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To outsiders, this Southern city may appear to be a sleepy,
backwoods town nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. But Spartanburg is anything but asleep. This
"diamond in the rough," or "Sparkle City" as it is known by
locals, is a mecca of international trade and hospitality.
Bridging cultures has been a trademark quality of
Spartanburg since its founding in 1730, when the Cherokee
nation and the South Carolina province signed a treaty. The
county and the city bear the name of a regiment of soldiers
— the Spartan Rifles — who helped defeat the British in the
Battle of Cowpens during the Revolutionary War.
In this tradition, the city and the county have attracted
people and businesses from across the globe. It boasts a
thriving manufacturing base, which accounts for about 34
percent of its labor force. Altogether more than 100
international companies from 16 countries are located there,
including French tiremaker Michelin Tire Co. and Bayerische
Motoren Werke Manufacturing Corp. (BMW), a German automotive
manufacturer.
Michelin, which operates plants in Spartanburg, Greenville,
and other South Carolina cities, has been the state's
largest international employer since the 1970s. Michelin
plans a $100 million expansion of its Spartanburg facility,
bringing 300 new jobs. Meanwhile, BMW has invested more than
$1.2 billion in a 1,000-acre complex near the
Spartanburg-Greenville airport that offers nearly 2,000
jobs. Another 18 BMW suppliers have made the area home.
The location and growth of companies like these have
dramatically changed the economic and cultural landscape of
the community, says Lou Cecil of the Spartanburg Development
Council.
"I can't say enough about the quality of life improvements
thanks to BMW, all of its suppliers, and the spin-off
businesses," says the Spartanburg native. "I just hope it
continues."
The Spartanburg community is a melting pot that gushes with
a vibrant cultural mix of ethnic flavors — German, French,
and Swiss — as well as old American Southern hospitality.
"You get everything you need right here. The schools are
good, businesses are successful, and the quality of life has
improved tenfold during the past five or six years," says
Laura Corbin, a spokeswoman for the local chamber of
commerce.
But it wasn't always that way. Ten years ago it was
Spartanburg's bustling neighbor, Greenville, that people
identified with and talked about.
The area has long been a matrix of agriculture and textiles
industries. Back in the1960s, textile magnate Roger Milliken
made Spartanburg his home and moved his business from New
York. At age 81, Milliken is worth $820 million. This places
him on Forbes' list of the nation's 400 wealthiest people.
Milliken's company, and those which he helped recruit, were
among the first lured to South Carolina by a mild climate,
low taxes, and progressive job-training programs. The
training programs remain a bulwark of the state's attractive
incentives, and were a focal point in the initial
negotiations with BMW.
"We searched for, and found, the best location in the United
States for our first U.S. manufacturing facility," comments
BMW executive Helmut Panke, who headed U.S. operations
during the site selection process. "Not only were the people
top-notch, but [South Carolina's] training program, and
desire to have BMW call Spartanburg home, made the
difference. Our partnership is one that will last forever."
In less than a decade, Interstate 85 has developed rapidly
making it a lucrative and popular business location.
Spartanburg County, in particular, has experienced
tremendous growth in the past five years. Capital
investments by business and industry total $2.5 billion and
represent 7,900 new jobs.
Spartanburg and its neighbors have enjoyed economic gains
and some pains as growth has brought change and traffic. But
local government and business leaders say they wouldn't want
it any other way, even if they could slow it down. "You
couldn't stop the growth if you wanted to," says Spartanburg
City Manager Roy Lane.
The growth and the popularity is gaining national attention,
too. Even Rosabeth Moss Kanter of the Harvard Business
School commented on Spartanburg's transformation. She says
in her book, "World Class: Thriving Locally in the Global
Economy," that the economic development trend here "is a
lesson for business and community leaders seeking to
understand what is required to achieve world-class status
and bring local residents into the world economy."
Still, Spartanburg continues to look for ways to incorporate
its history with its hope for the future.
A once-trafficked hub for travelers using Amtrak, the city's
train depot sits vacant near Magnolia Street in the south
side. Plans are underway to restore it and house the
convention and visitor's bureau. A special events office is
being created.
NFL's Carolina Panthers now use Spartanburg's Wofford
College as its summer training camp. And other tourist
opportunities have surfaced. Events like the Miss South
Carolina Pageant and the International Festival continually
grow bigger and better each year.
The area's 10,000 college and university students converge
on the city between August and May, putting the spotlight on
local establishments like Gerhard's Café, Bavarian Delights,
the Deli Korner, and R. J. Rockers.
A stroll through the downtown area reveals its potential. A
community park named after Jerry Richardson, owner of the
Carolina Panthers and former head of Flagstar Corp. (now
known as Advantica), is one of the few bright spots. The
17-story Advantica tower is the tallest building in
Spartanburg and was part of a city revitalization project
during the late 1970s. Advantica owns Denny's, El Pollo
Loco, Coco's, and Carrow's. Not only is the downtown
location good for the headquarters, it symbolizes a
community effort to attract white-collar businesses.
Developer Arthur Cleveland, whose family has long-time roots
in the community, and developer Norman Pulliam have
committed decades of experience to transforming this region.
The two men initiated a downtown revitalization project that
calls for an executive golf course and a hotel and
convention center. Restoration of some historical buildings
also is under way, and a new amphitheater is expected by
summer.
The Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium also will undergo a
face-lift and is set to reopen after a $7-million
restoration. And now open is the Spartanburg County Public
Libraries headquarters. The 105,000-square-foot facility
incorporates elements of traditional and contemporary
architecture to complement the historic buildings and the
newer buildings in Spartanburg's central business district.
The design is reminiscent of many of the older textile mills
in the area, which are so important to Spartanburg County's
history.
Quality-of-life improvements in Spartanburg are exemplified
by the expansion of WestGate Mall on the city's west side.
The mall is now the only one in the state with six anchor
stores and 130 specialty shops. On the other end of town,
Hillcrest Mall has been razed and a retail development
featuring Steinmart, Publix, a Super Kmart and other smaller
retailers is in progress.
Economic development also has boosted real estate sales and
upscale living. The growing west side is where a lot of
newcomers look first. On the east side are historic Hampton
Heights, Converse Heights, and some of the posh and larger
executive homes.
Roland Windham, Spartanburg's county administrator, has
nurtured this growth every step of the way. During his
17-year tenure, he has helped make this community into a
global hot spot.
"The growth has been phenomenal," says Windham, who is
leaving to take a similar post in Charleston, S.C. "I feel
fortunate to have been a part of it."
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