business owners agree - Greenville is the “healthiest city in America
Greenville, SC (PRWEB) January 11, 2015
Chiropractors in Greenville SC and other health-focused business owners agree - Greenville is the “healthiest city in America”. On the heels of an Economic Development study which found that Bikers, Hikers and other outdoor-enthusiasts visiting the popular trail pump $6.7 million into the local economy annually, there is compelling evidence that the health-conscious residents of Greenville deserve to be called the healthiest in the country. “The Swamp Rabbit Trail is just one sign of a healthy economy and a health-focused city,” said Dr. Joseph Esposito, the President of AlignLife, a chiropractic and natural health franchise opening six new offices in the Greenville market.
How fast are health companies like AlignLife growing in Greenville? According to the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, S.C. health-focused companies, including weight loss, nutrition, and pain management businesses in Greenville, are hiring employees at a rate that’s faster than the national average, with businesses in Greenville and others in northwestern South Carolina expected to post more than a 2.2% job growth this year. “Since we opened up shop in the Spring of 2014, we’ve hired more than 240 people and we’re still growing,” said Jimi Williams, manager of Cabela’s Sporting Goods in Greenville. “Fishing gear is very popular at our store because there are beautiful lakes within 50 miles of Greenville.”
Other sign of an increasingly health-focused Grenville economy include:
- Greenville won the popular vote in a survey conducted by Outside Magazine to find America’s healthiest town. Marisa Marshall, a reader of the magazine said “I’ve lived in Greenville for 12 years and have gone from couch potato to marathon runner.”
- George Hincapie, the 17 time Tour de France racer and longtime teammate of Lance Armstrong decided to settle in Greenville, opening a cyclist-focused hotel—the Hotel Domestique. Hincapie has described Greenville as having “the best cycling in all of the East Coast.”
- Basspro is on track to open its third South Carolina store in nearby Greer. The 120,000 square foot facility will sell hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor gear, beginning in early 2016.
- The owner of 9Round fitness franchise, born in Greenville, plans to open up more stores in the Carolinas; stores that will augment the 133 9Round stores open across the US and Canada.
The 18-mile Swamp Rabbit Trail—a virtual pedestrian super-highway— as well as the strong cycling and running communities – are given credit for the city’s emerging reputation as a health-focused community. “The trail is only 30 feet wide but it courses through 18 miles of beautiful countryside,” said Ty Houck, Director of Greenways Natural and Historic Resources for Greenville County Recreation. “The trail breeds the kind of lifestyle where people can be active all year long and, in fact, they are.”
“We’re fortunate to have public-private partnerships like the Greenville Health System’s Swamp Rabbit Trail to enhance our quality of life with easily accessible outdoor activities,” said Greenville Chamber of Commerce President CEO Ben Haskew. “Our natural resources for a healthy lifestyle are huge attractions for both professionals and businesses seeking to relocate.”
Because the Greenville economy was based on textile manufacturing for decades, it was regarded as the “Textile Capital of the World”. However, to reflect today’s diverse, health-focused economy, resident and civic leaders suggest a new slogan that’s more descriptive of the city’s 61,000 residents and its economy: “Greenville: the Health Capital of the US”.