HEAR HERE: OneSpartanburg brands work-based learning push as EDGE, eyes 600+ placements this summer

The chamber announced its work-based learning program now operates under a new identity — EDGE — meant to consolidate Spartanburg County’s internships, apprenticeships, and employer-funded student placements under one banner that high schoolers, parents, and HR managers will recognize.

OneSpartanburg, the Spartanburg-area chamber, said the rebrand reflects how quickly employer participation has scaled. Placements grew from 203 students in summer 2024 to 556 in summer 2025 — a 174 percent jump in twelve months — and the chamber expects EDGE to push past 600 placements this summer, with manufacturers, hospital systems, and logistics firms among the most active employer partners.

The branding is more than a logo. EDGE-affiliated employers commit to paid hours, a defined supervisor, and a structured learning plan tied to either a Spartanburg County high school course or a Spartanburg Community College credential. That means the program now competes head-on with traditional after-school jobs by offering hours that count toward graduation, technical certifications, or college credit.

For Spartanburg families, EDGE is the most concrete answer yet to a question every Upstate parent asks: where can a 16- or 17-year-old earn money this summer in a setting that matters for what they want to do at 22? With BMW, Milliken, Spartanburg Regional, and OneSpartanburg’s manufacturing council all in the partner roster, EDGE is positioning itself as the bridge between a high-school transcript and a paying career path inside the county.

What’s Happening

What is EDGE?

EDGE is the new brand name for OneSpartanburg’s work-based learning program — covering paid internships, registered apprenticeships, and employer-funded student placements across Spartanburg County.

How fast is the program growing?

Placements went from 203 in summer 2024 to 556 in summer 2025, with the chamber projecting more than 600 students placed in summer 2026.

Who is eligible to participate?

Spartanburg County high school students and Spartanburg Community College students whose course of study aligns with a participating employer’s defined learning plan.