Woodward Greer SC Aerospace Plant: Latest Update 🛫
Woodward Greer SC is a roughly $200 million, 300,000-square-foot aerospace manufacturing plant going up in Smith Farms Industrial Park in Greer, in Spartanburg County. As of September 2026 it’s in advanced stages of construction, with opening expected in summer 2027 and about 275 jobs planned. It will build flight control parts for aircraft, starting with spoiler actuation systems for the Airbus A350.
Here’s where the project stands, what changed in 2026, and what it could mean for people living and buying homes around Greer.
What Is Woodward Building in Greer, SC?
Woodward, Inc. is building a 300,000-square-foot precision manufacturing plant for servo-hydraulic actuation systems. Those are the parts that move an aircraft’s flight control surfaces. Spoilers are the panels you see pop up on top of the wing during landing. They cut lift and help slow the plane, so the systems that move them have to be precise and dependable every single time. The first product line is spoiler actuation for the Airbus A350, and CEO Chip Blankenship called it “a showcase manufacturing site, much like our Rock Cut, Illinois campus.”
Woodward announced the project on September 16, 2025, and broke ground on November 3, 2025. Here are the key facts:
- 🏢 Company: Woodward, Inc.
- 💰 Investment: nearly $200 million
- 👷 Jobs: about 275 positions
- 🏭 Facility: 300,000 square feet
- 📍 Location: Smith Farms Industrial Park, Greer (Spartanburg County)
- ⚙️ Focus: aircraft servo-hydraulic actuation systems
- 📅 Opening: expected summer 2027
When Will the Woodward Greer SC Plant Open?
Woodward expects the Spartanburg County plant to come online in summer 2027. In September 2026, the company said the building was “currently in advanced stages of construction.” The original announcement said operations would begin in 2027, so the project is still on that timeline based on the company’s latest update.
Woodward has a careers page for anyone interested in working there. Check woodward.com/careers for openings as the start date gets closer.
What Changed in 2026?
The plant got bigger in purpose. In September 2026, Woodward announced it will move military fixed-wing and rotorcraft flight control actuation production from its Santa Clarita, California, site to the new Spartanburg County plant. The Santa Clarita operation is set to wind down by the end of 2027.
That means the Greer plant won’t just make A350 parts. It will also take on military aircraft actuation work and other aerospace components. Woodward said about 400 roles in Santa Clarita are affected. The Post and Courier reported the Greer plant still plans at least 275 jobs.
What Incentives Did the State and County Offer?
The South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits and a $1.75 million Closing Fund grant to Spartanburg County for site preparation and construction. Spartanburg County also approved a 40-year fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement and a $3.25 million special source revenue credit over four years.
Under the county deal, as reported by the Post and Courier, Woodward has to invest at least $157.4 million and create at least 125 full-time jobs. That’s the minimum to keep the incentives, not the plan. The plan is still around $200 million and 275 jobs.
At the 2025 announcement, Governor Henry McMaster said “Woodward’s investment further solidifies South Carolina’s strong reputation in manufacturing.” Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III called it “another major victory for the booming manufacturing industry in the Upstate.”
What Does the Woodward Plant Mean for Greer Real Estate?
New manufacturing jobs bring new households looking for homes, and Greer sits right between Greenville and Spartanburg. Smith Farms Industrial Park sits at the intersection of SC Highway 101 and SC Highway 296 (Reidville Road), so nearby towns like Greer, Duncan, Lyman, and Reidville are natural places for workers to look.
The park itself is about 475 acres planned for more than 5.9 million square feet of industrial space, so Woodward likely won’t be the last name to land there. If you’re thinking about buying in this part of Spartanburg County, it’s worth knowing what’s being built around you.
A few things I tell buyers looking near any industrial park:
- Drive it at shift change. Visit in the early morning and late afternoon to see real traffic, not Sunday traffic.
- Check the plans. Look at Spartanburg County planning and zoning information for nearby land before you buy.
- Think resale. Being close to jobs can help resale, but being right beside truck routes can hurt it. Location within a few miles matters.
New to the area? Start with my explainer on Greer, South Carolina and my guide to moving to Spartanburg. For the bigger picture, see how the Upstate tech boom and other Greenville development projects are changing the region.
📌 Chris’s Take
I was born and raised in Greenville, left for a while, and came back. I served as a Spartanburg County Lake Warden and retired as a Greenville County Sheriff’s Deputy, so I’ve spent years on both sides of the county line. I know these roads, and I pay attention to what’s being built along them.
Projects like this one tell me the Upstate’s manufacturing base is still growing, and aerospace is a big part of it now. If you’re buying near a new plant, I’ll help you look at traffic routes, what else is planned nearby, and how the area might look in five years, not just how it looks today.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the new Woodward plant in Greer, SC?
It’s in Smith Farms Industrial Park in Greer, in Spartanburg County. The park is at the intersection of SC Highway 101 and SC Highway 296 (Reidville Road).
When does the Woodward Greer plant open?
Woodward expects it to come online in summer 2027. As of September 2026, it was in advanced stages of construction.
How many jobs will Woodward bring to Greer?
About 275 jobs, according to the company and state announcements. The county incentive agreement requires at least 125 full-time jobs.
What will Woodward make in Greer?
Servo-hydraulic actuation systems for aircraft flight controls, starting with spoiler actuation for the Airbus A350. Military fixed-wing and rotorcraft actuation work moving from California will be added too.
How do I apply for a job at Woodward in Greer?
Watch Woodward’s official careers page at woodward.com/careers for openings tied to the Spartanburg County site.
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