Greenwood County Continues Record Economic Growth

Greenwood, SC – Greenwood County continued its record-breaking industrial growth in 2022, adding $114 million in capital investments and creating 434 new jobs, the most significant number of new jobs created in Greenwood County in more than a decade.
“Greenwood County continues to be a premier location for new and existing industries.” James Bateman, Economic Development Director for Greenwood County, said. “Our skilled and capable workforce, along with our county’s dedication and commitment to economic growth, has created a flourishing industrial community that continues to attract preeminent companies to Greenwood County.”
A prime example of Greenwood County’s commitment to industry is the North Greenwood Industrial Park (NGIP) which saw E.A. Sween Company purchase the first speculative building in 2022. E.A. Sween Company, a leading supplier of ready-to-eat sandwiches, broke ground on the up-fit of their facility, investing $38 million and creating 300 new jobs in Greenwood County. When the facility is fully operational, the company expects to produce 75 million sandwiches yearly at its Greenwood location.
Flybar, Inc., a premier sporting toy company, announced its new distribution operations in Greenwood County and is expected to be online in early 2023. The company’s $8 million investment will create 36 new jobs. Flybar, Inc. is one of the largest pogo stick manufacturers in the world and recently expanded its product line to include over 500 products. Its new distribution operations will support its increasing inventory and fulfillment needs.
“Greenwood County felt like home from our initial visit,” Tom H. Sween, E.A. Sween Company President and
CEO, said. “We are excited to continue our family legacy in a community that values people, partnerships, and
relationships. E.A. Sween Company is happy to be the first tenant at the North Greenwood Industrial Park and
looks forward to planting deep roots in such a welcoming place.”
“It made perfect sense logistically to locate our toy distribution center in Greenwood,” Saul Wolhendler,
President and CEO for Flybar, Inc., said. “We can’t wait to bring the “Masters of Bounce” to Greenwood, where
the people share our mission to create smiles and lifelong memories for our customers, team, and
communities.”

“We are thrilled to see the addition of new companies and the expansion of existing employers in Greenwood County,” Chuck Moates, Greenwood County Council Chairman, said. “The continuous growth we’ve experienced results from our pro-business attitude and our hardworking residents. Greenwood County is an exciting place to work and live, and it’s rewarding when companies recognize what we in Greenwood have known all along.”
Symrise Pet Food (SPF), a global leader in the pet food industry, announced plans to expand its North American headquarters in Greenwood County by building a new state-of-the-art facility. SPF has been an active partner in the Greenwood community since 2007. Their new $65.5 million investment will create 65 new high-paying jobs and solidifies their commitment to Greenwood County.
Mumford Industries, Inc., a post-industrial plastics recycling company and producer of Retrieve sustainable film products, also announced plans to expand their operations in Greenwood County. The company’s new $2 million investment will create 33 new jobs, allowing them to add capacity to meet customer requirements for recycled materials. This is the first project announcement in Ninety Six since 2005.
With two industrial sites in the process of certification, a recently completed pad-ready site, and another speculative building to be constructed in 2023 for the next tenant at the NGIP, the economic growth in Greenwood County isn’t slowing down in the coming year. Greenwood County Economic Development will continue building strong relationships and focusing on recruitment and retention efforts to show all Greenwood County has to offer.
“The exponential economic growth of Greenwood County fuels an increased need to fill the hundreds of jobs generated by new and expanding industry,” added Bateman. “We look forward to continuing to implement our workforce development strategies with our partners at Greenwood Together to sustain a strong labor pool and a direct pipeline for hiring employees.”