2024 Rewind: Business and development

Major economic development announcements for projects involving the automotive and transportation sectors in 2024 demonstrated the Upstate continues to be a manufacturing powerhouse.

Nearly $1 billion in new manufacturing projects

The year started off in February with EnerSys, a global manufacturer of energy-storage systems, announcing an investment of $500 million that will create 500 new jobs with a lithium-ion battery production facility in Greenville County.

The new 500,000-square-foot facility will be located on 140 acres in the Augusta Grove Business Park off Bracken Road in the southern part of the county.

According to the company, the new facility will be its second in South Carolina and will focus on producing lithium-ion cells for commercial, industrial and defense applications.

Another $400 million set of investment announcements came in December with a pair of expansions by Magna International to its operations in Piedmont totaling $194 million and expected to create about 200 new jobs.

Another $216 million announcement involved an as-yet-unnamed company for a new motor vehicle production facility, also in Piedmont, that is expected to create more than 700 new jobs.

Read more business news on UpstateBusinessJournal.com

Phase 2 of County Square redevelopment gets underway

The second phase of the $1 billion County Square project got underway early this year with demolition and infrastructure work.

Demolition of the old Greenville County administrative building was followed by site work, which involved reconfiguring University Ridge and infrastructure improvements.

Once complete, the project will involve about a dozen new mixed-use buildings incorporating residential, office, hotel, food and beverage, and other retail uses.

Clemson college of veterinary medicine breaks ground

Rendering provided by Clemson University

The state’s first college of veterinary medicine moved firmly from the drawing board to reality with the November groundbreaking of the Clemson University Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine. Clemson’s board of trustees approved plans for the college in 2023 and hired the college’s first dean, Steven Marks.

The curriculum for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree program was approved this year, and the college continues to hire faculty and seek accreditation for the program through the American Veterinary Medical Association. The inaugural class of 80 students is expected to enroll in 2026.

Liquor liability insurance squeezes food and beverage industry

Skyrocketing costs for liquor liability insurance continued to put stress on the state’s $22 billion food and beverage industry this year and reform hopes were dashed when the General Assembly adjourned without taking action on the issue.

The issue has yet to capture widespread public concern and was overshadowed by other issues leading up to November’s general election. Industry leaders are organizing to make the matter a priority in the coming legislative session.

BMW, Michelin celebrate major milestones

Photo by Jay King

Two of the state’s most significant corporate citizens celebrated major milestones. BMW Manufacturing celebrated its 30th anniversary in the Palmetto State in June, and Michelin North America celebrated its 50th anniversary in September.

Over several decades the two companies have had a profound impact on the state’s economy and helped supercharge South Carolina’s drive to become a manufacturing powerhouse.