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Charleston County’s Airport Connector Road project has received a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) determination from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), a key environmental decision that officially concludes the lengthy environmental review period.

With this determination, the project advances into the right-of-way acquisition phase and toward completion of final design plans.

The FHWA determination letter read in part, “Based on the information provided to complete the environmental process the FHWA finds that the project will have no significant [human or environmental] impacts.”

Officials said the determination is a critical step in the project’s environmental review process and is based on the Environmental Assessment and other supporting information, which detail the project’s need, impact, and planned mitigation measures. 

“This determination is a major milestone for the Airport Connector Road project and reflects years of careful planning, environmental study, and collaboration,” said Charleston County Public Works Director Eric Adams.

Adams added, “With this approval in hand, we’re one step closer to delivering critical infrastructure that will improve traffic flow, support economic growth, and provide a safer, more efficient connection to and from the airport.”

The Airport Connector Road project involves construction of a new access roadway to the Charleston International Airport.

Officials said the new five-lane road will help to alleviate traffic congestion caused by commuter traffic, airport-destined traffic, Boeing traffic, and general traffic associated with the North Charleston Coliseum/Performing Arts Center and surrounding area.

Additionally, the project will provide increased traffic capacity to account for future economic growth in the area, the officials said.

Construction is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026 and is expected to take approximately two years.

The FONSI determination letter, Environmental Assessment, and other materials are available at www.airportconnectorroad.com.

Savor Restaurant Group, a boutique investment firm specializing in distinctive restaurant concepts, announced its investment in The Wine Vault, a wine bar and small plates concept with locations in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Each location features sommelier-curated wine lists with over 200 selections available by the bottle and 40 premium pours by the glass, complemented by seasonal, locally-sourced cuisine.

"This represents exactly what we look for in a partner – passionate operators who've created something with both soul and impressive unit economics," said Pat Martin, managing partner at Savor Restaurant Group. "We're excited to preserve what makes this brand special while supporting its growth into new markets."

The investment continues Savor Restaurant Group's strategy of investing in distinctive hospitality concepts with strong operational foundations and growth potential.

For this brand, the partnership provides access to capital, infrastructure, and expertise needed to scale while maintaining the intimate guest experience that defines the concept.

Financial terms of the transaction weren’t disclosed.

Initial plans include opening two additional locations in Virginia in 2027, followed by measured expansion into Nashville, Tennessee and Charleston, South Carolina.

Olympic Steel Inc. (Nasdaq: ZEUS), a leading national metals service center, added Alex Hegler as general manager for its Action Stainless facility in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Hegler joins the company with a background in sales and strategic leadership in the metals industry.

Most recently, he served as sales manager for a global specialty metals distributor and service center.

In his new role, Hegler will have responsibility for the day-to-day operations and sustainable growth of the Rock Hill facility. He will report directly to Jessica L. Burroughs, vice president – Action Stainless.

“Alex is an effective commercial leader with a proven record of strategic market expansion,” said Andy Markowitz, president – Specialty Metals. “His global experience will help drive fabrication-focused growth for the Rock Hill facility, Action Stainless and Olympic Steel, particularly as large OEMs and other market leaders evaluate reshoring options for metal processing.”

Hegler earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina.

He replaces John McAuliffe, who will retire as the Rock Hill facility’s general manager after nearly 20 years with the company.

Founded in 1954, Olympic Steel (NASDAQ: ZEUS) is a leading U.S. metals service center focused on the direct sale and value-added processing of carbon and coated sheet, plate, and coil steel products; stainless steel sheet, plate, bar and coil; aluminum sheet, plate and coil; pipe, tube, bar, valves and fittings; tin plate and metal-intensive end-use products, including water treatment systems; stainless steel bollards; commercial, residential and industrial venting and air filtration systems; Wright brand self-dumping hoppers; metal canopy components; and EZ-Dumper dump inserts.

Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Olympic Steel operates from 54 facilities.

Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announced the finalists for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Southeast Award.

The Southeast program celebrates entrepreneurs from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Now in its 40th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program celebrates the bold leaders who disrupt markets through the world’s most ground-breaking companies, revolutionizing industries and making a profound impact on communities.

The program honors entrepreneurs whose innovations shape the future and pave the way for a thriving economy and a hopeful tomorrow.

An independent panel of judges selected 36 finalists for their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and lasting impact in building long-term value.

"This year's finalists are leading examples of innovation, perseverance and resilience, illuminating paths to a brighter future for their industries and communities," says Chevy Arnold, Entrepreneur Of The Year Southeast Program co-director.

The program celebrates original founders who bootstrapped their business from inception or who raised outside capital to grow their company; transformational CEOs who infused innovation into an existing organization to catapult its trajectory; and multigenerational family business leaders who reimagined a legacy business model to strengthen it for the future.

The 2025 Southeast finalists are:

Marc Hodulich | 29029 | Atlanta, Georgia

Damon Stafford | Alpine Intel | Charlotte, North Carolina

Lou Hensley | Aspida | Durham, North Carolina

Matthew Dent | Buffalo Rock Company | Birmingham, Alabama

Melanie Little | Colonial Pipeline Company | Alpharetta, Georgia

Will Bartholomew | D1 Training | Franklin, Tennessee

Rene Diaz | Diaz Foods | Atlanta, Georgia

David Quirk | DLB Associates Consulting Engineers PC | Peachtree Corners, Georgia

Markus Scott | EyeQ Monitoring | Atlanta, Georgia

Jon Gosier | FilmHedge | Atlanta, Georgia

John Fitzpatrick | Force Marketing | Atlanta, Georgia

Dr. Barry Patel | Galt Companies | Atlanta, Georgia

Dr. Wade Smith | Galt Companies | Atlanta, Georgia

Charles Gillespie | Gambling.com Group | Charlotte, North Carolina

Kevin McCrystle | Gambling.com Group | Charlotte, North Carolina

Mike Griffin | Griffin Brothers Companies | Cornelius, North Carolina

Erin Hanson | Guardian Sports | Peachtree Corners, Georgia

Dan Beem | Hissho Sushi | Charlotte, North Carolina

Aaron Siegel | Home Team BBQ | Charleston, South Carolina

Marc Murphy | Ignite Digital Services | Charleston, South Carolina

Miller Chalk | Inglett & Stubbs, LLC | Mableton, Georgia

Liza Rodewald | Instant Teams | Southern Pines, North Carolina

Stephen Andresen | McClancy Foods & Flavors | Fort Mill, South Carolina

Travis LeFever | Mission Mobile Medical Group | Greensboro, North Carolina

Cyrus Mojdehi | Northway Homes | Charlotte, North Carolina

Connor Ryan | NutraSky | Alpharetta, Georgia

Fritz Owens | OTR Solutions | Roswell, Georgia

Christopher Chuang | Relay, Inc. | Raleigh, North Carolina

Kurt Jacobus | restor3d, Inc. | Durham, North Carolina

Tom Kendrot | Shearwater Health | Nashville, Tennessee

Teak Shore | Southern Lighting Source | Cumberland, Georgia

Cindy Eckert | Sprout Pharmaceuticals | Raleigh, North Carolina

Bryan Moore | TalkShopLive Inc. | Nashville, Tennessee

Tina Moore | TalkShopLive Inc. | Nashville, Tennessee

Igor Marinelli | Tractian | Atlanta, Georgia

Joan Butters | Xsolis | Franklin, Tennessee.

Learn more about the finalists at https://www.ey.com/en_us/entrepreneur-of-the-year-us/southeast/winners-finalists.

Regional award winners will be announced on June 25 during a special celebration.

The winners will then be considered by the National independent panel of judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum, one of the nation’s prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies.