Resources for Businesses
Federal Grants
The Department of Labor oversees grant programs focusing on the workforce needs of employers. To keep apprised of federal grant opportunities, go to www.grants.gov. There you can sign up for an e-mail alert announcing grant opportunities. You can also search by using such keywords as “workforce” or “training,” or you can search by specific federal agency, such as the Department of Commerce. Training and development grants may also be available through the National Science Foundation and the Small Business Administration, among other groups.
State Resources
The South Carolina Department of Commerce can help you with training and development. Please visit this site for more information www.sccommerce.com. The U.S. Chamber Institute for a Competitive Workforce’s (ICW’s) icw.uschamber.com also offers online information to help.
Regional Resources
Ten at the Top promotes a regional vision and strategy for the ten counties of the Upstate.
Upstate Vibe 365 publishes information about programs, initiatives, services, and events in the Upstate region.
The Upstate SC Alliance is a public/private regional economic development organization that markets the 10-county Upstate region to the world so that the region can compete for business investment.
Community Colleges
Contact the Spartanburg Community College Cherokee Campus for help on employers’ training needs. These offices can help identify courses to meet the training needs of your workforce, develop a specialized curriculum, and connect you to grants.
Workforce Investment Boards
Click here for the Workforce Investment Board or Upstate Career Source. These boards are responsible for setting policy and overseeing workforce investment programs for the community. Each board is made up of individuals who are either appointed or volunteer.
Additional Resources
- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
- South Carolina Department of Commerce
- South Carolina Business One Stop
- Appalachian Council of Governments
- SC BIZ NEWS – South Carolina’s Media Partner for Economic Growth
- U.S. Small Business Administration
- United States Chamber of Commerce
- SCORE – Counselors to America’s Small Business
- South Carolina Small Business Development Center