When a major employer closes, the impact on a community can be significant. In Greenwood, South Carolina, the arrival of a growing clean energy manufacturer helped provide new opportunities for local workers facing an uncertain future
Just as ES Foundry, a manufacturer supplying the utility-scale solar industry, ramped up operations in Greenwood, another local manufacturer announced its closure, putting hundreds of employees out of work.
The timing created an opportunity to connect experienced manufacturing workers with new jobs. The Greenwood Chamber of Commerce joined other community and workforce development partners in supporting efforts to help displaced employees find new roles. Partners held multiple job fairs at the closing facility, bringing together ES Foundry, Piedmont Technical College, other hiring companies, and additional workforce resources.
“We’re excited about the investment and jobs ES Foundry is bringing to Greenwood,” said Trentsie Williams, president and CEO of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce. “By manufacturing American-made solar components right here in our community, ES Foundry is creating opportunities for local workers while strengthening our nation’s domestic energy supply chain. It’s exciting to know that what’s being made in Greenwood will have an impact far beyond our community.”
ES Foundry hired many of the displaced workers, helping retain experienced manufacturing talent in the Greenwood area. Williams estimates the company now employs 400 to 500 people and is preparing for another expansion that will create more jobs.
For Greenwood, ES Foundry's growth demonstrates how clean energy manufacturing supports local economies, creates jobs, and strengthens American manufacturing. It also emphasizes the value of partnerships among businesses, chambers, and workforce development partners in connecting local talent with new opportunities.
