Allen Smith, President & CEO, OneSpartanburg, Inc.

In an interview with Invest:, Allen Smith, president and CEO of OneSpartanburg, Inc., discussed the county’s sustained economic momentum, driven by strong investment, population growth, and a highly collaborative development model. He highlighted the importance of quality growth, workforce alignment, and small business support in shaping the region’s trajectory. “Last year was one of the strongest years in all of South Carolina in terms of new investment,” he said.

What have been some of the most important changes in the Spartanburg economy over the past year?

Last year was a phenomenal year for us. We saw $3.5 billion in new investment and just under 1,100 new jobs. It was another year in which we led the state of South Carolina in new investment.

There are a lot of markets in the state that receive attention, but for nearly a decade now, Spartanburg County has consistently led in new investment. In some years, we have accounted for 30% to 35% of the state’s total investment.

What is sustaining that level of momentum?

There are both tangible and intangible factors. On the tangible side, we benefit from strong logistics infrastructure. We are located at the intersection of I-85 and I-26, and we have access to the Inland Port and GSP International Airport.

Population growth is another major driver. Spartanburg is currently one of the fastest-growing MSAs in the country, with approximately 29 people moving to the county each day — nearly 11,000 annually.

We are also seeing strong expansion activity. Companies come here, find success, and then reinvest and grow their operations locally.

At the same time, we are focused on quality growth rather than simply expanding for the sake of scale. That approach has contributed to rising per capita income levels across the county.

The intangible factor is our collaborative model. We operate as a unified organization, combining economic development, chamber, tourism, and workforce development under one structure. That creates a streamlined experience for companies looking to invest in the region.

The relationship between the city and county is also strong. In fact, we are currently developing a joint city-county government facility — the only one of its kind in South Carolina. That level of alignment reinforces our reputation as a highly collaborative market.

How is the Power Up Spartanburg initiative shaping your approach to economic development?

Everything we do is data-driven and designed to scale. Through our Vision Plan 2.0, we identified that small businesses were not growing at the same pace as larger investments, which was a concern.

In response, we launched Power Up Spartanburg with significant support from the county, ultimately securing $6.5 million in funding to support small business development.

In just three years, the program has engaged more than 2,600 small businesses, supported the launch of 56 new businesses, and contributed to meaningful revenue growth. Collectively, these businesses have created 256 new jobs.

We also developed a mentoring program that connects small business owners with experienced professionals, as well as a supplier readiness initiative to help local businesses secure contracts with major employers.

To date, those efforts have resulted in $14.7 million in contracts awarded to local businesses, which has had a transformative impact at the individual business level.

How do you view the relationship between Spartanburg and nearby markets like Charlotte?

Charlotte still feels somewhat separate, but the connection is strengthening. You can reach Mecklenburg County in about an hour, and we are seeing growth along the I-85 corridor.

For higher-wage jobs, commuting becomes more feasible, and that expands our labor shed. We also see migration patterns reflecting movement between these markets.

At the same time, Spartanburg remains a more affordable option, which continues to attract residents from surrounding areas, including Greenville and Charlotte.

How are you addressing workforce challenges in a near full-employment environment?

Workforce remains one of the biggest challenges, even with strong population growth. One issue is that our fastest-growing demographic is individuals aged 65 and older, who are exiting the workforce rather than entering it.

We are focused on creating pathways to employment through education and training. With seven colleges in the county, we are working to ensure students see opportunities to remain in Spartanburg after graduation.

Programs like EDGE, our work-based learning initiative, have created more than 870 opportunities in partnership with over 120 employers. We also have a re-engagement initiative for individuals who started college but did not complete their degrees.

More than 1,600 people are currently engaged in that process, with hundreds already re-enrolled. These efforts are critical to increasing educational attainment and supporting access to higher-wage jobs.

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

We are currently developing Vision Plan 3.0, which will guide our strategy from 2027 to 2031. While that process is ongoing, several priorities are already clear.

We will continue to focus on quality growth, wage growth, and economic diversification. Advanced manufacturing will remain a strength, but we are also seeing opportunities in life sciences, as well as emerging sectors such as e-mobility and advanced materials.

Diversifying the economy is essential to ensuring long-term resilience and sustainability.

What message would you share with potential investors or stakeholders considering Spartanburg?

For anyone who has not visited Spartanburg recently or is not familiar with the market, now is the time to take a closer look. There has never been a better time to invest in Spartanburg.