Community Initiatives

Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE)

Spartanburg Water is committed to the intentional utilization of Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) in all areas of procurement. In keeping with this commitment, Spartanburg Water encourages participation from firms who are either MWBE firms or who have a MWBE partner. In addition to the use of a MWBE partner, if any, Spartanburg Water encourages the use of MWBE subcontractors, suppliers or vendors for these anticipated opportunities.

In 2022, there was a 13 percent decrease in solicitations and 9 percent decrease in purchasing transactions with MWBE vendors compared to 2021. The vendors in 2022 provide a variety of goods and services including office supplies, computer equipment, chemicals, and wastewater and water line projects. We continue to pursue the use of MWBE vendors and partners on large scale capital projects.

Community Benefit Program

Spartanburg Water recognizes that its mission includes not only being a good steward of the District’s resources, but it also includes using those resources for the benefit of the surrounding community. One method that Spartanburg Water may use is Community Benefit Agreements. As such, Spartanburg Water authorizes and approves the use of Community Benefit Agreements. The Chief Executive Officer develops and implements procedures and guidelines for this Community Benefit Policy consistent with this Procurement Policy.

Spartanburg Water is one of just a few organizations in the country utilizing a Community Benefit Program and the only organization in the state of South Carolina. Since being added to the Procurement Policy in 2015, more than 20 vendors have participated in the Community Benefit Program and contributed their resources to the betterment of the Spartanburg Community. 

Our Community Benefit Program is an initiative that is designed to benefit the community within the Spartanburg Water service area. With their participation in projects for, and contracts with, Spartanburg Water, suppliers are encouraged to participate in community benefit programs. Below are some of the examples of possible community benefit programs:

Workforce Development: This can include on-the-job training, internships, employment opportunities, and the overall needs of the local community when it comes to employment obstacles. 

Economic Development: This can include contracting with local companies, small businesses and hiring local workers. It can also include supporting programs and organizations that develop local businesses and business owners. 

Environmental Programs: This can include supporting programs that promote healthy, livable and sustainable communities such as the creation and maintenance of parks, community gardens and public open spaces as well as the protection and recreational use of rivers and tributaries. This can also include supporting programs that promote the care and preservation of natural resources.

Education: This can include mentoring or tutoring within local school districts, support for scholarship opportunities, or support of programs that provide support and investment in local area schools and education.

Community Pride

Businesses active in our program in 2022 and the nonprofits they supported:

• Aqua Services: monetary donation to Upstate Forever
• Hydrostructures: Monetary donation to the United Way of the Piedmont
• Infrastructure Solutions Group: Monetary donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upstate
• Sunbelt Janitorial Group: Monetary donation to YMCA of Spartanburg
• Turner Murphy Company: Monetary donation and volunteer hours at Habitat For Humanity
• Wiedemann and Singleton, Inc.: Monetary donation to Spartanburg Regional Health System Hospice House

For more information on how your organization can be a part of our Community Benefit Program, contact Remsen Parrish, Purchasing Manager, at rparrish@spartanburgwater.org.