Cole Alverson, County Administrator, Spartanburg County

Invest: spoke with Cole Alverson, county administrator of Spartanburg County, about the county’s growth trajectory, its collaborative approach to development and infrastructure, and the importance of preserving quality of life as the region expands. “People come to Spartanburg County for a reason, and we want to make sure growth does not erode what makes the county attractive,” Alverson said.

How would you describe the state of Spartanburg County’s economy, and what trends are shaping your priorities?

Spartanburg County remains a fast-growing area, and the fundamentals that have supported that growth have not really changed. We continue to see strong migration into the county, and we are still attracting attention from high-quality companies, particularly in advanced manufacturing and biotech. That consistency is important because it reinforces that Spartanburg County remains a place where people want to live, work, and invest.

For us, the priority is making sure we manage that success well. Growth creates tremendous opportunity, but it also brings pressure on infrastructure, public services, and quality-of-life assets. Our focus is on making sure those things keep pace so the county can continue growing in a balanced and sustainable way.

What makes Spartanburg County competitive for new projects, especially compared with larger markets in the region?

There are several advantages that make Spartanburg County stand out. We benefit from our location along I-85 and at the intersection with I-26, and we are home to South Carolina’s Inland Port Greer, which effectively extends the reach of the Port of Charleston into our market. Those logistics assets are meaningful and continue to support our economic development efforts.

One of our strongest differentiators, though, is our partnership with Spartanburg Community College and the Spark Center. That gives companies real support as they locate here, whether they need transitional space, help with beta testing product lines, or workforce training before their permanent facility is ready. That has paid real dividends over time because it offers a resource many communities cannot match.

When you combine those advantages with the presence of major employers, such as BMW, Michelin, Toray, and Keurig Dr Pepper, along with a strong quality of life, it creates a compelling story for companies considering the county.

How would you assess the county’s workforce, and where are you focusing workforce development efforts?

Our workforce is strong, highly capable, and well suited for the kinds of jobs we have traditionally recruited. We are also taking a broader and more holistic view of workforce development. Through OneSpartanburg, which serves as the county’s economic development arm, we are looking not just at recruitment, but also at how we train, educate, and prepare people for long-term success.

That has led to programs that expose students earlier to the kinds of careers available here. Internship initiatives and other partnerships help young people gain meaningful on-the-job experience and understand their options before they make decisions about higher education or career paths. That benefits both the students and the employers who need a strong pipeline of talent.

We also work closely with the county’s higher education institutions. Spartanburg has historically been strong in technical education, but one area of focus is improving educational attainment on the four-year side. Programs like Re:Degree, which encourage people with some college experience to return and complete their degree, are one way we are working to move that metric in the right direction.

Which industries are seeing the most momentum, and where is the county targeting future growth?

Advanced manufacturing continues to be a major strength for Spartanburg County, and we expect that to remain an important part of our economy. Biotech is also a high area of focus because it aligns with our advanced manufacturing base while also supporting our desire to grow more white-collar employment opportunities in the market.

We believe we have some real advantages in that area. We have strong healthcare partners, including Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, as well as medical education assets that give us a foundation other places may not have. That creates an opportunity to build more quickly in biotech by leveraging what we already do well in manufacturing.

As the county grows, how are you balancing new development with infrastructure, public services, and quality of life?

That is the single most important and difficult challenge we face. Growth brings opportunity, but it also means greater demand for roads, ambulances, and every other public service people rely on. Because of that, balance has become a central priority. The County Council adopted a strategic plan with five pillars, and one of those pillars specifically identifies the need for parity between service and growth.

Infrastructure is a big part of that. We have built a stronger, more modern roads program that is supported by a voter-approved capital project sales tax. Over the six-year life of that penny, we expect to execute roughly $500 million in projects. We have also made that work more data-driven so that road conditions, improvements, and priorities are based on better information and planning.

Land use is another important piece. In the southwest quadrant of the county, we have used performance zoning standards to create more flexibility while also trying to ensure compatibility between uses. We are closely monitoring that effort and making adjustments where needed so more intense uses go where infrastructure can support them and lower-volume residential uses are preserved where that makes more sense.

Quality of life is just as important. People come to Spartanburg County for a reason, and we want to make sure growth does not erode what makes the county attractive. Over the last 18 months, we have more than doubled our park acreage, adding nearly 1,400 acres to the county’s inventory. We have also invested in conservation projects and trail expansion. Those efforts are meant to preserve the county’s character while making room for continued growth.

How are you approaching energy and utility capacity as more energy-intensive industries come into the market?

We have always had strong working relationships with our utility partners, whether on power, water, or sewer, and they remain at the table as part of our economic development efforts. Any project that comes into the market requires careful vetting, not just to understand demand on day one, but to understand where that demand may go over time and what it could mean for the broader system.

That is especially relevant with projects like data centers, which have become a major topic of discussion. We have one under construction now, and we have seen others come through the market. Those projects can look different from one another, but they all raise important questions about long-term grid impact.

Our council has taken the view that these kinds of projects require a more holistic statewide approach. Because they can affect not just our area but neighboring parts of the grid as well, there needs to be a strong vetting platform at the state level to evaluate those technical implications and ensure the system can handle them responsibly.

What are your top priorities for the next two to three years?

Our main priority is maintaining parity with growth. We have done a great deal of upfront work to get infrastructure improvements, land use changes, and quality-of-life investments moving. The next phase is execution.

Over the next 12 to 24 months, we are focused on making sure those projects are delivered well and that residents can see the benefits in the community. We are also not stepping away from quality of life or from our emphasis on improving the overall development pattern of the county. The challenge now is to execute at a high level and stay disciplined as growth continues.

Is there anything else you would like to emphasize about Spartanburg County’s approach?

What sets Spartanburg County apart is collaboration. When people from other communities visit and ask how we have had success, that is the answer we give them. The county, the city, community organizations, and institutions work together in a real way. That means recognizing where each organization is strongest, trusting one another, and being willing to have tough conversations when necessary.

That collaborative mindset allows us to bring the right people into the room, tackle difficult challenges together, and keep moving forward even when the work is complicated. That is it. That’s the secret sauce.