Across the U.S., families, economic developers and employers face a shared challenge: the lack of childcare as workforce infrastructure. The system is too costly and too scarce, leading to labor shortages as parents reduce hours or leave the workforce, while children miss out on the strong foundation that high-quality early education provides. Many regions, including Spartanburg County, are considered “childcare deserts,” where more than three children compete for every licensed slot.
Spartanburg County, South Carolina, is no exception. Fueled by global manufacturers and a competitive business climate, the region’s rapid industrial growth has created strong job opportunities but also amplified the need for family-supportive infrastructure. Many neighborhoods here meet the definition of a childcare desert, making it harder for parents to join or remain in the workforce.
That’s why SEW-Eurodrive’s latest investments, a cutting-edge Smart Factory and a major expansion of early childhood education through the new Middle Tyger Education Center, represent a holistic approach to workforce development, community vitality, and economic growth.
In this blog you’ll learn:
Why treating childcare as workforce infrastructure is crucial for regional growth.
How the childcare scarcity and cost-barriers impact both workforce participation and early childhood development.
How SEW‑Eurodrive’s investments in Spartanburg combine manufacturing expansion with early learning access to strengthen community and economy.
How the design of the Middle Tyger Education Center (formerly a 60-child program) expands to nearly 285 children and incorporates thoughtfully planned classrooms, playgrounds, family service spaces, and educator support.
How this public-private-education partnership creates a replicable model that other regions can adapt to align business growth, early education, and talent pipeline development.
Conceptual rendering of Middle Tyger Education Center, designed by McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture.
Linking Industry Growth with Early Education
SEW-Eurodrive, a German-based industrial manufacturer with a long-standing presence in Spartanburg County, has steadily expanded its footprint since opening its first local plant in 1983. The company’s 180-acre campus now includes an award-winning 250,000-square-foot production and assembly plant incorporating advanced Industry 4.0 manufacturing principles, alongside offices, showrooms, and employee amenities.
SEW’s commitment to Spartanburg goes beyond physical infrastructure. Many employees and families in the community have children at Middle Tyger Community Center (MTCC), a nonprofit early education program with limited capacity. Seeing the direct link between childcare access and workforce stability, SEW’s outreach organization, Greater Than Us, became the lead donor for the new Middle Tyger Education Center.
The new center is the product of a public-private collaboration. SEW-Eurodrive, MTCC, Spartanburg School District Five, and local and state leaders joined together to do more than just share costs. They aligned business, education, and community resources to build an infrastructure that strengthens families and the workforce at the same time.
Designing the Middle Tyger Education Center
McMillan Pazdan Smith’s design for the Middle Tyger Education Center expands capacity from 60 to nearly 285 children. It also creates spaces where students, families, and educators can thrive. Highlights of the design include:
- 17 classrooms organized by age to support developmental needs
- Multiple playgrounds designed as extensions of the classrooms
- Wraparound family services and meeting spaces to support parents and caregivers
- Accessibility and safety features exceeding code requirements
- Dedicated spaces for teachers to rest, plan, and collaborate (a key factor in educator retention)
Middle Tyger Education Center, interior conceptual renderings.
By designing a center that is safe and nurtures children’s growth, more children have access to a strong educational foundation. Research shows that appropriate stimulation and interaction in the early years are critical for brain development and social growth. At the same time, the availability of reliable, high-quality care allows parents, many of whom have faced barriers to employment due to the high cost of childcare, to pursue their careers with peace of mind, knowing their children are thriving.
Beyond individual employers, accessible childcare strengthens the region’s talent pipeline and makes Spartanburg more attractive to prospective employees, aligning with the county’s broader economic development goals.
Childcare as Workforce Infrastructure: A Blueprint for Other Communities
SEW-Eurodrive’s investments show what’s possible when business growth and community growth move in tandem. The Smart Factory strengthens Spartanburg’s position in advanced manufacturing, while the education center addresses a persistent barrier to workforce participation. Together, they form a model that treats childcare as essential infrastructure for a thriving economy. And one that other regions can adapt.
For economic developers, business leaders, and civic partners — workforce strategies begin long before hiring. They begin with investments in childcare as workforce infrastructure, giving families and communities the stability to thrive.
Read how early learning impacts the socioeconomic well-being of children, their families, and their communities, in “A Collaborative Approach to Early Childhood Learning“, an EDmarket Essentials Magazine article. The article is written by principal architects in our K-12 practice, Josh Czerniak, AIA, LEED AP and Michelle Smyth, ALEP, AIA, LEED AP.
