Spartanburg County’s
Small & Minority Business
Development Initiative

Power Up Spartanburg, led by OneSpartanburg, Inc. and funded by Spartanburg County, is a movement to transform Spartanburg County into the #1 place in the U.S. to start, run, and grow a small or minority business.

Fill Out an Intake Form

Access to
Capital & Space

Connections to financial resources and physical space are key resources small and minority businesses need to establish a foundation of success.

Power Up Funding made $10+ million in loans, and a pool of grant funding, available to small and minority businesses. For the first two years, 30% of these funds are reserved for minority-owned businesses.
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) will serve as fiduciary agents for these funding opportunities.
Launched
Property owners and developers are being engaged to find and activate small-scale storefronts, and micro-office or micro-retail space in active downtowns across the county.

Technical
Support

Beyond capital and space, a host of resources are needed to start, sustain, and grow a small or minority business.

Power Up Spartanburg will increase access to local small and minority business accelerators. Accelerators will be expanded to cover all parts of the county.
Launched
Committed subject matter experts are accessible to guide small and minority business growth across Spartanburg County.
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Power Up Spartanburg is connecting small businesses to large employers, helping them become certified and creating the opportunity for transformational business growth.
Launched
Spartanburg County is a sister community for the renowned MIT Venture Mentoring Service, recruiting mentors trained to assist small and minority business owners participating in Power Up Spartanburg.
Launched

Making New Connections

Connections are critical, so impactful events and knowledgeable community champions will be available for small and minority businesses to learn from.

These events connect small and minority businesses to local experts, success stories, and networking sessions to grow the impact of the initiative's resources.
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A group of community captains are part of an extensive contact list, providing small and minority businesses the tips, contacts, and knowledge they need.
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Digital Community & Resource Hub

Powered by Duke Energy, The Grid will empower small and minority business owners to make impactful connections, find critical information, and broaden their network. The Grid is designed to serve as a roadmap for starting, sustaining, growing, or exiting a small or minority business in Spartanburg.

Launched

Upcoming Events

Discover Power Up Spartanburg

Tue., May 28
5:30-6:30 PM
Join us for this session diving deep into the offerings and benefits of getting involved with Power Up Spartanburg – our county’s small and minority business development strategy – with David Petty, Middle Tyger Area Community Captain.

Register
Power Up 101

Wed., May 29
9-10 AM
Power Up 101 is for small and minority business owners looking to utilize resources, maximize benefits, and learn best practices for their business.

Register
Intro to The Grid: Session 1

Mon., June 3
8-9 AM
Dive into The Grid, powered by Duke Energy. The Grid is tailored to empower small and minority businesses by empowering them to make impactful connections, access critical information, broaden your network, and more. Bring your computer, phone, or tablet to get the full impact of this session.

Click Here
Intro to The Grid: Session 2

Mon., June 3
12-1 PM
Dive into The Grid, powered by Duke Energy. The Grid is tailored to empower small and minority businesses by empowering them to make impactful connections, access critical information, broaden your network, and more. Bring your computer, phone, or tablet to get the full impact of this session.

Click Here
Intro to The Grid: Session 3

Mon., June 3
4-5 PM
Dive into The Grid, powered by Duke Energy. The Grid is tailored to empower small and minority businesses by empowering them to make impactful connections, access critical information, broaden your network, and more. Bring your computer, phone, or tablet to get the full impact of this session.

Click Here
Separating Business & Personal Finances

Wed., June 5
1-2 PM
In this course, you will discover the importance of separating your business and personal finances for long-term success. Truist will equip you with practical strategies and insights to effectively manage your finances and set clear business goals. Plus, you will receive valuable resources to support your journey.

Register
Degrees & Donuts

Fri., June 7
9-10 AM
Get connected to Power Up University, designed to provide small and minority business owners with the opportunity to gain core skills and build their business acumen.

Register
Unlocking Entrepreneurial Success w/ Jimmy Gibbs

Wed., June 12
8:30-9:30 AM
Meet the driving force behind Gibbs International, Inc., longtime Spartanburg entrepreneur Jimmy Gibbs. Gibbs built a machinery empire spanning the globe, all headquartered right her in Spartanburg. Learn how he found success, and get specific insights on how you can follow a similar path.

Register
Hiring 101

Thu., June 20
11 AM- 12:30 PM
This SBDC session will help you learn the essential strategies to attract and hire top talent, and how to build an effective hiring strategy tailored to your business’ needs.

Register
Hiring 101

Thu., June 20
2:30-4 PM
This SBDC session will help you learn the essential strategies to attract and hire top talent, and how to build an effective hiring strategy tailored to your business’ needs.

Register