Dear Greenville Chamber Investors,

I hope your 2023 is off to a great start. The Chamber appreciates your support of our efforts to “Grow a Greater Greenville,” which helps us to connect businesses, advocate for them, develop community leaders, accelerate economic growth, and include everyone. Please note what the Chamber accomplished in 2022 on behalf of your business and our community.

Membership increased as 225 businesses became new Chamber Investors.

More than 6,500 of you connected with current and prospective clients at Greenville Chamber events, and 95% of you found value in attending those events.

We hosted 14 delegations with 381 guests from across the U.S. benchmarking economic and community development strategies.

More than 700 business leaders played an active role in influencing the Chamber’s pro-business legislative agenda by attending over 40 advocacy events and committee meetings.

The Chamber’s advocacy led the passage of significant legislation to promote business and economic growth, including a $6,000 tax credit for employers who hire the formerly justice involved and ensuring American Recovery Plan Act funding is used on transformative infrastructure projects.

More than 500 people participated in the Chamber’s leadership development programs, including 268 active Young Professionals and 38 graduates of the 48th Leadership Greenville cohort.

The Chamber hired Natasha Pitts as its new Vice-President of Diversity and Economic Inclusion and launched a board-led and community-influenced DEI strategic plan. We also continue our investment and active engagement in the Greenville Racial Equity and Economic Mobility Commission (REEM).

The Chamber activated 24 new Accelerate Shareholders, eight current Investors upgraded to that level, and 178 people attended three shareholders events. We continued to advance our key economic development priority of increasing educational attainment for working age adults in our community. 33 companies and 99 Greenville County students participated in LaunchGVL, a partnership between Greenville County Schools and the Greenville Chamber to provide paid internship opportunities for high-school juniors and seniors. The community celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Minority Business Accelerator with 8 new graduates and more than 100 graduates since its inception.

Community Insights, the Chamber’s public-facing data dashboard, had more than 1,000 visitors and 4,300 page loads. In addition, more than 40 customized reports were provided to local leaders.

These things and much more took place in 2022, and we’re poised to have an even greater impact in 2023 with your continued support. TOGETHER, we’re Growing a Greater Greenville!

Thank you - I look forward to seeing you on February 28th at the Chamber’s 134th Annual Meeting luncheon!

Carlos Phillips, President/CEO