How SCC Helps Spartanburg Thrive

How SCC Helps Spartanburg Thrive

Spartanburg Community College (SCC) plays a big role in helping Spartanburg County grow and flourish. Through strong partnerships, workforce training, and community support, SCC fuels local economic development. Let’s explore how the College makes a real difference.

Custom Workforce Training for Local Businesses

SCC’s Workforce Development division delivers customized training to match what businesses need. Whether it’s teaching leadership skills, hands-on equipment operation, healthcare training, or preparing for a commercial driver’s license (CDL), SCC has flexible, affordable options across Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union counties.

Learn more here: https://www.sccsc.edu/academics/cce/customized-training-and-workforce-development/ 

The Spartanburg Community College Workforce Development division provides customized training, private consultation, and professional development opportunities to increase your profitability and productivity. We help you identify training needs, develop related instruction sources, and coordinate program sponsor services with other federal employment and training programs.

Strengthening Manufacturing Training with NSF Support

In September 2024, SCC received $400,000 from the National Science Foundation. This grant supports BOOST (Building Opportunities for Outstanding Skills Training in Advanced Manufacturing), a program designed to create pathways into modern manufacturing jobs.

This funding helps SCC create strong connections with local manufacturers, develop staff to teach high-tech skills, and ensure students are ready to enter advanced manufacturing right when they graduate. Through NSF support, SCC is enhancing its ability to align education with industry demands—ensuring students are prepared for high-wage, high-demand careers while supporting economic growth in Upstate South Carolina.

Learn more here: https://www.sccsc.edu/news/archive---news/2021/scc-receives-nsf-grant.html 

The Spark Center – A Hub for Business Growth

Located at SCC’s Tyger River Campus in Duncan, the Spark Center SC is an enterprise campus and foreign trade zone that helps new and growing businesses thrive.

During the 2023–2024 period, nearly 3,000 net new jobs were created, generating total wage earnings of $202,111,002 to the South Carolina economy. It also offers businesses over 360,000 square feet of flexible workspace, strong local collaboration, and connections to government and economic groups.

Learn more here: https://www.sccsc.edu/spark-sc/index.php 

A Path for Adults to Finish Education

Spartanburg County has about 47,000 adults with incomplete postsecondary education. SCC offers flexible schedules, tutoring, advising, and emergency aid to keep students on track—balancing work, family, and classes.

Through Movement 2030, SCC is helping more adults complete unfinished degrees or certificates. In 2021–2022, a free-tuition initiative for students aged 25+ caused a 66 percent increase in enrollment for that group.

Learn more here: https://www.sccsc.edu/news/2024/scc-unveils-bold-initiative-to-propel-degree-attainment-in-spartanburg-county.html 

Contributing to Regional Education & Employment

SCC provides more than 90 certificate and degree programs—each aligned with in-demand careers or designed to transfer seamlessly to four-year universities.

From cybersecurity to manufacturing to healthcare, SCC equips students with skills that help them land local jobs. In fact, about 85% of SCC graduates either move into a job in their program area or continue on to earn bachelor’s degrees.

Too Long Didn’t Read:

SCC helps Spartanburg thrive by:

• Providing customized training that meets business needs
• Offering hands-on equipment and industry partnerships
• Strengthening advanced manufacturing education
• Acting as a hub for business growth through Spark Center
• Helping adults finish college with flexible, affordable programs
• Delivering programs that feed local high-wage sectors
• Supporting economic growth and strengthening the regional workforce
  

Together, these efforts help families build stronger futures, support local employers, and keep Spartanburg County growing. SCC’s work isn’t just about education—it’s about building a community where everyone has the chance to succeed.

Spartanburg Community College is proud to be a partner in our region’s success. We’re here to help people chase their dreams—and help Spartanburg thrive.