Greenville, South Carolina, continues to be a target market for USL Division III, as The Greenville News reports the league is in ongoing discussions with potential local ownership to bring a professional team to the city.

At the Greenville Chamber's 129th Annual Meeting on Thursday evening, Chamber President and CEO Carlos Phillips told business leaders USL Division III is in continued talks with the city to have a team start play in 2019.

“Having a USL DIII franchise in Greater Greenville would be a win for the entire Upstate,” Phillips said. “Communities around the country are seeing first-hand how the presence of a USL franchise helps them recruit companies and attract and retain young professionals – the key demographic for pro soccer – as well as a critically important group in growing a vibrant economy.”

While Greenville currently does not have a professional team, local colleges in Furman University and Clemson University boast strong and well-supported men’s and women’s programs. The emergence of an amateur team in Greenville FC, which will begin play in this summer, also demonstrates the demand for a professional team in the Upstate.

Uniting passionate fans in new markets with the thrill of a proven professional soccer experience, USL Division III will begin play in 2019 as a U.S. Soccer Federation-sanctioned professional league. USL Division III has already announced South Georgia Tormenta FC as a founding member and will have additional franchise announcements across the United States in the coming weeks and months. An official brand launch is also expected later this year.