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The Business of Upstate, South Carolina

March 2019 Newsletter

Spartanburg

Video | A first look at the new proposed Courthouse in Spartanburg (WSPA)

Two locals reboot a trash business.  (GoUpstate)

Video | One Spartanburg Report Card shows “significant gains in things like tourism, per capita income, and perhaps most importantly attracting and keeping a skilled workforce”.  (WSPA)  See also, young workers are flocking to Spartanburg (GoUpstate)

The Noble Tree Foundation plants 42 trees on the MBF Rail Trail (PALS Podcast)

A peek inside a new apartment in the Montgomery Building (Facebook) H/T Greenville Business Magazine

Will the Panthers make a move? (The State)  See also, Gov. Henry McMaster and Legislators try to bring the Panthers HQ to SC (Greenville Business Magazine)

The Upstate

Charleston billionaire Ben Navarro has partnered with the Hincapie brothers in Hotel Domestique.  (Upstate Business Journal)

The Cliffs have been acquired by a Charlotte investment firm.  (Greenville Online)


The State

An international megasite (1,500 acres), hoping to lure the next BMW or Volvo to the state, is coming to Interstate 77, just south of Chester County. (The Herald)

International Trade Report | Exports are up 7.5% to a total $34.6 billion, a nine year upward trend for the state. (SC Commerce)

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie become National Parks. (Post and Courier)

Charleston’s Cooper River Bridge Run wins the Governor’s Cup for the top tourism event in South Carolina. (Post and Courier)

Food Hubs Connect Local Farms & Restaurants – “GrowFood, which is part of the Coastal Conservation League, began operations in 2011 and currently works with 85 farms and 300 restaurants across Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, S.C. and Savannah, Ga.” (Greenville Business Magazine)

The S.C. House has passed the Energy Freedom Act, a deal that eliminates caps on solar power for two years.  (Greenville Business Magazine)  See also, A coalition of businesses in SC urge the Senate to pass it. (Solar Power World)

The Bigger Picture

Zillow on housing affordability – the 30% rule is not just an adage.  (Zillow)

The problem with high speed rail in the US.  (WSJ)

Photos | A European city – in China? Worth a look.  (Bloomberg)

My Blog

But what if you didn’t pay cash?  A tribute to a mentor. (jpfaris.com)

February 2018 Newsletter

Spartanburg

The Chamber reports 21 projects in the County added 1,789 jobs and an investment of $885M.  Link

We will have 17 new restaurants by the end of the year.  Link
Hen House will join the Silo at Rockers.  Link
FR8Yard is open.  Link

ONE Spartanburg in Year 2.  Link

Inside look at the Montgomery Building.  Link

There’s a new face on Spartanburg City Council.  Link

Spartanburg gets a mention on the show X-Files.  Link

USC Upstate program creates international opportunities for students.  Link

CRG announces Inland 85 Logistics Center on 324 acres.  Link

Colliers International announces a new downtown office.  Link

Gaffney business, Home Fashions International, expands (60 Jobs/$55M)  Link

BMW supplier Grupo Antolin expands (152 Jobs/$50M) Link

Profile of three women-owned businesses.  Link
And a baker starts her own business.  Link

Counting Spartanburg’s homeless.  Link

Greenville

The Greenville ONE Center is an impressive new downtown conference center.  Link

GVL has two food delivery options – Bite Squad (Link) and GrubHub (Link)

Greenlink Transit Development Plan.  Link

Greenville protects its natural resources with developments like Camperdown and Grand Bohemian Hotel nearby.  Link

GSP

“Charlanta” didn’t make the cut for HQ2 – but it gets an “A” for creativity.  Link

Ten at the Top inventories area assets.  Link

S.C. Ports Authority reports record volume for 2017 (20% increase). Link

The number of passengers passing through GSP International Airport in 2017 increased 12.1%.  Link

SC

How the South may benefit from the new tax plan.  Link

Charleston ports agency is looking for more space for its cargo containers.  Link

Study shows impact of natural resources – it’s as big as any of the other manufacturing sectors.  Link
“…six natural resource sectors are responsible for 8.3 percent of the gross state product and 8.6 percent of all jobs in the state.”

Governor Henry McMaster’s State of the State Address.  Link

SC has no official state flag design.  Link

The Bigger Picture

The effects of the tax cut on US companies. (WSJ Paywall)  Link

And the new tax code may threaten some historical preservation projects. (WSJ Paywall)  Link

Amazon got others to do its homework. (RE: Site Selection)  Link

The UK appoints minister for loneliness.  Link

Should we think about the US in terms of zones rather than states?  Link

Put down your device and go do something. Less screen time = more happiness.  Link

“Since 2011, Storefront has connected projects with our network of over 170 volunteers who represent the fields of architecture, graphic design, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban design.” (Storefront – Richmond, VA)  Link

Kansas is a case study for “Supply-Side” Tax Cuts.  Link

“Groundwork RVA works with Richmond youth to facilitate environmental, economic, and social well-being in neighborhoods through the transformation of blighted and neglected open spaces into public assets.”  Link

A WSJ analysis of Milwaukee’s voucher program. (WSJ Paywall)  Link

January 2018 Newsletter

Spartanburg

City Council voted to fund a trail segment that PAL has spearheaded along the Lawson’s Fork behind Spartanburg High School. This is an important piece of the system that will help connect trails at Drayton Mills to SPACE’s Cottonwood Trail and the bridge renovation and trails at Glendale Shoals. Link

Is Converse College the “School of Rock”? Link

Also, its president is positioning Converse to be a part of Spartanburg and the Upstate’s economy. Link

The Montgomery Building prepares for its first retail tenant, a coffee shop. Link

Rick McAbee uses his skills to beautify Spartanburg.  Link

500 acres near Southport and Old Canaan roads near Cedar Springs has been purchased with plans for a mixed use community.  Link

The history behind the Mobile Meals house.  Link

F.T. Cantrell Wagon Works history (now Carriage House Wines).  Link

Hub City Empty Bowls came up with a very cleaver way to raise money.  Link

OneSpartanburg — A Vision for a Greater Spartanburg.  Link

Our city now has two specialty meat markets.  One on Union St… Link…and one on Main.  Link

And after more than a century, the Coca-Cola plant shuts down.  Link

Rooker Development plans to build two Class A industrial buildings totaling 559,000 SQ FT near Gibbs International.  Link

 

Greenville

Greenville’s Master plan is 10 years old. They have put out an RFP for a new one. Link

TopGolf is coming to GVL.  Link

The former Memorial Auditorium site has been sold.  Link

Ethnic grocers find a home in GVL.  Link

Saskatoon Lodge opens with new gardens on the 9-acre property. Link

“Every new business is required to install bike parking, even if it’s a big box store on a suburban corridor.” (Amazing Places) Link

 

GSP

Clemson University announced the creation of its Center for Advanced Manufacturing.  Link

More than 1,800 manufacturers, including about 460 foreign companies, currently call the Upstate home.   The Upstate is an Industrial Powerhouse. Link

Playing the long game for economic development (Landing Pads).  Link

BMW prepares for the launch of its new X7 model in late 2018, creating 1,000 jobs during the next five years. Link

A list of restaurants (mostly GVL) slated to open in 2018.  Link

 

SC

50 Things to do in the state before you die (ie Bucket List).  Link

New SC laws go into effect (Manufacturers get a tax break and you can take a larger tax deduction for college tuition).  Link

A new crop is coming to the state.  Link

Flex space in Charleston – Guest Room, Meeting Space, Banquet Area.  Link

Another Aero / Auto supplier sets up shop.  Link

 

The Bigger Picture

NY is cashing in by selling streets, sidewalks to private owners. Link

US Cities invaded by dock-less bike share (also, will electric bike share be the next thing?). Link

Small churches and McDonalds may be helping America hold on.  Link (Paywall)

Can a town ban non-resident cars during commuting hours?  Link