Center ignites economic ‘spark’ in Spartanburg

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Over the last 11 years, the Spark Center SC at Spartanburg Community College has supported the development of 34,600 jobs generating total wage earnings of nearly $2.3 billion, according to a 2018 economic impact study.

The study, compiled by Mike Forrester, vice president for economic development at Spartanburg Community College and Leanne Burkhead, enterprise director for the Spark Center SC, also shows a net positive creation of 6,284 jobs generating total wage earnings of $403.9 million between July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018.

Future projections estimate the Spark Center SC will directly impact the creation of 1,000 jobs annually through the four services it provides — soft landings, small business incubation, workforce employment services and special projects, according to the report.

The soft landings program provides furnished office space and basic office services, for up to one year, to qualifying foreign or domestic companies who are looking to start new operations and locate in Spartanburg County. The small business incubator assists new businesses in the early start-up phase and existing businesses that are re-tooling or reorganizing by offering space and basic office services. Workforce employment services include assistance with advertising, employee application process and employee training. The center also is available to assist established business and industry partners with special projects. This program provides space that may be used to beta test a new product line or manufacturing process as well as train existing or new employees. In addition, space is available for the temporary warehousing of inventory, according to the center’s website.

Providing nearly 400,000 square feet of flex space, the Spark Center SC is designed to accommodate multiple startups and growing businesses. The space provides 261,000 square feet for light manufacturing and warehousing and 44,000 square feet of class A office space that includes four conference rooms, shared workspace, a collaborative area and classroom/training facilities.

Spartanburg Community College’s Office of Economic Development promotes collaboration between economic development organizations, government, business and education to develop a business-friendly environment. A resource for business development, Spark Center SC is a tool to help entrepreneurs and businesses launch, build, expand and reorganize. The center is in a foreign trade zone, located along the I-85 corridor on Highway 290 in Duncan at the Spartanburg Community College Tyger River campus, a designated enterprise campus, according to the center’s website.

Clients include SeeDaten, Magna Seating SC and Senator International. Graduated clients include Adidas, Brose Spartanburg and Toray Carbon Fibers.

When assessing economic impact, “it is crucial not only to look at the initial impact of capital investment and jobs created by the companies served by the center, but also the direct, indirect and induced impact these businesses have on the economy of Spartanburg County,” according to the study summary.

Included in the 93 companies that have launched or expanded at the Spark Center SC are medical supplies manufacturers, energy solutions companies, two plastic mold injection manufacturers and an armored vehicle manufacturer. Also, packaging solutions company Toray Carbon Fibers, Rite Aid distribution company Kobelco Construction Machinery and automotive suppliers Brose Spartanburg and Magna Seating found support through the center, according to the economic summary report.