Right where North and South Carolina meet sits a place that encourages big ideas and business breakthroughs. York County offers 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 a regional center for technology and creative companies alike. Combined with the area's most comprehensive array of outdoor amenities, the best school districts in the Charlotte region, and the infrastructure to meet a wide range of industry needs, it's time to see what South Carolina has to offer.
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DEVELOPMENT KNOWLEDGE PARK The City of Rock Hill is undergoing an economic transformation called Knowledge Park. The Knowledge Park at Old Town will be the dynamic center of Rock Hill’s 21st century economy. Designed to be home to knowledge economy businesses and jobs, it is technologically advanced, yet rooted in the city’s rich history. Supported by a diverse community of learners, it offers an appealing urban lifestyle built upon a model of economic and environmental sustainability. Critical to the success of Knowledge Park will be the development of jobs that focus on technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity.
ELEMENTS OF KNOWLEDGE PARK
PROJECTED IMPACT
TALENT
Home to knowledge economy businesses and jobs.
URBAN LIFESTYLE
Built upon a model of economic and environmental sustainability, Knowledge Park gives new life to previously unused and abandoned spaces.
WALKABLE
Measuring just one square mile, Knowledge Park spans from Winthrop University to Fountain Park Place and will be connected by pedestrian pathways.
MIXED-USE
Jobs, housing, entertainment, sports facility, education, hotels, and restaurants
DIVERSE
Built for students, seniors, families, and professionals
CONNECTIVITY
Featuring Zipstream ultra-fast Gigabit internet service from Comporium
Learn more about Knowledge Park at KnowledgeParkRockHill.com
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DEVELOPMENT YORK COUNTY INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES
ROCK HILL INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES Featuring 7 existing Industrial Parks, plus another 246-acre park in development, Rock Hill is ready for business. Over 35 industrial and manufacturing businesses are already taking advantage of the city’s convenient access to I-77 and Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, and there is still space for 1,982,000 SF of buildings – 596,000 of which are already under construction! Offering reliable and affordable power from Santee Cooper as part of the Piedmont Municipal Power Agency (PMPA), Rock Hill has the resources to meet the utility needs of companies of all sizes. For more information about business park development in Rock Hill, please contact Rick Norwood at 803-326-3835 or rick.norwood@cityofrockhill.com
40,000 SF expandable to 60,000 SF Situated within Waterford Business Park, a master-planned mixed-used development with restrictive covenants Less than 2 miles to I-77 via Exit 79 Approximately 23 miles to Charlotte Douglas International Airport via I-77 & I-485 Less than 30 minutes to uptown Charlotte
rockhillusa.com Rick Norwood O | 803-326-3835 C | 803-487-9822 rick.norwood@cityofrockhill.com
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WORK A SMARTER WORKFORCE Meeting business’ talent needs through innovation. Every day, tens of thousands of York County residents commute across the state line to Charlotte, NC, often sitting in traffic for an hour or more, despite being less than 30 miles from the city.
CHALLENGE: As innovative businesses continue to grow in Rock Hill, there is a need for skilled, qualified knowledge economy employees.
STRATEGY: Develop a website exclusively for businesses and workers in the Rock Hill area to connect local knowledge economy jobs with qualified talent. RESULT:
"Being in Knowledge Park in Rock Hill is like being on the ground floor of a start-up business. It has that energy, that feeling of building something. I wouldn’t be anywhere else." —Jason Broadwater President of RevenFlo & Givolio
JobsRockHill.com
*data from a 2015 survey administered by Winthrop University and the Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation
DEFINING A KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
Rock Hill, SC. is a great place for Cimplx to thrive. It offers all the benefits of a small-town environment, while at the same time allows us to tap into Charlotte’s technology pool and local higher education facilities as we continue to grow. Rock Hill has an appealing buzz of creativity and an innovative entrepreneurial spirit. We will do all we can to develop our public-private partnerships and are excited to be part of Rock Hill's continual growth into a hotbed for technology companies. —Jonathan Ferguson CimplxTM Chief Operating Officer
COMPANY PROFILE
Lash Group, a part of AmerisourceBergen, is a patient services company supporting a wide range of healthcare products by providing solutions that assist patients throughout their therapeutic journey. Lash Group associates “Work With Purpose” each day – putting the patient at the center of everything they do. The opening of a new headquarters in 2016 highlights their continued growth and commitment to delivering the highest quality patient care. As the company expanded, it became necessary to find a new home where Lash Group could continue to grow, as well as bring in new talent. They found that home in Kingsley Park, a new mixed-use development in Fort Mill. This vibrant community in York County, SC was ideal – they could build a new dream home to accommodate their growth while maintaining roots in the Charlotte region where they were founded over 20 years ago. Today, Lash Group (which was named one of the “Best Places to Work in South Carolina” in 2016) has nearly 4000 associates nationwide, with approximately half of its workforce in the Charlotte, NC metro region. The offices in Fort Mill allowed them to bring nearly 1500 jobs to York County in 2016, and by the year 2020, they plan to expand to over 2400 jobs with the completion of a second building, which is already underway. Lash Group’s president, Tracy Foster, notes, “We're settling into our beautiful new building – an inspiring space that has been designed with a contemporary, forward-thinking vibe. We’ve created amenities to meet a variety of associate and business needs, and found ways to maximize efficiency and functionality. To ensure our future success, we’ve consciously made investments in our workspace, in our people, and in our technology.”
YORK COUNTY FAST FACTS
YORK COUNTY | 5
Piedmont Medical Center is proud to have once again earned an “A� for excellence in patient safety!
CAN YOUR HOSPITAL SAY THAT?
Learn about all of our awards and recognitions by visiting: myPMC.com/awards
222 S. Herlong Avenue Rock Hill, SC 29732
|
803-329-1234
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 30 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign A, B, C, D and F grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public.
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP & TECHNOLOGY LAUNCHING SUCCESS THE TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR @ KNOWLEDGE PARK The Technology Incubator at Knowledge Park is designed to support the development and formation of technology and innovation companies in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The Incubator provides technical, business, and educational support, along with co-working and meeting space for startups and existing businesses in an effort to create new knowledge economy jobs while building an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Learn more at TIrockhill.org.
1 MILLION CUPS 1 Million Cups is a free, nation-wide program that allows early-stage startups a safe and supportive space to present their business ideas and receive constructive feedback from other business owners and community members. Launched for the first time in York County in November 2016, the program will continue on a monthly schedule, open to any community member interested in participating. For more information and monthly updates, visit 1millioncups.com/yorkcounty.
We’re More than a vendor...
We’re a trusted partner. When you become a Founders Federal Credit Union Business Partner, you give your employees a unique benefit valuable to their financial well-being – the opportunity to join Founders. Becoming a Business Partner is free and there are no membership fees or dues. And once an employee joins with a $5 deposit into a Savings Account, the benefits begin with our wide array of products and services.
Kyle neely
If you would like information about becoming a business partner, please contact Kyle Neely at 803-578-4225.
1-800-845-1614 • foundersfcu.com
Federally insured by NCUA.
YORK COUNTY | 7
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & TECHNOLOGY COMPANY PROFILE: LOOM COWORKING In recent years, Fort Mill has become an ever-changing area for growth and opportunity. A part of this change includes a growing number of independent, contingent, and remote professionals, helping to fuel Fort Mill’s economy. Though mobile, these entrepreneurs, creatives and knowledge workers prefer to work locally and avoid commutes. As a result, isolated, stagnant and distracted independent professionals are flocking to coworking environments as a place to get things done in a vibrant, inspiring and supportive environment. Hence the need for LOOM Coworking, Gallery and Event space— the first of its kind in York County, created to facilitate a new level of collaboration and growth for local independent professionals. LOOM’s members are like-minded in their need for productivity and work/life balance. Members represent varied industries including real estate, travel planning, content writing, counseling and leadership training, recruiting and HR, sales, arts entrepreneurship and all areas of tech. A community lounge of sorts, the open plan office at LOOM replaces the need for working at loud and crowded coffee shops. Casual and formal meeting areas, as well as a podcast studio and event space, provide an impressive backdrop for professionals strapped for an appropriate place to meet clients and coworkers. Organic and unintentional collisions within the space give birth to industry collaborations. Members regularly find assistance, partners, and referrals as well as educational and networking events right under our roof. To learn more about LOOM Coworking contact: Jennifer Blanchard Belk LOOM Coworking, Gallery and Event Space jbelk@loomcoworking.com 803-548-LOOM (5666) loomcoworking.com
Winthrop University MBA Program
Explore the Possibilities. Expand Your Opportunities. An AACSB-accredited global education In-state tuition for residents of South Carolina and the Charlotte, North Carolina area
call today to book your next event or catering!
704 287-4630
Rock Hill, South Carolina 855/437-7557 w mbaoffice@winthrop.edu www.winthrop.edu/mba
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Southcross Business Park Riverwalk Mixed-Use
BMX Track Velodrome Homes Apartments Offices Retail Restaurants Outdoor Amenities
21 Riverwalk Business Park
40,000 SF Spec Building
Waterford Business Park
Winthrop University BYP
21
York Technical College
Antrim Business Park
Knowledge Park University Center
Indoor Sports Arena Hotel Restaurants Retail Performance Space Offices Student Housing Apartments Pedestrian Trails
TechPark Business Park
Old Town Rock Hill
Legacy Park West
21
430,000 SF & 126,000 SF Spec Buildings
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200,000 SF Spec Building
Lakemont Business Park
Clover Westgate Industrial Park 40,000 SF Spec Building
East York Industrial Park
Southbridge Mixed-Use
FUTURE
Kingsley Mixed-Use
Offices Hotels Retail Restaurants Residential
Bradley Industrial Park
York
COUNTY OVERVIEW POPULATION York County: 250,000± Rock Hill: 70,000±
DISTANCE FROM
Contact us York County Economic Development 1830 Second Baxter Crossing Fort Mill, SC 29708 www.YorkCountyED.com David Swenson, Director 803.802.4300
Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina: 19 miles Charlotte-Douglas International Airport: 20 miles (from Rock Hill/Fort Mill border) Charlotte Regional Intermodal Terminal: 20 miles Port of Charleston, South Carolina: 195 miles
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EDUCATION K-12 : THE BEST IN THE REGION In 2016, all four of York County’s K-12 public school districts were ranked in the Top 5 for the Charlotte Metro Area.
YORK COUNTY K-12 SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Data from k12.niche.com
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, & MATH As school districts prepare students for the future needs of businesses, the STEM Development Foundation works to bring together community leaders to foster Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education, work to increase the number of participants in STEM programs in K-12 and to be a hub for STEM activities. One of their most recent successes includes TEEN CEO Day, an interactive career showcase of STEM opportunities for over 2,200 8th graders in York and surrounding counties. Learn more at STEMdevelopmentfoundation.org.
HIGHER EDUCATION York County is home to 3 colleges, all located in Rock Hill, which offer a variety of programs that prepare new graduates to meet the unique needs of the changing economy.
THE TALENT PIPELINE PROGRAM The Talent Pipeline program is designed to create a direct connection (or “pipeline”) between students at educational institutes and local Rock Hill businesses. The program places students with a wide range of skills into paid internships with local businesses in Rock Hill, while also helping those businesses offset the cost of the internship. Learn more at knowledgeparkrockhill.com.
THE
AT KNOWLEDGE PARK
YORK COUNTY | 11
GET 1 GIG.
RIGHT HERE. RIGHT NOW. Google Fiber has blown into Charlotte with the promise that they are ready to get buildings “up to speed” with 1 Gig Internet service. For thousands of Comporium customers, Google wasn’t fast enough.
FIFTEEN LOCAL OFFICE PARKS CAN ALREADY GET ZIPSTREAM GIGABIT INTERNET. Blistering-fast connections that are up to 100 times faster than the average Internet connection
30,000 homes in the area can already get Zipstream Gigabit Internet
Amazing reductions in time needed for medical imaging, website/software development and other companies to transmit very large data files
Call Comporium and find out more about how Zipstream is fast-tracking the Carolinas’ future.
www.comporium.com | 866-889-2667
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LIFESTYLE A PLACE YOU CAN AFFORD TO LOVE Affordable housing, a walkable downtown, world-class sports facilities, and outdoor amenities—all within a short drive of the urban conveniences of Charlotte.
COMPETITION LIVES HERE Home to some of the best sports complexes in the United States, Rock Hill hosts thousands of sports fans every year, and will be home to the 2017 UCI BMX World Championships in July, a world-renowned event that hasn’t been hosted in the United States for more than 16 years. Learn more at rockhillSCbmx.com.
ON THE WATER Whether it’s paddleboarding, kayaking, bass fishing, or just enjoying the sunset, we’ve got you covered.
Catawba River
Riverwalk, Rock Hill
Canoe & Kayak Launch 3.35 Miles of Paved Trails Waterfront Resaurant & Wine Bar Retail & Salon Homes & Apartments Athletic Fields
OLD TOWN ROCK HILL Rock Hill’s original downtown and home to Winthrop University, Old Town is the social, cultural, and artistic heart of the Knowledge Park. See everything Old Town has to offer at OnlyinOldTown.com.
Lake Wylie
325 Miles of Shoreline Championship Golf Course Marinas Tennis & Swimming Complexes Host of Bassmasters Classic Walking Trails Sailing & Rowing Waterside Restaurants
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EVENTS IN ROCK HILL & YORK COUNTY FRESH FOOD MARKETS
2017 CALENDAR OF EVENTS JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
By Way of the Back Door: The African American Experience
St. Patrick’s Day on Main Street
Fort Mill, Rock Hill
Historic Brattonsville
Historic Downtown York Farmers Market
“On Tour” Performance Art Series
June - October
Gettys Art Center, Rock Hill
Markets of McConnells
Old Town Rock Hill
St. Patrick’s Day Festival Clover
Chldren’s Day on the Farm Historic Brattonsville
Opens in June
Old Town Farmers Market May - September
CONCERTS
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
Come-See-Me Festival
South Carolina Strawberry Festival
Bush-n-Vine Peach Festival
Rock Hill
Bush-n-Vine Strawberry Festival York
Fort Mill
National Travel & Tourism Week Rock Hill
Glencairn Garden Bloomfest
Fort Mill Outdoor Concert Series
Rock Hill
June - August
Old Town Amphitheater Summer Concert Series June - August
Summer Food Truck Rallies in Tega Cay May - September
York’s Downtown Live Concert Series
Food Truck Friday at the Fountain
York
Juneteenth Rock Hill
South Carolina Ag+Art Tour Rock Hill
Food Truck Friday at the Fountain Old Town Rock Hill
Old Town Rock Hill
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
Red, White, & BOOM!
Summerfest
Old Town Rock Hill
York
Bush-n-Vine Pumpkin Festival
2017 UCI BMX World Championships
Food Truck Friday at the Fountain
Rock Hill
Old Town Rock Hill
York
Butts & Bluegrass BBQ Festival Clover
May - August
Food Truck Friday at the Fountain Old Town Rock Hill
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Black’s Peaches Autumn Farm Festival
Catawba Cultural Heritage Craft Fair
Christmas Candlelight Tours
York
Rock Hill
York, Historic Brattonsville
Blues & Jazz Festival
Feis Chlobhair: Clover Scottish Games
Old Town Rock Hill
Old Town Rock Hill
Oktoberfest Old Town Rock Hill
Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill Annual Apple Harvest Festival York
Clover
Founders Holiday Ice Skating Rink Old Town Rock Hill
ChristmasVille Founders Holiday Ice Skating Rink Old Town Rock Hill
14 | YORK COUNTY
ON THE HORIZON NEW DEVELOPMENT FOR A NEW ECONOMY UNIVERSITY CENTER AT KNOWLEDGE PARK Rock Hill community leaders, citizens and downtown businesses recently gathered as plans were unveiled for a new mixed use project called “University Center.” This project will connect Winthrop University’s campus with Old Town Rock Hill via a series of residential and commercial development efforts. The development of this 23 acre reclaimed former mill site will include: • • • • • • • •
Commercial office space 150 room hotel and banquet center Retail and food vendors Restaurants and stage complex 500 bed student housing Market rate apartments Active Adult living Outdoor Festival spaces
Learn more at UniversityCenter-RH.com
KINGSLEY Kingsley is a mixed-use, heirloom project being crafted by Clear Springs Development Company. With its rich history from the textile industry, Kingsley will tell a story using its Contemporary Mill architecture, sophisticated gathering spaces and unique place making elements. Kingsley will be a place unlike any other in the area. One that will be both meaningful and unique to Fort Mill as it grows with one foot in the future and one foot in the past. Kingsley offers a distinctive waterfront for dining and relaxing, with a vibrant street life. Already home to two large corporate headquarters, it will soon boost two hotels, luxury apartments over retail space, a large lake, an amphitheater and plenty of small shops and restaurants.
Learn more at kingsleyfortmill.com.
The Fountain Park area is the result of a public-private partnership between the City of Rock Hill and Comporium. Replacing what had been dubbed as the ugliest parking lot in Rock Hill, Fountain Park features a beautifully animated, interactive fountain, a central green space and a small outdoor performance venue. Surrounding Fountain Park is a mixed use development space .The first building constructed was Fountain Park Place, a 48,000 sq. ft. office building. Future phases of development include a 100-room hotel on Main Street facing the park; retail, office, and residential spaces; and a performing arts center.
FountainParkRockHill.com
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University Center at Knowledge ParK COMING TO ROCK HILL 2017-2018 A 23-acre Class “A” mixed-use development between Winthrop University & Downtown Rock Hill
1. 300,000-sf Class “A” (renovated mill) office space 2. 170,000 sf indoor sports arena 3. 200-room hotel
4.
Renovated mill retail spaces to accommodate restaurants, brew pubs, coffee shops, etc. 6, 7. 500-bed student housing facility 8. 200-unit apartment complex
FOR A TOUR OF THE FULL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, GO TO THE FOLLOWING LINK: https://vimeo.com/153396696
Lownstein Building (+300,000 sf office)
Residential-Commercial-Park Area
CONsULTING sERVICEs PROVIDED by:
DEVELOPED by: LOWENsTEIN MANAGEMENT, LLC
(LEASE RATES IN THE MID-TEENS)
FOR LEAsING INFORMATION, CONTACT:
(704) 399-4455 www.sherbertgroup.com
(803) 366-6564 www.tuttleco.com
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