Former economic development director helped push city forward

Bennie Harris, Ph.D. chancellor of USC Upstate, grew up on a Mississippi farm where his parents raised cotton, soybeans, and wheat. Every morning, he’d get up at 4:30 a.m. to slop the pigs before catching the bus and riding 18 miles to school. In the summer, he picked squash and butter beans to earn a little spending money and buy school clothes.

We can all agree the U.S. economy is in a prolonged period of uncertainty, with inflation the focus of monetary policy, stock markets wavering in volatile sessions, and consumers trying to make sense of it all.

Greenville is a world-class city on many “best” lists. Over the past few years Greenville has been ranked fifth by Conde Nast Travelers Readers’ Best City, 10th in Top Best Places to Live in the U.S. by Livability, fifth in Southern Living readers as Best “Foodie Paradise.”

A house could be the biggest purchase you will ever make, and the process of shopping for a home and obtaining a mortgage can be overwhelming. However, there are steps you can take to make the process more manageable and the purchase more attainable.

You’ve probably seen the headlines about the housing shortage in America that are a big reason behind the dramatic increase in home prices. Local stories here in Greenville, along with nationwide trend pieces in the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and USA Today (to name a few) tout the massive shortage of the supply of homes, compared to demand. Realtor.com touts the gap as 5 million homes or more.

High-impact philanthropy is based on the understanding that no one organization and no one tactic can adequately address a significant community issue. That’s why Central Carolina Community Foundation, the Midlands’ leader in collaborative philanthropy, harnesses collective resources and mobilizes action to further the vitality of the community. Two of our initiatives, Midlands Gives and the One SC Fund, exemplify our model best.

On a recent trip to South Carolina, Stavros Lambrinidis, the European Union’s ambassador to the United States, praised the strong ties between the U.S. and the EU, and lauded South Carolina for its strong economy.

When it comes to interest rates, a little increase can make a big difference in a potential homebuyer’s monthly mortgage payment. And for some South Carolinians, those rate increases can mean not being able to buy a home at all.

Dionne Sandiford had already managed a multifaceted career when the opportunity and vision for a new business came calling. After earning a degree in Industrial Labor Relations, her experience included work in human resources and recruiting at several colleges and running afterschool programs.

Bank Breaks Ground in Mount Pleasant

All-stock transaction valued at $181.1 million

On Jan. 13, when the Carnival Sunshine accepted its first passengers in nearly two years from Port of Charleston, assembled crew members applauded and banged mini-tambourines to greet guests as they stepped on board. For the Charleston-based cruise ship, it was the beginning of a sailing to the Bahamas. For the city’s cruise industry, it was the start of a journey back toward normal — for a few more years, at least.

Health Supply US to invest over $150 million, create 600 positions as state’s life sciences boom continues

The Great Resignation has employers wondering just what they can do to retain the employees they have and recruit new ones who will be an asset to the company. Employee engagement and an inclusive workplace culture are important factors in keeping workers satisfied and not interested in seeing what else is out there, says Dan Kessler, the president and COO of Energage, the organization that surveys employees of many companies and puts together the Top Workplaces survey each year.

How did you celebrate Employee Appreciation Day? It was on March 4, a feel-good celebration of workers and the workplace. If you missed out, don’t worry. Done right, workplace appreciation is not a single date on a calendar. It’s something high-performing workplaces practice year-round.

Keeping employees engaged and interested has been a major concern of corporate leaders during the Covid-19 pandemic, and especially in the wake of the Great Resignation. Business leaders whose companies are ranked in the Top Workplaces survey understand what it takes to keep their workforce connected. Some of the CEOs and other officials from these companies discuss their tactics and strategies for employee engagement.

The Covid-19 pandemic prompted people to give more of themselves to their work in the spring of 2020, but 2021 was the year workers decided to focus more on what they wanted or needed. That’s evident in employee surveys analyzed by Energage, which gathers feedback from workers nationwide, year-round.

Organization has given more than $7 million in grants since its inception