Are there plans to rename the expanding airport? – There has been no discussion of name change from what it is today.
It seems like the airport is at 80% of capacity compared to pre-COVID – how does that compare to national average? – GSP is right where they need to be compared to the national average and other small regional airports.
Resource Update
Michael Brown, Sustaining Way – Sustaining Way is a community-based non-profit that uses education and collaboration to keep communities affordable, care for the environment, and care for its people. Seek to come into a community, based on invite, locate a property to bolster and create a living-learning opportunity in the neighborhood. Areas of Sustainability: food and landscape, energy and energy efficiency, consumption and waste, healthy lifestyles, environmental sustainability, and social sustainability.
Steve Mims, Alston Wilkes Society – AWS is in Columbia, SC based organization with a footprint around the state that covers youth homes, transitional houses, and re-entry programs that connect veterans to affordable and sustained housing. Case managers work with these veterans to secure employment, staying connected to VA services, and avoid isolation while maintaining strong relationships to meet veterans’ needs.
Chief TJ Chaudoin, City of Greenwood (c:864-992-7304)
Chief Howie Thompson, City of Greenville
Community Leaders
Dr. Toney Parks, Senior Pastor at Mt. Sinai Baptist, and Chaplain to Greenville City Police
Mayor Terence Roberts, Mayor of Anderson, and Board of Directors Chair of TATT
Keishe Nelson, Credit Manager at Michelin Community Volunteer
Challenges to Hiring, Recruiting, Training
Chief Chaudoin
Recruiting
Relying more on communities
Focus on minorities
It’s a competitive market
Develop open dialogue with council persons in each zone
Reduce turnover
The hiring process takes six months, including:
First application
Panel interview
Psychological evaluation
Nelson Denney Test
Polygraph
Physical
Conditional offer
Academy
PTO training program for 7-8 months
How have they been recruiting
Minority campaigns partnered with Army, Army PAYS program, first black female applicant currently in process, veterans to top of pool
Hiring workshops at convention center, with physical agility test
Hosted African American men ___org) at range
Yard signs in neighborhoods
Find Value Be Valued campaign, hired eight with previous experience
Chief Thompson
Some of the minimum standards set by state law (an average of 6% of applications received are eligible):
At least 21 years old
Citizen
High School Diploma or equivalent
SC driver’s license
No driver’s license suspensions
No felonies, crimes of moral turpitude
Good credit history
Chief Hamby
Studies show that 29% of officers leave within first year of being hired nationally. An additional 40% leave the professional within 5 years. 8-20% stay to reach retirement. According to the SC Academy, in five years, 50% of the class is no longer in law enforcement after graduation.
Creativity is required in retention. Opportunities in Greer are available to:
Work toward being detective
Become a school resource officer
Work toward the K-9 Team or drone team
Participate in cross-training,
Receive private vendor training
Play a role in future planning and be part of a team
Recruiting
Greer offers a cash incentive to current officers to recruit – $500 for new hire plus $500 at end of probation period
College kids from Citizen’s Academy, from Greenville Tech, North Greenville University, Bob Jones, Anderson, and Furman
Develop relationships early, tour, take to lunch, ride alongs
Community Leader Q&A
Pastor Parks
What is the plan to encourage Latinx population?
Chief Chaudoin
Become actively involved in the community to build relationships for the future
Chief Thompson
Largest growing population in Greenville
Partnered with Hispanic Alliance job fairs
Aside-15% of the department is female
Chief Hamby
Focusing on all minorities and getting them to apply
Mayor Roberts
How can elected officials help with recruiting and retention?
Chief Chaudoin
Bring elected officials along into communities
Focusing on recruiting next generation of hires
Chief Hamby
Provide leads of interested parties
Chief Thompson
Invite us to speak even to events you might not think are related
Keishe Nelson
What training has been implemented to counter tragedies?
Chief Chaudoin
Outside agency oversight through national accreditation
Increase training budget
Specialize in communication and de-escalation
Chief Thompson
Review policies to ensure up to date
Repetitive training on simulators
Biased based training
Chief Hamby
Emotional intelligence training – entire staff
Crisis interventional training by NAMI
What has been learned from open dialogue in communities?
Chief Chaudoin
Everyone learns about each other; community understands force, office understands community concerns
Chief Thompson
New NET Team (neighborhood engagement team)
Goal – promote safety, prevent crime, enhance quality of life, neighborhood led
Chief Hamby
Every department relies of community support
With removing someone’s freedom comes heavy responsibility, so a high level of trust must be obtained by getting to know each other outside “business” dealings
Scott Carr, Vice President-Commercial Business & Communications, Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District
As we approach the end of 2021, we can look back on a very busy year for the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. Despite the economic turmoil generated by the pandemic, your hometown airport has added new air service, further developed our air cargo capabilities, added new amenities, and invested millions of dollars in our facilities to better serve the community.
On November 17, 2021, Contour Airlines will begin new nonstop service to Nashville, TN. This is the second new airline and the fourth new nonstop destination introduced at GSP in 2021. At the same time, airlines have restored service to all routes that were temporarily suspended due to the pandemic. This brings nonstop service to a total of 22 destinations, the most ever in the airport’s history.
To accommodate returning passengers, we have re-opened restaurants and retail stores in the terminal building. The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck, Chick-fil-A, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins, Flatwood Grill, Hudson News, the Escape Lounge, and Palmetto Distillery are now open for business. In addition, we have introduced QDOBA Mexican Eats to the Upstate. This new restaurant concept provides another fresh and trendy dining option in our Grand Hall.
We also recently introduced two Escape Pods on each of our passenger concourses. Escape Pods are private workspaces offering Wi-Fi, video conferencing, and a quiet place for travelers to conduct business. In 2022, we hope to introduce another exciting shopping and dining concept in our Grand Hall. Stay tuned for that upcoming announcement!
While passenger numbers have been reduced during the pandemic, we are experiencing a significant increase in cargo activity, particularly to and from international destinations. In 2021, cargo activity at GSP has increased by 56%, setting a record for cargo tonnage at the airport. In fact, GSP now ranks #20 in the U.S. in terms of international freight and accounts for $4.37 billion in trade value. As supply chains continue to be stressed, airlines are finding GSP to be a convenient alternative to other airports in the U.S. We expect this increase in cargo activity to continue well into 2022.
To ensure that the airport remained positioned to serve the region’s needs once air travel demand returned, work has continued on several significant capital improvement projects. In August 2021, we completed work on improvements to the airport entrance road and construction of a new 1,500-space economy parking lot. A project to upgrade roadway directional signage is now underway and should be completed by the end of the year.
In November 2021, we will bring back shuttle service between the terminal and our economy parking lots. This service was suspended when passenger traffic declined in 2020.
In addition, we recently launched a new program to allow travelers to pre-book airport parking on the GSP website. This program provides customers with discounts on parking, rewards points, and is a way to guarantee a parking space in the lot of their choice. Travelers can also earn free parking at GSP after parking with us for just 10 days. More information on pre-booking and rewards can be found at gspairport.com/parking.
Maintaining a high level of safety, convenience, and efficiency has been and continues to be our priority. Our goal is to always provide a better airport experience for our customers. That is why we were honored to be recognized with the Airports Council International – Airport Health Accreditation. The Airport Health Accreditation is an international recognition earned by airports that demonstrate their commitment to providing the highest level of health, safety, and facility cleanliness to their customers, employees, and business partners. GSP is the first airport in South Carolina to receive this accreditation. This accreditation comes just a few months after GSP was recognized as the “Best Airport in North America” serving 2-5 million passengers annually.
Currently, GSP is handling approximately 80% of the passenger volume generated in 2019. As our journey to recovery continues, we see a very bright future for GSP and Upstate South Carolina travelers. Your hometown airport remains committed to providing the region with a safe, clean, efficient, and modern airport offering quality air service connections to the people and places that matter most to you. Thank you for supporting GSP and we hope to see you on your next flight!
Welcome 
Creating a Safer Upstate 
On November 17, 2021, Contour Airlines will begin new nonstop service to Nashville, TN. This is the second new airline and the fourth new nonstop destination introduced at GSP in 2021. At the same time, airlines have restored service to all routes that were temporarily suspended due to the pandemic. This brings nonstop service to a total of 22 destinations, the most ever in the airport’s history.
To accommodate returning passengers, we have re-opened restaurants and retail stores in the terminal building. The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck, Chick-fil-A, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins, Flatwood Grill, Hudson News, the Escape Lounge, and Palmetto Distillery are now open for business. In addition, we have introduced QDOBA Mexican Eats to the Upstate. This new restaurant concept provides another fresh and trendy dining option in our Grand Hall.
We also recently introduced two Escape Pods on each of our passenger concourses. Escape Pods are private workspaces offering Wi-Fi, video conferencing, and a quiet place for travelers to conduct business. In 2022, we hope to introduce another exciting shopping and dining concept in our Grand Hall. Stay tuned for that upcoming announcement!
Maintaining a high level of safety, convenience, and efficiency has been and continues to be our priority. Our goal is to always provide a better airport experience for our customers. That is why we were honored to be recognized with the Airports Council International – Airport Health Accreditation. The Airport Health Accreditation is an international recognition earned by airports that demonstrate their commitment to providing the highest level of health, safety, and facility cleanliness to their customers, employees, and business partners. GSP is the first airport in South Carolina to receive this accreditation. This accreditation comes just a few months after GSP was recognized as the “Best Airport in North America” serving 2-5 million passengers annually.