NEXT announces launch of NEXT Manufacturing
March 3, 2016
NEXT Upstate, LLC announces the launch of NEXT Manufacturing – a joint venture with Braasch Building Group, aimed at providing operating space to young start-up companies looking to produce tangible products while working in a collaborative environment.
The historic 36,000-square-foot building located at 400 Birnie Street Extension is being completely transformed to reflect both the manufacturing history of the building as well as the open concept design that has come to be so recognizable within the NEXT brand. With enough space to accommodate 8-12 small businesses, entrepreneurs will be able to collaborate and network with one another – a critical benefit for young, growing ventures. NEXT Manufacturing features glass walls, plenty of open space, and shared amenities to encourage collaboration between like-minded companies.
“The facility will house and nurture some of our region’s finest young manufacturing companies – ventures that could one day become major employers for our community and major market drivers on the global stage,” said NEXT Board Chairman, Michael Bolick. “NEXT Manufacturing represents a major step forward for our community as we meet yet another facility need for high-impact entrepreneurs here, this time in close alignment with our manufacturing heritage. We look forward to continuing to champion the development and success of the entrepreneur ecosystem in the Upstate.”
“NEXT Manufacturing will allow companies the space they need to manufacture without the need to invest in their own facility,” says Braasch Building Group’s Dennis Braasch. “We couldn’t be more proud to be a partner in creating an environment that fosters and grows good manufacturing enterprises in Greenville. It’s yet another win for our community and our economic future.”
NEXT has played an important role in supporting the entrepreneur ecosystem by providing necessary collaborative space in the heart of Greenville for the last decade. Phase I of the NEXT Manufacturing project is now complete. The second phase, including the reformation of the building’s remaining interior space as well as the Birnie Street frontage, is slated to begin later this year.
“While our facilities are the most visible aspect of the work we do, NEXT works on several other critical aspects of the entrepreneur ecosystem and we provide daily support to the CEO’s in our network,” said John Moore, CEO of NEXT. “In addition to the award winning NEXT Innovation Center, NEXT on Main, and now NEXT Manufacturing, we also operate a Venture Mentoring Service in partnership with MIT, host venture capital investors from around the country for our annual VC Weekend, and provide direct support services to a network of over 150 entrepreneurs across the Greenville/Upstate area.”
NEXT will celebrate the official launch of NEXT Manufacturing at the Birnie Street building at 5:00 this afternoon. For more information, please contact [email protected], or visit www.nextsc.org.
About NEXT Upstate, LLC
NEXT Upstate, LLC is an award-winning economic development organization affiliated with the Greenville Chamber that is dedicated exclusively to supporting high-impact entrepreneurs and building the entrepreneur ecosystem in the Greenville/Upstate area. Founded in 2006 as a part-time effort of the Greenville Chamber, NEXT now supports more than 160 early-stage knowledge-based ventures in the area. NEXT has successfully championed the creation of numerous ecosystem elements including the Upstate Carolina Angel Network which is recognized as one of the top ten angel networks in the U.S., as well as the nationally recognized NEXT Innovation Center and NEXT on Main space in downtown Greenville. For more information on NEXT, visit www.nextsc.org.
About Braasch Building Group
Braasch Building Group (BBG) is a local business owned by a Greenville-based management team focused on the development of projects that add value to the community and the members of the company. In addition to project development projects like NEXT Manufacturing, BBG provides a full complement of project delivery services for industrial clients, including project planning, design, procurement, construction management and maintenance operations. BBG is currently working with a number of industrial clients in the Upstate providing these services. For more information on BBG, visit www.braaschbuilding.com.
