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Greenville’s Falls Park Conference District is taking shape. City council approved $26 million to buy six acres near Falls Park for a hotel-led conference center district with a luxury hotel, apartments, offices, and public space. The Furman Co. will lead the project with partners Auro Hotels, United Community, and Hines.
Biz
GE Aerospace is ramping up its Greenville operations with a $33 million investment. The funds will upgrade machining, grinding, and inspection systems at the site, helping produce high-pressure turbine blades for Boeing and Airbus while meeting growing military and commercial demand as part of a $1 billion nationwide push. (Greenville News)
Announced
Did Greenville manufacturers JTEKT and Lion Power make the Top 4 in South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce’s Manufacturing Madness contest? The bracket-style competition started with 120+ nominees and is narrowing down to find the “coolest thing made in SC.” Check the latest results and vote for the winner.
Number
$39.6 million. That’s how much Shamrock Technologies is investing to move its HQ from New Jersey to Gray Court. The expansion will create 57 jobs at a new facility with offices, R&D labs, a pilot plant, and production space, with partial operations expected by late 2027 and full completion by 2030. (Upstate Business Journal)
Biz
Greenville County remains competitive for economic development, but limited industrial inventory is costing opportunities. At a recent update, Greenville Area Development Corporation CEO Max Stewart said the county missed potential investments totaling $37.2 billion and 34,000 jobs over three years, highlighting the need for more industrial sites and smaller, ready-to-use buildings. (Upstate Business Journal)
Job
If you’re the person who color-codes calendars and keeps big projects moving, this one’s for you. Furman University is hiring an executive assistant to support its Vice President for Development, coordinating schedules, donor visits, and day-to-day operations for the fundraising team. Candidates should have several years of administrative experience and strong organizational and communication skills.
Announced
McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture has acquired Greenville’s MCA Architecture to strengthen its industrial practice, especially in advanced manufacturing. Founded in 1976, MCA has worked on projects across 11 states, including Dominion Energy’s Cayce campus and Boeing’s North Charleston facility. MCA’s team will join MPS, expanding its regional expertise. (Upstate Business Journal)
Ranked
Women are making their mark in construction across the Greenville-Anderson-Greer metro, which recently ranked No. 5 among the nation’s 100 largest metros for female workforce share. They now represent 14.6% of local construction employees, above the 11.7% national average, according to Construction Coverage. (Greenville Business Mag)
Number
74,038. That’s the record number of fans who attended the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament, March 4-8, driving big traffic for Greenville businesses. New Realm Brewing and Fireforge Crafted Beer added staff, extra screens, and special menus, with owners reporting 50-100% sales growth — plus plenty of citywide visibility. Psst… Senior Product Editor Danielle was in the mix all week. (WSPA)
Plan Ahead
Greenville doctors, mark your calendars. The 2026 SCMA Annual Meeting is heading to Charleston with a condensed two-day conference, CME programming, and an in-person Town Hall to debate policies shaping patient care. Celebrate the inauguration of SCMA President Jeffrey P. Cashman, DO, at the Gala Awards Dinner, and connect with colleagues from across the state.
Network
NextGEN will host its first Innovation Exchange on Wednesday, May 13 at The 405 Venue, connecting startups with corporate leaders from companies like BMW, Michelin, and GE Vernova. The event aims to match real business challenges with startup solutions through live pitches and networking.
Leadership lessons from history. Battlefield Leadership, a Greenville-based firm led by retired U.S. Army Col. Kevin Farrell, hosts immersive leadership programs at historic sites like the Battle of Gettysburg and Pearl Harbor. Executives explore lessons from the past to tackle modern challenges. Keep reading for how battlefield history is shaping today’s business leaders. (Upstate Business Journal)
Featured Deal
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Event Spotlight
Upstate SC Alliance President and CEO John Lummus at this year’s annual meeting. | Photo by Kim DeLoach Photography
In case you missed it, the 2026 Upstate SC Alliance Annual Meeting earlier this month brought together more than 700 business and community leaders around the theme “Placemaking and Prosperity.” Speakers like site selection consultant Didi Caldwell reflected on the Upstate’s evolving economy, while local stories showed how opportunity in the region can span generations.
Check out the gallery, and mark your calendar for the next big event: MX.0 Southeast on Tuesday, April 7 + Wednesday, April 8, two days of real-world insights on digital transformation in manufacturing.
Events
Agenda
Editor’s Picks
GCYP Connect | Wednesday, March 18 | 5-7 p.m. | Carolina Ale House | Free for members, $16 for non-members | Swing by GCYP Connect to meet fellow young professionals, make connections, and get involved in the Upstate community.
West End Social: Venture X Greenville | Thursday, March 19 | 5-8 p.m. | 141 Traction St. | $12 | Connect with local professionals, support businesses in the Historic West End, and meet fellow community members.
101 N. Main St. | 1,788-18,457 sqft | $36.50 sqft | Premier downtown office building with fitness center, on-site coffee, direct garage access, and walkable to shops, restaurants, and Falls Park.
610 N. Main St. | 4,500 sqft | Call for rate | Downtown office with flexible layout, road frontage, surface parking, and close to new retail and mixed-use developments.
Crescent One, 25 Goldsmith St. | 3,137-5,871 sqft | $27 sqft/yr | A mixed-use innovation district for startups and entrepreneurs, home to tenants like Flywheel and Furman University, with office, lab, and conference space, 24-hour access, and on-site amenities.
Retail, for lease
1616 Woodruff Rd. | 4,800 sqft | Call for rate | High-visibility retail suites on Woodruff Road with ample parking, strong traffic, and a dynamic mix of national retailers, dining, and service businesses.
I loved this episode of “Carolina Business Leaders.” Gil Gerretsen, a Greenville marketing whiz, talks about helping businesses find their “Hive” — aka their perfect audience — and shares tips from his books on growing in a constantly changing market. A more recent episode includes Mickey Lyles, Founder and CEO of Immeasura Growth Partners, on what most entrepreneurs get wrong about growth.
