GSP UPDATES

The Business of Upstate, South Carolina

January 2019 Newsletter

The Upstate

Not just passing through anymore – tourists spent a record $278 million in Spartanburg County last year, up almost $90 million from five years ago.  Also, hotel room growth is up 23% in the last two years.  (Post and Courier)

A guide to Greenville, complete with event calendar (p 70).  I’ll bet you find something in this guide you didn’t know about. I liked the Gateway Walks, starting on page 84 – clever way to showcase the city.  (Community Journals via Issuu)

Is there still hope for the Bass Pro Shop in Greer? (Greenville News)

New solar projects planned in Spartanburg county. (Greenville Business Magazine)

BMW begins building the new X7 at the Spartanburg plant. (UBJ)

Below the radar…Mid-size companies are a significant part of the state’s economy. (Greenville Business Magazine)

Back story to the GVL’s County Square Development Team. (UBJ)

Greenville Business Magazine lists 50 influential people from the region. (GBM)

Passenger and Cargo traffic continues to rise at GSP International Airport. (UBJ)

Spartanburg Regional buys Mary Black. (GSA Business Report)

A survey shows 75% of downtown Spartanburg businesses reported increased revenues over the past 3 years. (WSPA)

The State

Alarming…
“Since 2008, South Carolina saw its total student loan debt increase by 315%, growing from $5.5 billion to $23 billion.” (Experian) H/T GVL Today Newsletter

The State Ports Authority enjoyed its third consecutive year of record containerized cargo growth in 2018 – 6.8 percent (Post and Courier)  Also, it is considering a plan to use barges to move containers.  (Post and Courier)

See also, BMW may ship partially assembled cars in containers to South Africa, China and Thailand. (Post and Courier)

C&M Hog Farm opens a transload facility at Inland Port Dillon…a good example of how the inland port system could support state agriculture. (Progressive Rail Roading)

Automotive gets a lot of attention, but Aerospace is a big hitter too – adding $14.1 billion to the state’s GDP.  (Greenville Business Magazine)

The Bigger Picture

How to fund Land Banks (ShelterForce)

Wearables appear to be catching on.  Apple reported 50% year-over-year growth in these types of devices, driven by the popularity of the Apple Watch and AirPods among holiday shoppers.  (Apple)

Thanks for reading!

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.

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