Katherine O’Neill, Chief Economic Development Officer, OneSpartanburg, Inc.

In an interview with Invest:, Katherine O’Neill, chief economic development officer of OneSpartanburg, Inc., discussed the county’s strong project pipeline, the assets that continue to attract industry, and the infrastructure and workforce strategies needed to sustain growth. “Momentum breeds momentum,” O’Neill said.

As you reflect on the past year and the beginning of 2026, what are some of the biggest changes and trends you have seen in Spartanburg County?

Our project activity is still robust. Post-COVID, Spartanburg County has seen remarkable interest both internationally and domestically. Initially, that interest was supply chain related, and now it has changed to be more geared toward the migration of people and businesses to the Southeast.

To quantify that, from 2020 to 2025, we saw almost $11 billion in capital investment in industrial projects, almost 170 projects, and over 9,500 net new jobs. For one county in South Carolina, that is remarkable investment in both capital and job creation. So far this year, we have already seen over $100 million in investment across five projects and almost 100 net new jobs.

From our practical experience, we still have a lot of visits and inquiries for industrial and corporate headquarters locations in Spartanburg, but it is taking longer to get the deals across the finish line. Where we were seeing some rapid decision-making before, the financial landscape and uncertainty in international affairs have caused companies to slow down approval processes for new projects. That can range from unpredictability in tariff decision-making to fears of a recession and other global challenges.

Even with that, Spartanburg remains a popular destination for new growth. Existing companies are expanding, new jobs are being created, and people are moving here for quality of life and affordability. According to the Census Bureau, we are the 10th fastest-growing county in the nation. We are also trying to address challenges such as childcare and housing while maintaining the charm that makes Spartanburg attractive.

What makes Spartanburg County especially competitive as a location for business investment?

Several assets help industries choose Spartanburg beyond quality of life and affordability. We have a reputation for being pro-business. Our local officials are dedicated to helping companies go from spending money to making money as quickly as possible. That means quick turnaround times on permitting, reducing red tape where possible, and maintaining a collaborative spirit across the city, county, and private-sector partners.

We have also seen a tremendous amount of investment in speculative industrial buildings over the years, especially post-COVID. Spartanburg is known as a solid place to invest, where investors can get the returns they expect. Last year, for example, we had 15 million square feet of vacant industrial speculative space and finished the year with less than 3 million. That was a busy year, and it reflects collaboration across the broker, development, and economic development communities.

Location is another major advantage. Spartanburg sits on the I-85 corridor between Atlanta and Raleigh. If we were not growing, we would have had to do something to intervene because that corridor is so rich for economic development. We also have a strong manufacturing ecosystem that has been built over decades. The county set out to be the job center for the Upstate, and I believe that has happened.

That ecosystem is now attracting companies that provide technical services to manufacturing, including automation, robotics, and AI. We are also seeing early signs of life sciences interest in Spartanburg, with activity related to pharmaceutical, medical device, software, and tech companies. In addition, we are seeing more interest in corporate headquarters, supported in part by the concentration of jobs here and the development of Class A office space in downtown Spartanburg. Our founders network, Foundry SC, has also continued to grow, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. Momentum breeds momentum, and we have had a terrific run for well over two decades.

What are companies asking for most today when they evaluate Spartanburg?

Companies want to see a complete ecosystem. That starts with product. For economic development, that means greenfield sites, speculative industrial buildings, speculative office space, and quality retail, office, commercial, and industrial product. If you do not have product and other communities do, then you are at a disadvantage. Because of our public-private partnerships, I believe we are doing well in the creation of product.

Companies also look closely at infrastructure. When people start talking about growth, they naturally ask about roads, water, sewer, and other infrastructure needed to support it. Staying fully ahead of growth is probably not realistic, but Spartanburg County, its school districts, the various utilities, and elected officials have done a good job trying to feather that growth and infrastructure together. The penny sales tax referendum for road infrastructure was critical, and local leaders over water and sewer resources have made prudent investments to maximize efficiency.

Our school districts are also reinvesting in new high schools, new middle schools, improved elementary schools, and reasonable class sizes to keep up with growth. All of that helps create the environment companies are looking for.

How are you addressing workforce challenges as the county continues to add jobs?

We have done two talent gap analyses using Lightcast to better understand the needs of our businesses so that we can be more focused in how we serve them. Workforce is a challenge, and childcare is a major part of that. It is not just a Spartanburg issue. It is a challenge across many communities because lack of childcare can reduce workforce participation.

One of the things we did was Project 100 in Spartanburg, where we were trying to create 100 new childcare seats. Instead of focusing only on recruiting childcare companies, we went to local childcare providers and asked what was standing in the way of them serving more children. In some cases, it was a bathroom, a code issue, or a small expansion they needed but could not afford. Some of those projects were in the $20,000 to $40,000 range. By deploying funds to support those physical changes, we were able to create over 100 new childcare seats, and those were quickly taken up.

Housing is another challenge in a rapidly growing community. We have worked with the city of Spartanburg and other municipalities to encourage and incentivize dense housing in downtowns, especially high-quality mixed-use and multifamily projects. That has helped us rapidly add housing options for the growing workforce.

Effectively, we are at full employment. We are about 4% unemployed, and we have been there for several years. Population growth has helped, and Spartanburg also has a robust labor pool and strong transportation network for associates across the labor shed. Employers themselves have created environments with competitive wages and strong benefits, which also supports recruitment.

There is no silver bullet for workforce. It takes certifications, degree attainment, apprenticeships, internships, childcare solutions, housing options, and continued vigilance. That is something our team at OneSpartanburg is focused on every day.

How important are infrastructure and small business growth to sustaining Spartanburg’s momentum?

Infrastructure is the foundation of all of this. Location, the inland port, GSP, I-85, I-26, rail access, strong utilities, and climate all help create fertile soil, but the rest of the ecosystem has to be supported, too. Roads, water, sewer, schools, and product development all matter if growth is going to be sustainable.

Small business growth is also critically important and sometimes not talked about enough. People like hearing the headlines about $500 million investments and major job announcements, but when those workers want to go out to dinner or go shopping, communities need strong small businesses as well. If you are missing that part of the ecosystem, you lose.

Small business growth is also a real opportunity for wealth creation in the community. Through efforts like Power Up, we are able to help support the creation of new businesses and new job opportunities. If you have 10 small businesses and they each hire 10 people, that is 100 jobs right there. Sustaining growth in Spartanburg means supporting the full ecosystem, from major industrial investment to the local businesses that help make the community work.