A recent report in the Wall Street Journal made the case that the major beneficiary of the expansion of the Panama Canal and the expected boom in imports and exports through the port in Charleston, could actually be South Carolina’s Upstate region, and its thriving manufacturing industry.
No one will be keeping an eye on projected growth in the Upstate more than the leaders of the City of Greenville.
Taking advantage of the region’s growth, and a solid track-record of civic and business partnerships, Greenville has experienced a renaissance over the past 25 years. Forbes Magazine has labeled it one of American’s 10 Best Downtowns. Its’ Main Street is alive with new hotels, up-scale restaurants, retail, and a world-class arts and entertainment venue. Downtown’s Falls Park along the Reedy River with its’ green spaces and natural waterfalls is rated one of the country’s best parks.
Stand in front of the Peace Center for the Performing Arts on Main Street and no matter in which direction you look, you see gleaming, new office buildings, restaurants, condo’s and apartments, and a lot more under construction.
Greenville Mayor Knox White has led the city’s revitalization efforts for the past 20 years with an energetic vision, a focus on planning, and an attempt to balance Greenville’s exploding downtown growth. “People in the Upstate and in Greenville, downtown has become the default place to go, it’s just were you go,” according to White.
