gspupdates, Author at GSP UPDATES

June 2018 Newsletter

Spartanburg

Spartanburg County landed 21 projects in 2017 = 1,789 new jobs / $885 million

Sidewall Pizza is opening its fourth location – in the Montgomery building.

Greenville

Unity Park is a 60-acre west-side park in GVL. The $40 million park will be funded through a public-private partnership.

“Gather GVL, the shipping container food hall planned for Greenville’s West End on Augusta Street, now has eight of 13 units under lease with letters of intent (LOI) on four additional units.

Current tenant partner concepts include chicken, biscuits, and doughnuts; burgers; pizza; tacos and burritos; poke bowls, sushi, and hibachi; ice cream; coffee; and craft beer.” Source: UBJ

“The creation of Cancer Survivors Park, Greenville’s newest and perhaps “most unique” park, in many ways mirrors the journey of those whom it is meant to serve.” Source: Greenville Journal

GSP

GSP airport enjoyed its 6th consecutive month of increased passenger traffic in March.

American Airlines will offer two daily nonstop flights from GSP to Miami International Airport (MIA) beginning Dec. 19.

The World Equestrian Games will have an impact…

“The 2018 Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) World Equestrian Games, hosted at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, is expected to draw half a million visitors to the region from Sept. 11-23.”
“Equestrian center and N.C. Department of Commerce leaders estimate the games could have up to $400 million in total economic impact on the region.” – Source: GoUpstate.com

Greenville-based automotive parts and engineering company JTEKT North America is expanding its existing production facility in Oconee County (56 Jobs / $19.4M)

The Port of Charleston ranks No. 7 among U.S. ports.

Charleston Harbor Deepening Project Receives $49 Million in Federal Funding.

Teijin breaks ground on its new carbon fiber production facility in Greenwood.

“Santee Cooper recently approved a $3.25 million loan for an industrial building at the Hunter Industrial Park and a $385,000 grant to help provide critical infrastructure at the Clinton 26 Commerce Park. Both industrial parks are located in Laurens County.” Source: Greenville Business Magazine

Arthrex Inc., a global orthopedic medical device company projects that its manufacturing facility will create more than 1,000 new jobs in Anderson County over the next several years. (1,000 Jobs / $37M)

The Bigger Picture

“Atlanta is exploring an innovation center at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to test new ideas for aviation and other industries using the airport’s resources” Source: SmartCitiesDive

May 2018 Newsletter

Spartanburg

Spartanburg Community College’s Spark Center is crushing it…
“Since its inception in 2006, the center has helped about 80 companies launch or expand and generated more than 28,000 jobs, $1.9 billion in wage earnings, and more than $100 million in tax revenue. The nearly 400,000-square-foot center serves four project types: soft landings, small-business incubation, workforce employment services, and special projects.” Source: UBJ

Keurig / Green Mountain plans to build a new, state-of-the-art roasting and packaging facility ($350 million / 500 jobs).Downtown strives to balance daytime work life with nightlife.

There’s a proposed new zoning plan…

“Changes are coming to the rapidly growing southwestern portion of Spartanburg County, and a new performance zoning plan that officials say seeks to welcome growth while maintaining the rural character of the area is moving closer to reality.

If approved by Spartanburg County Council later this year, it will be the county’s first zoning plan of its kind — one that provides more flexibility to developers and residents than the current Unified Land Management Ordinance does…”

The travel channel is featuring the Beacon Drive-In.

Smith’s Drugs downtown is going to get an overhaul.

Bigger planes will soon be able to land at Spartanburg Memorial Airport.

Greenville

Greenville County Council green-lights $1B redevelopment of 37 acres of prime real estate downtown.

Hop in rides are coming to GVL. This is a tip only service.

GSP

More new businesses are planned for Woodruff’s Main Street.

Kemper Corporation is locating production operations in Union County ($1.9 million / 28 new jobs).

“South Carolina has vaulted to the nation’s fourth-largest exporter to China, with BMW vehicles and Boeing airplanes helping to nearly wipe out the Palmetto State’s trade deficit with the Asian economic power, a new study shows.” Source: Charleston Post and Courier

The Bigger Picture

12 Things Seattle can teach us about economic development and building better cities.

Uber and others begin to share data with cities.

Will the cities of the future have skyports?

April 2018 Newsletter

Spartanburg
The ebb and flow of downtown (includes interview with Jansen Tidmore, EVP over Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s Downtown Development Partnership).
Northside mixed-use project moves forward.
Red Rock Developments announces 475-acre business park.
Council members say 3 projects would = 846 jobs and $482M investment.
Bowling alley concept planned for downtown.
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate is set to open in late spring 2018 downtown.
Le Spice is expanding to downtown.

Greenville
Greenville County Councilman has a vision of an automated transit network (think pods). Estimated cost for a city wide ATN is about $15 million and $25 million.
More than half a million square feet of office space is available downtown.
In Greenville County, more than 1.4M SqFt of office space is available.
Are trees a part of the city’s success?
Greenville’s Investment in Smart City Transportation.

GSP
Upstate SC Alliance: 2017 saw $1.9 billion in capital investment and 6,202 new jobs.
Five-year cumulative investment = $10.35 billion in capital investment and 27,967 new jobs.
The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport Commission approved 4 projects totaling $30 million to improve the airport’s capacity to handle cargo flights.
Tyger River Smart Farm uses hydroponics.
Ford has partnered with the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) to sponsor autonomous vehicle project.

SC
$50.5 million inland South Carolina port opens in Dillon.
Charleston-based Palmetto Railways gets initial go-ahead for Volvo Cars rail line.
The brewery business is booming thanks to pro-craft-beer laws.
Seed Researchers are reviving food traditions in Charleston.

The Bigger Picture
Charlotte transit partners with Lyft by offering a discount.
Arlington, TX replaces buses with on-demand ride-sharing.
Are flying taxis the next thing?
Atlanta announces open portal to track city spending.