Union Uplifted: A New Chapter for Union County
Big things are happening in Union County, and they’re being led by the people who live here.
Union Uplifted is a bold, community-driven initiative working to ensure every child in Union County has the chance to thrive, from early childhood through to a strong career. Launched in 2024, it’s built on one simple belief: when you listen deeply, work together, and center the voices of the community, transformational change becomes possible.
A Plan Built by the Community
Union Uplifted is not a top-down program. It’s a collaborative effort grounded in the experiences and insights of Union County residents. Over the past year, local leaders have facilitated 30 community conversations, engaging over 700 people from students to seniors, church members to school staff, small business owners to public officials.
These conversations are shaping a comprehensive “cradle-to-career” roadmap that reflects Union’s needs and aspirations.
Why Now?
When new employers like MycoWorks moved to Union, it became clear that economic growth would require more than just jobs. Workforce development is deeply connected to education, childcare, transportation, and other social supports. And Union didn’t have a strong infrastructure in place to make these connections.
That’s where this work began.
Thanks to a major investment from the BlackRock Foundation and leadership from organizations like Union County Schools, United Way of the Piedmont, Spartanburg Academic Movement, and Partners for Rural Impact, Union Uplifted is building the infrastructure that supports real opportunity for kids, families, and the community as a whole.
Listening First, Acting Next
The first phase of Union Uplifted was all about listening. Those conversations revealed:
- Barriers to basic resources like housing, mental health support, and safe places for kids
- A lack of access to enrichment programs and career prepartion for youth
- Community-wide calls for dignity, trust, and respect in service delivery
- The ongoing impact of historical inequities
- A deep sense of pride, resilience, and readiness for change
The next phase is already underway. Local partners are working with community members to turn those insights into specific goals and actions, from kindergarten readiness to career pathways. A new steering committee will guide this process, and local champions are stepping up to lead.
What Comes Next
Over the next year, Union Uplifted will develop a full community plan with clear strategies, shared results, and a long-term structure to carry the work forward. This isn’t just about a one-time project, it’s about building a system that lasts.
That means new partnerships and more opportunities. Above all, it means a commitment to making Union County a place where every child and family can succeed.
This is just the beginning. Union Uplifted is a story still being written, by the people of Union, for the future of Union.






