Spartanburg County leaders approved a major investment intended to expand opportunity for small and minority-owned businesses. In 2022, the Spartanburg Herald-Journal reported that County Council unanimously allocated $6 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to OneSpartanburg, Inc. for programs aimed at reducing racial equity gaps and supporting entrepreneurship.
What the ARPA funding was meant to do
The article notes that the investment was framed as a response to longstanding concerns that government incentives too often focus on large companies, while small businesses — especially Black-owned businesses — struggle to access the same level of support.
Barriers the reporting highlighted
Data cited in the story pointed to a gap in Black-owned businesses in the county compared to national averages. The plan emphasized expanding access to skills training, capital, customers, and business development resources so that more entrepreneurs could grow and compete.
The larger package
Alongside the small business funding, the ARPA package included other projects such as sewer infrastructure, stormwater improvements, blight removal, affordable housing efforts, and road projects — reflecting a broader strategy to strengthen the county’s long-term growth and quality of life.