Chambers partner on Minority Business Accelerator program.

TheGreenville Chamber of Commerceis partnering with the Anderson and Spartanburg chambers of commerce to broaden the scope of theMinority Business Acceleratorto the Upstate. Historically comprised of primarily Greenville-based businesses, the partnership will expand the reach of the program throughout the Upstate, according to a news release.

The Minority Business Accelerator program provides business training and development services to minority, veteran and woman-owned firms in the Upstate. Pending acceptance, businesses now qualify for the program through investment in Anderson and Spartanburg chambers. While the program has always been available to businesses throughout the Upstate, the partnership further expands access to the program, the release said.

"As a business organization it is our mission to strengthen our business community and economy so that our businesses can thrive," Pam Christopher,Anderson Area Chamber of Commercepresident and CEO, said in the release. "This program is essential to growing and strengthening our minority businesses. I believe that this program will be the centerpiece for elevating our minority businesses in Anderson County and the region."

The Minority Business Accelerator program is one of six in the nation offered by chambers of commerce, the release said. To qualify, businesses must be based in the Upstate, socially or economically disadvantaged (minority, veteran or woman-owned, as well as those serving lower income communities), and a member of the Anderson, Greenville or Spartanburg chamber.

"According to the 2018 Spartanburg...