Thanks to our Accelerate Shareholders, we made significant impact in 2024 and are situated for an even more impactful year ahead. Our shareholders, combined with the energy and passion of dedicated staff members, are providing the fuel to Grow a Greater Greenville.
Your investment has directly impacted hundreds of lives in Greenville County through the following strategic priorities:
1. Increase educational attainment for adults, aged 25 – 64
2. Drive entrepreneurial ecosystem growth
3. Deliver 21st century talent and workforce
4. Inform and influence decisions with data
While Accelerate generates short-term success for those whose lives it touches, the longer-term impact is even stronger. We need everyone to participate in the economic and cultural vibrancy of our community. Achieving this requires the engagement of the entire community.
How can you more fully engage as an Accelerate Shareholder? The easiest thing to do is to attend one of our Shareholder meetings. The next step is to review this annual report, find areas of alignment (personal, professional and business) and connect with Chamber staff doing the work. There are numerous opportunities for your business to create internships, to promote educational pathways for your employees, to mentor and engage with entrepreneurial firms, or even share data about our community.
Time, talent, and treasure are all needed to ensure that we can continue to Grow a Greater Greenville. Thank you for your continued support and engagement in these efforts.
Sincerely,
Accelerate Co-Chairs
Mike Sarvis, First National Bank Gage Weekes, Hollingsworth Funds
Watch This Message from Accelerate Co-Chairs
ACCELERATE KEY METRICS
Per Capita Personal Income (PCPI) is Accelerate’s north star metric. PCPI demonstrates whether a region is living up to its economic potential. And Greenville? There is an opportunity to improve and deliver greater economic prosperity for all. In 2023, Greenville County’s PCPI ($60,866) stood at 87.2% of the US level. Growth in Greenville’s PCPI has not kept pace with the nation, falling from relative parity with the US twenty-five years ago.
Many peer and aspirational metros are “overperforming” based on PCPI. Greenville’s opportunity for improvement challenges local leaders to develop strategic initiatives to impact PCPI and improve our rankings relative to the nation and these metros. Raising Greenville’s PCPI to the national level means almost $5 Billion in additional economic activity per year.
Columbus,
2024 Successes: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
By 2030, 60% of working-age adults will have a high-quality post-secondary credential, certificate or degree that leads to employment and economic mobility.
• 164 adults participated in TalentRiseGVL
• 56 enrolled & 12 completed programs
• Average age is 36
• 78% come from underrepresented communities
• 70% are female
• 91%+ are below Greenville County’s median household income ($75,000)
ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM
Accelerate is driving entrepreneurial ecosystem growth.
NextGEN guides and supports high-growth, highpotential entrepreneurs and their businesses in Greenville and across the Upstate. Their primary goal is to help founders grow and support their businesses.
2024 by the Numbers:
• NextGEN served 145 client companies, a 14% increase from 2023.
• NextGEN firms reported raising more than $36MM in funding in 2024.
• The average salary paid by NextGEN firms was reported to be $71,910, more than 19% higher than the average county wage.
• 15% of NextGEN firms are minority-owned.
• 23% are female-owned.
Accelerate is driving entrepreneurial ecosystem growth.
The SCMBA Upstate elevates the recognition of minorityowned businesses as suppliers, strategic partners and engines for job growth, wealth creation, and economic development.
2024 Impact Data:
• 8 diverse businesses
• 7 industry segments
• $2.3MM in aggregate revenue
• 47 persons employed
You Know?
Participating in the MBA not only opened doors for new opportunities but also led to valuable relationships and interest from other companies wanting to collaborate with us.
Since inception, more than 150 firms have been served and 80% are still in business.
Smitha Lee, Smithalee LLC
21st CENTURY TALENT
Accelerate is delivering 21st century talent and workforce.
LaunchGVL is a partnership between the Greenville Chamber and Greenville County Schools to connect high school juniors and seniors with paid, work-based learning.
30 Companies Hired 153 students for paid internships
• 40% come from underrepresented communities
• 36% had at least one indicator of being a pupil in poverty
Community Partnerships
At the annual LaunchGVL Celebration, USC Upstate partnered with LaunchGVL to provide scholarships to students that completed LaunchGVL internships. Eleven students were offered scholarships during the surprise presentation.
INFORMING DECISIONS WITH DATA
measurements
Accelerate informs and influences decisions with data.
The Chamber’s data visualization dashboard is designed as a tool for the business community, residents and policymakers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the needs of the community.
Engagement
3,000+ public data engagements
50 reports generated for:
• Accelerate Shareholders
• Area Businesses
• Relocating Businesses
Facilitated 1,600+ data searches by partners
2 new public dashboards created
• Economic Indicators Dashboard
• Accelerate Community Benchmarks Dashboard
30+ hours of platform access provided to partners
GREENVILLE CHAMBER FOUNDATION
Thank You to our Foundation Partners funding Accelerate strategies.
More than 1 in 3 Dollars
Invested in Accelerate-related activities flows through the Greenville Chamber Foundation
Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Hollingsworth Funds
Power:Ed
TD Charitable Foundation
United Way of Greenville County
SC Department of Education Innovation Grant
ACCELERATE SHAREHOLDERS
Shareholders at $3,000 Level & Higher | As of March 24, 2025
Michelin TD Bank
Audacy
Community Journals
Duke Energy
Greenville Technical College GSA Business/SC Biz News
Hollingsworth Funds
Community Foundation of Greenville
Concordance
First National Bank
Furman University
Ogletree Deakins Law Firm
Pelham Medical Center
Resurgent Capital Services
Southern First Bank
Trehel Corporation
Truist
United Community
USC Upstate
Wells Fargo Whataburger
ADUSA
AFL
AT&T South Carolina
Berkshire Hathaway
HomeServices C. Dan Joyner, REALTORS
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative
BMW Manufacturing Co.
Bon Secours St. Francis Health
System
Canal Insurance
Cardinal Health
Coldwell Banker Caine
Colliers International
Dority & Manning, Attorneys at Law, P.A.
Ernst & Young, LLP (EY)
First Citizens Bank & Trust of S.C. Greenville County Council/ Government
Hughes Development Corporation
Hyatt Regency Greenville
Laurens Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Lumos Fiber
MAU Workforce Solutions
McMillan Pazdan Smith
Architecture
Messer Construction
Pinnacle Bank
Safe-Guard Products International
South Carolina Federal Credit Union
Synovus Bank
Table 301
TD SYNNEX
Tri-Logistics, LLC
Truliant Federal Credit Union
Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
ACCELERATE SHAREHOLDERS
Shareholders at $3,000 Level & Higher | As of March 24, 2025
DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES - GREENVILLE CHAMBER JPOWELL@GREENVILLECHAMBER.ORG | 864-239-3731
BENEDICTE AXBOE
DIRECTOR OF TALENTRISEGVL - GREENVILLE CHAMBER BAXBOE@GREENVILLECHAMBER.ORG | 864-239-3704
DORIEN DICKEY
DIRECTOR OF LAUNCHGVL - GREENVILLE CHAMBER DDICKEY@GREENVILLECHAMBER.ORG | 864-239-3743
DR. CHERYL GARRISON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GREENVILLE CHAMBER FOUNDATION & VICE PRESIDENT, TALENT AND LEADERSHIP - GREENVILLE CHAMBER CGARRISON@GREENVILLECHAMBER.ORG | 864-239-3716
LORI HOYER
LAUNCHGVL PROGRAM COORDINATOR - GREENVILLE CHAMBER LHOYER@GREENVILLECHAMBER.ORG | 864-239-3730
