|
Bringing in the green: The Upstate is a big draw for businesses both small and large |
|
|
|
Monday, 23 June 2008 |
|
Page 2 of 3
International flair
For the past few decades, the Upstate has been the recipient of more foreign investment per capita than any other region in the United States, with more than 237 international companies locating operations or headquarters here.
Landmesser, who has been helping facilitate company relocations since GADC was established in July 2001, asks businesses contemplating a move to the area, “Why should you not locate here?”
“There are no fatal flaws,” Landmesser says. “No unions, no traffic, (no) congestion, it’s not too expensive, there is a pro-business environment and it is a beautiful location.”
Landmesser asserts that there has been increased interest in the Upstate from foreign investors. “Part of it is BMW’s expansion, and part of it is because of the weak dollar,” he explains, adding that companies from Asia, Europe, the U.K. and Canada have been all been contemplating moves.
The international flavor carries over to other types of businesses. The Paris Café and Restaurant in downtown Greenville is owned by Joseph Leon, originally from Montreal, and his Parisian wife, Pascale. The couple already owned and operated a successful café and bakery on Hilton Head and wanted to tap the international market in Greenville.
Leon says when he was researching the Upstate, he felt certain that its number of foreign companies and diverse population would be open to French cuisine. After three years and several tweaks, Paris Café and Restaurant has found a recipe for success. Leon praises the city for good parking and no traffic. He also points out that the processes for business licensing are very streamlined.
People
Greenville’s city manager, Jim Bourey, is a Boston native with 31 years of experience in all aspects of local government in places such as Phoenix and Minneapolis/St. Paul. He notes, “The people here are genuinely friendly and welcoming. Here, as opposed to a big city, you can be more engaged in the issues personally and have the opportunity to really make a difference.”
Not only are the folk friendly, they are also educated. John Warner is president of Swamp Fox, an online community he built to encourage business people to network. Warner emphasizes the paradigm shift in the perception of the work force in the Upstate from textile manufacturing to automotive and industrial engineering.
“We need to stop saying our labor is cheap and start understanding that it is smart,” he says.
One of the major selling points of the Upstate is its work force. Beginning with elementary education and continuing on through universities such as Furman, Clemson, Wofford as well as Greenville Technical College, there is no shortage of schools at which one can get a quality education and enjoy the cultural benefits of having such institutions in close proximity.
Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research is the poster child for bringing education together with economic development. Executive Director Bob Geolas is fond of saying, “Innovation is a body contact sport,” meaning that new ideas develop when people are given the space to connect. CU-ICAR is drawing together a diverse pool of professors and students from across the country and the world.
But Bourey cautions, “We need to be even more welcoming if we are going to be world class. We need to continue to embrace diversity.”
As such, there are a variety of diversity initiatives in the works. The city of Greenville is striving to have at least 10% of contracted work come from minority businesses. Michelin and BMW have similar goals.
German-born Carmen Geschke, president of ProTec Enterprises LLC, a Tier 2 automotive supplier, moved to the Upstate from Michigan four years ago. Geschke notes there have been multiple resources available to help her company grow. She in turn, is joining with other small, minority- and woman-owned suppliers to form an industrial alliance.
The Richard W. Riley Institute of Government, Politics and Public Leadership at Furman University launched a unique program that encouraged community leaders to consider the challenges and opportunities presented by the many facets of diversity in the state, including differences in cultural background, language, gender and physical ability. The YWCA of Greenville and its yW Empowerment Center program has a number of seminars, conferences and resources specifically designed to help women in business.
|
|
|
