city of greenville sc
Department of Economic Development
Business Environment
Home to internationally recognized industries, Greenville is the economic center
of the Upstate. Greenville’s ability to attract both small local companies and major
international corporations is the result of an uncommon cooperation between city
government and the private sector. Recognized as a leader in developing public/private
partnerships, Greenville’s entrepreneurial spirit and strong workforce creates an
incredible magnet for business. In addition, Greenville is located in the heart
of a right-to-work state and a foreign trade zone.
With more than 250 international firms, the Upstate boasts the highest international
investment per capita in the nation. Greenville is home to such national and
international corporations
as Fluor and Hubbell Lighting - with BMW and Michelin North America located nearby.
Having annexed more than 1,750 acres (2.73 square miles)
of prime development
property since 2001, Greenville is at the cutting edge of new economic development
opportunities. These annexations have included the
Millennium Campus, a private R&D development and home to the corporate
headquarters of Hubbell Lighting as well as the Clemson University
International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR), - a public-private joint
venture - which is striving to be the premiere automotive, motion research and education facility
in the world. The 250-acre campus includes the BMW Information Technology Research Center, the
Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Graduate Engineering Center, and JTEKT, all of which are housed in LEED-certified
buildings, as well as the site for Proterra's new manufacturing facility and the Center for Emerging Technologies (CET).
Greenville also serves as a major shopping and dining destination for the Upstate
region and beyond. In 2010, retail sales totaled
more than $1.2 billion, with restaurant sales at over $274 million.
Regional shopping centers such as Haywood Mall,
Shops at Greenridge and The Point complement unique
shopping districts found throughout the city.
Location
Greenville is located in the northwestern corner of South Carolina along I-85,
one
of the busiest interstates in the nation. The area is centrally situated between two of the largest cities in the Southeast,
Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia, and is one of the most rapidly growing areas of the country
and the fastest in the state.
Quality of Life
Located in the beautiful setting of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville
offers a relaxed lifestyle, with an award winning downtown, mild climate, great
schools, access to spectacular natural amenities and a thriving arts and cultural
community. Greenville is a metropolitan city that understands the meaning of community.
More information for newcomers
Transportation
Strategically situated along the mega-growth I-85 corridor between Atlanta,
GA, and Charlotte, NC, Greenville is easily accessible via air, road and rail.
Greenville is located 100 miles from the capitol city of Columbia
and only 200 miles from the Port City of Charleston. More Transportation Information
Greenlink is the Greenville area public transportation service. Greenlink offers 12 fixed routes to destinations all across Greenville County. All Greenlink buses are wheelchair accessible, and each Greenlink bus is equipped with a bike rack to make commuting easier for bike riders. The Greenlink system also features GAP, a complimentary ADA paratransit service provided for individuals who, because of their disability, are unable to use Greenlink's fixed route bus service. More information.