Dear Greenville Chamber Investors,

Thanks to the Upstate business community for joining us for our 134th Annual Meeting. A sold-out room of more than 1,000 Upstate business leaders joined us to honor our region’s visionaries, celebrate the previous year’s accomplishments, and look ahead at the year to come.

A key theme for the year is ‘succeeding together.’ As the Greenville community continues to grow (more than 220,000 additional residents by 2040), there are several key areas that will require excellent collaboration and strategic leadership to ensure that more businesses succeed, and more people prosper.

We cannot understate the importance of transit and infrastructure optimization in meeting the demands of our growing population. Substantial, sustainable, and stable funding will be necessary to meeting those needs.

This population growth will also require more than 50,000 new housing units to keep up with the demand. We need housing that is attainable so that no matter an individual’s income level, there is housing available. Essential workers and those finding their way are depending on us to champion this important work.

Our community will embark on creating the “Greenville Vision 2050” community plan to highlight what we want our community to be in 2050. The Greenville that you see today is a result of exemplary visioning and planning. From the Greenville city plan of 1907 to the vision plans for 2005 and 2025, smart, strategic, and thoughtful planning, coupled with effective execution, has led to the community we enjoy today. Just as future leaders before us did, it is now our turn to directly influence the future that we want for our community, and we’re excited to engage stakeholders from throughout the county in this exciting initiative.

The Greenville Chamber will also continue to generate exciting and innovative programming to help our business community meet their goals and connect with more clients and customers. Programs like Diversity Dialogues and Small Business Growth Series will soon launch to deliver necessary training and resources to business owners. Leadership Greenville will celebrate its landmark 50th anniversary. Upstate leaders will also travel to Nashville, TN to identify big ideas and strategies that can be applied to our own community. Plus, we will continue to advocate on behalf of the Upstate business community at the local, state and federal level.

Another top priority for the Greenville Chamber in 2023 will be furthering our community on the path to 60% educational attainment. Currently, only 49% of Greenville County residents possess a high-quality degree or credential. Achieving the 60% goal will lead to higher incomes, a stronger economy, and greater economic mobility while making our community more competitive on the global stage.

There is a role for each of us to play as we work together to achieve these goals. Together, let’s “Grow a Greater Greenville!”