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June 7, 2023

Itron expanding Oconee County operations

Itron, a global industrial Internet of Things (IoT) leader that innovates the way utilities and cities manage energy and water, is expanding its Oconee County operations. The company is planning a capital expenditure of $28.5 million over three years that will create nearly 100 new jobs.

April 19, 2023

BorgWarner Inc. expanding Oconee County operations

BorgWarner Inc. (BorgWarner), a global leader in mobility solutions, today announced plans to expand its facility in Oconee County. The company’s $42.7 million investment will create 122 new jobs.

January 18, 2023

Yanfeng expanding operations in Laurens County

$49.6 million investment to create approximately 58 new jobs over the next five years Yanfeng, a leading global automotive supplier, today announced the expansion of its operations in Laurens County. The company’s investment of $49.6 million will create approximately 58 new jobs over the next five years. Yanfeng has more than 240 locations and 67,000 […]

December 2, 2015

What Brings Foreign Investment to Upstate South Carolina

Attracted by scenic views, sense of community and a highly desirable cost of living, Upstate South Carolina has become a place where people from various backgrounds can all come together and enjoy one of the nation’s best places to call home.

November 19, 2015

Addressing the Demands for Aircraft Maintenance Workforce

As airlines around the world work to address the demands of a global economy by expanding fleets and adjusting flight schedules, the industry is also seeking solutions to address the challenges of building a highly-skilled workforce to support the rapid growth.

October 19, 2015

Upstate SC Developers Strengthen Relationships with Site Consultants

Site consultants are a valuable resource for companies looking to establish or expand operations. These individuals and firms are experts in assessing the attributes of cities, counties and states, taking into account what a region may offer when it comes to workforce development, tax incentives, available real estate, supply chains, infrastructure, quality of life and more.

October 2, 2015

How Upstate South Carolina Manufactures a Modern Workforce

Upstate South Carolina is a region that has always prided itself on its reputation for a dedicated, hard-working labor force. From the textile mills of decades past, to the manufacturing facilities found throughout the Upstate today, the workforce has been the key driver in the success of the 10-county region of Southwest South Carolina.

August 11, 2015

Previewing the 2015 S.C. Aerospace Conference & Expo

Later this month, leaders from the aerospace industry, government and the investment community will gather in the Palmetto State for the second annual South Carolina Aerospace Conference and Expo, held August 26-27 in Columbia, S.C.

July 10, 2015

New Oconee County Youth Apprenticeship Program Will Ensure a More Qualified Workforce in Upstate South Carolina

Earlier this week, Oconee County launched a new Youth Apprenticeship Program in partnership with the School District of Oconee County and Apprenticeship Carolina. Primarily geared towards Oconee County’s manufacturing sector, the program will work closely with local industries to form the necessary partnerships, as well as provide comprehensive classroom training and the hands-on learning environments required to build a qualified, skilled workforce in Upstate South Carolina.

May 8, 2015

Wall Street Journal Profiles Milliken’s Movement to Support Free Trade, Exports

Milliken & Company has a deep-rooted history in Upstate South Carolina and the influence of former President, Roger Milliken can still be felt in the region and throughout the textile industry. Milliken & Company operates from the company’s corporate headquarters in Spartanburg, S.C., employing more than 7,000 workers throughout 39 manufacturing facilities in the U.S., the U.K., Belgium, France and China.

April 29, 2015

Upstate S.C. City Named Best Place to Live by Livability

Upstate South Carolina is home to nearly 1.4 million people, a number that continues to grow as the world takes note of the many benefits that are unique to the area. Recently, Livability, a website that explores what makes small-to-medium sizes cities a great places to call home, named Greenville, S.C. to its annual “Top 100 Best Places to Live”.

April 27, 2015

BMW Reaches Out to Innovative Startups

One of the recurring topics addressed at the recent S.C. Automotive Summit was the importance of collaboration and specifically, how manufactures can benefit from partnerships with local startups and innovation hubs.

April 17, 2015

S.C. Inland Port Continues to Stay Ahead of Projected Rail Move Figures

Earlier this week, the South Carolina Ports Authority reported that the Greer, S.C.-based Inland Port handled 5,187 rail moves in March, achieving its highest volumes since the facility opening in November 2013. Fiscal year to date, the Inland Port has handled 40,313 rail moves and is 52 percent ahead of planned volumes.

April 2, 2015

Trends in Corporate Site Selection: A Q&A with GLS Senior Principal, Didi Caldwell

Last year was a banner year for Upstate South Carolina. The region kicked off the year with major announcements from BMW Manufacturing and Toray Industries, and by year end, the Upstate’s total announcements equaled more than $4 billion in capital investment and nearly 5,000 jobs—more than the previous two years combined.

April 1, 2015

Exports: The Upstate’s Key to Global Growth

Around the world, advances in technology and communications are quickly leveling the global economic playing field, and increasing prosperity abroad is driving the demand for high-quality, American-made goods.

March 27, 2015

Three Million Upstate-Made BMWs and Counting!

This week BMW Manufacturing celebrated a major company milestone as it announced the production of its 3 millionth vehicle assembled at its plant in Upstate South Carolina.

March 13, 2015

Manufacturing in South Carolina: A Glance at Current and Future Trends

The manufacturing industry continues to be one of the United States’ strongest growing and prolific job markets, with the industry supporting an estimated 17.6 million jobs in the United States, according to the most recent data from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

February 20, 2015

Previewing the 2015 S.C. Automotive Summit

Next week the automotive industry’s national and global leaders will come together in Upstate South Carolina for the 4th Annual S.C. Automotive Summit, held February 23-25 in Greenville, S.C.

February 5, 2015

Nikolaos Rigas, director of Clemson University’s new wind-turbine drivetrain test center, was recognized as one of ENR’s top 25 Newsmakers

Developed and built primarily as a testing and research center for wind-turbine drivetrains, Clemson University’s Energy Innovation Center in North Charleston, S.C., is still ramping up operations. However, it’s already producing results, says Nikolaos Rigas, the facility’s director and the guiding force behind the unique test center’s development.

February 3, 2015

New Report: Bridging Trade Finance Gaps

The Upstate SC Alliance will formally launch the Upstate SC Regional Export Plan on March 11 at its Annual Meeting. The plan is the culmination of a year’s worth of work by leaders across the region that when fully executed will strengthen the Upstate and further secure its place in the global economy.

January 29, 2015

Charles T. Townes, Inventor of the Laser and Greenville Native, Passes Away at 99

Charles Hard Townes, an industry pioneer who shared the 1964 Nobel Prize in Physics for the invention of the laser, passed away early Tuesday morning. In honor of Dr. Townes, a native of Greenville, S.C., we would like to share the following biography courtesy of Dr. John Ballato, Clemson University’s Vice President for Economic Development, noted optical expert and professor of materials science and engineering:

January 21, 2015

Air Travel in the Upstate Gets Even Easier with GSP Improvements

Since its first flight in 1962, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) has earned a reputation as one of the finest airports in the country. GSP’s competitive airfare draws in more than 1.8 million passengers per year, who are served by six major airlines offering non-stop departures to 15 major cities and 18 different airports across the country.

January 21, 2015

Tallying Up 2015

2015 was another banner year in economic development for the Upstate region of South Carolina. Our 9 member counties gained $1.291 billion in capital investment, announced 76 total projects and created 6,471 new jobs.

January 16, 2015

What Does the Future Hold for Aerospace in the Upstate?

More than 50 aviation and aerospace-related companies, including GE Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Michelin, Cytec, Carbures and more, call Upstate South Carolina home. With close proximity to major OEMs, such as the Boeing facility in Charleston, S.C., Gulfstream in Savannah, Ga., and Honda in North Carolina, the Upstate sits in the center of a growth hub for aerospace.

January 15, 2015

Industrial spec building surges into 2015

Having just celebrated the strongest year ever in terms of announced capital investment, the Upstate has no intention of slowing down. As demand in the Upstate market continues, both public and private entities are stepping up to make sure their communities have the right product to attract new and expanding industry. Included here is a partial list of available propertyin the Upstate market.

January 15, 2015

Study: Anderson County One of Just 65 U.S. Counties to Recover from Recession

According to a recent study by the National Association of Counties (NACO) released earlier this week, Anderson County is one of just 65 counties among the 3,000-plus U.S. counties that has fully recovered from the recent economic recession, meeting or surpassing pre-recession levels for home prices, economic output, unemployment rate and jobs.

January 6, 2015

National Study Shows South Carolina as a Top Moving Destination

In 2014, companies said they would spend almost $4 billon building or expanding operations across Upstate South Carolina. As companies continue to thrive in the Upstate, they also create an ever-growing skilled workforce, creating over 4,500 new jobs in the Upstate in 2014.

January 5, 2015

What do Berlin, Egypt and Greenville, SC Have in Common?

With an active nightlife and a wide range of cultural activities from Broadway musicals to major sporting events, combined with an impressive number of lakes and mountains for outdoor recreation, the Upstate offers a unique mix of entertainment not found anywhere else.

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If you have any further public relations needs, contact Danielle Besser at 864.283.2316 or [email protected].