School of Medicine Columbia Breaks Ground On New Facility at USC Health Sciences Campus

The University of South Carolina broke ground on a facility that officials say will redefine the future of health care education and research during a ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, at the site of its new School of Medicine Columbia.

The 300,000-square-foot-plus medical education and research facility will be part of USC’s transformative $300 million Health Sciences Campus, amid 16 acres in the city of Columbia’s reimagined BullStreet District.

Expected to be completed in August 2027, officials say the state-of-the-art medical school will be poised to address the diverse health challenges of the Palmetto State through pioneering education and research endeavors.

“Our university has been planning for this long-awaited project for more than a decade, and we are excited to see construction in progress,” USC President Michael Amiridis said.

He added, “As the first component of our Health Sciences Campus, the new medical school building highlights USC’s commitment to leadership for the next era of innovative health care education and research.”

Designed with innovation and collaboration in mind, the facility will feature modern classrooms, medical simulation spaces, a health sciences library, interdisciplinary research labs and a café.

Outdoor courtyards and green spaces will provide serene environments for study and connection to foster a vibrant academic community for students, faculty and staff.

A milestone commitment

USC’s School of Medicine Columbia has served the community for nearly 50 years, and officials say this project supports USC’s goal to ensure a bright future for health sciences.

With the university's growing needs, USC has prioritized the development of modern health sciences facilities closer to its main campus and clinical partners in Columbia.

Officials say this move aims to attract top-tier medical students along with world-class faculty and researchers.

In addition to the study of medicine, educational opportunities at the School of Medicine Columbia also include biomedical sciences, counseling and rehabilitation, genetic counseling, nurse anesthesia and physician assistant programs to address the health care needs of our state, nation and beyond.

USC has partnered with Gilbane, as it leads the planning, design, development and construction. Key Columbia-based partners include architect Boudreaux and Brownstone Design and Construction Group.

The Slam Collaborative is the lead design architect, and Greenville-based Restoration 52 is a development consultant.

The realization of the Health Sciences Campus is one of the key goals of USC Next, a 10-year master plan of proposed improvements and capital projects designed to meet the needs of USC Columbia students, faculty and staff through 2034.

Officials say the campus will seamlessly integrate with the broader BullStreet District area, contributing to its vibrant, mixed-use community.

The area will have a capacity for expansion to meet future demands for health care education and research, ensuring USC remains at the forefront of health care innovation.

Two major components of the Health Sciences Campus and its surrounding areas are on the horizon.

An announced neurological care hospital would house the Palmetto State’s first standalone comprehensive medical facility dedicated entirely to integrated care of patients with brain and nervous system illnesses, and would be the first of its kind in the Southeast.

A Brain Health Center will serve as a hub for delivering exceptional cognitive care through clinical innovation and research.

The center, located across Harden Street from USC’s new School of Medicine building, will be powered by the latest technology and tools, including new MRI scanners twice as powerful as standard scanners.

The Shyft Group, Isuzu Expand Collaboration to Drive Long-Term Growth

The Shyft Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHYF), the North American leader in specialty vehicle manufacturing, assembly, and upfit for the commercial, retail, and service markets, announced the expansion of its close collaboration with Isuzu North America Corporation, positioning Shyft to grow its business and establish new operations near Isuzu's future production facility in Greenville County, South Carolina.

Building on more than a decade-long relationship, officials said the expanded collaboration is expected to create new revenue-generating opportunities, including a dedicated upfit and modification center and a new body program tailored for the North American market.

"This next chapter in our collaboration with Isuzu, which began in 2011, not only reaffirms Shyft's role as a trusted assembly partner but also positions us to expand our capabilities and deliver even greater value to Isuzu and our customers," said Jacob Farmer, president, Fleet Vehicles & Services and Specialty Vehicles, The Shyft Group.

Farmer added, "We are investing in growth—expanding our footprint, advancing new upfit solutions, vehicle bodies, and platforms—that will strengthen our business and drive long-term success for both companies."

As part of the transition, Shyft will continue assembling key Isuzu vehicle lines, including the N-Series Gas, N-Series EV, and F-Series trucks, at its Charlotte, Michigan, campus throughout the multi-year production ramp-up in Greenville.

Officials said Shyft's assembly expertise will also support the planning and launch of the new facility, ensuring production continuity and a smooth transition.

Shyft and Isuzu are also advancing plans to establish Shyft as a long-term upfit and vehicle solutions provider supporting Isuzu's North American operations. 

As part of this effort, plans are progressing for Shyft to develop a dedicated upfit and modification center near the Greenville plant, expected to support Port-Installed Options (PIO), final vehicle modifications, and other upfit services for vehicles produced at the site.

Additionally, Shyft is preparing to introduce a new body program designed to meet the needs of the North American market, aligning its manufacturing and upfit capabilities with growing demand for purpose-built commercial vehicle solutions. 

"Expanding Isuzu's U.S. production footprint is a pivotal step in our long-term growth strategy," said Noboru Murakami, president, Isuzu North America Corporation.

Murakami added, "We expect that Shyft's deep assembly and upfit expertise will play a critical role as we build and scale this new production facility, and we value their continued support as we work together to deliver best-in-class commercial vehicles to the North American market."

Isuzu's 1,000,000-square-foot Greenville facility will consolidate production, vehicle preparation, and logistics operations under one roof, enhancing efficiency and supporting Isuzu's North American growth plans, officials said.

Initial production is expected to begin in 2027, with further expansion in 2028. Once fully operational, the plant will have the capacity to produce up to 50,000 vehicles annually and employ more than 700 people.

Officials said the transition will be executed gradually to minimize disruptions and ensure a reliable supply of vehicles to customers.

Duke Energy Celebrates Black History Month With $50,000 In Grants Directed to Organizations By Company's South Carolina Employees

To celebrate Black History Month, Duke Energy's South Carolina employees have awarded $50,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations whose focus is uplifting, educating and assisting local communities.

"We reached out to the men and women who represent Duke Energy in South Carolina every day to see what nonprofits in their communities they wanted to receive grant funding from the Duke Energy Foundation," said Tim Pearson, Duke Energy's South Carolina president.

Pearson added, "These organizations were chosen from their nominations, and we hope these funds will be helpful for them as they work to support our friends and neighbors."

The following qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits each received a $10,000 grant:

Boys & Girls Club of the Pee Dee Area (Florence and Darlington counties)

Calvary Children's Home (Anderson County)

Fostering Faithfully (Oconee, Pickens and Anderson counties)

Greer Relief and Resource Agency (Spartanburg and Greenville counties)

A Father's Way (Lancaster, York, Union and Chester counties).

"At Greer Relief, our mission is to eliminate poverty and help neighbors overcome barriers to success, and this generous support will allow us to continue providing critical resources and programs to underserved communities," said Caroline Robertson, executive director of Greer Relief.

Robertson added, "We are deeply grateful to the Duke Energy employees who nominated us and to the Duke Energy Foundation for investing in the well-being and empowerment of our neighbors."

"We appreciate great partners like Duke Energy for understanding the importance of developing our youth and for helping us empower them to reach their full potential," said Neal L. Zimmerman Jr., executive director, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area.

The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work.

The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Greenville Drive Celebrates 20 Years As Upstate’s Home Team

The Greenville Drive officially kicked off its 20th anniversary at an event brimming with many of the community partners and individuals who have supported the team since its arrival was first announced in 2005.

For 20 years, the Drive and its iconic ballpark, Fluor Field, have served as the community’s “Front Porch,” fostering an atmosphere where family fun, customer service, and community works merge with baseball to create lasting memories and a stronger Upstate.

“In those early years, our primary desire was to ensure the Drive became part of the fabric of the community,” said Greenville Drive Owner and Chairman Craig Brown.

Brown added, “Then, as now, we use that sense of community as our litmus test when deciding how best to make decisions, and it’s proven to be a remarkably winning strategy.” 

The Greenville Drive is the High-A Minor League Baseball (MiLB) affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.

Its 5,700-seat Fluor Field is a mini replica of Fenway Park, one of Major League Baseball’s most storied and beloved ballparks, including its legendary Green Monster manual scoreboard and Pesky’s Pole in right field.

The stadium was named “Ballpark of the Year” at the end of the Drive’s first season.

Fluor Field (originally called West End Field) opened in downtown Greenville on April 6, 2006, sparking a community revitalization.

At the time of the stadium’s construction, the West End neighborhood where Fluor Field now stands was a picture of urban blight, the streets pocketed with shuttered businesses and beleaguered with crime.

The coming reality of a major new tourist attraction, however, instilled confidence in new business investment that would soon extend Main Street’s success well beyond the Central Business District.

For 20 years, Fluor Field has been a year-round gathering place for people of all walks of life to participate in festivals, educational programs, fundraisers, reunions, tributes and more.

Likewise, The Greenville Drive has been far more than a baseball team. Officials say the organization has wittingly assumed its place in the community as a loyal friend and welcoming neighbor to millions of Upstate residents.

In this spirit, Greenville Drive owners announced a partnership with “Greenville Together: A Home for All.”

Spearheaded by the United Way of Greenville County, the city of Greenville, and other business and community leaders, Greenville Together is a community-wide initiative designed to significantly reduce unsheltered homelessness in the short-term while laying the groundwork for long-term prevention strategies. 

The Greenville Drive is making a $25,000 financial contribution to Greenville Together and has committed the full weight of the organization to help ensure the program’s success.

“The Greenville Drive’s ‘Front Porch’ is for everyone in our community, especially those most in need,” said Brown. “The thoughtful, collaborative approach the United Way is taking with Greenville Together has our full backing as we work to overcome one of our community’s most serious challenges.”

Since 2006, more than 500,000 fans a year have been welcomed to Fluor Field for both Drive games and additional community events.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary as the Upstate’s home team, The Greenville Drive plans a number of community and fan engagements throughout the year.

Highlights include:

March 15: Greenville Drive 20th Anniversary Fan Fest presented by TD SYNNEX 

April 4-6: Opening Weekend @ Fluor Field, presented by TD Bank

April 15, 29, May 4, 18, August 10: Reading All-Stars, presented by Michelin NA

April 19 & June 21: Black Spinners celebration

May 13: Youth Sports Night, presented by Waldrop and the YMCA of Greenville

May 14: Drive Business Downtown, presented by EY

June 17: TD SYNNEX Share the Magic Night

June 5: Aerospace Night

June 7, July 12, & August 9: COPA de la Diversion celebrations

July 2: Marvel Super Hero Night

July 3: Military Appreciation Night/Independence Day Celebration (Fireworks!)

July 23: United Way of Greenville County Night

August 5: Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Night

August 6: Green Day, presented by TD Bank

August 26: Greenville Chamber Night

August 28: #StartUpGVL Night, a celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation

Friday Night Fireworks, powered by GE Vernova at EVERY home Friday game!

Saturdays on the District, presented by Publix before each Saturday home game.

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