SCTAC Celebrates First Anniversary

Greenville, S.C. – Friday, October 2, 2009, marked the one year anniversary of The Donaldson Center changing its name to the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center (SCTAC). Along with the rebranding came a new strategic direction, economic development and marketing objectives. And the change has had – and will continue to have – a tremendous impact on the Upstate and South Carolina. Here is a list of accomplishments for the 2,600-acre center:

• A research study was completed stating that SCTAC is responsible for $222.2 million in economic development for the airport only (53%) compared to $195.1 million (47%) from all other general aviation airports in the state combined, yet they receive no millage or taxes from the county or city
• 3M recently completed a $150 million expansion
• Vetroresina completed its new facility
• Several upgrad/expansion projects are underway at Lockheed-Martin including replacement of oil burning furnaces in eight of the hangars with contemporary natural-gas furnaces, four hangars in the process of updated insulation, and more energy efficient lighting in several hangars
• The SC Army National Guard will break ground next year on a $45 million Aviation Support Facility
• Greenville County School District is constructing a new School Bus service and maintenance center
• $650,000 from County Transportation Committee established for road improvements
• A 275 acre aviation industrial site on the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center campus was selected by Duke Energy and McCallum Sweeney Consulting for its prestigious Site Readiness Program which asseses industrial and commercial sites for buildability and marketability
• Funding appropriated from Congressman Inglis and Senator Graham totaling more that 35 million dollars
• The current website launched, detailing information on available properties, its access and features, available properties and showcasing top technology companies
• New signage has been installed to better assist visitors through the Center's newly created district system
• New airport concept plan and landscape designs are complete
• New facilities management headquarters, strategically located on the airfield, is completely operational
• New branding campaign (marketing, public relations and advertising) including: key messages, new graphic look, professional photo shoot of key tenant operations, logos, website with property site search, brochure, signage (main entrances and districts), testimonials from key tenants, full tenant listing with descriptions, history timeline, ad campaign, social media initiatives
• Community partnerships with the Upcountry History Museum and the Potential Youth Foundation have been established
• Nominated as the Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Month
• New GIS interactive map will be featured on website for easy use and accessible to the public

"This is very positive for SCTAC and for Greenville," said Jody Bryson, president and CEO of SCTAC. "We are on the forefront of economic development for leading international and high-tech companies because we have the space, the infrastructure, and a well-educated technical workforce that companies can capitalize on. 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." And with new business and growth come new jobs, which is another product of SCTAC's rebranding efforts. "SCTAC is a statewide economic engine that allows us to capitalize on the Upstate’s international reputation,” said Greenville County Councilwoman and District 24 representative Liz Seman. "In the one year since its rebranding, SCTAC is already creating a more attractive, more competitive product for the city, county and state to market in today’s global economy. It will be a leader in bringing jobs to the Upstate." "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,” said Allen J. Inglesby, SCTAC chairman. "Those are leading, dynamic, high-tech, international, state-of-the-art companies that call Greenville home. We can now be added to that list."

The South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center is unique to the state of South Carolina. It is the largest general aviation airport in S.C. with more than 50,000 flights annually and its total economic impact is $222 million for the airport only, more than all of the general aviation airports in the state combined. 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.  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. Strategically situated along the I-85 corridor in Upstate South Carolina, two hours south of Charlotte, N.C., two hours north of Atlanta, Ga., and three hours northwest of the historic port city of Charleston, S.C., the South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center is also within 30 minutes of some of the country’s best colleges and universities, including Clemson University, Furman University, Wofford College, and Greenville, Spartanburg and Tri-County Technical Colleges. The South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center (www.sc-tac.com) opened in 1942 as Greenville Army Air Base. When the Air Force decided to close the base in 1962, the city and county of Greenville purchased the property and named it after Greenville native, Captain John O. Donaldson, a World War I flying ace, and it became known as Donaldson Center Industrial Air Park. It changed its name to the South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center in 2008 and currently employs more than 4,000 people from more than 80 local and international companies and organizations, including Fortune 500 companies 3M, Lockheed-Martin and Michelin. For more information, please visit the center’s website at www.sc-tac.com.