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Exploring Best Practices - Intercity Visit to Greenville, SC

Published Monday, October 23, 2023 12:00am

The Chamber recently completed its inaugural intercity visit to Greenville, SC October 15-17, leading a group of nearly forty stakeholders to learn best practices on how to move our community forward. Greenville is a city known for its dynamic development and innovative community initiatives and this trip offered participants the chance to see and learn from their local leaders, all while forging meaningful connections.

The three-day intercity visit featured a carefully curated itinerary of activities, including networking, informational sessions, site visits, and more. Expert facilitators led these sessions, exploring various topics crucial to community growth, such as economic development, tourism and the arts, downtown strategy, local government, and public-private partnerships.

Below is the schedule of events that attendees participated in.

Sunday, October 15

6:30-8:30pm – opening reception + session: catalytic hotel development

  • Windsor Aughtry Company

Monday, October 16

8:00-9:00am – session: public private partnerships

  • Shannon Lavrin, City of Greenville
  • Carlos Phillips, Greenville Chamber

9:15-10:15am – walking tour: Peace Center

10:30-11:30am – session: tourism & the arts at Huguenot Mill and Loft

  • Heath Dillard, Visit Greenville
  • Alan Ethridge, Metropolitan Arts Council
  • Tracy Ramseur, City of Greenville

11:45am-1:00pm – lunch + session: economic development

  • Emelie Hegarty, Quest Site Solutions
  • Michael Panasko, City of Greenville
  • Elizabeth Watson, Upstate SC Alliance
  • Eric Weissmann, NEXT

1:30-2:30pm – session: workforce + tour of Center for Manufacturing Innovation              

  • Kelvin Byrd, Greenville Technical College
  • Keith Miller, Greenville Technical College

3:30-4:15pm – walking tour: downtown

  • John Boyanoski, Complete PR
  • Hank Hyatt, Greenville Chamber

Tuesday, October 17

9:45-10:45am – session: philanthropy

  • Bob Morris, Community Foundation
  • Tamela Spann, Hollingsworth Funds Inc

11:00-11:30am – wrap up discussion

11:45-1:00pm lunch + session: local government

  • Knox White, Mayor, Greenville, SC