Established company setting up global HQ in Greenville County

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The aviation version of an auto parts supplier will move its headquarters and create 73 jobs in Greenville County with a $1.7 million investment in Fountain Inn’s Fox Hill Business Park.

Sage Parts Plus Inc., a global company that provides replacement parts for aviation ground support equipment, will open its new global headquarters, including distribution operations, in Greenville County, according to a news release from the Greenville Area Development Corp.

From prominent, international air carriers to smaller, regional airlines, the company’s wide range of customers also includes freight carriers; package and ground handling companies; ground support equipment service and maintenance companies; military services; ground support equipment manufacturers; and parts resellers, according to the news release.

“Sage Parts is very excited to open this new state-of-the-art facility to service our global customer base,” Sage Parts Plus President and CEO Christopher Pratt said in the release.  “After an exhaustive national search, we landed in Greenville County, S.C., for its business-friendly environment, expanding and talented workforce, and high quality of life for our people.”

Sage Parts, an Alvest group company, says it has the most extensive distribution network in the ground support equipment marketplace, ensuring the fastest possible delivery of parts to its customers, with strategically located warehousing facilities near airports worldwide.

“It’s exciting to see an international organization choose Greenville County for their new headquarters and to grow and expand from, as it proves that we have provided the pro-business environment, top talent, and industry expertise for them to flourish here,” Greenville County Council Chair and GADC board member Dan Tripp said in the release. “We salute Sage Parts for their decision to make Greenville County their new home and wish them continued success.”

With its move to the newly opened Class A Fox Hill Business Park in Fountain Inn, Sage Parts’ Greenville County facility marks its first operations in South Carolina. The company has leased a 103,049-square-foot building to accommodate distribution operations, as well as to house its new global headquarters including its leadership team, purchasing, finance, customer service, HR, product management and other support departments.

“Fountain Inn prides itself on providing an exceptional balance of vibrant business community and an ideal place to live, work and raise a family, and we are delighted to become the new headquarters for Sage Parts,” Fountain Inn Mayor G.P. McLeer said in the release. “Fountain Inn offers a young, diverse, and educated workforce to help Sage Parts grow and prosper, and we are excited to welcome Sage Parts home to Fountain Inn.”

Sage Parts strategically works to increase parts availability for customers by offering a constantly updated inventory of every part for every GSE brand and model. The company also redesigns many parts to enhance quality and provide superior performance and reliability under the harshest airport ramp conditions.

“South Carolina is home to a dynamic aerospace industry, and Sage Parts’ new headquarters and distribution operations in Greenville County underscore the strength of our competitive business environment and highly skilled workforce,” Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III said in the release. “We look forward to creating a long-lasting partnership with Sage Parts for years to come.”

The Commerce Department’s Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project. The council also awarded a $100,000 Set-Aside grant to Greenville County to assist with the costs of building improvements.

Since its founding in mid-2001, the GADC team’s efforts have resulted in the announcement of more than 34,600 new jobs and more than $6.6 billion in capital investment in Greenville County, the release stated.