Real Estate

Where did “Sparkle City” originate?  (Kidding Around Spartanburg, H/T GVL Today)

A Spartanburg developer has plans for 196-unit manufactured home park on a 48.5-acre site at Carolina and Wimberly drives, south of the city. (GoUpstate)

Economy

BMW had a record production year. “This confirms the South Carolina plant will remain the largest plant by volume in the BMW Group’s global production network.” – (BMW Group)

GVL lands at #34 in Inc’s article titled “The 50 Best U.S. Cities for Starting a Business in 2020” (Inc.com)

GVL County had a good year too with “$401.8 million in capital investment announced, with 2,178 new jobs with average salaries of just above $48,000.” – (Upstate Business Journal)

Logistics

Charleston set an all-time cargo record in 2019, helped by bigger cranes, a refurbished container terminal and ships passing through the Panama Canal. (Post & Courier)

However, the Panama Canal traffic may be impacted by drought conditions in the country…

“The Panama Canal, and Central America more broadly, is experiencing one of the worst droughts in its recorded history. With less water, the canal is forced to place restrictions on the amount of cargo ships can carry, meaning carriers have to limit the shippers they can serve on routes that rely on this waterway.” – (Supply Chain Dive)

What are the alternatives? Quoting Supply Chain Dive again, “The canal has had reduced operations in the past, Slangerup​ said. This led to shippers looking for other routes from Asia to the U.S. East Coast, like through the Suez Canal or through West Coast ports and across rail and truck networks.”

Entertainment

Greenville’s first open-air food hall is just weeks away from opening.  The space will house 13 restaurants. (Greenville Journal)

See photos on the official website.

Education

See pictures of the dedication of the new Spartanburg High School (GoUpstate)

Parks & Rec

The city of Greer is buying a Country Club with plans to make it a public course. (Greenville Journal)

Art

The Heirloom Companies is the family-owned company behind the award-winning Brown Street sign. See pictures (Greenville Journal) Watch a video of them making the vines (Greenville Journal). Every part of the sign has meaning.

“The ivy curling around the stanchions represents both the tragic decline of Greenville’s industry and the opportunity for new life to sprout and grow.” – Greenville Journal

Thanks for reading and Happy New Year!