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November 19, 2013

Clemson student’s device a finalist in medical design challenge

A South Carolina healthcare startup plans to use magnets to help patients with knee dysfunction continue to live active lives. A simple but true orthopedics innovation, the Engage Knee System uses magnets to lock and unlock a knee replacement to allow for more mobility for those patients. Founder Eric Lucas said many patients with knee dysfunction, precluded […]

November 18, 2013

Upstate business leaders to sponsor STEM initiative

Officials from three of the Upstate’s largest companies are announcing today the hiring of a person to coordinate efforts to encourage young people to go into science, technology, engineering and math careers. The Upstate SC STEM Task Force, which coordinated the planning for the new program called the Upstate SC STEM Collaborative, also is developing […]

November 13, 2013

Nuclear industry has $20 billion impact in Carolinas

The fact that the nuclear industry is significant in South Carolina surprises few people, but the $20 billion scope of its yearly economic impact in the Carolinas just might. A new study by Clemson University says employment and corporate activity from energy production at the 12 commercial nuclear plants in South Carolina and North Carolina are primary […]

November 13, 2013

Norfolk Southern launches daily rail service between Port of Charleston and Upstate

Railway operator Norfolk Southern today kicked off a daily rail service for moving cargo between Charleston and S.C. State Ports Authority’s new rail yard in the Upstate, officials said today. The train service allows companies to transport shipping containers to and from SPA’s so-called inland port, a nearly 100-acre facility that opened weeks ago near […]

November 12, 2013

Economic prospects in Greer parallel Inland Port’s arrival

As the South Carolina Inland Port was announcing the beginning of regular service for all ocean carriers and clients today, Greer Economic Development Executive Director Reno Deaton was illustrating its impact on Greer to City Council. The first regular departure from Charleston to Greer was Tuesday, with the start of regular arrivals and departures at […]

November 12, 2013

Fitesa To Expand Simpsonville Facility, Add At Least 32 Jobs

As the South Carolina Inland Port was announcing the beginning of regular service for all ocean carriers and clients today, Greer Economic Development Executive Director Reno Deaton was illustrating its impact on Greer to City Council. The first regular departure from Charleston to Greer was Tuesday, with the start of regular arrivals and departures at […]

October 25, 2013

Duke Energy proposes 750MW plant in SC

Duke Energy Carolinas proposes to build a 750-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas plant at its recently shuttered W.S. Lee coal-powered facility in Anderson County, S.C. The N.C. Electric Membership Corp. would be a minority partner in the proposed plan, owning 100 megawatts of the capacity. Duke says no final decision has been made to build the […]

October 21, 2013

Oconee County nets 238 jobs in past 12 months

Emphasis on economic development in Oconee County may be beginning to bear fruit. Figures provided by the county Economic Development Commission Thursday showed there are currently 22,151 jobs in the county – an increase of 238 in the past 12 months. Richard Blackwell, executive director of the commission, said the increase comes despite the loss […]

September 26, 2013

CU-ICAR joins Upstate SC Alliance and Commerce in recruiting R&D partners in Asia

The top executive at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research said he will travel to Asia in November with a delegation of South Carolina economic development officials. Fred Cartwright said CU-ICAR is recruiting research and development partners. Cartwright will accompany representatives of the Upstate S.C. Alliance and the S.C. Department of Commerce. He said CU-ICAR is […]

September 6, 2013

Greenville Tech receives funding for STEM education

Greenville Technical College said it recently received funding through the Clemson University Center for Workforce Development and Duke Energy to support STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workforce development in South Carolina. To read about the three projects, visit GSA Business.

September 4, 2013

CU-ICAR faculty research and sponsored program awards total $4.5 million

Clemson University faculty affiliated with the automotive engineering department received almost $4.5 million in research and sponsored programs in the past year. The 2013 annual report on the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research also shows more than 200 students enrolled this academic year in automotive engineering. The faculty-generated awards funded 24 projects. Automotive companies […]

September 4, 2013

BMW Expands Export Operation from South Carolina

As one of the largest automotive exporters in the U.S., BMW has announced the expansion of the company’s export program to emerging markets. Originally announced in 2011 to support export of BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicles to certain countries, BMW will now expand this operation to include the new BMW X5. To support this expansion, […]

August 30, 2013

Fraenkische Industrial Pipes expanding operations in Anderson County

Fraenkische Industrial Pipes today announced that it will expand its existing operations and North American headquarters in Anderson County. The $5 million investment is expected to generate 50 new jobs over the next few years.  “We are very happy to be expanding again in Anderson. We have grown from 20 employees in 2009, at the […]

August 29, 2013

Santee Cooper OKs loan for inland port substation

Santee Cooper said Monday its board of directors approved $7.5 million in loans to help construct a substation to serve the S.C. Inland Port in Greer, as well as industrial spec buildings in Anderson and Dillon counties. The funding is part of $15.5 million in economic development loans approved under the utility’s 14-month-old infrastructure development […]

August 29, 2013

Synalloy to relocate HQ to Fountain Inn

Spartanburg-based holding company Synalloy Corp. has acquired the business assets of Color Resources LLC and its plant in Fountain Inn. The purchase price for the facility at 300 International Blvd. was $3.45 million. Synalloy – a producer of stainless steel pipe, fiberglass and steel storage tanks and specialty chemicals – plans to relocate its headquarters […]

August 27, 2013

Greenville County Council votes to fund $25M training center

Told they won’t have to raise taxes, Greenville County Council members voted Monday to fund a $25 million bond issue for Greenville Technical College to build an industrial job training center. Greenville Tech President Keith Miller said the funds will pay for the campus, which he said will include a 62,500-square-foot-building, an energy plant and […]

August 16, 2013

Clemson University to host international conference for scientists, engineers

Scientists and engineers from around the world are expected to attend a conference hosted by Clemson University to discuss advances in polymers and its increasing role in technology. The biennial conference is set Aug. 13-16 at the Hyatt Regency Greenville downtown. The 15th International Conference on Macro Molecular Complexes is the third time that a U.S. […]

August 16, 2013

Heiche US Surface Technology establishing new facility in Spartanburg County

Heiche US Surface Technology, which specializes in surface treatment for metal automotive components, will locate its new production facility and U.S. headquarters in Spartanburg County, with a $4 million investment expected to generate 38 new jobs, state officials said. Heiche will establish its U.S. headquarters and new production operations in an existing building, located at […]

August 6, 2013

Laurens County becomes certified Work Ready Community

Laurens County has been designated a certified Work Ready Community, one of three in South Carolina. Laurens County established a comprehensive program at the elementary level in districts 55 and 56 teaching work ethic. It also engaged educators through its Educators in Industry course, and SC Works has helped seek and assist the transitioning workforce. […]

August 5, 2013

CU-ICAR unveils Mazda concept vehicle

A next-generation Mazda concept vehicle conceived and engineered by automotive engineering students at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research has been shown for the first time in its finished form. The Deep Orange 3 was unveiled Monday at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Mich. Read the full article from GSA […]

August 2, 2013

Spartanburg Community College showcases new downtown campus

Officials with Spartanburg Community College gave a behind-the-scenes tour of the school’s new downtown campus Friday as crews worked to prepare the building for students later this month. SCC President Henry C. Giles Jr. walked a small group through the halls of the three-story Evans Academic Center, which will house SCC, Spartanburg High School’s Viking […]

July 30, 2013

AnMed expands education program in the Upstate

Congratulations to our Board Members at AnMed Health on their latest announcement! AnMed Health of Anderson has partnered with the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) to become a clinical teaching site for third- and fourth-year medical school students. Students at VCOM’s Spartanburg campus can apply to train in Anderson. Ten third-year students will […]

July 26, 2013

ZF Transmissions to expand plant in Laurens County

ZF, a global supplier of driveline and chassis technology, will expand its operations in Laurens County, opening the company’s first passenger car transmission plant in the United States. The expansion will create 450 new jobs and more than $175 million in capital investment. Part of the largest single venture in ZF’s history outside Germany, the […]

July 24, 2013

South Carolina No. 10 in latest Site Selection ranking

South Carolina recently received a No. 10 ranking in Site Selection magazine’s annual measure of state-by-state competitiveness. Read more from the South Carolina Economic Developers’ Association’s website. View the official ranking online here.

July 24, 2013

BMW may have export operation at Inland Port

A building next to the new South Carolina Inland Port in Greer may house a BMW export operation, according South Carolina Ports Authority president and CEO James Newsome. South Carolina Ports Authority president and CEO James Newsome told members of the Rotary Club of Greenville on Tuesday that a facility being built next to the […]

July 24, 2013

Energy report highlights Greenville County Schools’ conservation efforts

A new report on America’s energy future describes how the Greenville County Schools’ decades of energy-savings efforts have significantly cut power bills and freed up money to benefit students. Two congressmen are leading a bipartisan discussion set Wednesday in Washington, D.C., on the report, entitled: Powering Up America: The Revolution Began Yesterday. Read the full […]

July 17, 2013

Ten medical technology startups report to new business accelerator in Spartanburg

Ten medical technology startups from all over the world comprising the inaugural class of The Iron Yard LLC’s new business accelerator in Spartanburg punched in on Monday. The teams, whose entrepreneurial concepts were chosen in June from a large pool of applicants, reported for duty at the Greenville-based accelerator’s 7,000-square-foot downtown facility at 151 S. […]

July 16, 2013

Two new breweries set to open in the Upstate

Quest Brewery opened it’s doors to the public this past weekend with a packed celebration that included live music and two food trucks. This fall, Brewery 85 is set to open in the Upstate near Interstate 85, very close to our office. Thomas Creek is celebrating 15 years of business in the Upstate and we cannot talk about beer in […]

July 11, 2013

Oconee County industrial park receives certification for development

The 300-acre Oconee Industry and Technology Park has been certified by the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the McCallum Sweeney Industrial Site Certification Program, economic development officials announced Wednesday. Read the full article from GSA Business.

July 5, 2013

BMW Announces Leadership Change at its South Carolina Plant

Josef Kerscher, who since 2007 has been President of BMW Manufacturing Co. in Spartanburg, South Carolina, will assume new responsibilities as Managing Director of BMW Plant Dingolfing in Bavaria, Germany. Taking over from Kerscher at Spartanburg will be Manfred Erlacher, currently Managing Director of BMW Plant Leipzig in Saxony, Germany. The handover takes place November […]

June 28, 2013

Inland port to improve efficiency of logistics

GSA Business hosted a Power Hour Thursday night featuring panelists speaking on the South Carolina Inland Port. The Port will attract cargo from across the Southeast and improve the efficiency of shipping from the Upstate through the Port of Charleston, panelists said Thursday night. Panelists included David Edwards, CEO of Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport; Jack Ellenberg, […]

June 27, 2013

Clemson University receives $1.2M donation

Upstate’s Clemson University announced a gift of more than $1.2 million from the estate of the late Caroline Barton Caughman, formerly of Pinehurst, N.C. Most of the gift – more than $1.15 million – establishes the Kenneth and Caroline Caughman Memorial Endowment Fund, which will be used for undergraduate student scholarships. Read the full article […]

June 26, 2013

Piedmont Technical College to offer welding program in high school

Piedmont Technical College and Laurens District 56 announced a partnership to offer a journeyman welding certificate program to students at Clinton High School. The move comes amid calls from industry and economic development officials to increase awareness of manufacturing jobs for younger students. Upstate S.C. Alliance President and CEO Hal Johnson, for example, has called for […]

June 18, 2013

Clemson company gets $80,000 EPA grant

Liquid Lignin Co. LLC in Clemson has received an $80,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant to develop environmentally friendly borate-based wood. If the project proves to be commercially viable, the company is eligible to compete for up to $300,000 to commercialize the technology. The company, a member of the Next Innovation Center in Greenville, is positioning to […]

June 14, 2013

Upstate’s Grainger supports engineering education

The Grainger Foundation gave $10,000 to support the Electronics Engineering Technology program at Greenville Technical College. The funds will help upgrade computer workstations and the server supporting the program. Read the full article from GSA Business.

June 7, 2013

Distribution facility underway near S.C. Inland Port

A distribution facility is under construction on land that abuts the S.C. Inland Port in Greer. An unnamed tenant will occupy the facility. Initial site preparation has been completed and a concrete slab has been poured for the 400,000-square-foot facility, expected to be complete in December, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport CEO and President Dave Edwards said. […]

June 3, 2013

State recognized for economic development efforts

Area Development magazine has awarded South Carolina a 2013 Silver Shovel award for the state’s economic development efforts last year.”The states receiving 2013 Shovel awards deserve special recognition for their efforts to attract new businesses and to help their existing corporate citizens to expand their businesses,” said Geraldine Gambale, editor of Area Development. “They have […]

June 3, 2013

Clemson, Greenwood Genetic Center to break ground on research facility

Clemson University, in conjunction with the Greenwood Genetic Center, plans to break ground next month on a 17,000-square-foot research and education center in human genetics at the J.C. Self Research Institute, a division of the genetic center. The project will expand Clemson University’s existing doctoral program in human genetics; create an internationally competitive research and […]

May 31, 2013

Liberty Property to construct speculative industrial building in Spartanburg County

Liberty Property Trust will break ground next month on a speculative industrial building in Greer. A.L. Industries Inc., a manufacturer of filters for the automotive and heavy duty industry, has signed a lease for 52,000 square feet of space in the 156,000-square-foot facility. A.L. Industries announced plans in April to invest $3.6 million and create […]

May 31, 2013

Tire companies, S.C. Chamber of Commerce form council

The state’s three tire-making companies and the S.C. Chamber of Commerce have established the Tire Manufacturers’ Council. The mission of the council, which includes Michelin North America, Bridgestone Americas and Continental Tire the Americas, will be to evaluate and propose policies relating to the manufacturing of tires in South Carolina. Steve Evered, vice president of […]

May 31, 2013

Upstate BMW plant to roll out 2 models within months

BMW says it will have no problem launching two new models from the Greer assembly plant within months of each other. The company’s announcement that the third-generation rollout of the X5 sports activity vehicle will start in the fourth quarter this year comes a few months after the German automaker said the X4 sports activity […]

May 21, 2013

City of Spartanburg drafts policy, eyes sites for food trucks

The food truck business is heating up nationwide, and in anticipation of more inquiries into mobile food kitchens, the city of Spartanburg has developed policies and identified six potential downtown sites for the vendors. Food truck vendors are known for selling affordable, fresh, unique delicacies – such as Asian barbecue or traditional burgers – out […]

May 21, 2013

Hal Johnson named local developer of the year

The S.C. Economic Developers’ Association announced Hal Johnson, president and CEO of the Upstate S.C. Alliance, was named its Local Developer of the Year. The award recognizes the work and dedication of local economic developers in South Carolina who have made a significant difference in communities. “Hal’s vision and leadership have positioned the Upstate to successfully compete […]

May 17, 2013

Sage Automotive Interiors acquires Poland firm’s auto seating assets

Sage Automotive Interiors of Greenville has acquired the automotive fabric manufacturing assets of Poland-based Apo-Tessile. The companies have previously worked together and a statement Thursday said the operation, now Sage Automotive Interiors Poland, is well situated to supply automotive cut and sew facilities in central and eastern Europe. Read more from GSA Business.

May 13, 2013

Greenwood Genetic Center, Clemson to partner in 17,000-square-foot genetic research and education center

After nearly eight years of discussions, planning, maneuvering and negotiating, it appears a landmark project between Clemson University and the Greenwood Genetic Center is set to move forward. Clemson, in conjunction with the Genetic Center, will construct a 17,000-square-foot genetic research and education center adjacent to the Genetic Center. The Clemson facility will be built […]

May 9, 2013

Clemson receives grant to train workforce in electric grid technologies

The U.S. Energy Department has awarded Clemson University $200,000 to develop courses and training programs that will help researchers and students gain a better understanding of technology being developed to monitor the electric grid. Including Clemson’s contribution, the total value of the project is $250,000. The DOE grant, announced Wednesday, is one of seven awards totaling $1.4 […]

May 7, 2013

Upstate Alliance, Spartanburg Economic Futures Group ranked as ‘best to invest’

Site Selection magazine recently recognized both the Spartanburg Economic Futures Group and the Upstate SC Alliance among the top 10 “Best to Invest” economic development groups nationwide for 2012. … Since 2005, the Upstate has attracted more than $10 billion in capital investment which has generated more than 31,000 new jobs, according to Site Selection. […]

May 2, 2013

Clemson gets $1 million gift for scholarships and professorship

Clemson University has received a $1 million donation for two endowments, one that will provide scholarships and another for an engineering professorship, named for Clemson alumnus Samuel Lewis Bell and his wife, Lucia. Half of the money will establish the Samuel Lewis Bell and Lucia Beason Bell Memorial Scholarship Endowment that will award scholarships to […]

May 2, 2013

SC Upstate ranks high on list of small business friendly states

An online ratings site has ranked South Carolina as one of the top ten states to develop a small business, but not all areas of the state were ranked the same. Thumbtack.com completes an annual study on small business friendliness and recently released their rankings for 2013. On the nation scale, South Carolina was given […]

April 15, 2013

BMW Charity Pro-Am names 2013 celebrity participants

The 13th annual BMW tournament, presented by Synnex Corp., will take place May 16 to 19 at Thornblade Club, Greenville Country Club’s Chanticleer course and The Reserve at Lake Keowee, which is a new addition for 2013. Since 2001, the tournament has raised more than $9.25 million for more than 150 charities. To see the […]

April 15, 2013

RJ Rockers expands distribution network

Congratulations to our investors at RJ Rockers! They announced the expansion of their distribution of their seasonal beer, Son of a Peach, to the Atlanta area. The craft brewery currently distributes to five states – Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, though other RJ Rocker brews are available in some capacity in Georgia […]

April 10, 2013

Carbures opens second facility in Greenville County

Carbures LLC plans to hire up to 100 more employees and invest $400 million more in Greenville in the next three years with the opening of its second local facility in as many years. The Cadiz, Spain-based manufacturer produces carbon and composite structures for the automotive, aerospace and infrastructure markets. Growth has continued as these […]

March 31, 2013

Kiyatec, University of Southern California receive $30K research grant

Greenville-based Kiyatec and the University of Southern California are collaborating on research of cellular responses through a $30,000 grant. The U.S. National Academy of Engineering recently awarded Matthew Gevaert of Kiyatec and Andrea Armani of the University of Southern California a Grainger Foundation Frontiers of Engineering Grant. “This grant is the first step in this exciting collaboration,” Gevaert, Kiyatec’s […]

March 22, 2013

Champion Aerospace donates supplies to Greenville Technical College

The Upstate of SC prides itself on workforce and education. We’re proud to hear that Champion Aerospace in Liberty supports our local technical college and the future of our communities. Exceprt from GSA Business: Champion Aerospace in Liberty donated $6,000 worth of supplies to be used in aviation technician training at Greenville Technical College.

March 15, 2013

TD Bank opens new hub in Greenville

TD Bank is celebrating the opening of its new call center in Greenville. The company held a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday. The call center is part of the bank’s regional center which will include auditing, technology and customer service. Regional president Rob Hoak says the company has already hired 600 employees and expects to hire […]

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