Across South Carolina—and right here in Spartanburg—a growing challenge is quietly reshaping the future of our workforce: the lack of accessible, affordable childcare.
At Contec, we recognize that this isn’t just a personal struggle for working parents. It’s a growing challenge with real economic consequences. When families can’t find care, businesses lose talent, communities lose momentum, and children miss out on the strong start they deserve.
In a WYFF News 4 segment examining the financial toll of South Carolina’s childcare shortage, Contec CEO Jack McBride underscored how deeply this issue is impacting employers across the region.
“They’ll do the research to see if they can get a childcare slot here in the Upstate, and if they can’t, they say they can’t take the job.”
Jack McBride, CEO - Contec, Inc.
This is the reality many companies are facing—and it’s one that requires action.
Contec President Avi Lawrence, serving as Chair of the OneSpartanburg, Inc. Board, is helping lead the charge to address this urgent issue. OneSpartanburg is advancing bold, collaborative initiatives like Project 100—an innovative pilot program aimed at expanding childcare capacity and strengthening support for working families across Spartanburg County.
And we're proud to celebrate a meaningful milestone in that effort.
Five local childcare providers have been awarded a total of $164,000 in facility-upgrade investments through Project 100—funding that will create 107 new childcare seats for families across the county. This project, made possible through the combined leadership of OneSpartanburg, Power Up Spartanburg, the Mary Black Foundation, Spartanburg County First Steps, and Quality Counts, is designed to invest in our region’s childcare infrastructure, reduce workforce participation barriers, and strengthen early childhood education.
This is exactly the kind of strategic, community-focused investment that builds a more resilient, inclusive economy—one where parents are supported, businesses can retain skilled workers, and children are set up for success.
At Contec, we’re proud to stand alongside organizations and leaders driving real solutions to one of our region’s most pressing challenges. That's why we are partnering with TOOTRiS, the nation's largest on-demand childcare network, to support our associates in finding reliable, flexible care tailored to their needs. Learn more about our TOOTRiS partnership here.
We’re not just acknowledging the childcare crisis—we’re working to solve it and build a stronger future, together.
Interested in learning more about this benefit and the others Contec offers? Visit www.contecinc.com/careers.
