Mount Pleasant Deploys AI Assistant to Cut Municipal Costs
Town partners with Charleston tech firm Citibot to launch 24/7 virtual assistant, aiming to reduce staffing costs while improving resident service access.
Wendell Graves
Business & Economy Editor
BusinessEconomyTech IndustryTourismWorkforce Development
About Wendell
Wendell Graves spent a decade as an equity analyst at Goldman Sachs covering retail and hospitality sectors before transitioning to journalism. He covered business for the Charlotte Observer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution before joining Charleston Sentinel. His analytical approach brings Wall Street rigor to local business coverage. Wendell holds an MBA from Duke's Fuqua School of Business and lives in Mount Pleasant with his wife and two daughters.
Articles by Wendell
Beach Company Bets on Ultra-Luxury Rental Market
The Charleston-based developer's newest project tests whether demand exists for $23,000-a-month rentals in a city where median rent hovers around $1,800.
Steel Manufacturer Brings 20 Jobs to Hampton County
Kentucky-based Ironline Metals announces $6.5 million expansion in Yemassee, adding steel framing production capacity as construction demand outpaces supply across the Southeast.
The Business Stories That Shaped Charleston in 2025
From Google's $9 billion commitment to Boeing's billion-dollar expansion, the year brought transformational investment alongside a cooling real estate market.
Post-Christmas Shoppers Pack King Street for Exchanges and Deals
The day after Christmas brings its annual rush as shoppers return gifts and hunt markdowns along Charleston's main retail corridor.
Small Business Group Pushes for AI Regulation as Legislative Session Nears
The South Carolina Small Business Chamber argues AI poses unique risks to local companies competing against tech-enabled corporations.
Boeing Breaks Ground on $1 Billion Expansion, Adding 1,000 Jobs
The 787 Dreamliner program rebounds with its second-best order year on record as the aerospace giant commits to North Charleston's future.
Google Plans $9 Billion Expansion at Berkeley County Data Center
The tech giant's massive investment will make the Lowcountry campus one of the largest data center operations on the East Coast.