Inland Port Greer fuels BMW, SC economy. After $30 million expansion, here's what's next.

Bob Montgomery, Herald-Journal
·3 min read

A major driver of growth in the Upstate since it opened in 2013, Inland Port Greer celebrated a $30 million expansion that includes 8,000 feet of new rail line that is expected to meet cargo demands through 2040, officials said.

"We are proud to play a role in supporting Upstate companies' success," SC Ports Authority President and CEO Barbara Melvin said Friday. "The growth of Inland Port Greer has truly been on the fast track."

Located 212 miles northwest of the Port of Charleston, Inland Port Greer's first customer was BMW Manufacturing Plant Spartanburg, the largest auto exporter in the U.S. in terms of value for the past eight years, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Last year, a record 433,810 BMW vehicles were produced at Plant Spartanburg and 219,000 of them were transported by rail, then shipped through the Port of Charleston to markets worldwide, according to the Ports Authority.

State Rep. Bill Sandifer, R-Seneca, who serves on the Review and Oversight Commission on the State Ports Authority, said growth of activity at the Inland Port has exceeded expectations.

Located on a 100-acre site off Interstate 85 near Highway 101, in its first year the Inland Port handled 42,488 containers. Last year, it handled more than 150,000 containers that were moved in or out on Norfolk Southern trains.

Record-setting business growthSpartanburg leaders aim to keep building

"Nine years ago when this facility was built, I don't anybody ever thought it would be doubling in capacity within less than a decade," Sandifer said. "My projection is, we may well be back here in five years because I think the growth is going to be here."

On Nov. 18, 2022 the community and South Carolina leaders celebrated the completion of the Inland Port Greer rail expansion. This expansion phase added significant cargo capacity to the port. South Carolina leaders talked about how the port's infrastructure drives economic growth in the Upstate and South Carolina.
On Nov. 18, 2022 the community and South Carolina leaders celebrated the completion of the Inland Port Greer rail expansion. This expansion phase added significant cargo capacity to the port. South Carolina leaders talked about how the port's infrastructure drives economic growth in the Upstate and South Carolina.

State Sen. Harvey Peeler, R-Gaffney, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, called Inland Port Greer "the strongest link in the Southeastern supply chain.

"Inland Port extends to the Port of Charleston, 212 miles away with overnight rail service with Norfolk Southern, creating more reliability and speed for companies," Peeler said.

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Melvin said since 2013, other major companies joining BMW as users of the Inland include Michelin, Adidas, Eastman, First Solar and TTI Floorcare.

She said Visual Comfort & Company – which makes designer and architectural lighting and ceiling fans – plans to use the Inland Port when operations start in January 2023. The company recently announced a $62 million investment with 125 new jobs at Smith Farms Industrial Park in Greer.

On Nov. 18, 2022 the community and South Carolina leaders celebrated the completion of the Inland Port Greer rail expansion. This expansion phase added significant cargo capacity to the port. South Carolina leaders talked about how the port's infrastructure drives economic growth in the Upstate and South Carolina. Congressman William Timmons speaks at the event.

Here's what's next at Inland Port Greer

Ed Stehmeyer, SC Ports' general manager of projects and design, said the first phase of the $30 million expansion included building two more rail storage tracks and one processing track.

The next phase involves expanding the container yard by 15 acres to the east and west to handle 50% more cargo and doubling the size of the existing chassis yard. The full project is slated for completion by the end of 2024, he said.

The SC Ports Authority owns and operates the ports and intermodal facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. An estimated 225,000 jobs statewide are generated by port activity, with $63.4 billion in yearly economic impact.

Inland Port Greer employs 60 people, according to Melvin.

On Nov. 18, 2022 the community and South Carolina leaders celebrated the completion of the Inland Port Greer rail expansion. This expansion phase added significant cargo capacity to the port. South Carolina leaders talked about how the port's infrastructure drives economic growth in the Upstate and South Carolina. South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, left, at the Inland Port in Greer.

Lt. Gov. Pam Evette said the Inland Port is a major driver of economic development in the Upstate.

"As the governor says, how do you spell port?" she said. "M-o-n-e-y. It attracts businesses here so they can get their goods out quickly.

"The governor and I are committed to keep growing South Carolina, to continue with our roads, expanding our port" Evette said. "And what you see here is the exact right team to get that done."

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Inland port Greer celebrates $30 million expansion. What to expect.