Billion-dollar lighting company unveils its headquarters in Greenville.

It all started with Thomas Edison and a lightbulb.

Current, a commercial and industrial lighting business dedicated to providing end-to-end lighting solutions, unveiled its corporate headquarters which moved from Cleveland earlier this year by celebrating its official sign raising on Wednesday in Greenville.

"This company had many choices (on where to base their headquarters), but they chose Greenville," said Greenville Mayor Knox White. "Their choice and their confidence in our community is something we really take to heart, and we appreciate it enormously."

GE completed the $350 million acquisition of Hubbell Inc.'s commercial and industrial lighting division on Feb. 1, creating Current and its fresh presence in Greenville.

"We are really excited about encouraging and inspiring business growth in this very vibrant community that we are now proud to call home," said Courtney Abraham, Current chief human resources officer.

About 30-40% of lighting in North America belongs to Current, said Current CEO Manish Bhandari.Current also is the largest sign lighting provider in North America. Ninety-eight percent of the company is based in North America while only 2% is international, providing lighting solutions in Europe.

"Every streetlight was created by General Electric, so we are the legacy holders there," he said.

One of Current's most advanced North American factories is in Hendersonville, N.C., which focuses on streetlighting, said Bhandari.

With 35 brands, each one has a different character personality associated with them, he said.

"If you can imagine it, we can build it," said Bhandari. "Whatever you want, we can make it for you."

The most rewarding part of being in this business, he added, is utilizing technology and thinking back to the first light from an oil lamp to what lighting is now.

"We light up people's lives, that's what we do," Bhandari said.

Current can also save consumers on 80% of energy costs, said Jim Benson, Current vice president of enterprise marketing and communications.

With the evolution of lighting, this can be done with long-term sustainability, Benson added.

"Being a green company is a big part of our passion here," he said.

The mayor said the city sees itself as a "city of opportunity," especially for young people entering the workforce for the first time and the growth of available jobs and opportunities for the entire community to grow.

"This beautiful, iconic headquarters once again is testimony that we are...