Greenville and state leaders: tourism's big role on economic growth.

By 2040, Greenville economic organizations predict at least 220,000 more people will be living in Greenville County that'll be the equivalent of dropping Anderson County's population into Greenville.

With that growth comes a lot of benefits but also a lot of challenges.

A panel consisting of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Carlos Phillips, Greenville Area Development Corp. President and CEO Mark Farris, S.C. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Ashely Teasdel, and VisitGreenvilleSC President and CEO Heath Dillard got together at the Greenville One Center on Wednesday to address Greenville's tourism and the intersection of economic development.

"When people come here (to Greenville), they can't help but love the place they have visited," Dillard said.

The state saw $10.27 billion in capital investments last year BMW's Spartanburg expansion and Redwood Materials Ridgeville plant were major contributors and will continue to see a shift in the automotive sector along with other manufacturing industries, Teasdel said. Federal investments have played a big role in foreign companies setting up shop in South Carolina and the Southeast, which is now known as the "battery belt," she added.

"Any way we can continue to support these industries will be really important going forward," Teasdel said.

But with new headquarters, plants and other facilities making their way to the state, site availability is limited and has also become a challenge, she added.

"We are seeing billion-dollar investments looking for thousands of people to fill their workforce," she said. "And for a state that is relatively small, there are few places you can fit a mega site. We will have to have serious conversations when it come to new investments."

The workforce is front and center, as it's not just a South Carolina issue but a national one, said Teasdel.

As the unemployment rate is low in the state, there are still a lot of open jobs, she said. "Things have shifted since the pandemic."

"Companies are considering the quality of life before making a big investment in the workforce they are tapping into," Teasdel said. "Quality of life has risen as a top priority because workers are making the decisions for their future family and want live, work, play options. People want experiences, and that's a huge factor in what makes Greenville more attractive."

The Greenville market has a lot of great amenities and factors that keep it competitive, Dillard said.

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