New Bluffton facility aims to attract businesses, support entrepreneurs

The town of Bluffton and the Don Ryan Center for Innovation will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 16 to celebrate the opening of The COVE, a new facility designed to attract businesses and support economic development.

The ceremony is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. at 97 Progressive St., near the Bluffton Police Department.

The COVE, which stands for Community, Opportunity, Vision and Entrepreneurship, will provide temporary office space for companies considering establishing operations in Bluffton. The facility also includes a large training and conference room, networking space and offices for economic development partners.

The building will serve as a second location for the Don Ryan Center, the town’s economic development department.

The first floor includes commercial spaces available for lease to new businesses, including a child care center that is already open.

“This project is about more than a building—it’s about people and possibility,” Mayor Larry Toomer said. “Bluffton’s strength has always come from our small businesses, not just one or two major employers. One of Council’s priorities is to support small businesses with resources and a place to land. The COVE is that welcome mat—an invitation for new businesses to take root in Bluffton.”

The COVE is the first completed building in a three-building development at Buckwalter Place, a 94-acre commerce park.

The development is expected to include approximately 50,100 square feet of office and light industrial space when completed. The COVE accounts for 14,400 square feet.

The project is a public-private partnership between the town and Dolnik Properties. The town owns the land, while Dolnik Properties is developing the site.

Bluffton invested approximately $4.1 million in infrastructure, utilities and parking, while the developer invested more than $7 million in construction. The town will own The COVE, with the Don Ryan Center overseeing operations and leasing.

The project also received a $130,000 grant from the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation and a $1 million grant from Palmetto Electric Cooperative through the South Carolina Power Team. SouthernCarolina Alliance contributed $25,000.

Representatives from Bluffton Town Council, the Don Ryan Center, regional economic development organizations and the development team are expected to attend the grand opening.

Buckwalter Place is home to medical, retail, educational and business facilities, including the Don Ryan Center for Innovation.