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Greenville Business Magazine

The Business Narrative: Investing in Spartanburg

Jan 20, 2025 09:17AM ● By Donna Walker

OneSpartanburg Brought in $745 Million in Capital Investment in 2024

In 2024, OneSpartanburg, Inc. landed 23 economic development projects on behalf of Spartanburg County and the City of Spartanburg, resulting in a total of $745 million in capital investment and the creation of 1,220 new jobs.

 

The investment total equates to about $2.04 million being invested in Spartanburg County each day over the course of the year.

 

OneSpartanburg, Inc. only counts economic development projects the organization had a hand in recruiting to Spartanburg.

 

“Spartanburg County again performed well, even during a time of uncertainty when it comes to economic development,” said OneSpartanburg, Inc. President and CEO Allen Smith.

 

“Our collective success cannot lead to complacency. We still have miles to go and are unrelenting in our pursuit of every economic opportunity for the people of Spartanburg County.”

 

Statewide, South Carolina recruited $8.19 billion in capital investment in 2024, with more than 5,500 new jobs announced.

 

New Spartanburg County projects announced in 2024 included:

 

InnovaSphere: Formerly Palmetto InnovaSphere, the pioneering company headquartered in Spartanburg in 2020. InnovaSphere works to attract innovation and investors in the life-science, biomedical, and digital health start-up spaces to build a pipeline of associated companies statewide.

 

Munich Composites GmbH: A carbon fiber bicycle rim manufacturer, Munich Composites was acquired by an S.C.-based group led by wheel manufacturer Boyd Cycling. Munich Composites, Boyd, and TIME Bicycles, which announced a Spartanburg County investment in 2023, have coalesced to form a bicycle manufacturing cluster in Landrum.

 

Smartpress: A commercial online printing company, Smartpress announced an investment creating 150 new jobs to better serve customers on the East Coast.

Omron Automation: Omron, a global leader in industrial automation technology, established its first S.C. operations and plans to expand a 60,000-sq.-ft. facility in Greer.

 

Companies expanding in Spartanburg County in 2024 included:

 

Keurig Dr Pepper: KDP announced its next-generation, state-of-the-art K-Rounds will be manufactured at a new Spartanburg County facility. The company’s K-Rounds are plastic-free coffee pods created from premium coffee beans that are ground, pressed, and wrapped in a protective, plant-based coating.

 

Milo’s Tea: Milo’s announced an expansion in November, allowing the company to install an additional production line and other enhancements to meet increased demand.

 

BENTELER: Leading automotive supplier BENTELER’s Spartanburg plant supplies automotive-welded assemblies and modules to auto manufacturers globally.

 

AFL: Fiber optic product and equipment manufacturer AFL announced it will expand operations to account for increased demand globally.

Ashley Demosthenes Named CEO of Land Trust Alliance

The Land Trust Alliance, a national land conservation organization, announced the selection of Ashley Demosthenes as its new CEO.

 

Demosthenes brings more than 25 years of conservation and land trust experience to the Alliance, including serving most recently as the CEO of South Carolina’s Lowcountry Land Trust, a nationally recognized leader in the land trust community located in Charleston, South Carolina. Demosthenes will assume the role on March 17, 2025.

 

The Land Trust Alliance represents approximately 1,000 land trusts and affiliates supported by more than 250,000 volunteers and 6.3 million members nationwide.

 

“Ashley’s selection was the product of a rigorous, expansive and inclusive process that included some of the most respected leaders from the land trust community, other conservation organizations and the federal government,” said David Calle, vice chair of the Land Trust Alliance board of directors and co-chair of its CEO search committee.

 

“Ashley embodies a deep passion for private land conservation grounded in broad conservation experience and firsthand work with the Alliance, making her the ideal candidate to take over as Alliance CEO.”

 

Demosthenes started at Lowcountry Land Trust in 2013 as its director of conservation and was elevated to president and CEO in March 2015. While there, she has been at the forefront of community-centered conservation, aligned with the land trust’s mission “to protect land and water forever, nurture the relationship between people and place, and connect the community to conservation.”

 

Demosthenes steered the conservation program to achieve a new milestone of 100,000 acres of protected land; as of today, Lowcountry Land Trust has protected more than 163,000 acres.

 

Under her leadership, Demosthenes also oversaw the design and planning for the Angel Oak Preserve — a 44-acre preserve featuring boardwalk trails, a nature play area for children and educational information about the tree and native people of the region for the benefit of Charleston residents. And she broke ground on the Lowcountry Center for Conservation, Lowcountry Land Trust’s new headquarters and a dedicated space for local conservation and community partners to collaborate and to house its education and outreach initiatives.

 

Before her time at Lowcountry Land Trust, Demosthenes spent 15 years with The Nature Conservancy in South Carolina as its ACE and Savannah River Basins project director and as the organization’s associate director of land conservation. She is also the co-founder and board chair of the South Carolina Land Trust Network.

Anderson Automotive Made More Than $50,000 in Charitable Contributions in 2024

Anderson Automotive announced it completed a banner year of philanthropic efforts, highlighted by more than $50,000 in charitable contributions to Upstate South Carolina organizations and Western North Carolina through its Drive For A Difference campaign.

 

These efforts reflect Anderson Automotive’s ongoing commitment to supporting the communities it serves, including significant partnerships with the Meyer Center for Special Children in Greenville and relief initiatives following Hurricane Helene.

Other charitable organizations supported by Anderson Automotive in 2024 were Greer Relief and the Western Carolina Rescue Ministries of Asheville.

 

“At Anderson Automotive, giving back isn’t just something we do — it’s who we are,” said James Farrell, regional manager of Anderson Automotive. “… This year’s efforts reflect our unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in the Upstate and beyond.”

 

At the heart of Anderson Automotive’s 2024 charitable giving was its partnership with the Meyer Center for Special Children, which empowers children with disabilities through therapy and education. As the campaign’s largest beneficiary, the Meyer Center received substantial financial support.

 

The company participated in the center’s popular Trunk-or-Treat Halloween event and served as a sponsor for the Meyer Center’s Annual Holiday Luncheon, an event that raised $473,000 for the organization.

 

When Hurricane Helene struck the Southeast in October, Anderson Automotive activated its dealership network to support affected employees and communities. The company organized caravans of relief supplies, including bottled water, nonperishable food, feminine hygiene products, diapers, and generators.

 

These supplies were distributed to hard-hit areas in Western North Carolina, with central triage hubs in Raleigh and Greenville ensuring efficient delivery to those in need.

 

As part of its hurricane recovery initiative, Anderson Automotive partnered with the Salvation Army’s Upstate Coat Drive to collect and distribute winter clothing for families affected by the storm.

 

Anderson Automotive’s flagship initiative, Drive For A Difference, runs from October through December each year and is a cornerstone of the company’s philanthropic strategy. Each month, $5,000 from each of the company’s 16 dealerships is directed to local charities.

Department of Veterans Affairs Accepting Applications for New Veteran Home in Sumter

The South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs (SCDVA) is now accepting applications for Veterans seeking residency in the new state veteran home, Patriot’s Village in Sumter. Construction on the nearly 128,000 square foot is now nearing completion and expected to accept the first veteran resident in February.

 

Patriot’s Village will house 104 beds offering both semi-private and private rooms. The state-of-the-art facility also has a memory care unit, large physical therapy area, bistro, barbershop and beauty salon, activity rooms, a chapel, and spacious common areas.

 

The Avalon Health Care Group is the contract monitor for Patriot’s Village working closely with SCDVA in the construction process to ensure the goal of supporting veterans and providing a healthy living environment for those who have served to receive the best arrangements and care possible.

 

“We are incredibly excited to collaborate with the South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs’ (SCDVA) in providing exceptional care to the Veterans of Sumter and the surrounding areas,” says Carl Hugie, regional vice president of Avalon Health Care.

 

“It’s a true privilege to contribute to the well-being of those who have sacrificed so much for our country. Together, we are committed to ensuring that every veteran receives the high-quality care and respect they deserve.”

 

In July of 2023, South Carolina Governor McMaster signed legislation transferring the responsibility of state veteran homes to the South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Since July, SCDVA has assumed responsibility of all contractor-operated homes to include the newly built Patriot’s Village in Sumter.

 

For veterans seeking residency at Patriot’s Village or any other state veteran home in South Carolina, visit SCDVA’s website for information and an application by clicking HERE.

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