Donaldson Center Unveils New Name, Look & Strategic Direction

Move made to attract businesses, address state’s evolving business structure and create jobs

October 2, 2008
 Greenville, S.C. – In a move made to build off of South Carolina's reputation and attractiveness to international and high-tech companies, Donaldson Center Industrial Air Park unveiled its new name, look and strategic direction today for its Upstate 2,600-acre center.

The new complex will be known as the South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center, or SCTAC (pronounced ess-see-tack). The airfield will be known as Donaldson Field.

"Since its transition from a military base in 1963, this facility has been on the forefront of technology, aviation, industry and business development in Greenville County," said Jody Bryson, president and CEO SCTAC. "This new brand will reinforce our status as a statewide economic engine and allow us to capitalize on the Upstate's international reputation, while preserving our historical legacy. It will create a more attractive, more competitive product for the city, county and state to market in today's global economy."

"Greenville is recognized as a top-10 emerging market," said Richard Ashmore, chairman of the Donaldson Development Commission. "SCTAC is a hub for industrial, technological and aviation facilities, and provides direct access to an airport infrastructure that contains an aircraft maintenance and modification center suited for air cargo and aviation-related businesses. Today is the beginning of great things to come."

The South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center is truly unique to the state of South Carolina. It is the largest general aviation airport in S.C. with more than 50,000 flights annually. No other business facility in the state has a fully-operational general aviation airport, a state-of-the-art control tower, an 8,000 ft. runway capable of handling large aircraft, and a second, 5,500 ft. runway that is already built and can be activated.

And with new business come new jobs, which is another goal of the rebranding efforts.

"We are very attractive to companies because we have the space, the infrastructure, and a well-educated technical workforce that companies can capitalize on,” said Butch Kirven, chairman of Greenville County Council. "Ninety percent of jobs and direct economic impact of this facility come from companies that use cutting-edge technology in their operations, have research labs and/or facilities onsite or supply products and services to high-tech industries."

Besides a new name, logo and proactive approach to make it an international facility and attract new business partners to the complex, officials announced and unveiled plans that included the refurbishing of the center’s main building, a new website, new signage, new marketing materials and the division of the center into four distinct districts: Aviation, Executive, Technology East and Technology South.

"As a longtime commissioner representing the City of Greenville on the Donaldson Development Commission, I am extremely excited about our new brand," said Lillian Brock Flemming, Mayor Pro-Tem of Greenville City Council. "These new branding initiatives will bring the center in line with Greenville's central business district and enhance business partnerships, like CU-ICAR, that Greenville County has established for our business community."

"It is not a coincidence that Greenville and South Carolina are always ranked high as a great place to work and live," Bryson said. "In addition to the Fortune 500 companies that we have on SCTAC, Greenville is also home to global companies such as BMW and GE, as well as Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research. Those are leading, high-tech, international, state-of-the-art companies that call Greenville home."

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