Spartanburg’s hardworking people, strong values, and promising future are why NorthMark Strategies chose this community. We intend to be a responsible, long-term neighbor.
In early 2025, we acquired the former Kohler site on South Pine Street and made commitments to County Council, OneSpartanburg, and the state of South Carolina. We continue to stand by those commitments: thorough site rehabilitation, responsible use of resources, meaningful tax revenue, job creation, and ongoing community support.
We’d like to share an update on our progress one year into the project.
NorthMark Strategies is building a High-Performance Computing facility to meet our internal demands. After evaluating locations nationwide, Spartanburg stood out for its talented and hardworking people, strong values, and supportive business environment. We’re proud to invest in the community’s growth and we intend to be here for the long term.
Large projects like this move forward in phases, a standard approach in South Carolina. Permit applications reflect that phased approach and are consistent with the project scope originally presented to local and state leaders.
Before construction, we voluntarily addressed environmental conditions tied to the site’s industrial past. We are supporting the county by providing right-of-way access for planned safety improvements at the intersection of Dogwood Club Road and Route 176. This work benefits those working on the site and the broader community.
We will not rely on grid power; our facility is designed to generate power on-site using natural gas equipment. While broader utility rates and regional demand are outside of our control, this self-generation approach is specifically intended to limit impact to local electricity bills.
All on-site generation will meet or exceed state and federal air quality standards. We will voluntarily install emission reduction equipment and continuous real-time emissions to monitor our power generation equipment.
Our site operates under the same municipal water permit as the prior Kohler facility. Projected water use remains within approved limits and is sourced entirely from municipal supply with no draw from groundwater or aquifers. All discharged water is treated on-site before returning to the municipal system in full compliance. We are not requesting additional water capacity.
The site previously generated around $480,000–$507,000 in annual property taxes. Our investment, supported by the FILOT agreement, is projected to generate (based on current capital investment milestones and subject to final assessments):
Through these tax contributions, we are proud to support schools, public safety, infrastructure, and services for years to come.
Construction has brought hundreds of workers to the site (currently around 1,445 workers daily), with roughly one in three from Spartanburg County. We direct contractors toward local spending and prioritize Spartanburg-area suppliers wherever possible.
At full operation, we expect approximately 150 permanent roles on-site. These are mostly skilled, higher-wage positions in maintenance, trades, and technical operations. We are actively supporting local STEM education and workforce development partnerships to help build talent pipelines for these and future opportunities.
Construction continues through 2028, with peak activity in 2026–2027. Initial operations are targeted for Q3 2026, with phased ramp-up thereafter. Timelines may adjust with weather, supply chains, or other factors.
We recognize that developments of this scale can raise legitimate concerns about traffic, noise, lighting, and quality of life. To address these, we are implementing mitigation measures including noise barriers where needed, controlled lighting to reduce off-site glare, traffic management plans coordinated with the County, and regular community updates. We commit to full regulatory compliance and welcome ongoing dialogue. Your feedback will help us be a better neighbor.
Spartanburg’s success is our success. We look forward to delivering on our commitments and contributing positively for decades to come.
“When I think about NorthMark Strategies, I think of a partner that aligns with our core values, loving people, embracing the challenge, and leaving things better than they found them. That alignment has had a real impact on our business, enabling us to grow, hire locally, and expand our company. After 15 years of working with partners across the country, this relationship stands out. As the team responsible for the integration of some of their power generation systems, we can say those systems are built to meet or exceed the environmental and performance standards set.”
Lee Lancaster, President, LEL International, Spartanburg, SC
“Working with NorthMark Strategies has been a great experience from day one. As a family-owned business, we’ve appreciated their commitment to working with local companies, and their team on site has been excellent to work with. What stands out most is the level of innovation behind the project. It’s been especially interesting to learn about the technology involved, particularly their ability to generate their own power and minimize impact on local infrastructure. That really sets this project apart. If a project like this is coming into a community, this is the way to do it. NorthMark Strategies is doing things responsibly, and I believe the economic impact for Spartanburg is much greater than many people realize.
Warren Clayton, President, Asheville Highway Rentals, Spartanburg, SC
NorthMark Strategies | S. Pine Street, Spartanburg, South Carolina