Infrastructure: The Backbone of Laurens County’s Growth
07/01/2024
The infrastructure of Laurens County, South Carolina was designed with business in mind. The multimodal transportation, convenient location, and shovel-ready industrial sites make it a popular place to expand a business. More than 70 industries are already flourishing in Laurens County - read more to see how your industry can thrive with the efficient infrastructure in beautiful South Carolina.
Transportation and Infrastructure in Laurens County
Laurens County is conveniently located in upstate South Carolina. Easy access to omnidirectional highways provides fast access to major southern cities and beyond. Businesses in Laurens County benefit from a location that’s accessible and easy to find. Here’s how close the county is to major cities in the South:
- Less than 40 miles from Greenville, South Carolina
- 1 hour from Columbia, South Carolina
- Less than two hours from Charlotte, North Carolina
- Less than three hours from Atlanta, Georgia
- Less than three hours from the Port of Charleston
Immediate access to I-26 creates a northwest-southeast corridor that runs from the Great Lakes to Charleston, while I-385 connects to I-85, a southeast-northwest corridor stretching from Montgomery, Alabama to Petersburg, Virginia. This highway provides a smooth connection to both Atlanta and Charlotte. Connecting to nearby manufacturing facilities in Spartanburg is simple through U.S. Route 221 and South Carolina State Route 101. Rapid routes and the availability of more than forty leading motor freight carriers give Laurens County industries on-time, on-budget highway delivery.
In addition to the highway system, the Carolina Piedmont Railroad runs 33 miles from East Greenville to Laurens providing Class III rail service for a range of commodities, including agricultural products, steel and scrap, pulp and paper, construction materials, minerals, plastics, and more. In Laurens, CPDR connects to CSX for Class I service stretching over 21,000 miles, from Florida to Canada, from the Eastern Seaboard to the Mississippi River. Also, just 47 miles north, Inland Port Greer’s intermodal Class I rail facilities expedite shipment to the Port of Charleston and upstate markets and manufacturers such as BMW.
The Port of Charleston offers a range of full-service capabilities, from container to bulk to automotive. It is the deepest port on the East Coast of the United States. The average two-way truck turn is about 60 minutes, and the Port’s Supply Chain Authority is equally fast in helping your supply chains develop the highest level of efficiency. The largest container port in North America, the Port of Savannah, is just over 3 hours away.
When considering air travel, there are two executive air travel options: the Laurens County Airport and the Downtown Greenville Airport. Nearby, the Greenville/Spartanburg International Airport provides domestic passenger service and international air cargo service. The close proximity to Charlotte and Atlanta’s major airports makes it cost-effective and convenient to do business.
Finding a Site in Laurens County
Doing business in Laurens County means having access to convenient, thoughtfully-planned transportation in state with a stellar infrastructure. Large industrial sites, some of which are shovel-ready, are available now for businesses looking to expand. The convenience and ease of doing business in Laurens County is part of the reason why our 70 plus industries are thriving here. To learn more about our existing industries or explore your next industrial site, contact us today.
