Chicago Sun-Times features Greenville, SC

Chicago Sun-Times' lifestyle writer, Dave Hoekstra, recently visited Greenville, South Carolina and now has a lot to share about his experience...

Loosen your belts: Greenville's growing

Like a family recipe in an old cupboard, Greenville, S.C., is a culinary secret. At first it seems surprising that foodies from around the world would travel to Greenville (pop. 76,000), a two-hour drive from Atlanta. But Greenville is a flourishing, individualistic place. You need to be that way when there are 32 Greenvilles in the United States...Click here to continue reading.

Shoeless Joe's sweet spot

The American south is pretty good at myth making. Like snowballs down a mountain, Elvis Presley, Brett Favre and Hank Williams all rolled out of these parts. And now the growing community of Greenville (pop. 76,000) has turned to Shoeless Joe Jackson as a tourist attraction...Click here to continue reading.

Photo of the Week

River Place at twilight

Photo of the week from 8/10 - 8/17

Greenville in the News

Greenville generates national attention...

Updated 8/10/2009

1. Chicago Sun-Times: Loosen your belt: Greenville's growing. Article here.

2. Chicago Sun-Times: Shoeless Joe's sweet spot. Article here.

3. Greenville News: Womble Carlyle attorneys have ranked amongst the best in the nation. Article here.

4. The Examiner: Downtown Greenville's alive with main street jazz. Article here.

5. GSA Business: Greenville schools, nonprofit organizations, and local and state agencies partnered to form a new work force development initiative. Article here.

6. Fox Business: Michelin and Harley-Davidson team up. Article here.

7. Princeton Review: Furman, Clemson, and Wofford make Princeton Review's top 20. Article here.

8. AARP: Greenville is named the 2nd best place in the nation to live the simple life. Article here.

9. The Post and Courier: The National Science Foundation awarded a $20 million grant Thursday to 10 South Carolina colleges and universities for research that could lead to producing human organs. Article here.

10. StateUniversity.com: Furman University is ranked as the #1 university in the state of South Carolina. Article here.

11. U.S. News: Greenville Memorial Hospital ranks among the nation's top 50 hospitals in five specialties. Article here.

12. PR Newswire: Greenville-based Michelin North America today announced a new development program to provide loans to new and existing disadvantaged small- and medium-sized businesses located in the Upstate of South Carolina. Article here.

13. WSBtv: "Great Summer Getaway: Greenville, SC." Article here.

14. The Washington Times: Love for Glover is still Building. Article here.

15. The Greenville News: Hunter Virtual Spec Building to Enable Turnkey Economic Development. Article here.

16. The Greenville News: "the Upstate has the greatest potential for tourism growth in the state." Article here.

17. Greenville-native, Lucas Glover, wins U.S. Open.

• USA Today. Article here.
• The Washington Post. Article here.
• The Greenville News. Article here.

18. Redsox.com: The Greenville Drive clinched the South Atlantic League first-half crown at Fluor Field. Article here.

Building Downtown from an Intern's Point of View

Updated 8/12/2009

You may be asking yourself, where is Greenville and what does it have to offer? It's weird to think that I was asking myself that same question just a few years ago. I'm originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and knew nothing about Greenville, SC. It wasn't until my college search led me to a small liberal arts school called Furman University that I began to learn what Greenville, SC had to offer. Immediately upon visiting Greenville, I fell in love with it. The great weather, the charming downtown, the beautiful parks, and the spectacular mountain views definitely won me over. After just visiting once, I was convinced that this was where I wanted to live and go to school.

Hi, my name is Sara Steinbeck. I'm a rising senior, Business and Spanish major at Furman University and am the summer intern for Thrive Downtown. This blog is here for you to learn more about what Greenville has to offer and show you why everyone that lives here loves it so much. Recently, I've been adding facts and information that I thought visitors or even residents would find interesting and useful. I'll continue to be updating you on fun events or news happening in Greenville. I'll also be regularly updating you on everything that is going on with Thrive and the Chamber of Commerce as well. Enjoy!

August 12th - A Reedy River Nighttime Concert is tonight from 7-9 PM at the Peace Center Amphitheater. Admission is free.

The Greenville Drive will be home from 8/13-8/16. They will be taking on the Greensboro Grasshoppers at 7 PM each night.

As always, Downtown Alive and Larkin's Rhythm on the River will be going on tomorrow night as well.

August 10th - Dave Hoekstra's articles on Greenville have just been published! Dave is a lifestyle writer for the Chicago Sun-Times and recently visited us here in Greenville a few weeks ago. Check out the post above for links to the full articles :)

August 6th - Everyone should go check out the Greenville Drive tonight at Fluor Field. They will be taking on the Lexington Legends at 7 PM. Downtown Alive! and Larkin's Rhythm on the River are both tonight as well.

Centre Stage's performance of "Country Queens: Nashville's Leading Ladies" will be playing now until the end of August. Centre Stage pays homage to the legendary ‘queens’ of country music like Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, Reba McIntyre, Barbara Mandrell and others. Thursdays through Saturdays the show starts at 8 PM, and Sundays it begins at 3 PM. For more information check out http://www.centrestage.org/.

August 4th - Demi Lovato and David Archuleta tonight! Also, the Drive is home tonight at 7 PM.

Check out the Reedy River Nighttime Concert tomorrow night from 7-9 PM at the Peace Center Amphitheater. Admission is free.

August 3rd - Demi Lovato and David Archuleta come to the Bi-Lo Center tomorrow night at 7 PM. Visit http://www.bilocenter.com/ for ticket information.

The Greenville Drive are home against the Lexington Legends August 4th-7th beginning at 7 PM each night.

July 31st - Today is the last day to order advanced, discounted tickets to Euphoria, so if you're interested, you need to do so. Just click on this website link.

Jazz on Main is tonight down by the Hyatt from 5:30-9:30 PM. Also, everyone should definitely check out the Grand Opening of the Children's Museum of the Upstate today! It's located downtown at 300 College Street.

Richard III will be playing through the weekend at Falls Park, so if you haven't seen it yet, go check it out any night this weekend beginning at 7 PM.

A Night of Stars & Dreams is a "not to be missed event." Young people involved in The Repertory Theatre for Youth and the Phillis Wheatley Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® Program are exploring their dreams and goals and busily preparing to share them with the world through musical theatre. They will be doing so this Saturday at the Peace Center at 7:30 PM. Tickets range in prices. If you are interested, visit http://www.peacecenter.org/ for more information.

Go check out Soby’s Summer Block Party, running every Friday and Saturday through October. The party, which runs from 6 p.m. to midnight at the corner of Main and Broad streets, features local musicians and DJs each week, as well as food, wine and beer.

July 30th - To get advanced, discounted tickets to Euphoria, Greenville's annual wine, food, and music festival downtown, you must purchase them by tomorrow. Otherwise, ticket prices will go up. The festival is September 18-20th. For details visit the website here.

Tonight, check out A Midsummer Night's Steam, a fundraiser put on by Centre Stage. The party will take place at Saffron's Sidewalk Cafe at 6 PM and will include live music, dancing, an open bar, hors d'oeuvres, and auctions (both live and silent). Ticket price is $35 and there will be free valet parking.

Also going on tonight,

• Downtown Alive! - Piazza Bergamo from 5:30-8:30 PM
• Rhythm on the River - Larkin's from 7-10 PM
• Music by the Lake - Furman University at 7:30 PM
• Richard III - Falls Park at 7 PM

Tomorrow,

• Jazz on Main - Hyatt 5:30-9:30 PM
• Richard III - Falls Park at 7 PM
• Grand Opening of the Children's Museum of the Upstate. Admission is $12 per person (there are also group rates available).
• Last day to order advanced, discounted tickets to Euphoria

July 28th - Check out the Drive tomorrow: playing the Lakewood BlueClaws at 7 PM.

The Greenville Symphony Orchestra announces its schedule for the 2009 Summer Lollipops concerts for children. Lollipops concerts are performances by small ensembles of GSO musicians that introduce children to music through interactive performances. Each Lollipops performance is designed especially for young children and their families, and lasts approximately 40 minutes. Admission is free and open to the public. Reservations are not necessary. As part of this program, Kenneth Lambert, a violinist, will be playing at the Hughes Main Library tomorrow at 10:30 AM.

High Cotton Maverick Bar & Grill in downtown Greenville announces a special wine dinner featuring the wines of Sokol Blosser Winery in Oregon, pioneers of sustainable viticulture & harvesting. The event is on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 & begins at 6:30 p.m. with an hors d'oeuvres reception, followed by a four-course seated dinner with wine pairings.

July 24th - This weekend be sure to check out a Drive game (schedule listed below). As always, on Friday evenings head downtown for Jazz on Main by the Hyatt (5:30-9:30 PM). Start your Saturday off right by visiting the Main Street Market from 8 AM until noon. If you haven't checked out Richard III yet, be sure to do so this weekend. Shows are running Friday through Sunday at Falls Park beginning at 7 PM. If you're still feeling like some more drama, the Warehouse Theater will be showing Beyond Therapy on Friday at 8 PM and Barefoot in the Park on Saturday at 8 PM.

Go support our hometown hero, Lucas Glover. There will be a celebration held this Sunday at Fluor Field to recognize his win in the 2009 US Open and to celebrate his dedication, talent, and professional achievements in the sport of golf. The party will be from 4-5 PM, but gates will open at 2:30 PM. We will celebrate his Greenville roots and also honor other local golf greats and their contributions to the sport. Admission is free for the event, but while you are there, you might as well stay for the Drive game that night which will begin at 7 PM.

July 23rd - If you are looking for a night of music, Thursday is certainly the best day for it. Downtown Alive is tonight in Piazza Bergamo from 5:30-8 PM. Also, Rhythm on the River is going on down at Larkin's beginning at 7 PM. And Furman University's Music by the Lake begins at 7:30 PM.

Richard III will be showing at Falls Park at 7 PM.

The Greenville Drive will be home for the next week or so:

• 7/23/2009 @ 7 PM Drive vs. Delmarva Shoebirds
• 7/24/2009 @ 7 PM Drive vs. Delmarva Shoebirds
• 7/25/2009 @ 7 PM Drive vs. Delmarva Shoebirds
• 7/26/2009 @ 7 PM Drive vs. Lakewood BlueClaws
• 7/27/2009 @ 7 PM Drive vs. Lakewood BlueClaws
• 7/28/2009 @ 11 AM Drive vs. Lakewood BlueClaws
• 7/29/2009 @ 7 PM Drive vs. Lakewood BlueClaws
  

On a side note, Furman University is ranked as the #1 college in the state of South Carolina and #33 in the nation (stateuniversity.com).

July 21st - I'm back to work this week. We have a special guest coming into town tomorrow, a writer from the Chicago Sun-Times, so we have been busy getting ready for his arrival. We are all very excited for his arrival! We have also been busy planning our big media launch that will occur early September...more on that later.

July 15th - I will be gone Thursday and Friday of this week so I will fill you in on what is going on in Greenville the rest of this week. First, Richard III will be showing Thursday through Sunday at Falls Park beginning at 7 PM. Admission is free. Also, at the Warehouse Theater, Beyond Therapy will be playing Thursday and Saturday starting at 8 PM and Barefoot in the Park will be playing there on Friday at 8 PM.

Also this Friday, you have Main St. Jazz from 5:30 until 9:30 PM down by the Hyatt. Furthermore, Hank Williams Jr. and Dierks Bentley are coming to the Bi-Lo Center this Friday at 8 PM.

For Saturday...The Market on Main is from 8 AM until noon. Saturday is also the Greenville Zoo's Hot Dog Day. Hot dogs, chips, ice-cream, cotton candy, and pepsi are all just $.25 each. Moreover, it is also Community Day at the Greenville County Museum of Art from 2-4 PM. There will be art, music, and entertainment for the entire family. As for Saturday night, Furman University's Improv!able Cause will hold an improv show at the Coffee Underground from 9:30-10:30 PM.

And on Sunday, High Cotton has their Sunday Jazz Brunch from 10 AM until 2 PM where you can enjoy a delicious brunch while listening to some jazzy tunes. Also, WWE Smackdown SummerSlam Tour will be at the Bi-Lo Center on Sunday beginning at 5 PM.

July 14th- Things have been busy as usual here at the Chamber. DGDI has a lot going on right now. I've been helping out with the kick-off of our non-profit campaign. We're looking to start marketing downtown Greenville as a potential home to various non-profit organizations from across the country. And as always, we have various prospective companies we are communicating and meeting with. The entire process seems to be going quite well. Also, our information packets have always been an on-going process, so I've been working on those quite a bit lately. Furthermore, if you are interested in the whole social-networking arena, you should check out Thrive Greenville's facebook, linkedin, and twitter pages.

As for what is going on in Greenville...Wednesday night from 7-9 PM is another Reedy River Nighttime Concert held at the Peace Center Amphitheater downtown. And as for Thursday...

• Downtown Alive! from 5:30-8 PM at Piazza Bergamo
• Rhythm on the River from 7-10 PM at Larkin's
• Music by the Lake at Furman University beginning at 7:30 PM
• Richard III at Falls Park at 7 PM
• Beyond Therapy at Warehouse Theater at 8 PM

July 10th - This weekend, don't miss out on the Saturday morning market downtown on Main Street from 8 AM until noon. Also on Saturday, beginning at 10 AM and lasting until noon, is the River Walk. It starts and ends at Overlook Grill and is a free educational tour along the Reedy River. The Upstate Shakespeare Festival will be putting on Richard the Third all weekend long at Falls Park. Admission is free and the show starts at 7 PM each night.

July 8th- Like every Wednesday, tonight there is a Reedy River Concert from 7-9 PM at the Peace Center Amphitheater. Also, tomorrow is Downtown Alive! at Piazza Bergamo from 5:30-8:30 PM. Admission is free. Or tomorrow you can check out Larkin's Rhythm on the River from 7-10 PM. Admission is between $5 and $10. This Thursday through Saturday, the Upstate Shakespeare Festival will be putting on Richard the Third at Falls Park, starting at 7 PM each night. Also, Thursday night, Soulja Boy is coming to the Carolina First Center. More information here. Friday, is Jazz on Main down by the Hyatt. Music starts at 5:30 PM and goes until 9:30 PM, and admission is free. Also on Friday, two-time Grammy winning jazz superstar, Diana Krall is coming to the Peace Center. The show starts at 8 PM. More details here.

July 6th - The Greenville Drive is home all week...

• Wednesday 7/8/2009 7:00 PM vs. Rome Braves
• Thursday 7/9/2009 7:00 PM vs. Rome Braves
• Friday 7/10/2009 7:00 PM vs. Romes Braves
• Saturday 7/11/2009 7:00 PM vs. Rome Braves

Also, the Furman Lakeside Concerts start this week. They will be every Thursday evening at Furman University at 7:30 PM. Admission is free and picnics are welcome.

Greenville Memorial Hospital

Greenville Memorial Hospital has been ranked among the nation's top 50 hospitals in five specialties in U.S. News' 2009-10 publication of America's Best Hospitals. Greenville Memorial and the Medical University of South Carolina are the only hospitals in the state included in this ranking. Greenville Memorial ranks as follows:

#25 in Diabetes and Endocrine Disorders

#30 in Digestive Disorders

#43 in Heart and Heart Surgery

#44 in Neurology and Neurosurgery

#49 in Orthopedics

Now in its 20th year, the multi-platform 2009 America's Best Hospitals guide is the most extensive hospital ranking to date. It includes rankings of 174 medical centers nationwide in 16 specialties, with full data available online for another 1,500 unranked hospitals. In addition, the Best Hospitals "Honor Roll" highlights 21 medical centers that were ranked at or near the top in at least six specialties. To view the full article click here.

Michelin North America's New Development Program

Michelin's new development program will provide loans to new and existing disadvantaged small- and medium-sized businesses located in the Upstate of South Carolina. It will focus on new job creation by facilitating low-interest loans and will provide participating firms with free of charge access to Michelin's considerable in-house business expertise.

"Michelin is proud to announce this program, which will help create jobs, promote economic development and support businesses across the Upstate, an area Michelin has called home for nearly four decades," said Dick Wilkerson, chairman and president of Michelin North America.

Welcome!

We are looking forward to welcoming our friends to Greenville the weekend of August 28th to 30th for the US Pro Cycling event! Check here to see some of the rides we are taking them on while they are here!

Greenville in the News

Greenville generates national attention...

1. The Greenville News: Furman University leads in graduation rate study. Article here.

2. ABC News: The Tale of Two Main Streets, Greenville proves to be recession-resistant. Article here.

3. Milken Institute: Greenville is ranked 100 of the 393 most high-tech North American economies. Article here.

4. Miami Herald: Visiting Greenville's a Whole New Ballgame. Article here.

5. GSA Business: Study: Greenville Offers Affordable Living. Article here.

Summer Fun You Don't Want to Miss

Reedy River Nighttime Concerts - Every Wednesday from 7 PM until 9 PM enjoy a variety of free summer concerts at the Peace Center Amphitheater. Music performances range from jazz, country, patriotic, rock & roll, blues and reggae. This free and fun event is the perfect way to spend a warm summer night. For more information click here.



Downtown Alive! - Every Thursday from 5:30 PM until 8 PM, Piazza Bergamo is filled with melodious tunes of pop, blues, acoustic, or reggae performances. And what is even better is that proceeds from this free event benefit the Metropolitan Arts Council. For more information call 864-467-6667.



Rhythm on the River - Every Thursday beginning at 7 PM (gates open at 5:30 PM), beach music concerts can be heard down by Larkins on the Reedy River. This 17-week summer concert series hosts many notable acts. For more information and to purchase tickets click here.





Friday Night Jazz - Every Friday from 5:30 PM until 9:30 PM, Main Street by the Hyatt Regency is transformed into a free Jazz Festival. You will hear Jazz performed by local, regional, and even national talent. With a children's activity area and other additional events, Friday Night Jazz is the perfect destination for family fun. For more information call 864-467-6667.


Saturday Market - Every Saturday from 8 AM until 12 noon, downtown is transformed into a charming marketplace. Here you can enjoy things like fresh produce and locally grown flowers, all while grabbing a bite to eat from participating vendors or learning new cooking and gardening tips from local experts. For more information click here.




Upstate Shakespeare Festival - From May through August, free productions of classic Shakespeare plays will be held in the Carolina First Amphitheater in beautiful Falls Park. Bring a picnic, blanket, and lawn chairs and be sure to enjoy the show. For more information click here.




Greenville Drive Baseball - The Greenville Drive is a minor league team affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. Games will be held all summer long and are the perfect idea for a fun, inexpensive summer night. For more information and to purchase tickets click here.


Mice on Main - Nine bronze mice are hidden downtown all along Main Street. This idea is based off of the children's book Goodnight Moon. A sculpture of the book and the first mouse can be found at the Hyatt Regency, and the other eight are located along a nine-block stretch on Main Street. Can you find them all? For helpful hints click here.


Reedy River Rickshaw - New to downtown Greenville, Reedy River Rickshaw provides a fun way to get around downtown. Only charging tips, this is a great way to see downtown on a pleasant summer night. You can either waive a driver down when you see them or you can call ahead to arrange a pick-up at 864-373-1222.



Carriage Rides - There are three different carriage services in downtown Greenville. They pick up from places like the Westin Poinsett Hotel, Falls Park, and the intersection of Coffee and Main Street. This is a fun and pleasant way to enjoy downtown. For more information click here.




For a complete list of events in the Greenville area click here.
And for other fun things to do click here.

A Closer Look at Downtown Business Owners

• Tommy and Brad Wyche
  
• Minor Mickel Shaw

Places You Should Be Sure to Check Out

Caesar's Head State Park - This beautiful park, situated along the top of the Blue Ridge mountains, has scenic trails for hiking, biking and bird watching. The views are breathtaking all year long. Favorite destinations are Raven Cliff Falls, a majestic waterfall located two miles from the roadside, and Pretty Place Chapel, a rustic stone structure popular for weddings and other religious services. Check out the website here.


Jone's Gap State Park - Jone's Gap and Caesar's Head state parks together form the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, 11,000 acres of pristine mountain woodlands on the Blue Ridge Escarpment. In this park you'll discover extensive nature trails, the Middle Saluda River, camp grounds and the nature exhibits of the Environmental Education Center. Check out the website here.


Upcountry History Museum - this charming museum is dedicated to the rich heritage of the Upstate of South Carolina. Their mission is to promote, present and preserve the history of Upcountry South Carolina through education, research and service. They offer various programs including 'Lunch & Learn' discussions, summer camps and oral history presentations. Check out the website here.

Greenville County Museum of Art - this museum, located in the heart of Downtown Greenville, is now featuring exhibits such as 'Art & Artists of South Carolina' and 'Andrew Wyeth: The Greenville Collection.' Not only do they offer a number of art classes and discussions, but admission is absolutely free. Check out the website here.

The Metropolitan Arts Council - is an organization in Greenville, South Carolina that works to support every discipline of the arts. Located in the historic district of Downtown, they are home to Greenville's only public art gallery. The mission of the Metropolitan Arts Council is to stimulate and support artistic expression and its appreciation and enjoyment in ways that enrich all citizens, artists, cultural organizations and communities of the Greenville County. Their website provides listings of events and information on the arts in Greenville County. It also gives access to over 500 visual artists and over 50 arts organizations that comprise our cultural community. Check out the website here.

Falls Park - is the jewel of Downtown Greenville. Located right off Main Street, Falls Park is a 'must-see.' Complete with waterfalls and a 355 foot bridge, Falls Park is a beloved destination to all, especially on sunny days. Falls Park not only offers a beautiful setting for picnics, pictures and walks, but it also features numerous events and festivals throughout the year. Check out the website here.

The Greenville Zoo - Greenville's award winning zoo, located a few blocks from Downtown, is a 14-acre park with more than 300 specimens of exotic animals. Reasonably priced and open seven days a week from 10 AM until 4:30 PM, the Greenville Zoo is the most visited "family facility" in the Upstate. Check out the website here.

Check out our website: thrivedowntown.com

Greenville In The News

Greenville generates interest in the national news...

1. fDi Intelligence Magazine: Greenville named top micro North American City of The Future. Article here.

2. SalisburyPost: Downtown Greenville rejuvenation causes other communities to stand up and take notice. Article here.

3. BMW US Factory: Greenville County hosts '09 BMW Charity Pro-Am Tournament. Article here.

4. Hollywood Comes to Greenville: '09 BMW Charity Pro-Am Celebrities announced. Article here.

5. USA Today: S.C. group seeks funds for Amazon medical project. Article here.

The DGDI of Greenville, SC: Redefining Possibility

If you have been directed to this blog through a few impulsive clicks on your search engine of choice, you may be wondering, what or where exactly is Greenville, South Carolina? Rather than rattling off a few geographical facts or numbers relating to population, consider this: Greenville, SC MSA has the highest level of foreign capital investment in the nation. Forbes Magazine touted Greenville, SC as the fourth best place in the country to weather the current economy. Greenville's vibrant downtown received the Great American Main Street Award in 2003 and continues to be the center of excellence for retail and industry.

To put it simply, Greenville, South Carolina is a place you want to be. Called the 'jewel of the Upstate', Greenville's quality of life is only exceeded by its potential for future economic growth. It is this potential for the future that has prompted the formation of the Downtown Greenville Development Initiative.

What Is The DGDI?
The Downtown Greenville Development Initiative is a partnership between the City of Greenville, SC, the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Development Group. This gathering of like-minded individuals and groups is hyper-focused on attracting new corporate sector clients to relocate or expand into the Greenville downtown area.

Some may ask, why Greenville? Simply because Greenville offers the best of both worlds - one of the nation's fastest growing business hubs as well as a quality of life that you would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. To some, these may seem like empty statements. Fortunately, the statistics of Greenville more than support these claims.

Business in Greenville
It's certainly no coincidence that Greenville has ranked among America's 50 Hottest Cities For Manufacturing Expansions and Relocation. The South's best kept secret is slowly but steadily making its presence known in the national and international business community. Globally renowned companies such as BMW, General Electric, Michelin, Milliken, Fuji, Samsung, and Scansource have chosen to locate their corporate headquarters in the Greenville-Spartanburg Area. In fact, more than 124 Fortune 500 companies call this area home. The DGDI believes that Greenville is a strategic location for companies seeking out relocation/expansion because Greenville is a place of mutual advantage - both for the corporation as well as the area.

Quality of Life in Greenville
Southern hospitality is a given when considering the quality of life in South Carolina. But how about an extraordinary arts and culture scene? Top-notch education at all levels? Advanced healthcare systems? Maybe you'd be surprised to realize that these aspects of life in Greenville are also typical of what we now lovingly refer to as the Intellectual South. Greenville showcases some of the best offerings in these areas in the South. The Peace Center, located in Downtown Greenville, is one of the best examples of the thriving art scene of Greenville. From John Legend and Robin Williams to Yo-Yo Ma, the Peace Center offers a diverse range of performances to suit any tastes. As for education, there are over 20 universities and colleges in the Upstate area, including the acclaimed Furman and Clemson Universities. And how about healthcare? Greenville Memorial Hospital was ranked by Forbes as one of the top three safest hospitals in South Carolina as well as ranking in America's Safest Hospitals. Bon Secours St. Francis Health System ranked among the top 10% in the nation for Overall Orthopedic Services and Cardiac Surgery and was a recipient of South Carolina Governor’s Gold Award for Excellence in Quality.

Greenville is a place not only where an organization can succeed, but where the individuals making up that organization thrive. That's a promise we invite you to consider.

To learn more about DGDI and Greenville, please visit

http://www.thrivedowntown.com/

Thrive Downtown Greenville & Web 2.0

Downtown Greenville can be characterized with a variety of different adjectives – vibrant, buzzing, lively. All of these words describe the ‘now’ aspects of downtown. It’s modern, as is apparent by the myriad of corporate offices and glittering skyscrapers located on the picturesque streets; accessible, in part due to the boutiques, world-class restaurants, and the dozen coffee shops one encounters on every corner. It is also ‘cool’ and is an attractive weekend destination for area teens and their parents. But go downtown any day of the week and you are likely to encounter a pleasantly surprising mix of diverse individuals, superior cuisine, and a general ambiance that is unique to the international community of Greenville, South Carolina.

What describes the future growth of the downtown area? In a word, ‘thriving’. A word that encapsulates not only the past progress and re-innovation of downtown but also sets the stage for what is yet to come. The rejuvenation of the area was paved for even greater progress and it is this reinvention that has sparked the creation of the Downtown Greenville Development Initiative. To put it simply, the objective of the Initiative is to keep the ball rolling. The development of the new ‘Thrive Downtown’ campaign highlights the area’s burgeoning potential and is aimed at making what has been called ‘the South’s best kept secret’ a buzzword for its innovation, livability, and potential.

‘Thrive’: Creating A Tangible Presence
How is the Thrive campaign accomplishing this seemingly lofty goal? In a unique method that marries technology and one of the biggest trends of today: social networking. Thrive is creating a subtle yet undeniable presence – a marked contrast to the conventional marketing methods of aggressive exposure. The proliferation of Thrive on such social networking sites as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, will enable the Initiative to make the kind of connections that matter – at a very personal and individual level. It will allow both those interested in the welfare of downtown Greenville and those looking for relocation possibilities to be up to date on all aspects of life in the area. Whether it’s business opportunities or the search for the perfect cycling locations, Thrive Downtown pages will harness technology and all that Greenville has to offer in order to meet your needs.

To use the jargon of Web 2.0, it would definitely be in your best interest to ‘Become A Fan' on Facebook, ‘Follow Me’ on Twitter, or ‘Make a Connection’ on LinkedIn. ‘The Intellectual South’, the tagline of the Thrive Campaign, couldn’t be more appropriate.

Greenville In The News

Greenville generates interest in the national news…

1. Clemson University - Happiest Students: The Princeton Review recently ranked Clemson University as the institution with the “happiest students” in the nation. Full list here.

2. Greenville Ranks Among Forbes’ Best Cities For Jobs: Forbes’ list of the best cities for career prospects in 2008. Full list here.

3. Greenville Ranks Among Forbes’ Affordable Places to Weather the Downturn: Forbes’ list of U.S. cities that boast ‘well-priced homes, enviable job growth and proximity to vibrant cities’. Full list here.

4. One-tank trip: A visit to Greenville is one of pleasant surprise and exploration. Article here.

5. Competitive Cyclist: Experiences of a cyclist during a mountain training camp held in the Greenville area. Article here.

Greenville's DGDI & 'Thrive' Campaign Kick Off

Kym Petrie, Executive Director of the Downtown Greenville Development Initiative, has recently concluded the first leg of a business development tour aimed at generating interest in Downtown Greenville as a potential destination for corporations and small to midsized companies. The Downtown Greenville Development Initiative has spearheaded campaigning efforts through the creation of the ‘Thrive. Downtown Greenville South Carolina’ campaign. The goal of the Thrive campaign is to position Downtown Greenville as the low-cost solution to companies looking for areas in which to open branch, satellite, or regional offices. Thrive focuses on such personal aspects of the Greenville Downtown area as quality of life, livability, and activities that are offered.

The campaign website, www.thrivedowntown.com, is now up and running...check it out.

Petrie has already visited Charlotte, Atlanta, Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto, where she has introduced and presented the conceptualization of downtown Greenville as an option for companies considering relocation or expansion. In addition to site selectors, presentations with CEO’s and lawyers representing multinational organizations are also conducted by Petrie, in an effort to create mutually beneficial relationships with a variety of companies, of all sizes and spanning a range of industries. Non-profit committees have been organized in order to review and select possible targets for potential future points of contact.

The objectives of the Thrive campaign are to highlight to the unique ambiance and amenities of downtown Greenville and use that as a starting off point to attract organizations to the area. Through this, the DGDI aims to expand the economy of the region by bringing a variety of business to downtown Greenville. Petrie is also set to visit Virginia and D.C. areas in the near future as the next stage of the Initiative’s business development tour.