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TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE

Upstate South Carolina’s central location within the booming Southeastern United States provides access to major markets, raw materials and growing industries. Companies here have access to the most efficient port on the East Coast as well as interstate and rail connecting to more than 102 million consumers in a day’s drive. One thing is for sure: business never stops moving here.

By Land

I-85 spans the region, connecting Atlanta and Charlotte. I-26 provides a direct route to the Port of Charleston. One-day truck service reaches 31% of the U.S. population.

By Air

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport offers Upstate residents direct flights to 24 cities and 27 airports, with easy connections to hundreds of cities worldwide. It has been voted the “Best Airport in North America” with 2-5 million passengers per year by the Airports Council International, also recognized for its ease of use and enjoyable amenities. When it comes to serving business needs, GSP also:

  • Offers the only scheduled nonstop international air cargo service in the Carolinas with regular flights to Germany, Mexico and Korea.
  • Provides cargo services from FedEx, UPS and Maersk.
  • 1,500 acres surrounding the terminal for development, presenting major opportunity for manufacturing and logistics.

Additionally, Charlotte Douglas International Airport is less than 1.5 hours from the center of the Upstate, and, even closer from Cherokee and Spartanburg counties. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is within a 2-3 hour drive time from the Upstate.

By Sea

Accessibility to the Port of Charleston and the Inland Port Greer offer a significant advantage. Upstate businesses are in proximity to the deepest sea port in the Southeast, boasting the most productive crane moves per hour and a 23-minute gate mission turn time. Adjacent to the Greenville-Spartanburg International airport, Inland Port Greer is an intermodal rail hub serviced by Norfolk Southern mainline with direct connection to the Port of Charleston.

By Rail

Whether your company is receiving raw materials or shipping finished goods to market, the Upstate’s well-connected rail system can save companies time and money. Our region is served by major rail providers CSX and Norfolk Southern, with short-line services available.

By the Grid and Beyond

We know availability, capacity and redundancy of power sources are also vital assets for companies when considering relocations or expansions. Within the Palmetto State, electricity sources are diverse, with nuclear, hydroelectric, coal and solar sources feeding our grids. A majority of the Upstate’s electricity comes from carbon neutral sources. And, our state also has a competitive energy pricing environment created by the presence of Duke Energy and a number of community-based cooperatives, resulting in costs far below the national average and lower than surrounding states.

The PowerSC Energy Resources and Economic Development Interagency Working Group was established to ensure energy capacity for the state’s population and economic growth. The group’s work will include updating the statewide energy plan, facilitating coordination between utility providers, and identifying opportunities to improve state licensing and permitting processes related to energy infrastructure. See more on PowerSC.