SCC Foundation to alter Economic Visionaries fundraising inititative in 2021

The coronavirus pandemic has sidelined another important fundraising event for Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties, with Spartanburg Community College announcing that Economic Visionaries will not be held in 2021.

But the Spartanburg Community College Foundation wants to ensure that area companies still have the opportunity to support its annual fundraising initiative by putting dollars that would have gone to event sponsorships toward student scholarships and professional development for faculty and staff.

“We know we can’t have 700 or 800 people in a room celebrating our Economic Visionaries that we typically do every year,” said Dr. Michael Mikota, President of Spartanburg Community College. “But SCC has stayed open through the coronavirus pandemic, meeting the workforce development needs of area companies. If we slow down, then the whole economy slows down. And being the backbone of the economy in Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties is so important to the future success and growth of our region.”

Spartanburg-based Cooper Standard, an automotive supplier and an Economic Visionaries sponsor, will continue to support SCC through the scholarship initiative, said Human Resources Manager Warren Snead.

“The pandemic has seriously impacted fundraising this year with Economic Visionaries,” Snead said. “I would encourage everybody that has contributed in the past to please consider going ahead and contributing again. Let’s not fail to support the college because of the pandemic. Technology is ever-evolving, and education can’t take a break.”

Mikota said he is proud that SCC has continued to operate with a combination of in-person and online learning during the pandemic.

“We’ve been able to adapt and sustain continuity,” Mikota said. “What I mean by that is that we didn’t shift back to completely online (learning). We’re continuing to have clinical sites with area hospital systems to meet healthcare needs and continuing to meet the workforce needs of business and industry.”

Snead said SCC is a critical component in developing the area’s workforce and in bringing new industry to Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties.

“Our community competes economically with a worldwide community,” Snead said. “We want to keep jobs here and refine those jobs, and we want everyone in the world to know that this is the place to bring your business and this is the school that can educate your workforce. “