Spartanburg Vision Plan process reaches pivotal halfway point
June 15, 2016
Community Event Outlines Assessment and Next Steps
The plan for Spartanburg’s future has reached a pivotal point, and residents and leaders eager to join the efforts gathered on Tuesday, June 14, for “One Vision. One Spartanburg.”
Community members were invited to hear an update from Market Street Services (MSS), an Atlanta-based consulting firm that is leading the research and strategic planning process of the Spartanburg Vision Plan. The presentation outlined the eight “stories” from the Community Assessment that were generated from researching Spartanburg County, state, and national data, as well as results from a survey that garnered responses from over 3,100 residents.
The six-phase process began in February 2016 and will last approximately nine months. MSS has done similar assessments for communities such as Austin, TX and Nashville, TN. Market Street has already undergone four phases of the six-step process, including Stakeholder Input, Community Assessment, Target Business Analysis, and a Community Marketing Review.
Matt DeVeau, project leader from Market Street Services
“We’ve reached the halfway point of this process, and the findings have been both sobering and encouraging,” said Todd Horne, chair of the executive board of the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce. “The bottom line is that we must face our brutal facts in order to address them. Addressing them, through a community wide effort, is exactly what we intend to do.”
Also guiding this process is a Steering Committee comprised of representatives from Spartanburg’s public, private, and non-profit sectors. This committee will ensure that the plan lays a solid foundation for people and businesses to thrive, and will be executed after Market Street’s evaluation is complete.
On Wednesday, June 15, the Steering Committee met for a review of Phase V: Community & Economic Development Strategy. Using findings from the initial four research phases as a framework, Market Street facilitated a series of discussions with the Steering Committee to determine what overarching goals and potential action steps should be included in the strategy. The strategy will be inclusive of the many components that affect Spartanburg County’s ability to be a prosperous community, such as business retention and expansion, small business support, quality of life needs, and educational programs that strengthen the talent pipeline.
“Leaders in Spartanburg County have taken an important step forward with this process. As the research shows, the community has significant assets and opportunities in addition to issues that need to be addressed in a proactive way. The competition among communities across America continues to be greater every day. We are greatly impressed with the commitment of the Steering Committee and look forward to working with them to create a powerful strategy for Spartanburg County’s future,” stated J. Mac Holladay, CEO of Market Street Services.
View the community assessment and ongoing progress of the Spartanburg Vision Plan at www.spartanburgplan.com.
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 www.spartanburgchamber.com.
