Day two of the Inter-City Leadership Conference transitioned from the redevelopment of downtown to economic development. Greenville’s quest to create an award-winning city was not just about pride but also about creating jobs. The success of downtown is a selling tool for recruiting and keeping quality employers, whether in downtown or the region.

Once known as the ‘Textile Capital of the World’, Greenville had to reinvent itself to become a major automotive, advanced manufacturing and engineering hub. Along with the ‘cool’ factor their downtown creates, Greenville is also growing the workforce to support the industries that are the cornerstone their economic development.

“The private sector reaching out to the education community saying ‘this is what we need in our workforce’ is one of the key components in creating skilled workers to help retain and recruit new business,” said Mark Farris, President/CEO of Greenville Area Development Corporation.

From the A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School for Engineering to the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research and the newly opened Center for Manufacturing Innovation, Greenville showcased its commitment to meeting the workforce demands of tomorrow, today.

The Greenville community understands the importance of nurturing its youth (as young as 4 years old) to ensure the continued success of the automotive and engineering cluster it has built. Through corporate support and community involvement, Greenville County Schools opened the AJ Whittenberg School of Engineering. This elementary school's curriculum emphasizes early education in math and physics in order to train the engineers of tomorrow.

The Center for Manufacturing Innovation is collaboration between between Greenville Technical College and Clemson’s International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). The Center is designed to educate workers for the automotive, transportation and other high-tech sectors through the enhancement, development and implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies. Students gain practical experience working with engineers and faculty, and the center showcase advanced manufacturing careers to K-12 students through dual enrollment programs, tours, camps and open houses.

Since 1994 BMW and automotive suppliers have invested over $3 Billion and created more than 7,000 jobs in the Greenville’s region. That relationship continues to grow and evolve based on industry needs. In 2007, BMW, the state of South Carolina and Clemson University formed a partnership to establish the CU-ICAR. A premiere automotive research center in Greenville, CU-ICAR is home to the Clemson University Graduate Engineering Center. There are currently a number of existing on-site partnerships with select companies including BMW, Information Technology Research Center (ITRC), SIMPACK, Ozen Engineering Inc.,CADFEM, EnginSoft, JTEKT Group, and Proterra.

The Greenville Chamber of Commerce is also doing its part to fosters economic development. The Chamber recognizes that diversity is essential to a thriving, vibrant economy and has undertaken a diversity and inclusion initiative to strengthen the impact of a growing economy by building capacity and advocating for economic inclusion.

“It was necessary to become more intentional in our diversity and inclusion efforts,” said Greenville Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion Nika White. “We wanted to ensure it is an integral part of all aspects of our operations and strategic initiatives to allow every possible advantage for economic parity and community prosperity.”

One the most successful programs aimed at diversity and inclusion is the the Minority Business Accelerator program. One of only five in the country, the program is designed to prepare minority-owned business enterprises for growth and expansion. The Minority Business Accelerator serves as a catalyst to drive a positive community economic impact by increasing the overall capacity of locally based minority-owned business enterprises.
Greenville leaders understand the importance of a strong workforce when recruiting new business. By linking all sectors of the community with educational opportunities and the necessary resources they have grown a skilled workforce in their region and are ready to fill the needs of companies looking to call Greenville home.

Thursday’s speakers Included: Nika White, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion Greenville for the Greenville Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Burke Royster, Superintendent of Greenville Schools; Executive Team, AJ Whittenberg Elementary School; Rob Krulac, Depart for Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR); Mark Farris, President/CEO of the Greenville Area Development Corporation and Mike Panasko, Business Development Manager, City of Greenville.