TD Bank opens its wallet in a big way to support minority-owned businesses … Greenville Chamber of Commerce holds its 133 annual meeting … and Colorado-based WOW! invests $30 million in the Upstate’s digital backbone. These are just a few headlines in the past month you might have missed from Upstate Business Journal.
TD Bank gives $1 million to CommunityWorks
The investment is part of TD Bank’s Equity Fund to support minority-owned small businesses. CommunityWorks will use the funds to serve minority business owners by offering services such as coaching and technical support to entrepreneurs as well as tailored loan products ranging between $900 and $250,000. The lending institution will also offer loans of up $500,000 for small and minority affordable-housing developers.
“TD has been a long-time partner of CommunityWorks with a strong commitment to supporting underserved entrepreneurs and communities through investing and volunteer service,” said CommunityWorks CEO Tammie Hoy Hawkins. “This generous investment will allow us to expand our reach to serve more minority entrepreneurs in the Upstate and across South Carolina through lending and support. Together we will work to increase economic opportunities for diverse businesses.”
The Greenville Chamber honored a slew of businesses and business leaders
During its 133rd annual meeting May 11 at Fluor Field, Greenville Chamber honored leaders like longtime Greenville architect Joe Pazdan, who received the Leadership Greenville Distinguished Award; Mary Duckett ,who received the Ben Haskew Collaboration Award, and Richard Hagins who received the Chairman’s Award. Chamber President Carlos Phillips also unveiled the organization’s new tagline: “Growing a Greater Greenville” and discussed program highlights.
Jordon named SC’s Minority Small Business Person of the Year
James Jordon, president and founder of the Jordon Construction Co. in Greenville, is the US Small Business Administration’s choice for SC Minority Small Business Person of the Year. He has more than 22 years of experience leading successful businesses across a variety of industries.
“I am honored to be recognized by the Small Business Administration as the Minority Small Business Person of the Year,” Jordon said. “We pride ourselves on curating great relationships and the SBA is an incredible organization that helps foster and build great relationships.” You may remember Jordon from his January spot on 60 Minutes, when he and other Greenville-area business leaders shared their ideas on how the post-pandemic era will play out in their respective industries.
Another off-campus housing option coming to Clemson
Tom Winkopp Development of Clemson and Core Spaces of Chicago are teaming to bring more off-campus housing to Clemson. The 140-acre, walkable property will add 4,000 beds to a 1,400-bed student housing development known as The Pier. There will also be pools, outdoor grills, waterfront trails and access to Lake Hartwell.
The student village is one piece of a larger master-planned, mixed-use project on a 325-acre site to be developed by Tom Winkopp Development and partners during the next three to five years. Winkopp and partners have owned the land since 2007.
At the car wash …
City of Greenville’s Board of Zoning Appeals (or, “BZA” as insiders like to call it) approved plans for a ModWash, a proposed automatic tunnel car wash, to go in at 1046 N. Pleasantburg Drive. The location will include vacuums, microfiber towels, window cleaner, mat cleaner and, possible, a bug prep station. If you’re wondering what a bug prep station is, so are we.