Workforce
Diverse Workforce
Greenwood County boasts a modern and diverse economic base, from Fujifilm’s North American manufacturing, distribution, and research and development headquarters to nationally recognized genetics research at the Greenwood Genetic Center. Approximately 26% of the local workforce is dedicated to manufacturing.
Guido Driesen
President and CEO, Capsugel
Innovative Education
Educational opportunities are easily accessible in Greenwood, with three fully accredited school districts, five private schools, two colleges which provide a wide range of educational opportunities. The Partnership Alliance and the Foundation, as well as many other community and philanthropic organizations, continually support the pursuit of adult education and the training that sets our workforce apart from the ordinary.
- The Greenwood Promise
- Industry Showcase
- Piedmont Technical College
- Lander University
- Clemson University Center for Human Genetics
- K-12 Programs
The Greenwood Promise
The Greenwood Promise is a county-wide educational initiative that promises every student who graduates from a Greenwood County public/private/accredited homeschool the opportunity to receive at least an associate’s degree or certificate from Piedmont Technical College. Students can attend another technical school within the state if their desired degree or major is not offered locally. The tuition assistance program is place-based and ‘last dollar’ and will pay remaining tuition and fees after State and Federal scholarships and grants for all eligible students.
For more information, please visit The Greenwood Promise.
Industry Showcase
The Business & Industry Showcase is an annual event designed to help the youth in Greenwood County understand the decisions that they need to make now in order to thrive in their future careers. During the Showcase students in 9th grade from the three public school districts, private schools, and homeschool network in Greenwood County as well as seniors from the G. Frank Russell Technology Center have an opportunity to interact with company representatives from local manufacturers and major industries to learn more about the pathway they need to take to gain the skills and knowledge needed for specific career clusters.
Piedmont Technical College
Founded in 1966 and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Piedmont Technical College is a comprehensive two-year college offering university-level education and hands-on career training. Piedmont Technical College is part of the South Carolina State Technical College System. For more than 50 years, the SC Technical College System has powered readySC™, which provides well-trained employees to qualifying companies that invest in South Carolina. A comprehensive and customized process, readySC™ includes recruiting, screening and training, tailoring guidelines, and curriculum to fit a company’s needs.
Lander University
Lander University has been providing educational and cultural opportunities since its founding in 1872 as Williamston Female College in Williamston, S.C. The college moved to Greenwood, S.C., in 1904 and was renamed Lander in honor of its founder, Samuel Lander. It became part of the state system of higher education in 1973. With approximately 2,700 students, Lander is now a coeducational, state-assisted, comprehensive, regional, four-year university with traditional liberal arts and science programs and professional programs in business, education, and nursing.
Clemson University Center for Human Genetics
Ranked No. 20 (U.S. News & World Report 2015) among national public universities, Clemson University is a major, land-grant, science- and engineering-oriented research university that maintains a strong commitment to teaching and student success. The Clemson University Center for Human Genetics opened in 2018 in the Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC) Partnership Campus in Greenwood, SC. In this research and graduate education facility, students share opportunities between GGC and Clemson, and selected faculty of both institutions enjoy joint appointments. This team, led by a world-renowned geneticist, Dr. Trudy Mackay, works with international collaborators to accelerate the understanding of both common and rare genetic disorders leading to treatment advances and hope for families around the world.
K-12 Programs
The main objective of our three school districts (50, 51 and 52) is to develop productive lifelong learners while recognizing individual worth and cultural diversity by creating a positive school climate with innovative educational experiences, actively involving parents and community. Ongoing improvement in state-based and national scoring systems reinforces the fact that our educators are on the right track on behalf of our children.
Greenwood District 50, the largest of the three school districts, offers schools of choice, including: Greenwood School of Inquiry, ACTS Magnet School, STEMS Magnet School, AVID, Montessori Education, G. Frank Russell Technology Center, Genesis Education Center, and Adult Education programs.
- The Greenwood Promise
The Greenwood Promise is a county-wide educational initiative that promises every student who graduates from a Greenwood County public/private/accredited homeschool the opportunity to receive at least an associate’s degree or certificate from Piedmont Technical College. Students can attend another technical school within the state if their desired degree or major is not offered locally. The tuition assistance program is place-based and ‘last dollar’ and will pay remaining tuition and fees after State and Federal scholarships and grants for all eligible students.
For more information, please visit The Greenwood Promise.
- Industry Showcase
The Business & Industry Showcase is an annual event designed to help the youth in Greenwood County understand the decisions that they need to make now in order to thrive in their future careers. During the Showcase students in 9th grade from the three public school districts, private schools, and homeschool network in Greenwood County as well as seniors from the G. Frank Russell Technology Center have an opportunity to interact with company representatives from local manufacturers and major industries to learn more about the pathway they need to take to gain the skills and knowledge needed for specific career clusters.
- Piedmont Technical College
Founded in 1966 and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Piedmont Technical College is a comprehensive two-year college offering university-level education and hands-on career training. Piedmont Technical College is part of the South Carolina State Technical College System. For more than 50 years, the SC Technical College System has powered readySC™, which provides well-trained employees to qualifying companies that invest in South Carolina. A comprehensive and customized process, readySC™ includes recruiting, screening and training, tailoring guidelines, and curriculum to fit a company’s needs.
- Lander University
Lander University has been providing educational and cultural opportunities since its founding in 1872 as Williamston Female College in Williamston, S.C. The college moved to Greenwood, S.C., in 1904 and was renamed Lander in honor of its founder, Samuel Lander. It became part of the state system of higher education in 1973. With approximately 2,700 students, Lander is now a coeducational, state-assisted, comprehensive, regional, four-year university with traditional liberal arts and science programs and professional programs in business, education, and nursing.
- Clemson University Center for Human Genetics
Ranked No. 20 (U.S. News & World Report 2015) among national public universities, Clemson University is a major, land-grant, science- and engineering-oriented research university that maintains a strong commitment to teaching and student success. The Clemson University Center for Human Genetics opened in 2018 in the Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC) Partnership Campus in Greenwood, SC. In this research and graduate education facility, students share opportunities between GGC and Clemson, and selected faculty of both institutions enjoy joint appointments. This team, led by a world-renowned geneticist, Dr. Trudy Mackay, works with international collaborators to accelerate the understanding of both common and rare genetic disorders leading to treatment advances and hope for families around the world.
- K-12 Programs
The main objective of our three school districts (50, 51 and 52) is to develop productive lifelong learners while recognizing individual worth and cultural diversity by creating a positive school climate with innovative educational experiences, actively involving parents and community. Ongoing improvement in state-based and national scoring systems reinforces the fact that our educators are on the right track on behalf of our children.
Greenwood District 50, the largest of the three school districts, offers schools of choice, including: Greenwood School of Inquiry, ACTS Magnet School, STEMS Magnet School, AVID, Montessori Education, G. Frank Russell Technology Center, Genesis Education Center, and Adult Education programs.
Workforce Training
One of the most critical needs that businesses face now, and will continue to face in the future, is finding qualified, skilled employees. The Greenwood Partnership Alliance in collaboration with a wide array of business, education, and community partners works to continuously improve the systems and institutions that educate and train the emerging and incumbent workforce.