//Economic Development Partnership to Promote Business Recovery
city of greenville

Economic Development Partnership to Promote Business Recovery

Task Force Provides Insights, Support and Resources for Rebuilding

The City of Greenville, Greenville County, the Greenville Chamber and the Greenville Area Development Corporation launched a Business Recovery Task Force today to listen, guide and support as our community begins to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The action-oriented alliance is comprised of eighteen members representing a variety of industry, business, nonprofit, education and financial sectors. The mission is to promote an environment that supports Greenville’s business community and its employees and provide a platform that offers information and access to local, state, federal resources.

The first meeting held virtually this morning addressed the following:

•    Insights from local business, medical professionals and community leaders
•    Resources to assist with local business recovery
•    Guidance from trade and professional associations
•    Support for small and minority-owned businesses
•    Takeaways, lessons learned and opportunities for innovation
•    Long-term changes and impacts

Greenville Mayor Knox White opened by thanking the group for their participation saying, “The last few months have been extremely difficult for our nation, state, and local community. As a leader in your respective industry, your insights and experience will help us identify how to best support local businesses, industries, and organizations as we transition from the pandemic emergency and focus on the path forward. We have a great tradition of creativity, perseverance and strong public-private partnerships in Greenville.”

Current Efforts to Provide Relief and Recovery

City of Greenville
•    ATAX/HTAX late payment relief
•    Continuing payments to City vendors ($1.2M last week)
•    Continuing to provide services to the development community – approving hundreds of permits and sharing resources and information with local businesses
•    Market Connect – connecting TD Saturday Market vendors directly with customers

Greenville Chamber
•    Formal outreach calls to investors to check pulse, gauge impact, direct to resources, and offer encouragement
•    Online Employer Resource Guide delivering updated information on state government messaging, federal assistance (CARES Act), and know-how to manage through the pandemic
•    Community Matters live webcast 2x weekly connecting participants to business and community leaders who share timely and vital information
•    Business Impact Survey partnership with City of Greenville and GADC to gauge impact of COVID-19 on area businesses 

Greenville Area Development Corporation
•    Assist existing employers within established industry sectors to sustain and recover their workforce, and to source or provide essential supplies needed due to the COVID pandemic