Approaches to the Affordability Crisis, Featuring Julie Meredith From Furman’s Riley Institute

In this follow-up episode, we take a closer look at the affordability crisis and ask a different question: What are communities and employers actually doing to make it possible for people to work, raise families, build careers and stay in the Upstate? Our guest, Julie Meredith discusses the structural barriers standing in the way of economic mobility, including housing, childcare and transportation. She also points to an important shift: employers need to look beyond wages and consider the benefits and working conditions that affect whether employees can actually afford to stay in the workforce. SOLUTIONS ARE HAPPENING ACROSS THE UPSTATE Julie believes there are reasons to be optimistic. Local leaders are talking about these issues and communities across the Upstate are already trying new approaches. From employer-supported childcare to paid apprenticeships and second-chance employment, communities across all 10 Upstate counties are experimenting with ways to address workforce and affordability challenges. CHILDCARE Employer-supported childcare: Spartanburg School District 7 recently opened the Little Vikings D7 Employee Childcare Info at Mary H. Wright Elementary. The center provides affordable childcare for District 7 employees, helping address one of the barriers that can keep parents out of the workforce. YOUTH APPRENTICESHIPS & WORK-BASED LEARNING Programs across the Upstate are connecting high-school students with real-world work experience through: paid internships, co-ops, youth apprenticeships, job shadowing and career pathways. Examples include: The Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s LaunchGVL | Real Internships. Real Impact. and Greenville County Schools, Anderson County Career & Technology Center, Pickens County Schools, Cherokee County Schools and the G. Frank Russell Technology Center - Home in Greenwood. EARN WHILE YOU LEARN Technical colleges and employers are creating pathways where students can work, earn wages and gain credentials at the same time. Programs through Spartanburg Community College, Greenville Technical College, Tri-County Technical College and Piedmont Technical College are helping prepare workers for careers in manufacturing, healthcare, technology and the skilled trades. SECOND-CHANCE EMPLOYMENT What happens when people returning from incarceration are given an opportunity to work? Programs such as Soteria CDC, Home - Turn90, Find a Job Near Me with Goodwill® | Goodwill Industries®and SC Works are helping people develop skills, find employment and rebuild their lives. For employers, second-chance hiring can also help address workforce shortages while giving people a genuine pathway forward. 10 UPSTATE COUNTIES. MANY APPROACHES. Programs and workforce initiatives highlighted in our research include: Greenville: LaunchGVL, Greenville County schools, work-based learning, Greenville Tech apprenticeships and the Center for Manufacturing Innovation. Spartanburg: Little Vikings employee childcare, Spartanburg Community College apprenticeships and school-based work-based learning. Anderson: youth apprenticeships, internships, co-ops and workplace learning. Pickens: apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, internships, co-ops and career pathways. Oconee: school-based work-based learning, Tri-County Technical College and healthcare career pathways. Cherokee: junior/senior work-based learning and Spartanburg Community College apprenticeship opportunities. Union: internships, co-ops, pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeship pathways. Laurens: advanced manufacturing training and the Future Scholarship. Greenwood: G. Frank Russell Technology Center Youth Apprenticeship Program Abbeville: Piedmont Technical College workforce programs and regional apprenticeship opportunities. THE BIGGER QUESTION The question we can ask our community leaders: What can we learn from what's working and how can we do more of it? Learn more about your elected officials and find out who are willing to engage in these discussions. Subscribe to Stand Up Upstate and share this episode with someone who cares about the future of the Upstate. Follow us: Instagram: @wethepeoplegreenville Facebook: We the People Greenville Bluesky: wethepplgvl.bsky.social