Local Initiatives Support Corp. Upstate South Carolina plans to launch Financial Opportunity Center programs in Spartanburg, Anderson and Greenville counties.
Residents with low and moderate incomes will be eligible for counseling, coaching and other resources at the Financial Opportunity Center sites to help achieve their career and financial goals. LISC, a national community development organization, has established Financial Opportunity Center sites in more than 120 communities nationwide.
“Having Financial Opportunity Centers or places where individuals can have a safe place to develop skills and get access to information ultimately really helps drive healthy communities,” said Michael Pugh, CEO of LISC.
Dawn Deck, executive director of LISC Upstate SC, said planning for the local Financial Opportunity Center sites started at the beginning of 2025. The Milliken & Co. Charitable Foundation and Truist Foundation provided $115,000 in financial support for the establishment of the Upstate centers.
LISC Upstate SC has identified two nonprofit organizations in Spartanburg and Anderson counties to be the Financial Opportunity Center partner sites. Deck said exploratory conversations are ongoing with two additional partners located in Greenville County.
“We are targeting a launch in November 2025,” Deck said. “The launch is being driven by the readiness of our partners and we are working to ensure that each (Financial Opportunity Center) has a solid foundation from which to grow and scale the program.”
A range of free services will be offered at the Financial Opportunity Center sites, including career counseling, financial coaching and education on public benefits programs. Deck explained that the program will not only help build the region’s workforce but also provide individuals with the education they need to make better financial decisions.
In addition to economic development, LISC Upstate SC also supports affordable housing development, safety and justice efforts and capacity building within the Spartanburg, Greenville and Anderson communities. The community development organization has provided more than $765 million in grants, loans and equity across South Carolina since 2019.
For more information on LISC Upstate SC, visit lisc.org/upstate-south-carolina.
