Prisma Health’s $350 million expansion at Greer Memorial Hospital will expand the
bed count to 175. Rendering provided by Prisma Health
Prisma Health will begin work this fall on $350 million expansion at Greer Memorial Hospital
Greer
- Prisma Health will begin site preparation this fall on a $350 million expansion at its Greer Memorial Hospital campus which
will more than double patient beds and significantly expand outpatient care with construction of a medical park.
The work will include the following:
• New pediatric and cardiovascular specialty
units.
• Expansions will roughly double size of emergency department, labor and delivery,
intensive care and surgical units
• Additional primary and specialty care offices in the
new building, including a new ear, nose and throat practice and expanded urology, cardiology, pulmonology and neurology practices.
• Additional pediatric specialty practices will also be added.
The two dovetailing
projects are Prisma Health’s largest investment in expanding an Upstate medical campus in the past 17 years.
“We’re excited to grow with our communities and provide greater access to high-quality care as we continue
to transform the way healthcare is delivered,” said Prisma Health President and CEO Mark O’Halla. “Prisma
Health was formed to help create a better state of health for patients, families and communities. We work to make that goal
a reality every day and continue to build on our deep understanding of the needs of our communities.”
The hospital expansion will increase Greer Memorial’s licensed bed count to 175, a 93-bed jump. The S.C. Department
of Public Health approved Prisma’s Certificate of Need application in June.
“This
expansion will fundamentally transform Greer Memorial Hospital’s ability to care for this community,” said Todd
Walker, Prisma’s CEO for Greer Memorial Hospital. “Greer is one of the fastest growing communities in the state,
and we’re proud to grow alongside it. This investment will allow our team to continue a legacy of delivering high-quality
care and positive patient experiences.”
Construction on the $250 million hospital expansion
and renovation will be done in phases. It’s expected to be completed in early 2028. It will include construction of
a three-story 110,000-square-foot tower adjacent to the existing hospital.
Construction on the
$100 million medical office building will begin in early 2026 and is expected to be ready for its first patient by mid-2027.
The medical park will be built on South Buncombe Road directly across from Greer Memorial. The project will include a three-story
100,000-square-foot outpatient office with easy-access parking.
Prisma has had a presence
in Greer since 1959 with its Allen Bennett Memorial Hospital, later transitioning to Greer Memorial Hospital in its current
location on South Buncombe.
Spartanburg County Foundation awards multi-year
grant to Palmetto InnovaSphere to advance life sciences recruitment
Information courtesy of
OneSpartanburg, Inc.
The Spartanburg County Foundation
recently announced a multi-year grant to Palmetto InnovaSphere, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing life sciences,
biotechnology, and digital health innovation across South Carolina and the Southeast. This strategic investment will support
Palmetto InnovaSphere’s initiative to attract innovative life sciences companies to Spartanburg County fostering economic
growth, educational advancement, and improved healthcare outcomes.
The grant will enable Palmetto
InnovaSphere to conduct comprehensive market analysis, develop targeted recruitment strategies, and collaborate with key stakeholders—including
educational institutions, healthcare providers, and economic development agencies—to create a thriving ecosystem for
life sciences companies in the region.
“lnnovaSphere's mission to drive innovation and economic
development in the bioscience sector presents a unique opportunity to bolster Spartanburg's position as a leader in this field,”
said Allen Smith, President/CEO of OneSpartanburg Inc. “By supporting InnovaSphere, the Spartanburg County Foundation
is investing in an initiative that promises to deliver substantial benefits to the community, including job creation, educational
opportunities, and enhanced economic mobility.”
Palmetto InnovaSphere is positioning
to be a regionalized magnet that fosters and nurtures innovative life science companies towards commercialization and translation
of new products to clinical practice. Palmetto InnovaSphere is already making an impact through their recruitment of and work
with projects such as AI Body, a digital physiology model for medical education; Project Eraser, a novel therapy for pancreatic
cancer; Project Defend, a groundbreaking cancer vaccine and Project Rehab, a digital technology in mental health and PTSD
working closely with Veterans and First-Responders. These efforts reflect the organization’s commitment to innovation
and measurable impact.
In the first year of the initiative, Palmetto InnovaSphere will partner
with USC Upstate’s Career Catalyst program to introduce students to career opportunities in the life sciences. In subsequent
years, they are in discussions to expand the program to Wofford College, Spartanburg Community College, VCOM and Converse
University.
As this initiative unfolds, it promises to position Spartanburg as a regional hub
for life sciences innovation. This multi-year collaboration reflects a shared vision for the future. By attracting leading-edge
life sciences companies and expanding educational and economic opportunities, Palmetto InnovaSphere and the Spartanburg County
Foundation are laying the groundwork for a healthier and more prosperous community for generations to come.
Council hears update on downtown construction, Morgan Square, Clock Tower
At the
meeting on Monday, July 14, Spartanburg City Council heard an update on the Morgan Square redevelopment process and nearby
downtown developments from City Manager Chris Story. Referencing developments set to get underway along Broad and W Main Streets
that will take roughly 275 surface parking spaces out of circulation while the areas are under construction, Story recommended
postponing construction on the square’s redevelopment until at least the end of 2025.
Previously
planned enhancements included permanently pedestrianizing the sections of W Main and Dunbar streets along the square and raising
those streets to curb level, creating an enlarged performance lawn at the square's eastern end with public restrooms and a
staffed visitor kiosk, and adaptive seating include lounging terraces, movable furniture and bench swings. The plan also included
a permanent outdoor dining zone for adjacent restaurants. Council members signaled they may also reconsider design elements
of the previously proposed plan, and the City may pursue external funding opportunities when the square’s redevelopment
plan is eventually reconsidered.
Story also shared an update on the downtown clock tower, which
is to be moved later this year to make way for a street-scaping project accompanying a new hotel and mixed use development
planned for the block bound by W Main, S Spring, W Broad streets, and S Daniel Morgan Avenue. The streetscaping will allow
the new developments to align with existing buildings along W Main, creating a more cohesive curbline and sightline. In order
to move the curbline the needed distance, the clock tower, currently located within a median between the two lanes of W Main
Street, will need to be removed.
While the clock tower itself only dates to the late 1970s, the
clock it houses has historical roots dating back to 1881. It was moved to its current location in 1989.
While Council members acknowledged the need to remove the clock tower from its current location, several shared that
they would prefer to see the clock and tower honored in a substantial way. No decision was made regarding the clock or tower
on July 14, and Council is expected to take up the issue formally at a later date.
Empowering
young learners: iCAN Summer Institute puts Spartanburg-area students on path to college
Adapted
from information provided by Wofford News Services
For
many of the students who attended the 2025 iCAN Summer Institute, it was their first time stepping foot on Wofford’s
campus. They left the three-day experience with the tools and the confidence to feel comfortable returning to a college campus
in the coming years.
The iCAN Summer Institute was held June 11-13 at Wofford, bringing juniors
and seniors from around Spartanburg County to learn about college life. The institute was hosted by iCAN (College Access Network)
Spartanburg, which is a program of Wofford’s Center for Community-Based Learning, and the Citizen Scholars Program,
which serves more than 200 students in the region.
“The institute helps knock down barriers
and empower young learners to set themselves up for a college education,” says Dr. James Stukes, assistant dean of student
success and college access.
The iCAN Summer Institute gives its participants a strong start by
breaking down critical aspects of the college application and enrollment process and providing a roadmap to set them up for
success in the admission process.
“We assist the students with creating and starting their
Common Applications, creating their FSA IDs, updating resumes, having discussions on scholarships searches and creating their
college list, just to name a few things,” Stukes says.
Students also get a taste of college
academics through labs and workshops held by Wofford professors and coordinated by the college’s Minorities in STEM
program. Subjects of study this year included psychology, physics, chemistry and biology.
Dr.
Amelia Atwell, assistant professor of biology, immediately saw the impact of her joint biology and chemistry lab with Dr.
Grace Schwartz, assistant professor of chemistry. Atwell’s lab involved introducing students to various macroinvertebrate
species indicative of healthy water like mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies, as well as other interesting critters like
dragonflies and crayfish.
“There was one young man that was a budding scientist, and it
was so great to see him excited about the insects,” Atwell says. “I can see him being able to take this experience
and saying, ‘I want to go to college to be an entomologist!’”
Participants learned
to live on their own, staying in residence halls both nights of the program while enjoying fun outings with their counterparts,
including karaoke night in Stukes’ office and a trip to Moe’s BBQ.
According to Susan
Little, executive director of Citizen Scholars, many students who attend the iCAN Summer Institute come from non-traditional
home structures and low socioeconomic backgrounds, often living at or near the poverty line. They typically have limited opportunities
to visit college campuses, and the anxiety surrounding college can create significant barriers.
“This
experience is truly life-changing,” she says. “Many of our alumni who attended the institute remember the fear
and uncertainty they felt before their overnight stay — but they left feeling empowered, realizing that living on a
college campus wasn’t just possible but within their reach.”
Twelve South
Carolina breweries win U.S. Open Beer Championship medals
The South Carolina Brewers Guild (SCBG)
announced that 12 South Carolina breweries took home 17 total medals (three gold, eight silver, six bronze) in the 2025 U.S.
Open Beer Championship.
The U.S. Open Beer Championship — the third-largest beer competition
in the United States — has been around since 2009, when 47 brewers participated.
Last year,
seven South Carolina breweries took home 11 total awards.
This year, Double Stamp Brewery (Greenville),
Holy City Brewing (Charleston), Liability Brewing Co. (Greenville), Low Tide Brewing (John’s Island), Magnetic South
Brewery (Anderson/Greenville), Model A Brewing Co. (Tega Cay), Replay Brewing (Fort Mill), Savage Craft Ale Works (Columbia),
Side Hustle Brewing Company (Hilton Head Island), The Southern Growl Beer Company (Greer), and Wild Heart Brewing Company
(Hartsville) all took home awards.
“To be able to improve from last year, when the state
won 11 total awards is amazing. We are thrilled to see so many different breweries from the state represented on one of the
top stages for beer competitions,” SCBG President Steve Tolson said.
The awards are:
Gold
Hoppy Lager (India Pale Lager), Low Tide Brewing
Anniversary Stout (American-Style Fruit
Beer – Raspberry), Model A Brewing
Marsh Water (Root Beer – A: Kids), Low Tide Brewing
Silver
EZ Baked (Experimental
IPA), Replay Brewing
Deez Cocoa-Nuts (Pastry Stout), Savage Craft Ale Works
Pluff Mud Porter (Brown Porter), Holy City Brewing
Ultra Secret Enigma (Light Lager),
Liability Brewing Co.
Blue North (American-Style Fruit Beer – Blueberry), Wild Heart Brewing
Co.
Blueberry Cobbler Payday (Fruit/Wheat Beer – General/Other), Side Hustle Brewing Company
Red Your Last Rytes (Rye Beer), Liability Brewing Co.
Transplant (Collaboration Beer:
IPAs), Wild Heart Brewing Co. + Liability Brewing, Magnetic South, Double Stamp & Replay Brewing
Bronze
Bury Me In Strata (Single Hop IPA),
The Southern Growl Beer Company
Feral Garden Gnome (Belgian and French Ale), Liability Brewing
Co.
Beach Vibes (Smoothie Sour), Savage Craft Ale Works
Purr Pils
(American Style Pilsener), The Southern Growl Beer Company
Painkiller (Belgian-Style Fruit Beer),
Holy City Brewing
Brunch with Santa (Barrel-Aged Breakfast Stout), Low Tide Brewing.
Liability, Model A Brewing, Savage Craft Ale Works, and Wild Heart Brewing Company
are all multi-year, repeat winners, having all medaled in 2023 and 2024.
Holy City Brewing and
Side Hustle Brewing Company both medaled in 2023 while Low Tide medaled in 2024.
The South Carolina
Brewers Guild is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization that works on behalf of South Carolina’s breweries and brewpubs.
