It’s not the easiest route to satisfy a state requirement, but the City of Spartanburg doesn’t shy away from big challenges and it’s never afraid to innovate.
That’s why when discussions around racial equity in our community were given new urgency on the heels of data shared from USC-Upstate’s Metropolitan Studies Institute in their 2018 Spartanburg Racial Equity Index showing large racial disparities in practically every area of local residents’ lives, the Spartanburg City Council and city staff understood that in order to do their part to correct those imbalances, the city’s most important guiding development document should reflect a commitment to ending those disparities and increasing racial equity for its residents.
It was with that in mind that the nation’s first citywide comprehensive planning process focused around racial equity was born.
Created with the help of those who call Spartanburg home, Plan Spartanburg will ultimately guide the city’s growth for the next decade to come, and will have an impact long after that, informing strategies on areas as wide-ranging housing, economics, health and wellness, parks and recreation, public facilities, infrastructure, traffic, and the overall livability of Spartanburg for its residents.
Listen below for more, and be sure to visit the Plan Spartanburg website to sign up and attend the virtual Planapalooza events coming up Oct. 22-26, and let the city know your ideas for Spartanburg’s future!
Want to listen to the City of Spartanburg Podcast on your smartphone? You can find it on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or just search “Spartanburg City News” in your favorite podcast app. Theme music provided by Spartanburg singer-songwriter, David Ezell.
Prepared by the City of Spartanburg.