GREENVILLE, S.C. — Fortified Solar, an Upstate-founded manufacturer of building-integrated solar roofing systems, is investing $22.75 million to open a new production facility in southern Greenville, a project expected to create at least 151 jobs and add significant industrial capacity to the county’s growing clean-energy manufacturing base.
The new operation will be built near Donaldson Field Airport, expanding on the company’s existing manufacturing facility in Taylors. Fortified Solar said the additional space is needed to keep pace with rising demand for its steel-based solar roofing panels, along with solar carports, canopies and storage systems sold to commercial and residential customers.
A Local Company Scales Up
Fortified Solar was founded in 2020 by Travelers Rest entrepreneur Justin Draplin, who has grown the business from a small custom home-building operation into a regional solar manufacturer. New production lines at the Greenville site are expected to reach full capacity by October, according to the company.
“This expansion represents an important milestone for Fortified Solar as we continue to invest in American manufacturing and meet growing demand for integrated solar roofing solutions,” Draplin said in a statement reported by the Post and Courier.
County Incentives Back the Project
The South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits tied to the expansion, and the council separately awarded Greenville County a $150,000 Set-Aside grant to help offset the cost of building improvements at the new site, according to the Post and Courier.
Greenville County Council Chair Benton Blount pointed to the company’s trajectory as a sign of the local economy’s momentum. “Fortified Solar’s evolution from a tiny home builder to a leader in solar energy is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and exceptional talent found right here in our community,” Blount said, according to the Post and Courier. “We are proud to see local businesses embrace new opportunities that strengthen our economy and advance sustainable energy solutions.”
A Growing Industrial Footprint
The Greenville expansion adds to a wave of manufacturing investment across the Upstate’s industrial real estate market this year, as solar, advanced-manufacturing and packaging companies compete for space near the region’s interstate corridors and airports. Fortified Solar’s move to pair a new production site with its established Taylors plant reflects a broader pattern among Upstate manufacturers: rather than relocating, many are expanding in place to keep skilled workforces intact while adding square footage to meet demand.
For Greenville County, the project marks another data point in an industrial submarket that has drawn steady interest from advanced manufacturers, including firms in the solar and battery supply chains, seeking proximity to Interstate 85 and the region’s logistics network.
Fortified Solar did not disclose the size of the new Greenville facility. The company’s existing footprint in Taylors will continue to operate alongside the new site once it comes online.
Upstate Commercial Real Estate News 
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