2026 Inter-City Leadership Conference Spartanburg, South Carolina
Presented by Brasfield & Gorrie and StudioBGP
Join us September 29 – October 2, 2026 as we celebrate three decades of ICLC. This milestone year will continue our tradition of exploring innovative ideas and gaining actionable insights to help shape future projects and initiatives in the Columbus region. Spartanburg has emerged as a strong example of strategic growth, workforce alignment, and community-driven development—making it an ideal destination for this year’s experience.
For 30 years, the Columbus Chamber has proudly led ICLC, providing leaders across business, education, government, and nonprofit sectors the opportunity to visit peer and aspirational cities.
This conference continues to offer valuable insights into economic development, tourism, downtown revitalization, the arts, and talent attraction; consistently bringing together a dynamic group of community leaders, small business owners, CEOs, educators, government officials, and regional partners.
To learn more about participating or becoming a sponsor of this event, contact us today!
706-596-7011
2026 Inter-City Leadership Conference
Spartanburg, South Carolina
A Case Study in Community Transformation
Every community has defining moments.
For Spartanburg, that moment came when its historic textile economy declined. Like many Southern manufacturing communities, Spartanburg faced difficult questions about its future. It could continue reacting to economic change – or it could redefine itself.
The leaders of Spartanburg chose the latter.
Through decades of intentional collaboration, long-term vision, and a willingness to align around shared priorities, Spartanburg transformed itself into one of the Southeast’s most successful economic development stories. Today, it is recognized nationally for advanced manufacturing, talent development, neighborhood revitalization, entrepreneurship, and collaborative leadership. The results of that work are measurable – in population growth, economic output, private investment, and quality of life.
This year’s Inter-City Leadership Conference is not simply a visit to another successful community.
It is an opportunity to examine how transformation happens.
Why Spartanburg?
At first glance, Columbus and Spartanburg have remarkably similar stories.
Both communities built strong industrial economies. Both experienced significant disruption as textile manufacturing declined. Both serve as regional centers that are neither major metropolitan areas nor rural communities. Both possess world-class assets, dedicated civic leadership, and tremendous opportunity.
The difference – and the reason for this visit – is how Spartanburg chose to organize itself around a shared vision for its future.
By the Numbers*
The results of that approach are difficult to ignore.
| Measure | Spartanburg MSA | Columbus MSA |
|---|---|---|
| Population Growth (2000–2025) | +50% | +18.3% |
| GDP Growth | $8.3B → $21.1B | $10.8B → $18.7B |
| Bachelor's Degree Attainment | 19.0% → 25.7% | 18.0% → 27.6% |
Perhaps the most striking statistic is population growth. Over the past 25 years, Spartanburg has grown by approximately 50 percent, adding more than 127,000 residents. During that same period, the Columbus metropolitan area grew by just over 18 percent and has remained essentially flat since 2020.
Economic performance tells a similar story. Spartanburg’s gross domestic product has more than doubled – from $8.3 billion in 2000 to more than $21 billion today – outpacing Columbus despite beginning with a smaller economy.
Interestingly, the difference is not educational attainment. Today, Columbus actually has a slightly higher percentage of residents with bachelor’s degrees than Spartanburg. The lesson is not that Spartanburg simply had greater resources – it is that the community learned to align those resources more effectively. Business leaders, educators, elected officials, philanthropic organizations, neighborhood leaders, and nonprofits committed to common goals, measured progress, and sustained that commitment over decades.
That is why we are visiting Spartanburg.
Not because Columbus lacks assets.
But because Spartanburg demonstrates what is possible when an entire community commits to a shared vision and works together over the long term
Through OneSpartanburg and the community visioning efforts that followed, Spartanburg created a culture of collaboration where public, private, nonprofit, philanthropic, and educational partners work toward shared priorities with measurable outcomes. Instead of operating in silos, the community aligned around a collective strategy that continues to evolve today.
As Columbus continues implementing the Regional Prosperity Initiative formerly known as Columbus2025, now called Columbus Ahead, Spartanburg offers an opportunity to observe another community’s journey – not to copy its work, but to understand the principles, partnerships, and leadership decisions that produced lasting change.
What We'll Explore
Throughout our visit, we’ll examine several interconnected themes that have shaped Spartanburg’s success.
Education as an Economic Development Strategy
Education is treated as a community responsibility rather than solely a school system responsibility.
We’ll learn how organizations like Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM), Movement 2030, and The Franklin School have aligned educators, businesses, foundations, governments, and nonprofits around measurable goals in early childhood education, academic achievement, and postsecondary attainment.
As Columbus strengthens its own talent pipeline through Partners in Education and other initiatives, we’ll consider how broad community ownership can accelerate student success.
Entrepreneurship and Talent
Economic resilience requires more than recruiting new employers.
We’ll explore how initiatives like PowerUp Spartanburg and Re: Degree Spartanburg are helping entrepreneurs launch businesses, helping existing businesses grow, and reconnecting adults with educational opportunities that strengthen the workforce.
These conversations align closely with Columbus’ focus on small business growth, workforce development, and lifelong learning.
Place-Making Through Strategic Investment
Spartanburg’s investment in “Project Core” demonstrates how catalytic projects can reshape an entire district.
A new baseball stadium serves as the centerpiece of a mixed-use development that includes housing, hotels, office space, restaurants, public gathering areas, and private investment totaling more than $500 million.
We’ll explore how thoughtful placemaking can strengthen downtown vitality while creating lasting economic impact.
Neighborhood Revitalization
True economic success benefits the entire community.
We’ll visit Spartanburg’s Northside to learn how resident-led redevelopment, mixed-income housing, and intentional partnerships have revitalized a historic neighborhood while striving to preserve community identity and opportunity.
Quality of Place
Economic competitiveness increasingly depends upon quality of life.
Whether through active living initiatives, arts and culture, or innovation centers supporting business growth, Spartanburg has invested in creating a community where people want to live, work, and build careers.
Beyond the Sessions
While our formal agenda will introduce us to some of Spartanburg’s most innovative organizations, projects, and leaders, some of the conference’s greatest value comes outside the meeting rooms. Throughout our time together, we’ll gather in a variety of local restaurants, community spaces, and venues that showcase Spartanburg’s unique character and hospitality. These shared meals and informal conversations provide opportunities to reflect on what we’ve learned, exchange ideas with fellow attendees, and build relationships that often continue long after the conference concludes. We encourage you to take advantage of every opportunity to engage with one another as together we consider what lessons may help shape the future of Columbus.
Questions to Consider
As you participate throughout the conference, consider these questions:
- What leadership decisions made Spartanburg’s transformation possible?
- How were organizations encouraged to work toward shared community goals?
- Which initiatives could be adapted—not replicated—for Columbus?
- What barriers would Columbus need to overcome to achieve similar outcomes?
- Where are the greatest opportunities for collaboration among business, education, government, and nonprofit leaders?
- What role can each of us play in helping shape Columbus’ future?
Looking Ahead
For 30 years, the Inter-City Leadership Conference has always been about more than visiting another city.
It is about expanding our perspectives, challenging assumptions, and bringing home ideas that can strengthen our own community.
Spartanburg’s story reminds us that transformational change rarely happens through a single project or organization. It happens when a community commits to a shared vision, aligns around common priorities, measures progress, and sustains that commitment over time.
Our hope is that you return not simply inspired by Spartanburg’s story, but equipped with new relationships, fresh ideas, and a renewed commitment to helping write the next chapter of Columbus’ story.