Perceptis and CertusBank announce they will locate their respective corporate headquarters in Greenville.
Amy’s Foods trumpets their first East Coast manufacturing operation will be here in Greenville County.
Game-changing advanced manufacturing debuts here, courtesy of Scio Diamond Technology. And just this month, another major expansion by Bosch Rexroth, and the arrival of the new regional headquarters of TD Bank.
With 19 wins announced through mid-November that will add over 3,100 new jobs and more than $275,000,000 in capital investment, 2011 was a banner year for economic development in Greenville County. In fact, we are once again one of the most successful communities in the entire country in terms of new job creation, enhancing the local tax base and return on investment.
Since its founding a decade ago, the Greenville Area Development Corporation has assisted nearly 200 businesses in either locating new facilities here or expanding operations already located in Greenville. This includes over 15,000 new jobs announced and capital investment exceeding $2.5 billion. From a business and investment perspective, the county’s financial contribution to GADC has resulted in more than $7 in taxes paid to Greenville County for every dollar invested in GADC initiatives. Now there’s a return on investment.
While new corporate citizens are highly sought after, half of 2011’s announcements are expansions by existing businesses – indicating that the county is doing a good job of optimizing soil conditions for business to grow and prosper here, and delivering critical service after the sale.
Many of the announcements are in GADC target business sectors of Advanced Materials, Automotive, Aviation/Aerospace, Biosciences, and HQ/R&D. This selective targeting offers the dual benefit of maximizing our marketing resources while attracting companies with announced jobs whose salaries average over $54,000 annually – significantly exceeding average state and local wages and per capita income.
When Greenville County Council created the GADC to promote and enhance the economic growth and development of Greenville County, they strongly advocated collaboration. Under the leadership of today’s County Council, that same vision is at the forefront of everything we do. The GADC has forged productive working relationships with the SC Department of Commerce, Upstate Alliance, SC-TAC, CU-ICAR, Greenville Works, chambers of commerce, municipalities, utilities and the private sector. And despite a challenging economic climate, those partnerships are paying off for Greenville County.
GADC efforts support large and small organizations, including research and development facilities, entrepreneurs, service companies, headquarters and back-office operations, and especially knowledge-based manufacturing that embrace innovation and continuous improvement.
It has been a unique combination of strategic focus and collaborative marketing that has allowed Greenville to thrive despite the economic downturn – announcements from research-driven enterprises like Carbures and Michelin, and industry-leading brands like Bosch Rexroth, Confluence and Honeywell, demonstrate that Greenville County can compete with any community. And each announcement supports economic diversification, quality jobs, good salaries and significant investment here.
In addition to Greenville County’s primary funding, more than 125 private sector investors provide financial support to underwrite GADC marketing initiatives – initiatives executed by a GADC team that is recognized nationally as a model among economic development organizations. This diverse, talented team is complemented by a committed board of directors and an active and involved County Council, all of whom contribute to providing creative and innovative solutions that translate into better jobs and a brighter future for county citizens.
And momentum builds entering 2012.
GADC staff continues to meet with increasing numbers of prospects interested in relocation to or expansion here – leads attributable to years of focused marketing and outreach.
Support for the Greenville Works initiative will continue to be a major strategic focus for the coming year, as the collaborative of 12 public and private sector non-profits formed to stimulate economic success and per capita income growth works to implement next-generation workforce development strategies.
Look for continued expansion of the GADC website, plus aggressive marketing to consultants and corporate decision-makers; involvement in key marketing events and conferences; increasing communications with key local and national audiences; expansion of the GADC Investor base to enhance marketing initiatives; and ongoing collaboration with other economic development organizations.
A decade after its founding, the GADC is well positioned to help Greenville County be successful in today’s global economy. Our future is bright, and getting brighter. As always, we appreciate those who support our efforts to advance Greenville with your time, expertise and financial assistance. Please let us hear from you, and have a happy and prosperous new year.
Jerry Howard is president and CEO of the Greenville Area Development Corporation. He can be reached at (864) 235-2008, or via email at jhoward@greenvillecounty.org.