In late March, a delegation of leaders from the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance traveled to Greenville, South Carolina, for a three-day intercity visit designed to inspire innovation, deepen community partnerships, and learn from a region that has undergone a remarkable transformation.

Why Greenville? Like Lynchburg, Greenville is a mid-sized city that has successfully blended its historic charm with forward-thinking economic development and a thriving downtown. From revitalized public spaces to workforce initiatives and a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, Greenville offers insights that align well with Lynchburg’s aspirations. And, let’s not forget that they have maximized their river through their downtown.

Over the course of the trip, attendees engaged in sessions with regional leaders including Mayor Knox White and representatives from the Upstate Alliance, Greenville Chamber, and local business CEOs. Topics ranged from building a strong workforce pipeline and fostering entrepreneurship to smart urban planning and housing development. Tours of Clemson’s International Center for Automotive Research and Greenville Technical College brought to life how education and industry are partnering for the future.

The power of this trip wasn’t just in the presentations—it was in the people. Hosted lunches, informal dinners, and site visits offered invaluable time for connection, reflection, and exchange of ideas among peers. Participants especially appreciated the candid discussions on how Greenville built alignment across public and private sectors to drive growth.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees praised the quality of the programming, the opportunity to hear directly from local changemakers, and the chance to build deeper relationships with fellow travelers. One attendee noted, “It was inspiring to see what’s possible when a city rallies behind a vision and works together. This gave me fresh ideas to take home.”

As we return to our region, the Greenville visit serves as a reminder of what’s possible when vision meets collaboration. The Alliance embarks on our next three- year strategic planning process this year and this trip provided a thoughtful process to help us as we vision for what’s possible for our region.  We’re grateful for the insights and look forward to applying them to continue building a vibrant, resilient, and forward-looking Lynchburg Region.