Rock Hill o ers the advantages of a South Carolina location and business climate with quick access to Charlotte. As the county’s largest city, with some of the area's brightest minds and most passionate visionaries, Rock Hill is quickly becoming the location of choice for a diverse range of industry representing advanced manufacturing, healthcare, robotics, automotive and aerospace, and more.
The landscape of Rock Hill continues to transform as major redevelopment projects are completed, moving Rock Hill toward the long-time vision identified years ago in the Knowledge Park Action Plan.
With over $530 million worth of current or upcoming development projects in the urban core of Rock Hill, the Knowledge Park strategy continues today. Whether it’s attracting jobs, businesses or visitors to the historic downtown or creating opportunity and prosperity for the community, Rock Hill is quickly evolving into a walkable, multi-faceted district by reinventing the original heart of Rock Hill.
For more information on Knowledge Park, contact David Lawrence, David.Lawrence@cityofrockhill.com.
Knowledge Park Momentum
In Knowledge Park, $280 million has been invested over 7 years in 7 significant projects; another $250 million is in the “pipeline” for the next 3 years; highlights include:
University Center is on pace to have $258 million in investment and 772 jobs with $180 million already completed. The development includes the world-class Rock Hill Sports & Event Center, 200,000 sq. ft. of o ce space, will include 2 hotels, student housing, retail and multi-family housing across 23 acres.
Additional residential complexes, recently completed include 139 Main (37 units), the Anderson (89 units), the Easley (145 units) and the Powerhouse (37 units) bolstering downtown living.
The Exchange at the former Good Motors site is now open with 229 apartment units, retail and restaurant uses, and an investment value of $43 million.
• Mixed-use development for the community to come together to work, eat, shop and play.
• 400,000 sq. ft.
• Phase I completed in 2024
LEE STREET DEVELOPMENT
• Total investment exceeding $17,500,000
• 85 residental units
• 40,000 sq. indoor sports facility
COMPORIUM DEVELOPMENT
Across from Fountain Park on East Main Street
• Future development plans include a hotel, performing arts center, retail and o ce space.
STORYLINE
• A unique and exciting linear path stretching from Fountain Park to Winthrop University, incorporating existing and new civic spaces along the way which will highlight various community values and accomplishments.
• A major feature of Storyline will be the pedestrian bridge over Dave Lyle Boulevard and the railroad tracks.
Rock Hill Overlook
High profile site of approximately 245 acres adjacent to I-77 with a new interchange directly accessing the site.
• 5,679 SF of frontage along I-77
• 10 miles south of Charlotte, NC
• Zoned Master Plan-Commercial (MP-C) for mixed-use development
• Ideal location for: life science, research & development, corporate headquarters, pharmaceuticals, medical device manufacturing
SC Commerce Corridor
Rock Hill’s latest business park opportunity includes 17+ miles of frontage along I-77, with 4 interstate interchanges. Located less than 15 miles from the North Carolina state line.
4,800+
Exit 75
Exit 77
Rock Hill Business Parks
Rock Hill has seen exponential growth in business parks in recent years. With the expansion of Economic Development in the area, many businesses have relocated to Rock Hill. Limited space is available in our existing business parks.
For more information about business parks, contact Rick Norwood at Rick.Norwood@cityofrockhill.com.
• Aspen Commerce Park - total acreage, 250 / 151 acres available
• Legacy Park East - total acreage, 296 / 85 acres available
• Riverwalk Business Park - total acreage, 315 / 27 acres available
• Southway Industrial Park - total acreage, 250 / 10 acres available
• TechPark Business Park - total acreage, 174 / 10 acres available
• Waterford Business Park - total acreage 250 / 6 acres available
Clinton ConNEXTion
Clinton ConNEXTion is a community-driven strategy for attracting jobs, businesses, and housing to the historic neighborhoods of South Rock Hill. Building on a strong foundation of previous planning e orts, the action plan is a tool to help build economic prosperity, address housing needs, and strengthen ties between Rock Hill’s South Side and the development areas addressed in the Knowledge Park Action Plan. Plan priorities also include enhancing educational opportunities, improving the health, wellness and safety of all residents, expanding neighborhood-based cultural, arts, recreation and entertainment activities.
Current e orts underway:
• Three Points at South End, a proposed $20 million mixed-use development at the Southern Gateway of Rock Hill that includes a grocery store, retail, and restaurant uses.
• Clinton College, a 4 year HBCU in South Rock Hill, is building a new 200 bed residence hall, dining facility, and expanding its program o erings with a new nursing program.
• New a ordable and workforce housing units including Edgewood Place which will include 216 apartments on Russell Street.
• Local non-profits, like the Black Economic Leadership League, are providing education, training and mentoring to community members through shark-tank style competitions and entrepreneurial programming.
• Expanding access to healthcare facilities in South Rock Hill with the expansion of North Central Family Medical Center into the Ernest Brown Women’s Center and a new community pharmacy.
• Numerous quality of life improvements including improvements to local community parks like Emmett Scott and Carroll Park.
For more information on Clinton ConNEXTion, contact Elaine Wilmore at Elaine.Wilmore@cityofrockhill.com.
Transportation
Rock Hill o ers companies and their workforce e cient access and transportation for their products and people. Local residents support road infrastructure with Pennies for Progress, a 1¢ sales tax, which was overwhelmingly approved (78% voting yes) by referendum since 1997. Ideally situated within close proximity to major highways, rail terminals, ports, and an international airport, Rock Hill is poised at the intersection of business, opportunity, and quality of life.
AIRPORTS
Rock Hill is a 30-minute drive and one flight away from the rest of the world, thanks to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Ranked the seventh busiest airport in the world, the facility averages 1,400 flights daily. CLT o ers nonstop air service to 186 destinations around the globe and is home to eight major air carriers, 15 regional carriers and three foreign flag carriers. The Charlotte Air Cargo Center, the region’s premier air cargo facility, is also located at CLT International Airport.
In York County, The Rock Hill/York County Airport is the major business and industrial airport serving the area. The new 7,200 square-foot terminal is IFR certified, and the facility is home to a 5,500 foot runway.
INTERSTATES
I-77 connects Rock Hill to Charlotte, NC, and Columbia, SC. More than $270 million in road funds were previously spent to expand I-77 to eight lanes for improved access between York County and metro Charlotte, where it intersects with I-485. Further, every interchange bridge except one between the state line and Rock Hill has been or is funded to be upgraded by 2030. Interstate 85 passes north of York County and is an important link to Raleigh, Durham, and Greensboro, North Carolina, and to Atlanta, Georgia.
RAIL SERVICES
Rail freight service is provided in York County by CSX Transportation and the Norfolk Southern Railway. Norfolk Southern recently opened a new terminal in Charlotte that is part of its Crescent Corridor, a $2.5 billion rail infrastructure project that spans 11 states. With 30 new lanes now open connecting to the 2,500-mile Crescent Corridor, Norfolk Southern's high-capacity intermodal routes are truck competitive, fuel e cient, and dependable.
PORTS
PORT OF CHARLESTON
The Port of Charleston, is about a three-hour drive on I-77 and I-26, features modern terminals and boasts a well-deserved reputation for high productivity. More than 350 highly experienced transportation related companies are located in the Charleston area to meet any shipping need.
INLAND PORTS
• Charlotte Intermodal (45 minutes from Rock Hill) is strategically located near the I-85 and I-77 corridors.
• Inland Port Greer is a rail-served inland port facility in Upstate South Carolina (1.5 hours from Rock Hill), extending the Port of Charleston’s reach 212 miles inland.
• Inland Port Dillon (2.5 hours from Rock Hill) is a 3,400-acre industrial site with close proximity to I-95.
Benefits of Rock Hill
The City of Rock Hill is ready to help your business succeed through a comprehensive approach due to being a full-service city. The following services are provided to residents and businesses:
• The City provides electric service and is a part owner of the 2nd reactor at the Catawba Nuclear Plant through a consortium of electric cities. Since 2009, the City’s electric department has been recognized nationally as a Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3).
• Upgrades are continuously made around the City with the water plant recently upgraded from 36 to 48 MGD and the wastewater plant is currently being upgraded from 20 to 30 MGD.
• The City has a FIRE ISO 1 rating and CALEA Certified Police Department, which can result in lower insurance rates for individuals and businesses.
• In 2020, the City cut business license fees for 94% of the businesses in Rock Hill.
• The City of Rock Hill provides award-winning public services including top-notch parks and recreation, solid waste, stormwater and a fixed-route, fare-free, all electric public transportation system.
Development Ombudsman on sta
Incentives
LOCAL INCENTIVES
The City of Rock Hill has undertaken several initiatives to encourage development within certain strategic areas of the city.
Growth Management Incentives (GMI)
• May be used to o set impact fees, water meter set fees and building permit fees.
• Targets specific land uses and areas including Old Town and other urban core areas, business parks, opportunity zones, and a ordable housing projects.
• Developments with a residential component shall comply with the City’s A ordable Housing Policy.
Facade Rehabilitation Grant Program
• Grants to rehabilitate or restore the facades of qualifying structures with a commercial use.
• Owners may receive up to 25% of the cost of facade renovations not to exceed $20,000.
• Corner buildings or buildings with rear facades are eligible to apply for up to 25% of the cost of the additional renovations not to exceed $15,000 to rehabilitate or restore qualifying additional facades.
Tax Increment Financing
• New tax revenues help fund public capital projects within that district.
Tax Credits
• The City of Rock Hill will work with developers to access federal and/or state tax credits associated with historic buildings, vacant buildings, use of former textile buildings, a ordable housing, and investment in low-to-moderate income census tracts.
STATE INCENTIVES
South Carolina looks to incentivize both new and expanding businesses when jobs and/or capital investment occurs. Programs are either statutory or discretionary in nature. Discretionary programs are negotiated and in some cases have established time periods required for capital expenditures and/or job goals to be achieved.
Jobs Tax Credit
• A benefit to companies for job creation that helps reduce state corporate income tax liability, up to 50% in a given year. Program allows for 15 year carry forward of unused credits.
• An annual average monthly employment increase of 10 or more new full-time jobs must be created in order to be eligible and the company must be involved in manufacturing, processing, warehousing, distribution, tourism, be considered a corporate o ce facility, bank or qualified technology intensive facility.
• Credit of $1,500 annually for five years for each new job. Credit increases to $2,500 per job with Multi-County Business Park status.
• Qualified small businesses (a firm employing 99 or fewer employees) can receive a credit benefit from this program but value of credit may vary depending upon certain performance criteria.
Investment Tax Credit
Manufacturers can take a one-time negotiated credit against their corporate income tax of up to 2.5% of a company’s investment in new production equipment. Value of credit varies depending upon the recovery period for property under Internal Revenue Code. Can be used to o set up to 100% of corporate income tax liability with unused credits carrying forward for up to 10 years.
Corporate Headquarters Tax Credit
• A credit against state corporate income tax, or corporate license tax based on adding or growing an existing corporate headquarters.
• Credit is equal to 20% of the qualifying costs for establishing or expanding a corporate headquarters. Unused credits can have a 10 year carry forward.
• To qualify a corporate headquarter operation must meet certain investment and/or job thresholds.
Research and Development Tax Credit
• A credit against state corporate income tax, or corporate license tax based on a firm making qualified research and development expenditures.
• Credit equal to 5% of expenditures is available; credit is limited to o set 50% of income tax liability after all other tax credits have been applied.
Job Development Credit
• A discretionary performance based incentive from the state that rebates a portion of a new employees’ state withholding tax back to the company. Requires approval by the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development and applicants are considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Eligible companies must meet specific requirements per the program guidelines and a non-refundable application fee of $4,000 must be paid.
• Approved companies can receive a percentage of each eligible individual employee’s personal income tax returned to them as a cash rebate in either quarterly or annual payments. Depending on salary values, this could be as much as 4% of annual payroll.
SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS
Manufacturers
• Machinery and equipment for both research and development and production
• Repair parts
• Materials which will become an integral part of the finished product
• Manufacturing of electricity
• Pollution control equipment
All Industries
• Packaging Materials
• Long distance telecommunications, including 800 services
Sales Tax Caps
• South Carolina provides a $500 sales tax cap on the purchase or lease of aircraft, motor vehicles, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles and other items.
OPPORTUNITY ZONES
Four Census tracts in Rock Hill are designated as Opportunity Zones including Knowledge Park, the Saluda Street corridor and the Albright Road corridor. Opportunity Zones are designed to jumpstart investment and spur economic development in Rock Hill. This program allows investors to defer paying tax on capital gains if those gains are invested in Opportunity Zones.
The goal of Gravity Center is to bring the various entrepreneurial resources together under one roof, giving guidance and support to local entrepreneurs. Gravity Center aims to connect entrepreneurs to the resources and services that will best benefit them and their businesses.
Gravity Center members can expect to:
• Be connected with other local entrepreneurs they may have never met
• Learn about and get connected to services and resources they may have never heard of.
• Receive one-on-one and group coaching from established entrepreneurs and business owners.
• Access expensive professional services at low rates.
• Experience exponential growth.
For more information on the Gravity Center, contact Eduardo Venegas, Eduardo.Venegas@cityofrockhill.com.
Workforce Development Initiatives
TALENT PIPELINE PROGRAM
The Talent Pipeline program was created in 2014 to build supportive relationships among educational institutions, locally based businesses, and students in the area through internships and apprenticeships. The program has now been expanded to provide greater opportunities for workforce and talent development in alignment with the economic development goals of Rock Hill. Internship opportunities supported by the program include:
Traditional Internships – Semester-long professional experiences for high school and college students.
• Time Frame: 3 - 6 months
• Schedule: No more than 32 hours/week
• Pay: minimum of $10/ hour
• Reimbursement: 50% up to $7/hour maximum Micro-Internships – Short-term skill-based projects for college juniors and seniors.
• Time Frame: 4 - 6 weeks
• Pay: Assigned per project
• Reimbursement: 50% of project pay up to $500
REENGAGING OPPORTUNITY YOUTH
The Reengaging Opportunity Youth initiative of the National League of Cities Institute for Youth Education and Families (YEF Institute) addresses the urgent need to develop community-wide approaches to reengage opportunity youth (ages 16 - 24) in education, employment, and beyond.
The City of Rock Hill is one of eight cities that were selected to participate in this initiative and a part of our work has been developing a community of partners that support opportunity youth in the areas of education, employment, mental health, financial literacy, and other support services. The goal is to develop an action plan for engaging Opportunity Youth as well as a "Community Roadmap" to make navigating these agencies and resources more e cient and e ective. Our community of partners are 24 agencies/organizations that provide services or support in the areas of employment opportunities, education attainment & support, mental health, financial literacy, a ordable housing, physical health and mentorship.
INCLUSIVE TECH EXPO (ITX)
The Inclusive Tech Expo (ITX) is a three-day virtual event inviting attendees to experience a dynamic lineup of speakers covering the latest trends & insights in tech careers and business. The goal is to foster a diverse community of tech leaders, professionals, and business owners in Rock Hill and across South Carolina.
For more information on workforce development, contact Elaine Wilmore at Elaine.Wilmore@cityofrockhill.com.
Sports Tourism
THE ROCK HILL SPORTS AND EVENT CENTER
The Rock Hill Sports & Event Center is the sports hub of the Knowledge Park corridor of Rock Hill! The 170,000 sq. ft. facility, opened in 2020, and has hosted numerous sports tournaments, special event and city athletic programs, bringing in an estimated $151 million dollars of direct economic impact.
MAIN COURT
• 72,000 SF
• 700 Courtside Permanent Seats
• 8 Basketball Courts
• 16 Volleyball Courts
CHAMPIONSHIP COURT
• 12,500 SF
• 1,200 Stadium Seats
• 1 Center Court or 2 Side Courts
The American Cornhole League Headquarters (ACL HQ) relocated to the heart of Rock Hill and is connected to the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center. ACL HQ is the ultimate social and professional destination for players and fans of cornhole and o ers permanent courts for cornhole play, a full-service bar, state-of-the-art LED monitors, a broadcast studio, and more! Through the partnership with ACL, Rock Hill has hosted ESPN 8: The Ocho and has broadcasted live on ESPN and ESPN2 numerous times.
In 2022, the City of Rock Hill entered into a multi-year partnership with adidas Grassroots Basketball, serving as the host city for the Elite Boys National Championships, Elite Girls Division, Boys Gold Division and the Jr. Boys Division during the July live period (a recruiting period for college coaches). Over 700 college basketball coaches attend the event each year.
In 2023, Rock Hill became home to the Under Armour Basketball live period events, with a multi-year partnership. Over 500 college coaches attend the event each year.
When it comes to sports tourism and recreation Rock Hill has it all, and then some. Our Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department maintains over 1,250 acres in Rock Hill including 33 parks and four recreation centers. They have programs and park settings as varied as the interests of those who enjoy them! Soccer, cycling, tennis, lacrosse, softball and baseball have generated an average annual direct economic impact of over 22 million dollars through sporting events at Manchester Meadows, The Rock Hill Tennis Center and Cherry Park.
World Class Cycling
Rock Hill is home to a growing cycling scene that has received international attention for its state-of-the-art facilities and programs.
The Rock Hill Velodrome, has a 250-meter track that cyclists use for training and development. The facility is open year-round for cyclists of all ages and provides equipment and instruction.
The City of Rock Hill’s BMX Supercross Track hosted the 2017 and 2024 BMX Racing World Championships by Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The U.S. has hosted the event only two times since 2001 - both times in Rock Hill. The 2024 UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Rock Hill brought over 3,500 amateur participants and an estimated 300 professional athletes from over 40 countries. Over 55,000 unique spectators watched top athletes with some riders going on to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in France.
Rock Hill Miracle Park
The City’s newest park, Rock Hill Miracle Park, is a state-of-the-art park providing people of all abilities the opportunity to enjoy the park’s amenities and programming year-round. The park's development has been led by the York County Disabilities Foundation in partnership with the City of Rock Hill and Winthrop University and supported by numerous volunteers and donors.
With the inception of the Miracle League of Rock Hill, children and adults with disabilities can play the sport of baseball, regardless of their abilities.
Living in Rock Hill
Rock Hill, South Carolina is a business-savvy blend of hometown charm, big-city amenities and responsibly implemented expansion.
The city is located in the north-central area of South Carolina approximately 20 miles south of Charlotte, NC along the I-77 corridor. Rock Hill is a growing community of 80,000 residents, and the city encompasses over 44 square miles. Rock Hill is the largest city in York County, SC and the only major South Carolina city in the Charlotte area. Both mountains and shores are only three hours away.
POPULATION
80,000
CLEAR DAYS PER YEAR
212 AVERAGE COMMUTE 24 Minutes
Housing (Homeowner) Overall Index: Homeowner, No Child care, Taxes Not Considered
EDUCATION
K-12 EDUCATION
York County School District 3 (Rock Hill Schools), a top-tier K-12 public education district, with over 16,700 students in and around Rock Hill. There are also many charter school options. Ranked as some of the best in South Carolina, Rock Hill is home to nine private schools, serving more than 1,400 students, with most schools being Christian a liated.
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
With three colleges/universities in our backyard, Rock Hill produces approximately 2,700 college graduates per year.
• Winthrop University, founded in 1886 as a teachers’ college, continues to be regarded as a top institution for education. Since its inception, Winthrop has expanded to o er undergraduate, graduate, and continuing professional education programs.
• York Technical College is a public two-year institution o ering a variety of associate degrees, diplomas and certificates, in areas such as engineering technology, industrial technology, information technology, business, and health sciences. York Tech's Phillips/Haas Service and Maintenance Training Center for Advanced Manufacturing o ers students access to the latest manufacturing skills.
• Founded in 1894 and sponsored by AME Zion Church, Clinton College is a strong four-year Christian, historically Black liberal arts college. Clinton College o ers degrees in biology, business administration and religious studies.
LIFESTYLE
FOOD + DRINK
Satisfy your tastebuds with a variety of eats around Rock Hill, with o erings like Mexican-fusion, southern cuisine, traditional American, upscale southern hospitality and more! Sit back and relax on the patio with a cold beer in your hand at any of our seven local breweries. If beer isn’t your thing, stop by the first (and only) legal distillery in the county, Sleeping Giant Distillery.
Born in Rock Hill, The Pump House restaurant overlooking the Catawba River features locally sourced and southern-inspired chophouse cuisine, hand-crafted signature cocktails and an award-winning wine list. Situated in the former McCrory’s Five and Dime in downtown, Kounter Dining, provides an interactive dining experience, where food is the attraction, while preserving the rich history of the location and its contributions to the civil rights movement.
NATURE + OUTDOORS
If you love to take a stroll around the garden, Glencairn Garden is a must-see, boasting a variety of blooms year round. Looking for something a bit more adventurous? Kayak or tube down the Catawba, or grab your bike (of any type) and hit the trails! We also have miles of walking and greenway trails that connect cooridors throughout the city. Want to take on a new challenge? Pick-up a pack of discs and head to one of the disc golf courses around town (Boyd Hill Recreation Center, Fewell Park or Winthrop Lake).
ARTS + CULTURE
If you love arts and history, Old Town is the place for you! While walking from one of the local restaurants to pick up a souvenir, be sure to look for the many murals (part of the Mural Mile initiative engaging the community and local artists to install 8-10 murals throughout Rock Hill‘s downtown and textile cooridor) and street art or visit the Jail, No Bail Civil Rights Exhibit which captures the unique role the Friendship Nine’s protest played in the 1960s civil rights movement.
In 2015, the South Carolina Arts Commission named downtown Rock Hill as the first state-recognized cultural district in South Carolina. The Rock Hill Cultural District serves as a center of cultural, artistic, and economic activity. Throughout the year, you can find galleries, live performance venues, theatres, artist studios, museums, arts centers, arts schools, and public art pieces.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES
Get outdoors at one of our many parks and playgrounds to help kids run o some energy and make new friends. On a rainy day, you can book a reservation at the Main Street Children’s Museum and let your little one engage in creative play. Each year, Rock Hill celebrates spring with the Come-See-Me Festival and for the month of December, Old Town transforms into a whimsical Christmas town for ChristmasVille.
