Berkeley County, South Carolina

In the community

At Google, we’re committed to playing a positive role in each of the communities in which we operate around the world. Through grant-making and local initiatives, we're working to help businesses, schools, and nonprofits thrive. We're always seeking opportunities for Googlers to share their time and expertise with the local community. Here's a sample of what we're doing in the area.

Google's community contributions by the numbers:

$1.8 billion: Investment in Berkeley County since the data center was built in 2007.

$2 million: Total in charitable giving dollars donated to nonprofits and schools in South Carolina since 2009.

50%: Percent less energy consumed at Google facilities, compared to a typical data center.

Partnership & events

Google works with local organizations to sponsor several community events each year. From promoting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education to helping small businesses get online, here are some recent examples of our community involvement:

"Storm the Citadel" Trebuchet Competition
Each February, the Citadel Foundation and Google host the “Storm the Citadel Trebuchet Competition.” Teams of local students, Citadel cadets, engineers, scientists, and corporate executives build and launch trebuchets (which are similar to medieval catapults)—competing in accuracy, design, and team spirit. More than 400 people in the community have attended the event annually.
Googlefest
In 2012, Google employees hosted the first-ever Googlefest, a free event with training sessions to help local teachers, nonprofit leaders and small business owners use the Internet more effectively. Hosted at the Trident Technical College, the event attracted more than 350 attendees.
South Carolina Get Your Business Online
As part of a larger effort to get the nation's businesses online, Google hosted a seminar in Charleston, SC to educate hundreds of business owners on how to set up and run a successful website. Attendees received an easy-to-build website, customized domain name, free web hosting for a year, and online tools and training. Senator DeMint and Rep. Scott attended the event to support getting South Carolina businesses online.
GoogleServe
In addition to in-kind giving, local sponsorships, and community grants, Google employees are active volunteers in the community. Since 2011, they have participated in Google’s annual GoogleServe project, performing a week of community service throughout the area with local organizations, including VetNetAmerica, an organization that conducts the “Hire a Hero” program.

Community grants

Since 2009, we’ve awarded $1.9 million in grants to South Carolina nonprofits and schools in areas that we’re passionate about, including science and technology education, carbon reduction and access to the Internet.

Grant recipients include:

  • Charleston Digital Corridor Foundation
  • The Citadel Foundation
  • Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, Inc.
  • College of Charleston Foundation
  • Communities In Schools of Charleston
  • IT-oLogy
  • University of South Carolina Educational Foundation
  • MUSC Children’s Hospital
  • South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Math Foundation, Inc.
  • Trident Technical College Foundation Incorporated
  • SC Association of Nonprofit Organizations (SCANPO)
  • Cane Bay Middle School

Learn more about our Data Center Community Grants program, eligibility criteria and how to apply.

Green initiatives

Google is also committed to creating a better web that's better for the environment. Google is the first major Internet services company to gain external certification of our high environmental and workplace safety standards at all of our US and European data centers.
Watch the video highlighting these certifications.

In 2010, Google and electric company Santee Cooper announced the Berkeley Green Power Project—a joint effort to generate renewable green power and reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated by the county landfill. Google will purchase all of the carbon offsets created by this project through 2013.

We welcome proposals from data center communities that reduce carbon emissions in the immediate region, including projects that increase the renewable energy mix powering our data centers. Applicants can be nonprofit or for-profit entrepreneurs. We’ll be looking for cost of generation, innovation, and total carbon reduction. You can submit proposals via email to berkeleycounty@google.com.