Spark Center SC

Spark's Four Major Sectors

1. Soft Landings Program

   The Soft Landings Program provides furnished office space and basic office services, for up to one year, to qualifying foreign or domestic companies who are looking to start new operations and locate in Spartanburg County. The program provides coordinated contacts for services such as cultural assistance, language translation services, entry assistance, immigration and visa assistance, government regulations, accounting, financial, legal, housing assistance, utilities and many other services. In addition, the program is designed to provide information and coordinate resources for training seminars, technical support, global trade information, market research, referrals, and community relations and networking. The anticipated outcome of the Soft Landings Program is to improve each client's likelihood of success once the company moves to a permanent location.

2. Small Business Incubator

   The Small Business Incubator assists new businesses in the early start-up phase and existing businesses that are re-tooling or reorganizing for greater success. By offering space and basic office services, the SBI gives a client the foundation to get started or to move ahead without the worry of extensive overhead costs.
   

   SBI Membership Benefits:
   As part of SBI, member companies have access to The International Business Innovation Association resources, volunteer business partners that provide professional assistance including legal advice, accounting, credit management, financial planning, product development, and market research. The SBI's Mentor Program, provided through the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, matches clients with experienced small business owners who provide valuable insight into overcoming challenges, which is an integral part of an entrepreneur s future success. In addition, the SBI introduces clients to potential Venture Capital and Angel Investors who may be interested in growing new companies as an investment opportunity-- a win- win for the business as well as the community.

3. Workforce Employment Services

   Workforce Employment Services are provided to qualifying companies looking to locate in Spartanburg County. SCC, in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Employment & Workforce and ReadySC, will provide temporary office and training space to meet the company s needs. Services provided through this partnership include, but are not limited to, the following:

   •  Advertisement in the news media
   •  On-site application process, including screening and pre-employment interviews
   •  Pre-employment training with no cost to the company and no obligation on the employee's or employer's part
   •  Post-employment training in job-specific skill areas
   
   These services will give a company the opportunity to observe potential employees in a work environment and will give potential employees the opportunity to learn more about a company before a final decision is made on the hire. The result will be a more cohesive fit between employee and employer.

4. Special Projects

   Spark Center SC is also available to assist established business and industry partners with special projects. This program provides space that may be used to beta test a new product line or manufacturing process as well as train existing or new employees. In addition, space is available for the temporary warehousing of inventory.

What Clients are Saying

“It was exceptionally good for us in terms of logistics. We were fortunate to have one place we could identify everyone could come and have the resources available to execute our project plan. The Spark Center provided us a lot of resources that you would normally have to do in a construction trailer, and that doesn’t allow for a lot of collaboration with that many people. We set up a simulation of our manufacturing equipment in the Spark Center so we could start training immediately.”
- Chuck Hollingsworth, Operations Launch Director

Keurig Dr Pepper

"Within days after the tornado destroyed our office, we were able to move all of our employees to the Spark Center SC and resume operations. No other organization would have been able to help us get set up as quickly and efficiently as the Spark. The Spark Center SC helped pave the way for the success we are experiencing today."
- David B. Petty, Chief Marketing Officer

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