Multimillion-Dollar Projects Signal Economic Momentum in Greenville, SC

Kristopher Decker

The Greenville region is riding a wave of economic growth as more businesses make multimillion-dollar investments in the area. Thanks to its strategic location, growing talent pool, strong education system and excellent quality of life, the region is growing rapidly as a destination for companies investing in advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and research and development. 

Courtesy of Lynn Harton

Betting on Greenville 

In 2025, Isuzu North America Corp., a supplier of commercial vehicles, announced it selected Greenville County to establish a new production base. The company’s $280 million investment will create more than 700 new jobs. Likewise, leading energy manufacturer GE Vernova will invest more than $160 million to expand its Greenville factory and hire more than 650 new employees. 

Maxwell Stewart, president and CEO of Greenville Area Development Corp., says companies are attracted to the region because they can transport products to more than two-thirds of the U.S. within two days. Plus, the region is part of a large automotive cluster in the Southeast, where more than 30 original equipment manufacturers in the automotive industry have plants within a one-day drive of Greenville County. 

“If you want easy access to the Eastern Seaboard and to Europe, a great quality of life with a lot of outdoor activities, and great access to excellent education, from K-12, technical education, all the way up to the university degree programs, Greenville County is the place for you,” Stewart says. 

These investments are also fueling an influx of talent, with more workers in engineering, life sciences, research and development, and technology relocating to the region. The average age of new residents moving to the area is about 34 years old, Stewart says. 

Kristopher Decker

Becoming Part of the Community 

United Community Bank (UCB) recently invested $65 million when it moved its corporate headquarters from Blairsville, Georgia, to downtown Greenville. The 118,000-square-foot facility is seven stories, sits on 4.2 acres and houses about 300 employees. 

Lynn Harton, UCB chairman and CEO, says Greenville is unique from other large Southern cities because not only are the neighbors friendly, but the business community is extremely welcoming. 

The business climate is open and collaborative and everyone, from CEOs of the area’s largest corporations to local government officials, is willing to come together to lay the groundwork for new businesses to thrive. 

“You don’t want to move your headquarters to a city and the city not even know you’re there,” Harton says. “You want to come to a place where they accept you and want you as a member of the leadership of that area. I feel like that is what Greenville has done for us.” 

Amy Randall Photography

Fostering Innovation 

Samaritan Biologics, a leading medical technology company specializing in human amniotic allograft products, is expanding its operations with a new $5 million manufacturing facility in the region. 

Jerry Chang, COO for Samaritan Biologics, says the Tennessee-based company sees the area as an attractive location to do business because of its unique ecosystem, top-tier health care system, talent pool and proximity to universities and academia. 

“There is a lot more cutting-edge research, some advanced therapies and a really innovative and entrepreneurial spirit within the community, and because of that, it fosters a lot of growth and also helps attract a lot of the top talent to this particular state,” Chang says. 

The 11,000-square-foot facility is located on Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research campus in Greenville. Over the next few years, the investment will create 85 new jobs that include a range of roles, from executive leadership to specialized technical positions. By expanding its workforce in Greenville, Samaritan aims to foster local innovation and support the broader community’s economic growth.