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The Greenville Area Development Corporation, charged with promoting and enhancing quality of life in Greenville County by facilitating job growth and investment, announced another strong year for job growth, capital investment, tax revenue generation and private sector support at their recent annual Investor Appreciation luncheon.
GADC President & CEO Jerry Howard and Board Chairman Jay Rogers also honored two county officials and a former state economic development official for playing significant roles in support of “quality economic development” during the past twelve months. Receiving special citations from the GADC for their “invaluable assistance in making prospect presentations, and assisting with recruiting new companies and expansion of existing organizations” were Keith Drummond and Herb Yingling, Greenville County Codes Enforcement executives. Willson “Will” Williams, Director of Business Development for Warren & Associates Design-Build LLC and former Project Manager of Global Business Development at the South Carolina Department of Commerce, was presented with the fourth annual W.D. Workman III Buffalo Hunter Award for his leadership role in assisting with the Cytec Industries, Inc. expansion in Greenville, a $150 million project that is expected to add more than 225 jobs at its Greenville facilities. With nearly 20 years of business leadership experience in Carolinas commerce and industry, Williams holds the South Carolina Certified Economic Developer (SCCED) accreditation. His dedication and commitment to building a strong economic future for South Carolina—through effective relationship building—led to more than $950 million of new capital investment in the state over a three-year time period, including the Cytec initiative in Greenville County. The award is named for former Greenville mayor and South Carolina economic development advocate Bill Workman, and has been presented annually since 2004 to an individual who is a champion of economic development, and a standard bearer for public/private collaboration in marketing the Greenville community. “These three individuals have 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 County,” said Howard in making the presentations. In reporting to a record-setting attendance of private and public sector leaders, Howard noted that, despite the soft economy, new jobs announced from the GADC successfully assisting companies to locate new facilities or expand existing facilities in Greenville County reached 681 in 2007 while capital investment from expansions and relocations announced totaled $183.25 million, and included 11 announcements during the calendar year. Greenville County tax revenues generated by GADC-assisted companies soared 18% to a record level of $5,178,635 – a 9:1 return on investment for tax dollars invested in the organization during the year, which was created by Greenville County Council in mid-2001. Additionally, Howard noted that private sector support of the organization reached an all-time high, thanking attendees for the record 102 investor organizations now contributing to the GADC’s success. “Without you and all of our investor companies, our 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 Howard. “Every penny our investors provide goes into marketing Greenville County to the world, and every penny you invest is working hard and producing better jobs and a brighter future for our community.” (Images provided by GADC.)
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