Skip to Main Content

Spartanburg Community College Expands Cherokee County Campus in Iconic Gaffney Location

November 15, 2024

Community + Events

Chaser and the Peach
GAFFNEY, SOUTH CAROLINA -- Spartanburg Community College (SCC) is thrilled to announce the expansion of its Cherokee Campus in Gaffney, SC, underscoring its commitment to growing educational opportunities in Cherokee County and surrounding areas. Facilitated by Lyons Industrial Properties, SCC has successfully acquired two commercial properties in Gaffney: the former Fatz Restaurant site and an adjoining ± 20-acre land tract.

The more than $50 million investment will bring to life an expansion strategically located under the iconic Peach water tower along Interstate 85, adding a unique, highly recognizable landmark to SCC’s evolving Cherokee County Campus. 

SCC is celebrating an extraordinary period of growth with an inspiring surge in enrollment, creating the perfect timing for these efforts. Over the past year, SCC has seen a remarkable 17% year-over-year increase in new student enrollment, surpassing its goal and bringing in a total of 3,317 new students. Since 2020, the College’s overall headcount has surged by 62%, bringing total enrollment to over 6,700 students across its five campuses.

This growth trend has also been reflected in SCC’s number of graduates, which has climbed by 39% since the 2015-2016 academic year, increasing from 784 to an impressive 1,086 in 2023-2024. As SCC continues to expand, the College remains dedicated to meeting the educational and workforce needs of its community, ensuring access to quality education for a growing student body.

SCC Gaffney Expansion poster with Peach

Dr. Michael Mikota, SCC's President, described the expansion as a transformative milestone, stating, “As a native of Cherokee County, this historic announcement is both personally and professionally significant, as we continue to drive South Carolina forward into a new age of innovation in higher education and economic development.  The strategic investment in our community exemplifies SCC’s mission to empower our region to new heights of opportunity and prosperity for many generations to come.”

The expanded Cherokee County Campus will offer students a more dynamic environment, combining rich community heritage with enhanced academic and training facilities to support the workforce of tomorrow. The expansion will also feature the Spark Center, a business accelerator designed to support companies looking to relocate to Cherokee County. 

SCC Gaffney Expansion Rendering - Full
"Our County’s growth is dependent upon strong educational partners that ensure relevant, affordable, and accessible educational opportunities for our community. The expansion of SCC’s Cherokee County Campus allows us to continue to make Cherokee County a place companies want to invest in,” said Amanda Painter, Vice President of Community Enhancement & Workforce Development at Spartanburg Community College. 

Since its opening, SCC’s Tyger River Spark Center has generated an astounding $52.6 billion economic impact. The Spark Center’s initiatives have supported the creation of over 130,000 jobs, significantly contributing to the economic vitality and growth of South Carolina.

With these additions, SCC strengthens its role as a regional leader in education, aligning resources with the unique needs of Cherokee County and beyond.

 

To learn more, please contact:

Savanna James | Chief Marketing and Brand Strategy Officer

Spartanburg Community College

jamess@sccsc.edu

Rain or Shine, We Golfed for Good! The Annual Chaser’s Cup Golf Tournament

Golfers representing their organizations, donors, board members, and SCC family alike enjoy a day in the rain as they come together for Chaser's 3rd Annual Golf Tournament hosted by the Foundation.

Posted on April 9, 2025

A New Path to Teaching: TEACHSpartanburg is Here!

TEACHSpartanburg is a collaborative program launched by Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg School District 3, and USC Upstate to create a direct pathway for students to become teachers.

Posted on April 8, 2025

Student Spotlight: James Gunter Lands a Spring Internship with the Hub City Spartanburgers!

We are happy to announce that James Gunter has been offered an internship position with the Hub City Spartanburgers this spring. He will be working in the Customer/Guest Services department.

Posted on April 7, 2025

Chat Button Chat Button