Medical firm to move to Daniel Island

The U.S. arm of a Swiss medical equipment company plans to relocate its headquarters to a business park near Daniel Island, bringing an estimated 30 jobs and $4.5 million in capital investment to the area. Belimed Inc. designs and manufactures products used to sanitize medical equipment. It is currently headquartered in Miami.

"Belimed is relocating its corporate headquarters, and its manufacturing and distribution, to Clements Ferry Road," said Sharon Brennan, Charleston's director of economic development.

The property is in Berkeley County, but within the Charleston city limits. On Monday, Berkeley County Council was scheduled to discuss a package of tax incentives designed to lure Belimed to the area. A committee of Charleston City Council separately recommended a resolution to include the Belimed property in a multi-county industrial park, which is necessary for the tax incentives to be approved.

The inducements call for Belimed to make negotiated flat-rate payments instead of property taxes, which can fluctuate. Also, the company would receive a tax credit equal to 25 percent of those payments, each year for 20 years. The tax credit is to be used in connection with acquiring, leasing or building infrastructure for the business. The dollar value of the incentive package was not available Monday.

Brennan said Belimed could create up to 50 jobs within two years. The resolution recommended to City Council says 30 of those would likely be filled the first year.

Belimed Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Belimed AG, a group of European companies that makes "infection control" equipment for medical centers, laboratories and pharmaceutical businesses. It has about 600 employees.

Editors Note: Belimed will be located in the Digital Corridor's Cainhoy District, adjacent to the recently completed NanoScreen Corporate Headquarters. The location of Belimed to Charleston was facilitated by the Charleston Regional Development Alliance.