Greenville Chamber Annual Meeting eyes explosive growth.

Sponsors clustered at candle-bedecked tables on Fluor Field. Business leaders took a glance to see if their cohort had the "no-go" red or the gregarious green wristband before closing in for the handshake or the shoulder pat. Baps and prosciutto tarts lay in individually-packaged rows for the taking.

The Greenville Chamber's first annual meeting since the coronavirus came on the heels of its 131stin 2020 and walked a line between awareness of COVID-19's blow to the Upstate business community and its future economic growth.

"Over the next 20 years, more than 220,000 people are projected to relocate to Greenville, representing a 40% population increase," Carlos Phillips, Greenville Chamber CEO and president, said at the event. "That equates to 1,000 new people per month moving to Greenville over the next 20 years. This kind of exponential growth is a challenging proposition, but it's also an incredible opportunity for each of us right here tonight."

The event program began at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 and was followed by a networking reception under the awning of the Greenville Drive stadium at 6:45 p.m.

"We need to think bigger about our growing infrastructure needs including sewer, broadband, water, roads, natural gas, transit and the other human services," Phillips said. "And we must propose short-sighted, reflexive proposals, such as the countywide growth moratorium currently on the table."

Award-winners from the night included:

High Spirits...