the Director of Economic and Community Development for the City of Greenville, where his leadership resulted in more than $356 million in new capital investment and 1,300+ new jobs. He facilitated major corporate relocations, including Kiyatec’s bio-tech headquarters, Southern First Bank, and United Community Bank, helping to drive Greenville’s economic growth and business expansion.
Johnson previously spent more than seven years with Charleston County Economic Development, holding key positions including Deputy Director, Director of Operations, and Director of Business Development. He also played a significant role in regional economic development efforts through his work with the Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA), supporting business growth across Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties.
Johnson holds a Bachelor’s in Math and Computer Science from the United States Coast Guard Academy. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute, a three-session advanced leadership program accredited by the International Economic Development Council, and a Master Practitioner of the Advanced Economic Development Leadership (AEDL) program.
About Charleston County Economic Development
For over three decades, Charleston County Economic Development Department has been dedicated to establishing and maintaining business relationships with new and existing industries to preserve the Charleston area’s exceptional business climate and quality of life. To learn more about Charleston County Economic Development, visit www.charlestoncountydevelopment.org.
Announcement
July 2, 2026
Charleston County Economic Development is excited to launch its Job Development Incentive (JDI), a new program to support business growth and strengthen the region’s economic competitiveness.
Blog
June 17, 2026
A new economic impact study conducted by University of South Carolina Research Economist Dr. Joseph Von Nessen found that companies that have located and grown in Charleston County through Charleston County Economic Development's efforts now support 79,241 jobs and generate $26.2 billion in annual economic activity across the county.
