Women's Clothing Boutique in Easley, SC

PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. —

ElringKlinger, an automotive supplier, announced it is expanding its operations in Pickens County, which will create 294 new jobs.

Headquartered in Germany, ElringKlinger is a manufacturer for the automotive industry, specializing in e-mobility, lightweight solutions, sealing technology and tooling.

The company operates over 40 locations worldwide and, in June 2024, established its main U.S. battery hub for developing and manufacturing e-mobility products, such as battery and lightweight components, in Pickens County.

“The expansion of the plant in Easley, S.C., is another milestone for ElringKlinger in the implementation of our SHAPE30 transformation strategy," ElringKlinger Group CEO Thomas Jessulat said. "Thanks to the distinguished characteristics of the state of South Carolina, Pickens County offers excellent opportunities for establishing and further developing future technologies for the automotive industry in the U.S. Based on large-scale production orders already secured, we will ramp-up and expand the production of innovative battery and lightweight components.”

Located at 317 Grand National Lane in Easley, ElringKlinger says it plans to expand its production of cell contact systems for a major global premium car manufacturer, while also increasing output of lightweight components for electric vehicles and other new projects.

Operations are expected to be online in the first quarter of 2027. Individuals interested in joining the ElringKlinger team should visit the company’s careers page.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project. The council also awarded a $750,000 Set-Aside grant to Pickens County to assist with the costs of site preparation and building construction.

“This additional investment from ElringKlinger represents a win for Pickens County. Since 2024, the company's combined commitment of $135 million reflects a strong vote of confidence in our community and our workforce," Pickens County Council Chairman Alex Saitta said."The creation of high-quality, technical jobs will provide opportunities for our own residents to build their careers right here at home. ElringKlinger’s decision to expand in Pickens County further solidifies our position as a leader in advanced manufacturing and battery technology across the United States.”

FIVE FAST FACTS

If you are looking for biking, walking, and running all in one place, then you have to try out the Doodle Trail! Easley, SC decided to pave a route out of an old train track path, located in Pickens County, while also adding a park for kids to enjoy. If you love exploring Greenville’s Swamp Rabbit Trail or The Mary Black Rail Trail in Spartanburg, you’ll want to check out the Doodle Trail.

If you are looking for more outdoor fun to be had in Pickens or Easley, Kidding Around has guides to spending the day in each town. Spending Day in Pickens, SC | Spending a Day in Easley, SC

The Doodle Trail is an 8.5-mile Rail Trail that connects Easley and Pickens. I’ll be honest, I hadn’t learned of it until recently. That funny name kind of sticks with you once you hear it, though. The name of the trail is a remnant of the day when it was a working train track.

In 1898, the train service carried passengers and cargo back and forth between the towns, without the ability to turn around on its return to Pickens. So it scurried backward from Easley like a doodlebug, hence the name. The paved trail opened on Memorial Day weekend in 2015 and has only grown in popularity over the last decade!

The Doodle Park

We like parking where the original trailhead is at the Easley Doodle Park. The park has restrooms, a playground, a picnic area, and a place to rent bicycles for use on the trail. The trailhead, a mile-long extension, is closer to downtown near the Silos. My kids love the park, and we can’t visit the trail without stopping there.

There is a Little Free Library location, as well as the Born Learning Trail. According to the United Way of Pickens Website, “Born Learning Trails are interactive, walkable trails of signs for caregivers and children which foster early learning opportunities. Each sign suggests fun outdoor games designed to boost children’s language and literacy skills while helping families get active together.”

There are three more of these trails in the area:

Enjoying The Doodle Trail: Easley, SC

There are so many things to see while you’re on the trail. On our last visit, I asked my kids to pretend we were pioneers and to look for things we could forage to eat. As I’m sure you can imagine, it was interesting. Kind of like a real-time Oregon Trail, minus rampant dysentery.

We found grapes, mysteriously hanging from trees over the trail. The kids loved looking for things we might eat if we were making our way across the frontier. We found a stream to drink from (not really, PLEASE do not do this), trees for shelter, and other ways to survive our imaginary trip. My kids got so creative, and it made the trail so interesting.

The trail is paved, wide, and very stroller and bike-friendly. We haven’t made it from one end to the other yet, but every time we go, we walk a little further before turning around. It’s made a great goal for the kids and me to go on a round-trip in one visit.

Things To Know About the Doodle Trail in Easley

Looking for things to do in Easley, SC? Or a new a place to explore? Don’t want to travel too far? We’ve got recommendations no matter your preference when it comes to adventure near Easley.

The town of Easley is just 15 minutes from downtown Greenville, and if you haven’t made time to explore this cute little town, here’s your chance. We’ve separated the recommendations by season, with plans to update them as new and exciting things get completed around town.

A Warm Weather Day in Easley

Indoor Fun

Kids Play & Cafe is a big indoor play area for little kids through about age 12. And they’ve also got a coffee shop right inside so, big win for us parents.

Also, at the end of every month, the massive Book Warehouse Outlet opens up the warehouse for sales. They’ve got more than one million books, puzzles, games, crafts, and tons more, all brand new and all at 70% off the cover price.

If you like roller skating, head to the Roller Time Family Skate Center. They do open skating and events so check out their schedule online.

Or if you want to try your hand at rock climbing, ProjectROCK is a huge indoor rock climbing facility. All levels of climbers are welcome!

If you love video games and nostalgia, then head to Tyler’s Toy Box Mini Arcade and Collectibles in Easley. For $12 per person, you get unlimited play on all their games. Give them a follow on Facebook because they sometimes run discounted admission specials.

Other Things to Do In Easley

There are more new and exciting things happening in the Easley area, like The Silos. This multipurpose venue includes several restaurants and a brewery.

Easley, SC Events: What’s Happening in Easley Today?

What is your favorite thing to do in Easley? Let us know in the comments!

EASLEY, S.C. —

Carolina Handling is now operating out of its South Carolina hub located at the Speedway Business & Technology Park in Easley.

Carolina Handling was the first tenant in the Speedway Business & Technology Park, which sits right next to the legendary site of the Greenville-Pickens Speedway.

The new building consolidates the Upstate operations of the Charlotte, North Carolina-based intralogistics company. It combines the warehouse and office space from four facilities in the Upstate under one roof.

The 265,000-square-foot facility in Pickens County will eventually lead to 100 jobs over the next five years, on the heels of a $23.2 million investment from Carolina Handling and RealtyLink

"We provide, still, our core solutions with forklifts and service as well as automated solutions to help our customers be more effective and efficient in how they get product to their customers,” Carolina Handling intralogistics solutions manager Nick Romyns said. “If you go online for e-commerce and you buy something, add it to the cart and hit buy, essentially, we provide solutions and technologies to our customers that help them move those products through a facility faster to get to their customers faster. We wanted to remain in the Upstate and continue to be a part of the community here, as well as be a part of the speedway area. We know there’s a lot of tradition and love for it, so I think being a part of that was great.”

According to officials with Carolina Handling, "This move to Easley is more than a change of address for our four facilities in the Upstate. Our move here to Pickens County, so close to the former Greenville-Pickens Speedway, was very intentional. This location reminds us that innovation and speed have always been part of this community’s DNA. They have always been part of Carolina Handling’s mission, too. Speed, precision and teamwork are essential to meet today's consumer demands. Our company just reached 900 associates this fall and we continue to grow. We are excited that this move to Pickens County will help to create 100 new jobs in South Carolina over five years. This is our central hub for innovation, collaboration and customer engagement. This facility will also be open to our customers. In our Customer Experience Center, they can explore our latest technology, see live demonstrations of our equipment and automation solutions and engage with experts to find tailored intralogistics strategies. We also hope the new facility will serve as a community resource, offering tour opportunities for local schools and helping to develop a pipeline of innovative, skilled talent."

For more information, click here.

EASLEY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Easley city leaders remain divided on how best to manage future growth.

On Monday, City Council approved the first reading of a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The vote was not unanimous.

Councilwoman Denis Davidson (Ward 2) said UDO originated in response to rapid growth. Davidson explained that more than 200 acres of land were annexed into the city, and over 2,000 housing units approved between 2020 and 2023.

“We cannot slow growth,” Davidson said. “We can do smart growth. We can do better growth.”

She said the UDO significantly reduces the number of lots allowed on one acre of land.

“[For one zoning area], you’re talking about a 50% difference,” Davidson said. “So there have been changes with density.”

Along with Davidson, Councilman Dr. David Ray Jones (Ward 4) also voted in favor of the UDO at Monday night’s meeting.

“We’ve gone through it very in-depth the last eight to 10 months, and it was ready,” said Jones. “I feel great about it. Easley’s a great town. The secret’s out—everybody is coming here.”

Mayor Lisa Talbert also provided the following statement on the city’s UDO:

“I am extremely excited for the future of the City of Easley with the adoption of a new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). Many dedicated individuals have poured their time, thought, research, and passion into this effort, and I am deeply grateful for their work.

I want to thank our steering and stakeholder committee members, who worked closely with our third-party consultant, beginning in June 2024, as well as the residents who attended public open houses in October last year and shared their input.

Our Planning Commission began reviewing the project in February 2025, preparing it for the council’s legislative decision, and after months of meetings and discussion, we are proud to present a document that provides a responsible path to manage Easley’s growth while protecting what makes our community unique.

I would also like to thank Rico Giani, and MRB Group for their extensive research and detailed work, along with our City Administrator, Planning Department Director, City Planner, and Building Official and his team for the dedication they brought to the process.

There have been questions about density, and it’s important to remember that this issue was already addressed in August of 2023, when the City Council reduced the residential densities by more than 40% across several zoning districts. The UDO was not intended as another round of cuts. Its purpose is broader: to replace decades of patchwork ordinances, strengthen clarity and enforceability, address infrastructure needs, and provide a framework for long-term balanced growth.

This new ordinance gives us a clear guide for Easley’s future-one that will help us grow responsibly, preserve the character of our community, and keep the heart of what makes Easley a place we are proud to call home. I am honored to have been a part of this valuable journey.”

But other leaders say the UDO isn’t ready to implement.

‘I’m not against growth. I want managed growth," said Councilwoman Donna Rainey (Ward 3). “And that includes not only how these subdivisions are dense—it also includes our water, our power, our sewer, our schools. And none of that is being addressed.”

Rainey, one of the two councilors who voted against the UDO, said the city didn’t have enough workshops to address everyone’s concerns. Davidson countered the city held at least eight public input meetings.

Rainey would like the city to extend its moratorium on new developments and fears when it expires in November, Easley won’t be ready for more growth.

“I have a list [of] people who have contacted me,“ said Rainey. ”It’s probably several hundred acres of land people are going to request annexation [for]."

Davidson noted there’s no guarantee the city will get enough votes to extend the moratorium.

“If we don’t pass this UDO, all of this reverts back to the previous [land regulations], which are severely outdated,” she said.

Rainey said she’s not budging on her stance.

“I will continue to vote no,” she said. “Unless, something changes between then and now, and we have discussions.”

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