GADC and Greenville, SC Announce Successful 2010, Honor Economic Development Leaders

April 5, 2011 - PRLog -- $251 million invested, 2,083 jobs created; County sees 7-to-1 return on investment during successful decade of work


GREENVILLE COUNTY, SC – The Greenville Area Development Corporation, charged with promoting and enhancing quality of life in Greenville County by facilitating job growth and investment, announced that 2010 had been another strong year for job growth, capital investment, tax revenue generation and private sector support at their annual Investor Appreciation luncheon Tuesday.

GADC President & CEO Jerry Howard and Board Chairman Jo Watson Hackl also honored Nancy Whitworth, economic development director for the City of Greenville, with the Greenville Area Development Corporation’s seventh annual William D. Workman III Buffalo Hunter Award, presented since 2004 to an individual or organization that has had a major impact on the local economy.

Robert M. (Bobby) Hitt III, the recently appointed Secretary of the South Carolina Department of Commerce, served as keynote speaker for the event, saluting the historical job- and investment-producing accomplishments of the GADC and its partners in economic development, and promising a “vigorous effort at the state level to help create even more good jobs and a brighter future for South Carolina.”

Mr. Hitt was also presented with a special Buffalo Hunter award as well, symbolic of his  new role as “chief job and investment generator for all of South Carolina,” said Ms. Hackl in making the special presentation.

Ms. Whitworth joined the City of Greenville some 30 years ago following her graduation from Clemson University, where she earned an undergraduate degree in liberal arts and a master’s degree in agricultural applied economics, and has served as its economic development director since 1992.  In her professional capacity, she and her staff of six oversee, promote and support business recruitment and retention initiatives, downtown development and revitalization of commercial areas and neighborhoods.  

“Throughout her professional career, Ms. Whitworth has gone far above and beyond the call of duty in helping ensure that positive economic growth – and the hundreds of good jobs and millions of dollars in economic contribution and taxes that go with them – are situated right here in Greenville,” said Howard in making the presentation.

A native of Abbeville, Ms. Whitworth is a recognized champion of public-private partnerships for economic development, and is an active participant in Greenville County and Upstate prospect presentations and events with economic development representatives, business leaders, and state and local government representatives.  

She is credited with a leadership role in dozens of significant economic development projects impacting Greenville County, including West End Market, Fluor Field, the Peace Center, Falls Park, the recruitment of Southwest Airlines, Lab21, Proterra and more.

Past award honorees have included Morgan Harrell, former Project Manager at the South Carolina Department of Commerce in 2009; Duke Energy’s grant-making AdvanceSC  in 2008; Willson “Will” Williams of the South Carolina Department of Commerce in 2007; Alan “Daniel” Young of the Department of Commerce in 2006; Dr. Wayne Bennett of the Clemson University Foundation in 2005; and Bob Marriott of the South Carolina Department of Commerce in 2004.

The award is named for former Greenville mayor and South Carolina economic development advocate Bill Workman, and has been presented annually to an individual who is a champion of economic development, and a standard bearer for public/private collaboration in marketing the Greenville community.

In reporting to a record-setting attendance of private and public sector leaders, Ms. Hackl noted that in 2010 the GADC worked with relocating and existing companies to create 2,083 new jobs and attract new capital investment of $251.9 million.  Since inception in mid-2001, the GADC has announced in excess of 12,000 new jobs and $2.3 billion in capital investment in the county for projects they have managed.

Greenville County revenues from fee-in-lieu-of-tax (FILOT) agreements generated by GADC-assisted companies continues to grow, producing a 7:1 return on investment for public dollars invested in the organization since the GADC's inception.

In other comments, GADC Vice Chair Chris Riley noted that private sector support of the organization is at an all-time high, thanking attendees from the more than 140 investor organizations now contributing to the GADC’s success.

“Without all of our investor companies, the Greenville Area Development Corporation’s ability to produce such great returns for the people of Greenville County – in quality jobs, increasing tax revenues and a robust and vital economy – would be severely restricted,” said Riley.  “Every penny our investors provide goes to our marketing budget, and every penny you invest is working hard and producing better jobs and a brighter future for our community.”

The Greenville Area Development Corporation is a non-profit organization established by Greenville County Council to promote and enhance the economic growth and development of Greenville County.  For information, visit them at www.GoGADC.com or call (864) 235-2008.