The Greenville Area Development Corporation (GADC), the primary economic development agency in Greenville County, celebrated its 25th anniversary on June 10 at its Annual Meeting luncheon, held at The L in downtown Greenville. Under the theme Rooted. Rising. Forging Legacy. the event brought together elected officials, board members, and business and community leaders to reflect on a quarter century of economic development, which has resulted in a $94.2 billion cumulative economic impact. The event also served as a look ahead to the opportunities that will define Greenville County’s next chapter.
Founded in 2001, the GADC has spent 25 years working to improve the quality of life of every Greenville County citizen by facilitating investment and job growth from new and existing companies. This year’s Annual Meeting served as both a milestone celebration and a forward-looking forum, featuring a keynote address from Joey Von Nessen, Ph.D., a research economist at the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, who presented an analysis of the GADC’s 25-year economic impact and its implications for the region’s future.
According to Dr. Von Nessen’s presentation, Greenville County represents a major economic success story of the 21st century, and the GADC has been a primary contributing factor to this success. Greenville County leads the state. The direct, indirect, and induced investments from the GADC-negotiated projects that the Greenville County Council approves comprises 17.5% of the county’s economy, which equals an annual economic impact of $8.5 billion. In addition, wages for GADC jobs are 42.8% higher than Greenville County’s per capita income.
“For 25 years, this organization has been built on the belief that economic development is a team sport,” said Marshall Franklin, chairman of the GADC Board of Directors. “The roots our community planted decades ago, the decisions, the investments, the relationships, are why Greenville County is positioned to forge an even stronger legacy for the generations that follow us.”
The program featured the presentation of Forging Legacy Awards to four outgoing board members whose terms conclude at the end of June:
- Jim Burns, who served 11 years on the board, including a term as board chairman and vice chairman, and various committee work
- Dr. Larry Miller, who was on the board for two years, served on various committees
- Chad Tumblin, the board’s vice-chairman, who served two terms as secretary before his current role, and
- Board Chairman Marshall Franklin, who served 12 of the organization’s 25 years in multiple leadership roles, including serving as its chairman twice.
Piedmont Natural Gas was honored with the Chairman’s Award, recognized for granting more than $3 million over the GADC’s history to support infrastructure and site readiness across nearly 50 economic development projects in Greenville County.
The William D. Workman III Buffalo Hunter Award, presented annually to an individual who embodies bold leadership, determination, and a collaborative spirit, was awarded to Daniel Beaty of the South Carolina Department of Commerce. Beaty was instrumental in bringing Isuzu North America to Greenville County, which was the largest win for the GADC in 2025, at a $280 million investment and more than 700 new jobs for Greenville County residents.
“When I think about where economic development is headed, what comes to mind is the quote, ‘A society grows great when its leaders plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit,’” said Max Stewart, president and CEO of the GADC. “Our past community leaders positioned the county for this success, knowing that they would never see the full fruits of their labor. We honor their legacy by focusing on what Greenville County needs to remain competitive in today’s economy and to create opportunities for future generations. This means higher-wage jobs and investments from existing and new companies within our target industries, talent development, and the kind of intentional collaboration across our entire community that turns opportunity into lasting impact.”
Three new incoming board members, who will begin their terms in July, were announced:
- Peter Brock
- Eric Groves
- Vicki Peek
The GADC announced its new executive committee, comprised of existing board members, including:
- Dan Rundle, board chairman
- Tim Morgan, vice-chairman
- Michael Johnson, secretary
- Scott Case, treasurer
As part of the event’s anniversary activation, attendees were invited to write personal pledges to forge a legacy for Greenville County and “plant” them beneath a live oak tree donated by Heritage Landcare. The tree will be permanently planted at Conestee Nature Preserve later this year as a lasting legacy of the GADC’s commitment to future generations.
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ABOUT GREENVILLE AREA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
The Greenville Area Development Corporation is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2001 by Greenville County Council. As leaders in economic development for Greenville County, the GADC provides support and resources to businesses of all sizes and acts as a liaison between the business community and local government. The GADC works closely with government officials and agencies to ensure that the needs and concerns of businesses are heard and addressed. For more information about the Greenville Area Development Corporation, visit www.greenvilleeconomicdevelopment.com.