NNIP Welcomes Strategic Spartanburg, Inc. as Its Newest Partner
The National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP) is pleased to welcome Strategic Spartanburg, Inc. (SSI) as its newest partner, representing Spartanburg, South Carolina. SSI is our first partner in South Carolina, and their work closely aligns with NNIP’s mission to support communities in using data to inform strategies and investments so that all neighborhoods can thrive. They have also demonstrated they meet the network’s high standards for providing community data services.
SSI is a nonprofit research organization that uses data, evidence, and community voice to improve quality of life in Spartanburg County. Established to address the region’s need for accessible and reliable data infrastructure, SSI supports policy, guides investment, and advances collaborative action. The organization produces rigorous research, advanced analytics, and community-informed insights to help leaders across sectors understand local conditions and drive measurable progress.
SSI serves as the county’s central data intermediary and is widely recognized as a trusted partner that translates complex information into actionable strategies. Its work includes leading countywide indicator systems, conducting mixed-methods research on issues such as mental health, poverty, housing stability, and youth opportunity, and supporting place-based initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for residents. SSI also contributes to the region’s remarkable cross-sector alignment by collaborating with academic institutions, philanthropy, and local government agencies by consistently providing credible and community-grounded data. Local collaborators highlight SSI’s unique role in elevating the region’s capacity for data-informed decision-making and its commitment to building trust through meaningful engagement.
NNIP will be strengthened by SSI’s expertise in action research informed by the understanding of the importance of neighborhoods in shaping people’s opportunities. They skillfully integrate insights from residents’ experiences with those from traditional quantitative indicators. The network members will also learn from SSI’s participatory research approaches and accessible data storytelling.
Highlights of SSI’s Local Data Work
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Community Indicators Project (CIP)
The Community Indicators Project is Spartanburg County’s longstanding shared measurement system, providing a foundation for understanding neighborhood conditions, population trends, and disparities. SSI is leading a comprehensive modernization of CIP, including updating indicators across seven domains, refining the conceptual framework, and improving methods for measuring progress on countywide priorities.
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Unfinished Business: Spartanburg’s Call to Confront Poverty
Unfinished Business is a multi-method research initiative examining the structural and systemic drivers of poverty in Spartanburg County. SSI convened a Community-Based Research Consortium to ensure the analysis reflects both empirical evidence and lived experience. The project will produce the county’s most comprehensive assessment of poverty to date and offer a roadmap for systems-level reform across areas such as transportation, workforce development, childcare, housing, and health. SSI also works with community partners to interpret findings and apply them in practice.
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Spartanburg Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Administration and Analysis
SSI partners with schools, public health agencies, and youth-serving organizations to administer and analyze the YRBS. SSI coordinates survey administration, conducts statistical analyses to identify trends across schools and demographic groups, and examines indicators including mental health, bullying, substance use, school climate, and protective factors. The organization also develops accessible reports and visualizations and facilitates working sessions with stakeholders to support interpretation and application of findings. SSI provides technical assistance to partners integrating YRBS data into grant applications, strategic plans, and evaluation frameworks.
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State of Housing for the City of Spartanburg
SSI is leading the development of the City of Spartanburg’s inaugural State of Housing Report. The forthcoming report will analyze housing supply and demand, land use, affordability, and housing stability, among other aspects of the city’s housing market. Drawing on data from the national and local sources, the report will provide both citywide and neighborhood-level perspectives.
To learn more about Strategic Spartanburg, Inc., visit their website.