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Upstate Alliance Annual Meeting Showcases Regions’s 2008 Economic Development Successes

Submitted by: Richard Blackwell on Mar 12, 2009 at 6:50 pm Tagged with: Demographics, Distribution, Economic Development, Industrial Buildings, Industrial Parks, Industrial Sites, Information Resource, Logistics, Manufacturing, Marketing, Real Estate, Regionalism, Research, Upstate SC, Utilities Source: Upstate SC Alliance

While doom and gloom often dominates national headlines, the Upstate of South Carolina continues to defy the odds. The Upstate SC Alliance held its annual meeting this afternoon, reporting to members and other attendees that the 10 counties of the Upstate had a banner year for economic development in 2008.

The numbers themselves are remarkable: over $2.019 billion in announced capital investment occurred across the ten county region in 2008, nearly half of the total capital investment in South Carolina as a whole. In 2008, 74 companies either relocated to, or expanded in, the 10 counties of the Upstate, one-third of those being international firms. Additionally, 40 businesses visited the Upstate in 2008 investigating the region for relocation opportunities and/or expansion prospects, a strong testament to global interest in what the area has to offer. In fact, each of these statistics represents a significant growth from previous years.

Just as notably given the state of the national economy, more than 6,100 jobs were created in the Upstate in 2008. In this way, the Upstate has a lot to celebrate.

“We are quite proud of the economic growth the Upstate saw in 2008,” said Upstate SC Alliance President and CEO Hal Johnson. “The challenges in this economy have provided opportunities for the Upstate to position itself as the smart choice for investors seeking an innovative business environment, and it’s clear that our hard work is paying off. The successes experiencd in 2008 are due to the efforts of the economic development teamwork between the Upstate SC Alliance, the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the Chambers of Commerce in the Upstate counites and the Upstate local economic developers. As a team we are determined to keep the economic future of the Upstate bright."

Another Upstate achievement in 2008 was the successful launch of the I Was Blown Away (IWBA) campaign, the first regional promotion to showcase the 10 Upstate South Carolina counties to the world. IWBA focused on correcting stereotypes that companies and individuals may have about the Upstate market by highlighting the area’s quality of life, affordable real estate values, well-trained work force and cosmopolitan atmosphere.

The campaign won five awards from the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) last year, including “Best in Class” and “Best in Show” recognition. With testimonials on the IWBA website, television commercials airing on the Golf channel, regional print and outdoor advertisements, the campaign’s single, cohesive message undoubtedly paid off.

Attendees of the Alliance’s annual meeting also took time to honor Greenville native Irv Welling with the second-ever Spirit of the Upstate award. A longtime Upstate SC Alliance board member, Welling was acknowledged for his dedication to the economic growth and prosperity of the Upstate SC community.

“Irv embodies all that the Upstate is, and we all owe him deep gratitude for his regional vision,” said Upstate SC Alliance Chairman John Miller. “Irv was a leader in the creation of our organization and was instrumental in getting the I Was Blown Away campaign off the ground. It is fitting that the Upstate SC Alliance recognizes him with this prestigious award for his spirit towards regionalism.”