by Sacarlett Lisjak, originally posted May 7, 2025 by WSPA
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) — Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette was in Spartanburg County on Wednesday, highlighting a new education development coming to the Duncan area.
Evette toured global manufacturing company SEW Eurodrive’s facility, but she also came to talk about an investment made by the company.
“What we really wanted to talk about first and foremost is on top of their exceptional product, quality and workmanship is what they are doing for this community and using their philanthropy dollars to come together to help early childhood development,” Evette said.
SEW is helping to fund a new early education campus for local family resource facility, known as Middle Tyger Education Center.
“They are taking their treasures and making a center for early childhood development that isn’t just for their employees but for the community at large,” Evette said.
The goal is to address the shortage of early childhood education resources in the area.
“We know that childcare comes at the center of a healthy thriving family, and we are in the midst of a childcare desert. There is not enough high-quality early care in education to meet our industry and residential demands,” said Haley Grau, th executive director of Middle Tyger Community Center.
The center, once completed, will span more than 44,000-square-feet; sitting on approximately 13-acres of land donated by Spartanburg School District 5.
State and local officials said the development will go a long way to alleviate the demand for early childcare in the area.
“We can expand our early care in education program, that is daily childcare, from 60 slots to 285 slots, not just 5 classrooms but 17 classrooms,” Grau said.
Middle Tyger Community Center said the new building will offer the most infant to one-year old slots in the state.
The project is estimated to cost $19 million and is expected to open in August 2026.