Spartanburg economic development official receives regional award

August 22, 2014

One of Spartanburg’s leading economic development officials was announced as the winner of a regional award on Thursday for helping the county land more than $2 billion in new investments and several thousand jobs over the past year.

Carter Smith, executive vice president of the Economic Futures Group, was named Upstate Economic Developer of the Year by Upstate SC Alliance during the organization’s midyear meeting at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Greenville.

Smith, who started his current position in 1991, has served as president of the S.C. Economic Developers’ Association and was recognized in 2010 as the state’s local economic developer of the year.

It was the second straight year for an economic developer from Spartanburg County to claim the Upstate SC Alliance Award. Last year, Patty Bock, director of economic development for the city of Spartanburg, received the recognition.

“Carter defines excellence in economic development,” Upstate SC Alliance president and CEO John Lummus said in a statement. “He has played a leading role in building the Upstate’s global competitiveness. This region is very fortunate to have benefited from his wisdom, guidance and professionalism for the past 23 years.”

Smith has worked on some of the largest economic development projects in the state’s history, including BMW, Adidas and Toray Industries Inc.

“This was kind of a surprise, but a very nice one,” Smith said. “It’s always an honor to be recognized by your peers. I am humbled and greatly appreciative. We’ve had several good years in this county. This year, we kind of knocked it out of the ball park… I am extremely encouraged by not only the amount, but the quality of projects that we have in the pipeline right now.”

Smith is a certified economic developer with the International Economic Development Council.

For more information, visit: www.upstatescalliance.com.