Upstate Palmetto Pulse May

Veteran Financial Adviser Zulma Petty Launches Anchor Pointe Financial Planning

Zulma Petty, a seasoned financial adviser with over eight years of experience, has announced the launch of her independent practice, Anchor Pointe Financial Planning. Anchor Pointe Financial Planning will offer a full suite of services including retirement planning, investment management, tax-efficient strategies, and estate planning coordination. Petty’s hands-on approach and deep knowledge of her clients’ financial lives position the firm to deliver truly personalized, holistic planning. The firm’s office is located at 1971 S. Pine St., Spartanburg.

United Composite Materials, LLC, Selects Greenville County for First South Carolina Operation

United Composite Materials, LLC, an advanced carbon composite materials manufacturer, has selected Greenville County for its first South Carolina operation. The company’s $17.5 million investment will create 50 new jobs. The company’s new site is located at 1446 S. Buncombe Road in Greer. United Composite Materials will use the property’s existing two facilities as specialized manufacturing plants to supply the North American sports and leisure composite markets with advanced carbon composite material. Operations are expected to be online in July 2026.

Greenville Metro Area No. 2 in US for Young Homebuyer Wealth

A report from Realtor.com shows the Greenville area as one of the most accessible markets for first-time Gen Z and millennial homebuyers between 2020-2024. The Greenville-Anderson-Greer metropolitan statistical area (MSA) ranked second in the U.S. markets where Gen Z and millennials gained the most housing wealth in the post-pandemic era. The region saw housing wealth grow by $26 billion over four years, an increase of 329.6 percent, according to Realtor.com.

Wofford Trustees Elect John Paul Dowd III, Ph.D., as 12th President

The Wofford College board of trustees has unanimously elected John Paul “Jay” Dowd III, Ph.D., as the college’s 12th president. His tenure begins July 1, 2026. Dowd currently serves as president and chief executive officer of The Citadel Foundation, a position he’s held since 2013. In his current role, Dowd leads a team of 38 people who work to ensure that The Citadel has the resources to fund its strategic priorities.

Greer150 Big Bash Takes Over Downtown

The City of Greer, having recently turned 150 years old, celebrated by hosting The Greer150 Big Bash on March 28 in the city’s historic downtown area known as Greer Station. Music on the main stage included a gospel group, a bluegrass band, and Guardians of the Jukebox. The Greer Heritage Museum, the city’s partner in the Greer150 initiative, hosted a live radio show, a barbershop quartet, and the New River Gospel Bluegrass band inside the Historic Greer Depot.

Spartanburg Community College and Cherokee County School District's Institute of Innovation Sign HVAC Articulation Agreement to Expand Student Opportunities

(photo with this one, but only of two dudes at a table, so.)

Spartanburg Community College (SCC) and Cherokee County School District's Institute of Innovation have officially entered into a new articulation agreement for the 2026–2027 academic year, creating a seamless educational pathway for students pursuing careers in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVAC). Through this partnership, students who successfully complete the HVAC program at the Institute of Innovation will have the opportunity to earn college credit toward SCC’s HVAC certificate and/or associate degree programs.

TD SYNNEX Creative Group Recognized by American Advertising Federation with Multiple 2026 ADDY Awards

TD SYNNEX Creative Group has been recognized with honors at the American Advertising Federation’s (AAF) 2026 American Advertising Awards (ADDYs) in both the Greenville and Tampa Bay chapters, with awards including:

• Silver Award for Out-of-Home and Ambient Media: Installation; Multiple Installations (Greenville) – Inspire & Vendor Summit

• Silver Award for Print Advertising; Branding Content and Entertainment (Greenville) – Location Stickers

Leasing Starts for Northside Townhomes Phase II in Spartanburg

(is a photo, but of...townhomes)

NHE, Inc., has started leasing for Northside Townhomes Phase II, an 87-unit community in Spartanburg. Scheduled for completion in late April, Northside Townhomes Phase II offers three- and four-bedroom townhomes. Twenty-five percent of the units will be designated as affordable housing, serving households earning at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) for Spartanburg. The development aligns with the Northside Initiative’s master plan, which identified a need for high-quality, mixed-income housing.

Nextep Extends Its Award-Winning Footprint to Four New Markets

Nextep, a nationally recognized leader in the Professional Employer Organization (PEO) space, has announced its latest strategic expansion into four new U.S. markets: Scottsdale, Arizona; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; and Greenville, South Carolina. Nextep clients have access to the full suite of Nextep's innovative technology, including the Elevate by Nextep mobile app, as well as end-to-end HR solutions – from big-company benefits and HR support to payroll and compliance services.

SPOTLIGHT

Steve White Auto Group Acquires Volkswagen of Spartanburg

Steve White Auto Group is expanding to Spartanburg with the acquisition of Volkswagen of Spartanburg, bringing the long-standing dealership back under local ownership for the first time in several years. Volkswagen of Spartanburg has been part of the automotive fabric of the Upstate for decades, as part of the Vic Bailey Automotive family – a multi-generational, locally owned dealership group that became a cornerstone of the Spartanburg business community. In 2023, the dealership was acquired by a large regional automotive group, reflecting an industry-wide trend of consolidation. Now, Steve White Auto Group is returning the dealership to its local, family-owned roots, with accessible, hands-on ownership committed to strengthening community connections.

Franchise Plans Major Expansion in South Carolina with 5 New Locations

National day care franchise The Learning Experience announced it is expanding in the Greenville area with five new locations opening in the next two years – bringing 50,000 square feet of freestanding commercial real estate space, numerous full-time jobs, and consistent traffic to nearby businesses with parents dropping off and picking up their children twice a day, five days a week. The Learning Experience, which currently has more than 450 locations operating in 30 states, plans to open five new locations: Georgia Road, Brookfield Oaks, Greenville, Simpsonville, and Spartanburg.

SPOTLIGHT

Southernside Center to Honor Mary Duckett

A newly constructed neighborhood center in Southernside will be named after the late Mary Duckett.  Greenville City Council unanimously approved the honor at its formal meeting on March 23. Known affectionately as the “mayor of Southernside,” Duckett died in November after decades of activism for education, environmental justice, and public safety. The Mary Frances Duckett Community Development Center will open in April. The new $1.1 million center will offer meeting space, multipurpose rooms and a kitchen for community gatherings and other neighborhood programming, including job training, homeownership workshops, and physical and mental health services.