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💼 Upstate business 101

The top industries and employers in the Upstate

City of Greenville | Image from @vanzeppelinaerial

More than 1.1 million people (and thousands of businesses) contribute to the Upstate’s economy. But have you ever wondered about Greenville’s heaviest hitters?

Consider this Greenville Business 101 — your guide our region’s six target industries and four major employers.

The key industries

There are six key industries that represent Greenville’s economy, based on data from the Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC).

Advanced Materials

Greenville’s foundation in advanced manufacturing means there’s a focus on developing advanced materials and composites (read: polymers, metal alloys, and nano-materials). According to GADC, Greenville has “the workforce, infrastructure, research initiatives, and collaborative environment” to develop materials important for other industries.

Automotive

With 120+ automotive organizations and 30,000+ employees, the automotive industry is the area’s predominant cluster with BMW and its suppliers across the Upstate.

Aviation and Aerospace

From Lockheed Martin choosing Greenville for final assembly of the F-16 Block 70 to Boeing’s final assembly facility for the 787 in Charleston (hey, CHStoday), SC is a leader in supporting the global aviation industry.

Biosciences

The pharmaceutical and medical device companies that call the Upstate home (think: Bausch & Lomb, Nutra Manufacturing, and International Vitamin Corporation), plus partnerships with Clemson University establish the Upstate as a foundation for bioscience organizations.

Data Centers

According to GADC, Greenville offers a number of advantages for data center operators, from an ideal location with a low disaster risk to a highly-educated workforce.

Headquarters and Office

Greenville is home to 40+ Fortune 500 companies and 20+ headquartered operations, plus 240+ international companies. The city’s pro-business environment, quality workforce, and market accessibility make it marketable to companies across the world.

This information is derived from the most recent data published by the Greenville Area Development Corporation + BMW.

Click below to see the top employers in the region.

The Upstate's top employers

Asked

Test your business knowledge: Which company employs the most people globally?

A. Amazon
B. McDonald’s
C. Walmart
D. Starbucks

Take your guess

Events

Thursday, April 13

#BleedPurple Blood Drive | Thursday, Apr. 13 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Trone Student Center, 3300 Poinsett Hwy., Greenville | Free | Donate blood with The Blood Connection for a $20 eGift card, a Lucky Donor Scratch Off, and $10 donation per donor to the Paladin Scholarship Fund.
Simpsonville Art Center Second Thursdays Open Art Studio | Thursday, Apr. 13 | 5-7:30 p.m. | Simpsonville Arts Center, 110 Academy St., Simpsonville | Free | Work on an art project of your choice in the Make and Believe Artists Studio, scope out the art work on display, and visit with the other studio artists.
Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive | Thursday, Apr. 13 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | NOMA Square, 220 N. Main St., Greenville | Free entry | The Travis Smith Project brings his country soul sound to NOMA Square.

Friday, April 14

Video Game Night | Friday, Apr. 14 | 7:05 p.m. | Fluor Field, 945 S. Main St., Greenville | $8-$20 | Enjoy classic arcade games and video games throughout the park, fan competitions during inning breaks centered around nostalgic video games, and the traditional post-game fireworks show.
White Claw Concerts: Lucius | Friday, Apr. 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Peace Pavilion at the Peace Center, 237 S. Main St., Greenville | $35-$129 | This female duo will bring their recent album’s fusion of funk and disco with “‘80s new wave” and “millennial club catharsis” to GVL.

Saturday, April 15

SC Native Plant Society Upstate Spring Plant Sale | Saturday, Apr. 15 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Conestee Park, 840 Mauldin Rd., Greenville | Free entry | BYO wagon to this in-person plant sale to shop for a variety of native shrubs, trees, perennial wildflowers, ferns, vines, grasses, water plants, and other plants.
Dayglow in Concert at Furman University | Saturday, Apr. 15 | 8-11 p.m. | Furman University Amphitheater, 3300 Poinsett Hwy., Greenville | $30-$40 | Catch musician Dayglow at Furman University’s annual spring concert and jam to hits like “Can I Call You Tonight” and “Close To You.”

Sunday, April 16

Bark in the Park | Sunday, Apr. 16 | 3:05 p.m. | Fluor Field, 945 S. Main St., Greenville | $8-$20 | You and your pup can enjoy the game, prizes, and treats and merch from vendors on site — kids and dogs can run the bases after the game.
The Great Greenville Baking Class | Sunday, Apr. 16 | 2-4 p.m. | M. Judson Booksellers, 130 S. Main St., Ste. 200, Greenville | $75-$115 | In this intimate class, you’ll prepare rye foccacia bread from start to almost finish from a recipe out of cookbook author Roxana Jullapat’s “Mother Grains.”

Plan your weekend

Click here to have your event featured.

Eat

Food

Meet the chef: Mike Davis of Columbia, SC’s Terra

Presented by a GVLtoday Partner

Chef Mike Davis in apron and uniform standing in restaurant

Chef Mike Davis opened Terra back in 2006, and the restaurant has received numerous awards and accolades in the years since. | Photo courtesy of Sean Rayford

Have you eaten your way through SC’s state capital recently? With a number of food districts in and around the city, it’s easy to plan an itinerary around Columbia’s culinary offerings. The hard part is narrowing down your options.

One spot we love to stop at when we’re in the area: Terra, located in West Columbia just over the picturesque Gervais Street Bridge. We recently got to pick the brain of its owner and executive chef, Mike Davis — here’s what he had to say:

Q: How long have you been a chef at Terra? What do you enjoy most about working there?

A: We opened Terra 16 years ago. The thing that I most enjoy about owning a restaurant is my interaction with our guests. I tell my cooks all the time that outside of being a rock star, very few professions have the ability to instantly see how your work affects others. When people are at a table with their friends and loved ones, and they are stoked from the experience of eating at my restaurant, there is nothing better. It never gets old to me, and allows me to forget the long hours and hard work.

Q: What is your cooking style?

A: Seasonal is how I best describe it. I always try to work with produce that is in season together. It allows us to work with nature, and highlight what comes from the earth at that time of year.

Q: What are your favorite items on the menu?

A: Honestly, it’s always what is newest on the menu at that moment. Right now that would be our “brussel-nomoyaki,” a take on the traditional Japanese cabbage pancake using crispy Brussels instead of cabbage — and a batter. Also, it is soft shell crab season, which is the ultimate in seasonality. We only have them for a few weeks each spring!

Q: Describe the Columbia restaurant scene in a few words.

A: I think it is evolving. I love to see new places opening, serving different cuisines, and the city embracing all of it.

Wondering what restaurants to add to your list in addition to Terra? Learn more about Cola’s culinary scene.*

Bon appetit, GVL

News Notes

Development

The City of Greenville and United Housing Connections celebrated the opening of two new affordable housing units yesterday with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The units at 245 Cowan Ct. will serve families at 60% Average Median Income ($32,206-$60,731 per year, depending on household size). (WSPA)

Outdoors

Wetlands at Unity Park — eight acres of urban wetlands along the park’s northern perimeter — is set to open next month. The new preserve features ADA-accessible boardwalks and an outdoor classroom. Learn more about the wetlands, which “marks the original path of the Reedy River before it was diverted in 1933.” (WSPA)

Edu

Join The Greenville Drive and Greenville County Schools, Public Education Partners, and Herff Jones at Fluor Field for TeachGCS Night tonight— a celebration of Greenville’s teachers. GCS Teachers receive free admission, a t-shirt, and a $5 ballpark voucher, plus first-year teachers are invited to a reception. Reserve your spot.

Cause

Loaves and Fishes’ Taste of the Upstate 2023: Food Rescue Challenge is this Sunday, April 16 at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Local chefs from 13 restaurants will compete to make the tastiest dishes using commonly rescued food items as ingredients — all to be judged by Food Network’s “Chopped” champion, Nikko Cagalanan. Get tickets.
Bon Secours Wellness Arena and the Greenville Police Department are teaming up with Project Host to fill police cruisers with food items for the Project Host Soup Kitchen. Bring anything from this list of requested items to the GSP International Airport Box Office at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Tuesday, April 18 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Denver Downs Farm will host its inaugural Fun for a Cause Oyster Roast on Saturday, April 22 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. The event — featuring all-you-can-eat oysters, chili, live music by Pocket Change, and farm fun — will benefit AIM’s Hunger Ministries Program.

Drink

Cheers to baseball season — Dollar Drink Night at Fluor Field is back. Starting tonight, every Thursday home game will feature special drink prices all night long from the 500 Club, including $1 fountain Pepsi products, $2 Miller Lite, and $4 Sweetwater 420’s.

Show

House of Cheer: The Level Up Tour 2023 will be making a stop at the Peace Center on Tuesday, June 20. See professional cheerleaders showcase their talents at this pop concert and athletic spectacle. Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, April 14 at 10 a.m.

Festival

Na Zdrowie. Fireforge Crafted Beer is hosting its inaugural Polish Fest on Saturday, May 20 from 12-10 p.m. Feast on pierogi (think: Polish dumplings) and Polish-style beer, play biergarten games, and enjoy live polka music from the Foothills Oompah Band from 1-4 p.m. and Wasted Wine from 5-7 p.m.

Plan Ahead

The inaugural Blue Ridge Council Fishing Tournament takes place at Broyles Recreation Area on Lake Hartwell Saturday, May 6. The entry fee is $150 per two-person team and the tournament structure will be the standard five-fish limit, with first place’s prize set at $2,000. Register your boat.

Shop

The Anderson Makers Market at 2000 E. River St., Anderson — True Southern Events and Rocky River Plantation’s largest bi-annual vendor event — takes place Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Shop 100+ local businesses and food vendors, plus enjoy tours of the historic estate and live music. Admission is free.
Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift (minus the hours of searching)? Treat mom to a mountain getaway with The Omni Grove Park Inn’s “Mother’s Day Made Easy” special. See what’s in the package. Hint: It just might include a $50 spa credit, breakfast, sparkling wine + more.*

Travel

What trip would be worth leaving Greenville? For City Editor Danielle, it’s Tokyo — to immerse herself in Japanese culture (and eat lots of sushi). Sign up for Going to get notified when flight prices drop, like a $525 flight to Tokyo (a real deal booked by a member). Join for free.

Correction

Yesterday, we told you about the return of White Claw Concerts at the Peace Pavilion. Lucius (not Lucious) will be hitting the stage tomorrow at 7:30 p.m., with lawn tickets starting at $35 (not $30). Pro tip: Use promo code LUCIUS to enjoy a special buy one, get one free offer on lawn tickets.

Festival

Mark your calendars for euphoria

Can we go to all 57? | GIF by GVLtoday via euphoria

Do you remember that euphoria is in mid-September?

Consider this your sign to mark your calendars — euphoria has released its schedule for the festival this fall, taking place Thursday, September 14-Sunday, September 17.

This year’s schedule features its biggest number of events to date — 57. From three Michelin-starred dinners to intimate culinary classrooms, there will be something for everyone.

Among the local restaurant hosts include some new names, like the Jones Oyster Co., Sassafras Flower Farm, Patterson Kitchen + Bar, and The People’s Tap.

Read more about what to expect at this year’s festival — from what’s new to the seven grant recipients — in the Greenville Journal and click below to see the full schedule. Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 20 at 10 a.m.

eat. sip. listen.

The Wrap

Woman and her dog on a bridge in Conestee Nature Preserve in Greenville, SC

Today’s edition by:
Kyle

From the editor

Three years ago today, my husband and I adopted our good boy, Pinto. While I can’t compete with Teddy Tuesday, Pinto’s Gotcha Day plans include a stop by The Barkery Bistro for a treat and toy and a swim in the creek. Looking to add a sweet furr-iend to your family? See animals available for adoption through these animal rescues.

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