GREENVILLE COUNTY, SC -- Summer 2012 
Greenville Stays Hot with Economic Development Announcements
aeSolutions logo Following successful visits to prospects and site consultants in Atlanta (February), Washington DC (April) and Chicago (May), the GADC stayed hot on the economic development trail in 2012 with eight additional announcements in second quarter. Successes include: 
  • Ionic Technologies Inc., which provides heat treating and coating services to manufacturers to improve wear resistance, will expand existing operations in Greenville County, adding 13 jobs
  •  Grace Plastics, an Ohio-based plastics recycler, will locate a new facility here, investing $1.2 million and generating 16 jobs
  •  aeSolutions, a supplier of performance-based process safety engineering and automation solutions for industry, consolidated multiple Upstate facilities in a new corporate HQ, investing $2 million and adding 40 jobs
  • JTEKT, a manufacturer of automotive components, will expand operations in Greenville County with a $102 million investment and 80 new jobs
  • Encore Container, which manufactures and re-conditions industrial containers,located its corporate HQ, manufacturing and recycling facility here, investing $3.9 million and generating 89 jobs
  • Genetec Global Technologies announced a new operation, Genetec Technology Automation, in Simpsonville, adding 160 jobs
  • Picanol of Belgium acquired space at SC-TAC for expanded sales, machine repair and replacement parts operations for its high-tech weaving equipment
  • AVX, a global manufacturer and supplier of electronic and interconnect components, is investing $14 million, adding 279 new jobs and transferring 150 more positions here to accommodate increased manufacturing and R&D operations.

The announcements followed five others in first quarter, bringing 2012 totals to $135 million in new investment and 962 new announced jobs for Greenville County.

 

New GADC Board Members Named

Prominent business leaders Timothy (Tim) Justice, Mark Kent and Richard (Dick) Wilkerson have been appointed to terms on the GADC board, while Ambassador David H. Wilkins has been reappointed to serve an additional term by County Council Chairman Butch Kirven.

 

Tim Justice   Tim Justice is Chief Executive Officer of Rescom Construction, and has served on boards including the Greenville Chamber, Better Business Bureau, Junior Achievement, and the Greenville Homebuilders Association.   He also has served on national boards of the Homebuilders Association and Selective Service System.

 

Mark Kent Mark Kent is Chairman of KENTWOOL, an international textile and apparel manufacturer, and has held senior leadership roles in the American Textile Manufacturers Institute, American Yarn Spinners Association, South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance and the Greenville and South Carolina chambers.

 

Dick Wilkerson Dick Wilkerson is former Chairman and President of Michelin North America, and past chairman of the South Carolina Chamber, United Way of Greenville County Board of Trustees and director of the Community Foundation of Greenville, the Greenville Urban League, the Greenville Chamber of the University Center.

 

David Wilkins Ambassador David Wilkins is partner in the law firm of Nelson, Mullins, Riley, and Scarborough LLP, and former U. S. Ambassador to Canada. He previously served as Speaker of the S. C. House of Representatives and is current chairman of the Clemson University Board of Trustees.  He served in the United States Army and has practiced law for more than three decades.

 

Manufacturing Renaissance Needs Skilled Workers, GADC Panel Says

America -- and Greenville County -- are experiencing a renaissance in manufacturing, but a potential lack of skilled labor to meet industry needs could undercut the opportunity if not dealt with aggressively.

 

That message was emphasized by Mike McCormick of Bosch Rexroth, CertusBank co-CEO Walter Davis and Sage Automotive Interiors COO Brian McSharry in an Investors Executive Briefing hosted by the GADC recently. The event was designed to introduce the senior company executives to other GADC investors, and to share why their organizations decided to locate or expand in Greenville County, and challenges they expect to face in the future.

 

The ability of S.C. government and the GADC to act quickly on pro-business promises was cited as a major attraction, as were available buildings, industry success and downtown Greenville itself. Yet issues relating to availability of growth capital, concerns over future workforce needs, and the economic uncertainty still lingering nationally hint at difficult headwinds.

 

The GADC offers Investor Executive Briefings thrice annually and the sessions are open only to GADC Investor companies and their guests. For more information on becoming an Investor, contact Jerry Howard at 864.235.2008.

About Greenville Area Development Corporation
The Greenville Area Development Corporation is a non-profit organization established by Greenville County Council to promote and enhance the economic growth and development of Greenville County.  Since its founding in 2001, GADC efforts have resulted in the creation of more than 15,000 new jobs and more than $2.6 billion in capital investment in Greenville County.  To learn more, visit www.goGADC.com or call (864) 235-2008.
Brooke Ferguson, Debbie Amell Join GADC

 

Brooke Ferguson Brooke Ferguson, a member of Greenville County Community Planning and Development, will provide professional support to the GADC in the areas of site certification and selection. A Greenwood native and graduate of Wofford College, Brooke is Greenville County's Demographic and Market Research Analyst, and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

 

Debbie AmellDebbie Amell has joined as Administrative Assistant. The New York native will provide customer support to GADC prospects, allies and investors, while assisting in research, marketing, operational and other administrative capacities. She previously was with the Greenville County Land Development Division.
 
Website Offers 
Wealth of Resources
 
Need market information to help grow or expand your organization? Know of a vendor or peer interested in relocating their business to Greenville County? Check out the wealth of free information available on the GADC website, including:
  • Market conditions/ economic reports
  • Workforce data
  • Taxes, incentives and training
  • Available sites and buildings
  • Demographics and cost of living data
  • Site selection and mapping tools, and more

Bookmark the site among your favorites and visit often. And join us on Linked In, too!

 

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  • Companies growing here
  • The jobs they are creating
  • Business clusters targeted
  • Highlights from our cities
  • Community honors

Find out more about the participants, the programs, the partners and the performance of Greenville County's official economic development team - the GADC - by clicking to download your free annual report. Enjoy!