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Beaufort Digital Corridor and South Coast Cyber Center expand training and startups; code camps, cyber scholarships and incubator programs grow
Summary
Beaufort Digital Corridor reported growth in code camps, cybersecurity scholarships and startup support: 69 cybersecurity scholarships, dozens of workshops and a new 501(c)(3) arm for education; partners highlighted programs for middle- and high-school students, college internships and an expanding founder ecosystem.
Jess O’Brien, executive director of the Beaufort Digital Corridor (BDC), summarized 2024–2025 activity: BDC ran 102 workshops and events, awarded 69 cybersecurity scholarships (including CompTIA certifications), supported 45 high-school students in a cybersecurity-entrepreneurship program with Whale Branch Early College High School (each student also received a laptop), hosted mobile game and app accelerators with USCB and Lowcountry Games, and launched a nonprofit arm to expand grant opportunities and program delivery.
O’Brien described ongoing collaborations statewide (SC Research Authority, SC Women in Tech, SC Department of Commerce Stimulate SC grant) and local workforce initiatives (code camps for middle-schoolers, scholarship pipelines for adults seeking career changes, Lowcountry Young Professionals partnerships). BDC said 68 member companies participate in coworking and that 60% of member companies are active tech entrepreneurs working on proprietary products.
Why it matters: The corridor’s training and incubator activity aims to produce local tech talent and startups that pay higher wages, strengthen the local economy and provide new career pathways for residents of all ages.
Quote (selected): "The average wage per capita in Buford's tech sector is $93,300" — BDC presentation (figure cited from BLS data by Jess O’Brien).
Ending: BDC asked for continued municipal support, volunteer mentors, sponsorships, and city funding to sustain operations and scale programs such as cyber scholarships, startup acceleration and youth code camps.
