Wedding & Event Venue near Spartanburg, SC

A proposed $2.8 billion “computing center” in South Carolina’s Upstate would have its own onsite power generation.

Officials say the so-far-unnamed aeronautics and engineering firm could serve as a model for big tech in the Palmetto State.

The proposed investment in Spartanburg County comes as South Carolina grapples with how to meet the energy needs of a growing population, manufacturing base and an influx of power heavy data centers. It’s referred to publicly as “Project Moc-1” to keep the actual company name secret amid negotiations.

Massive centers under construction by Google and Facebook parent company Meta in other parts of the state each require hundreds of megawatts to operate. But “Moc-1” would buy fuel and make its own power rather than adding to demand on the grid, County Councilman David Britt told the SC Daily Gazette.

“This could set the stage for other projects on how to do something like this,” said Britt, who serves as the council’s economic development committee chairman.

Unlike traditional data centers, “Moc-1” won’t be leasing out space on servers to other companies. Instead, the Upstate center will be for the company’s own use.

South Carolina is in competition with one other state to bring in the business, Britt said. The codenamed company operates in three other states but does not currently have a location here.

While the reported investment figure is huge, the company’s workforce would be small: It’s expected to employ 27 full-time workers. Little else is known as negotiations continue.

To lure in the company, Spartanburg County is offering a reduced property tax rate of 4% for 40 years.

By state law, manufacturers without such an arrangement pay a 6% rate. (Industrial property owners previously paid a 10.5% rate, but state laws passed in 2017 and 2022 effectively lowered it to 6%.)

The county also is offering special credits allowing the company to further buy down its tax bill — a $1.5 million annual credit for the first 20 years and $2 million for the 20 years after that.

Britt said “Moc-1” would be a good fit for Spartanburg County. Even with the incentives, the massive investment would generate a lot of tax revenue for the county.

He also noted that unemployment is already low in the county: 3.9% in December, compared to the state average of 4.7%, as of the latest report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

And, according to Britt, existing small businesses, such as electricians and heating and air conditioning companies, are likely to benefit as the company will need contractors to conduct maintenance on the facility for years to come.

If the deal is made, it would mark the second-largest single investment in state history, behind battery recycler Redwood Materials in Berkeley County.

Redwood Materials announced in late 2022 it was coming to South Carolina but delayed its construction by a year.

The company broke ground on its $3.5 billion site in early 2024. Company spokeswoman Morgan Crapps previously told the SC Daily Gazette that production hiring will begin in the coming months. Redwood will employ 1,500 South Carolinians when it reaches full capacity.

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Terri Ivester, who works with kindergarten students from Anderson School District Three, was reading to children in Ryleigh Gates' class Tuesday morning when she had a surprise visitor to her classroom.

Ivester, a reading coach at Starr Elementary, was surprised with a check for $10,000 and a visit from South Carolina Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver as she was named the third of five finalists for the title of South Carolina Teacher of the Year.

"Boys and girls, I have some more exciting news, you want to hear it? She is going to get $10,000," Weaver said to the children. "And she is going to get to compete to be the state teacher of the year and if she wins, she is going to get $25,000, isn't that awesome?" she said.

"I'm so proud of her," she said to the cheers from those gathered in the classroom.

"Helping teachers is a passion of mine," Ivester told the class and officials watching Superintendent Weaver interview her.

Ivester said she had been a teacher for as long as she could remember. "I've always felt like teaching is what I wanted to do," she said.

Starr Elementary has previously had success with top teachers in the state. In May 2018, Jeffrey Maxey, a special education resource teacher at Starr Elementary, won the 2019 South Carolina Teacher of the Year award presented by Superintendent Molly Spearman.

Spartanburg, Lexington also have finalists

Taylor Carvajal of the Applied Academic Center of the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind in Spartanburg was the second teacher in the state to be surprised by Weaver during a visit to the school on Monday, March 10.

"Taylor Carvajal’s connection to her students runs deep. Inspired by her legally blind grandparents, she has spent her career ensuring blind and deaf students have the tools they need to succeed at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind," Weaver said. "Now, her dedication has earned her a spot as a finalist for South Carolina Teacher of the Year."

Lexington 4 Early Childhood Education teacher Miranda Grice was the first finalist, who was surprised on March 7.

"Before children learn to read or write, they learn to speak—and for some, that first step requires extra help," Weaver said. "Miranda Grice, a speech-language pathologist at Lexington Four Early Childhood Center, has dedicated her career to ensuring every child has a voice. Now, her impact has made her a finalist for South Carolina Teacher of the Year."

According to the South Carolina Department of Education, the South Carolina Teacher of the Year program is coordinated by the Office of Educator Services.

The program annually "identifies, recognizes, and celebrates exceptional teachers and their effective work in and outside the classroom. The teacher selected as South Carolina’s Teacher of the Year serves for one school year as a roving ambassador promoting the teaching profession and the state spokesperson for over 60,000 educators."

Last year, Braden Wilson, an eighth-grade history teacher at Palmetto Middle School in Williamston, Anderson School District One, was named South Carolina Teacher of the Year.

The winner of SC Teacher of the Year will be announced at the celebration in Columbia in April. The winner will receive $25,000 and a new BMW for the year.

GREER — Two days before slashing dozens of jobs, battery manufacturer Proterra told an executive from OneSpartanburg that it was ready to increase production capacity if needed.

The company was using part of the plant for production and part of it for storage, said OneSpartanburg Director of Existing Industry Dwayne Hatchett, who visited the plant on March 5.

"They said if the time came they needed to add equipment and production lines, they had the space to do that," Hatchett said.

They didn't mention the layoffs.

But Proterra Powered LLC’s battery assembly plant on Poplar Drive Extension in Greer announced a permanent layoff of 85 workers, according to a notice it filed with the state Department of Employment and Workforce.

The layoff was effective March 6, according to the notice.

The news comes as agricultural tire maker Yokohama TWS North America plans to shutter its Spartanburg County plant, eliminating 90 jobs.

Proterra designs batteries for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles in California and assembles them in Greer.

The company in 2020 received $10 million loan from the Paycheck Protection Program that was forgiven in 2022, according to Bloomberg News.

In 2021, it announced it was investing $76 million to build the Greer assembly plant in Spartanburg County and expected to create more than 200 jobs. As part of the deal, Spartanburg County gave the company a fee-in-lieu of tax agreement to lower its property tax rate to 6 percent, according to the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Proterra's website on March 7 said the plant created more than 100 jobs, but the FILOTs are based on investment, not jobs.

Proterra filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2023 and in November of that year, Swedish auto manufacturer Volvo announced it had purchased the company’s business assets for $210 million, including the 327,000-square-foot Greer assembly plant.

In a news release at the time, Volvo said: “With this acquisition, Volvo Group will complement the current, and accelerate its future, battery-electric road map.”

And in August 2024, Proterra said in a news release that it was “stronger and more determined to fulfill our critical mission. That’s why our focus is crystal clear: recharging our company in 2024 to deliver the world’s premier batteries and service for commercial electric vehicles.”

Volvo did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt, who chairs the county's economic development committee, talked to Proterra's general counsel on March 7. He said the company doesn't plan to close the facility but was instead consolidating production shifts.

The volatility in the auto market and supply chain, the threat of tariffs and the end of federal subsidies for electric vehicles could all have played a role in the decision, Britt said.

"My concern is this isn't going to be the only case in Spartanburg County,” he added. "When they start talking about recession, that tightens up your gut muscles, both from a personal side well as business side."

Are you looking for free things to do in Spartanburg, SC? Do you have an idea in your head that doing something fun with your kids in Spartanburg is going to cost money (and probably a lot of it)? We are setting the record correct today once and for all: Spartanburg has tons of fun free things to do and even more that are really cheap.

And here’s where you can find a giant list of things to do in Spartanburg, SC!

Free Places to Go in Downtown Spartanburg

Spartanburg Library – Ask your average person why you would visit the library and they will say to “check out books”. The Spartanburg Library offers much more than just books though. On their schedule you can find everything from puppet shows, to LEGO programs, to even exercise classes. The Spartanburg Headquarters Library even has a playground right outside the children’s area.

Hub City Railroad Museum – This free train museum downtown allows children to sit in a caboose, watch trains from a special deck, and use a telegraph.

Sparkle City Mini Putt – You can pick up your putters and ball from several local businesses and play mini-golf for free in this Spartanburg themed mini putt. And with FR8 Yard right there, you can also grab dinner.

Spartanburg Art Museum – Spark your child’s creativity by viewing some well curated art. SAM has great programs for kids, little art goers are always welcome. Check out their Learning Lounge for some interactive art activities.

The Johnson Collection – A private art collection shared with the public by esteemed philanthropists Susan and George Johnson. A wonderful place to cultivate your little one’s eye for art and expanding their imagination. This museum is the feather to Spartanburg’s art-filled cap.

Easy Free Walking Trails

The Rail Trail – This paved trail near the Spartanburg YMCA is perfect for biking, scooters, and walking. The trail is also located beside the free Hot Spot Skate Park and Play 60 Park with a ninja warrior style obstacle course.

Cottonwood Trail Preserve – These easy trails will take you over boardwalks, through forests, and into open picnic areas.

Tyger River Nature Park & Tyger-10 Nature Park – These two parks offer scenic easy hiking along the Tyger River. It’s common to see families wading and picnicking on the riverside.

Glendale Shoals Preserves – This park is a favorite of photographers and offers a pleasant place to walk.

Hatcher Garden & Woodland Preserve – This garden is beautiful in all seasons and easy to walk or picnic in.

Drayton Mills Trail & Beaumont Mill Village Pathway– This paved trail can be accessed at a couple of points, the easiest is probably the large parking lot across from Drayton Mills. Or, start at the small parking lot for the Beaumont Mill Village Pathway beside Adam’s Park on East Boundary Drive. This is where the Story Walk trail starts if you have kids who would enjoy that.

You could walk the story trail, take a left onto the Drayton Mill Trail after you cross the bridge over the river, head up to Drayton Mill for a coffee or a treat, and then head back up the trail to your car. This trail is stroller-friendly, but there’s a big hill and you will have to cross Drayton Road to get to the mill for that coffee! You may even be lucky enough to watch a train crossing the tall bridge over the river!

Amazing Playgrounds Near Spartanburg

Cleveland Park – The playground at this park in downtown Spartanburg has bright colors and imaginative structures that encourage pretend play. The park also offers a walking trail that bends around a pretty pond with a gazebo. One disadvantage of this park is the playground is not fenced and it’s difficult to watch your child if they are quickly moving from place to place.

Tyger River Park – The newly renovated massive park in Duncan contains perhaps one of the most impressive play areas in the Upstate. The playground has many surprises including a small cave, climbing structures, and a sandbox. During the summer, a splash pad is also open.

Stoneledge Park – Right beside Shipwreck Cove in Duncan, Stoneledge Park is tucked away. This large playground is unique in that it has a rubber turf floor and decent shade. There are also two large picnic shelters that are relatively cheap to rent for parties.

Happy Hollow Park – This park is small but nestled in the scenic Converse Heights area. The playground is fenced in and offers plenty of shade. There is a small walking trail and green space as well.

Lake Bowen Park – This playground in Inman has a lake as the backdrop making it a scenic spot for picnics and evening play times.

McMillan Park – This large playground in Boiling Springs is unique in that the entire play area, including small kid playground, big kid playground, picnic shelters and swings, is entirely fenced-in making it a very easy place to keep track of your kids.

The Airport Park – This playground at the Spartanburg Downtown Airport features an aviation playground plus a splash pad. Of course, the big attraction is watching the planes land and fly while you play.

Conestee Park & Lake Conestee Nature Preserve – While these two parks are located in Greenville, they are certainly worth the drive. We recommend entering in the Conestee Park main entrance where you will find a large playground, green space, and picnic shelters. A short walk from the playground, you will find a main trail head that leads into Lake Conestee Nature Preserve where you will find several simple trail loops that include educational stops, boardwalks, and observation decks. Lake Conestee offers a wide variety of wildlife to observe as well.

Runway Park – It’s easy to make a day trip to this playground in Greenville because not only does it offer a fun place to play while watching planes, but you can also grab lunch at Runway Cafe and eat it in the park.

Herdklotz Park – This playground in Taylors is one of the largest in the area and has a lot of shade.

Simpsonville City Park – This park has new play equipment which includes a zip-line.

Inexpensive Things to Do in Spartanburg

Spartanburg Science Center – Spartanburg Science Center has fun exhibits and summer camps. They also have a very cute hedgehog (plus other animals). Admission is just $5 and kids under 5 are free.

The Children’s Museum of the Upstate – The Children’s Museum of the Upstate-Spartanburg is designed for children aged 5 and under. Admission is just $8 (SC adult and child) and a membership for $120+ includes both museums allowing you to also enjoy the larger museum in Greenville.

Croft State Park – This wonderful state park includes boating, fishing, and hiking. Admission is only $3/adults.

Free or Inexpensive Day Trips Near Spartanburg

Reedy Creek Nature Center & Preserves (Charlotte) – You won’t believe it but this nature center is completely free. Amenities include two large playgrounds (one that is a natural theme and covered with shade), an indoor nature center with a play space, and hiking.

Roper Mountain Science Center (Greenville) – Once you figure out how much there is to do at Roper Mountain Science Center, you will want a family membership. Events include several 2nd Saturday events, planetarium shows, and the Butterfly Adventure where you can see butterflies up close. In addition, the grounds are open on non-event day open hours and the grounds include a walking trail, imaginative play areas, and the gardens.

Upcountry History Museum (Greenville) – Throughout the year, Upcountry History Museum offers fun events like Toddler Times and Family Night. In the summer, they traditionally feature a large children’s exhibit. It’s all contained in one room making it an easy place for the kids to play without the parents having to worry about them getting out of sight.

Paris Mountain State Park (Greenville) – Paris Mountain State Park is a pretty place to hike and spend the day. During the summer season, they open the swim area on Lake Placid. Attend a free ranger-led hike or lecture at Paris Mountain’s 4th Saturday Events. In the fall, their Music in the Woods lets your family enjoy live music in the outdoor amphitheater. Events are free with regular park admission of $6 per adult and $3.50 per children 6-15 years old (5 and under are free).

Jocassee Gorges (Upper SC) – The Jocassee Gorges have been named one of the 50 World’s Last Great Places by National Geographic. This large wilderness area includes the beautiful Lake Jocassee and Devils Fork State Park.

Clemson University’s Bob Campbell Geology Museum (Clemson SC) – Located inside Clemson’s botanical garden. A fantastic little museum for your rock collector. Check out the glow-in-the-dark room of minerals for a nice surprise. Free. Check their website for visiting hours.

What are your favorite free things to do in Spartanburg?

Greenville News

All but two South Carolina counties have had their burn ban restrictions lifted.

According to a South Carolina Forestry Commission release, a burn ban was lifted after a weekend of wildfires in Horry, Spartanburg, Pickens, and Oconee counties. The agency imposed the ban on March 1 and lifted it Wednesday at 5 p.m.

According to the state fire marshal's office, fire crews responded to more than 175 wildfires across the state, and more than 4,200 acres of land were damaged on Sunday. In the Upstate, more than 75 acres burned Saturday in a fire that engulfed the Six Mile Mountain area in Pickens County.

One Pickens County house suffered minor cosmetic damage, and several radio towers at the top of the mountain were damaged. An evacuation order issued for residents on Saturday was lifted Sunday morning.

The release said they lifted the ban in all South Carolina counties except Horry and Georgetown. According to the Forestry Commission, more than two thousand acres have burned in the Carolina Forest area of Myrtle Beach since the fires began last weekend. Crews are still fighting the fires in Horry County, with 44% containment.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on March 3 because of the fires.