Spartanburg Area Chamber hires economic development veteran for new downtown-focused enterprise
May 1, 2017
SPARTANBURG, SC – The Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce has named Jansen Kent Tidmore to the post of Executive Vice President of the new Downtown Development Partnership.
A native of Dothan, Ala., Tidmore since 2011 has served as the Executive Director of the Dothan Downtown Redevelopment Authority, which was tasked with economic development efforts for Dothan’s core downtown. During that time, the DDRA has acquired more than 100,000 square feet of downtown property, developed more than 60,000 square feet of property, and increased the business count to the core area by nearly 40 percent. Some of the DDRA’s direct projects include a retail incubator called the Nest on Foster and its tech industry accelerator called the Hub on Troy.
As he did in Dothan, Tidmore will take the helm of a brand-new downtown development-focused entity. Never before in Spartanburg’s history has an entity been solely dedicated to downtown investment, job-creation, and quality of place efforts. The Downtown Development Partnership was a central recommendation of the recently released OneSpartanburg plan, a five-year community and economic development strategy developed by the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Restaurant, retail, multi-family and quality of place developments are being announced weekly, and the economic momentum occurring in Downtown Spartanburg is undeniable,” Chamber CEO and President Allen Smith said. “Seventy-four candidates applied for this position, and Jansen, with his experience building a similar entity in Dothan from the ground up coupled with his public and private sector development background, emerged as a clear top choice.”
The Downtown Development Partnership will initially focus on three key areas: business retention, business growth, and new business recruitment.
Tidmore earned a Master’s of Public Administration from Auburn University. After an internship under the City Manager in Dothan, he worked in several family businesses, including steel fabrication and custom home building, before taking the reins of the Dothan Downtown Redevelopment Authority. Tidmore and his wife, Laura, have two daughters: Madison, 8, and Londyn, 4.
“As my wife and I were touring communities for the best fit for our family, we explored an array of options,” Tidmore said. “When we arrived in Spartanburg we were initially struck by two key attributes: the cleanliness of the community and the emphasis on arts and culture.”
Tidmore begins his duties in Spartanburg May 1.
About the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce
The Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit organization supported through membership investment and strategic partnerships. Our mission is to enhance the economic vitality and lifestyle environment of Spartanburg County. For more information, visit spartanburgchamber.com.
