Furman University's Center for Corporate and Professional Development is offering a Program designed to help small to medium-sized businesses. The 2011-2012 Sustainability Series will assist small business with how to:

• Conserve and better manage energy usage
• Conserve and better manage water usage
• Reduce and better manage operating waste

The Program consists of a three-phase process:

1^st An in-class or on-line seminar is attended that will help businesses perform a self-assessment of energy, water and waste usage and creation.

2^nd An on-line system wherein self-assessment data is entered into an evaluation process that will generate specific recommendations and calculated savings. Recommendations will be based upon type, size and location of business and include both financial (no cost, low cost & investment required as well as target area (high, medium and low) analysis

3^rd An on-going provision of recommendations as well as comparative analysis will be provided through the evaluation of real-time utility usage data.

Why should a business enroll in this Program?

Many incentives are being offered just to enter the Program as well as adopt certain recommendations. Even more so, the system will provide proven recommendations that will help businesses better manage operating costs.Incentives include:

• Up to $150 in utility bill credits will be offered on a limited basis; a list of Federal and State incentives by recommendation type; discounts and incentives tied to recommendations; access to free on-site services for further evaluation/assessment; best practices & success stories; expert advice; continuing education credits; marketing program logo for display; website promotion (Furman 250); and business challenge awards (monetary rewards for each vertical market category in terms of its undertakings/impacts.

What is the cost of this program?

• $99 for 1 seminar that covers waste, water and energy;
  • 60-75 minutes of class time;
  • 2-4 hours, or more depending on the size of business, to conduct the self-assessment.

The Series is available as part of a grant received from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. Furman believes that if we do not begin to address these issues in our community, the value of our community (businesses, homes, schools, infrastructure) will decline.

For more information... visit  www.fusbp.com or e-mail brad.bechtold@furman.edu or call

(864) 294-3136.

Cherokee County and the Carolina Thread Trail invite all Cherokee County residents to attend a public open house for the County's Carolina Thread Trail Master Plan.   

Please join us to receive information and share your input on the design of the countywide Greenway Master Plan.  Cherokee County, its municipalities and the Carolina Thread Trail, along with project consultants HadenStanziale, will be present to share information about the project, and to solicit citizen input on where greenway corridors should be located throughout the County.

Below are the dates, times and locations for the three meetings scheduled for early August. The same information will be provided at each public open house.    

August 2nd - 4:30-6:30 p.m. - Corinth Baptist Church - 190 Corinth Road - Gaffney

August 4th - 11:30-a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Gaffney Visitor's Center - 210 W. Fredrick St. - Gaffney

August 4th - 4:30-6:30 p.m. - Blacksburg Community House - 103 S. Shelby Street - Blacksburg 

 The Carolina Thread Trail is a 15-county, two-state initiative designed to inspire and facilitate the creation of a regional network of trails, blueways, and conservation corridors that is gowing together to link more than 2.3 million citizens. 

For more information about the open houses and the Plan, visit the Carolina Thread Trail web site www.carolinathreadtrail.org or contact:

Randi Gates

Carolina Thread Trail Community Coordinator

704-376-2556 x 217

randi@carolinathreadtrail.org

A partnership between Piedmont Technical College and Laurens County School District 55 is filling an important role in providing welding classes for individuals who may otherwise not have been able to participate in this job skill program.

Originally started as a pilot program, Piedmont Technical College is now offering a variety of courses from Monday through Thursday nights at Laurens 55 High School. The goal of the program is to offer students the opportunity to earn their journeyman welding certificate.

The next round of classes begins on August 24th. For information, call 864.938.1505.  

You can also watch a video about the program.    

The Glendale Outdoor Leadership School (GOLS) will host a two-part comprehensive kayak safety workshop on August 20^th and 27^th, 2011.  

Taught by ACA certified instructors from the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC), course work will focus on river safety and rescue.  This workshop is aimed at anyone with an interest in river paddling, regardless of skill level, and will leave participants armed with the skills to become safe and effective paddlers.  Thorough in scope, the curriculum is designed to give kayakers the opportunity to safely navigate river hazards, learn proper paddling techniques, and feel comfortable with hazard prevention in the water.   

The courses may be taken individually or as a package. Each workshop will start promptly at 8:30am and will conclude at 5pm.  Participants will meet at GOLS and then proceed to the Pacolet River for instruction.   All necessary gear and safety equipment will be provided, but paddlers may opt to use their own.  The price is $75.00 for one course or $130.00 for both, including lunch. Members of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation (PCF) will receive an additional $10 discount.   GOLS is able to offer this great opportunity at a reduced cost thanks to grant support from South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism.  Additional information and registration forms can be found at www.palmettoconservation.org/paddlecourse.asp or by calling 803-771-0870.

August 20^th - ACA River Safety Course - This course is designed to teach beginner paddlers to safely and enjoyably kayak on gentle rivers.  Emphasis is placed on exercising good judgment and safety, trip preparation, and planning.  Participants will also learn proper water reading skills and paddling techniques to safely navigate whitewater.

August 27^th - ACA River Rescue Course - This course teaches recognition and avoidance of common river hazards, execution of self-rescue techniques and simple rescues of paddlers in distress.  Emphasis is placed on both personal safety and simple, commonly used skills.  Fundamental techniques for dealing with hazards that carry greater risks for both victim and rescuer, such as entrapments and pins, will also be discussed.

The Glendale Outdoor Leadership School is a program of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation.  GOLS opened its doors in 2007 in the historic mill village of Glendale, SC.  GOLS is located in an old Methodist church, with surrounding buildings consisting of offices and overnight facilities. Programming offered at GOLS includes summer camps, mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, teambuilding, and environmental education classes.

Sealed Air Corporation presented "Sustainable Sourcing, Operations and End of Life Solutions Community Forum" on July 13, 2011 at Spartanburg Community College.  

The daylong forum organized by InnoVenture focused on discovering and developing new business opportunities related to sustainable materials and manufacturing. More than 100 attendees (engineers, business developers, energy managers, waste managers, university researchers, etc.) had the opportunity to connect with one another while exploring current success stories and ideas in sustainable business practices.

Sustainable business development involves the areas of energy; water, sourcing, and recycling and waste management (onsite composting and/or pursuing zero waste to landfill practices). Forum presenters discussed their own best practices as related to operationalizing 'green processes' involved in product design, delivery and reuse. Companies are realizing evermore the need to measure and assess their practices to determine their level of sustainability. 'Green' is viewed by businesses not only in terms of lessening their carbon footprint, but also in terms of ensuring a cost savings and higher business revenues.

Innovative sustainable practices employed by South Carolina companies include using recycled materials in the production of new items (i.e., SAGE, fiber recycling for new car interiors); reducing water usage by collecting and reusing water in plant operations; opting for alternative energy sources (converting methane from landfills to fuel); providing on-site composting; increasing the life cycle of new products (cradle-to-cradle, rather than cradle to grave); creating packaging that increases shelf life of food (i.e., Sealed Air packaging materials that extend life of food, reducing waste) and, setting goals to achieve Zero Waste to Landfill as has been done by Milliken (Boeing SC, Freightliner Custom Chassis, Glen Raven and others). Chantal Fryer of South Carolina's Department of Commerce says that green jobs are growing as the recycling market develops, "nearly everything can be recycled."

SC DHEC: Recycle/E-cycle South Carolina Home:

http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/lwm/recycle/ 

SC Department of Commerce: Recycling Associations Listings; Recycling Market Development

http://sccommerce.com/existing-sc-business/recycling-associations-agencies 

Speaker topics included: a Review of Sealed Air Corporation Objectives (Sealed Air); Waste to Energy Success Story (Milliken, Covanta, Sumter Transport); Energy Managers Panel - Energy Reduction Initiatives (Michelin, Duke, and FujiFilm); Journey to Zero Landfill (Sealed Air Corporation); Defining Green Products & Integrating Sustainability into New Product Development (Ingersoll Rand); Sustainability: A Journey Not a Destination (Michelin); Fiber Recycling and Reuse (Sage Automotive Interiors); Waste Management Best Practices (Waste Management); Composting: What's Ahead (SC DHEC); Southeastern Recycling Opportunities (SE Recycling Development Council; SC Department of Commerce)

http://www.innoventurecommunity.com/community/sustainable-materials-and-manufacturing-community/forum/sustainable-sourcing-operations-an 

This September 22nd-25th, in Greenville, SC, food, wine and music lovers are coming together for euphoria, one of the Southeast's premier culinary and cultural festivals. With a full roster of special events and acclaimed chefs, wine experts and musicians like Sean Brock, Laura Williamson and Will Hoge, euphoria is more than a front row seat for exceptional tastings and performances. Plus, new this fall, euphoria is proud to present even more opportunities to get close to leading chefs, sommeliers and musicians, with expanded offerings for beer and spirits enthusiasts.

So whether you're sampling classic Southern comfort food at Taste of the South, learning how Edwin McCain gets inspired to write a song at Songwriter's Recipe, sipping a refreshing drink at the New Orleans-style Jazz Brunch, enjoying the Tasting Showcase with Master Sommelier-led wine seminars, world-class wines and guest chef cooking demo, or having a seat at the new family style farm-to-table Sunday Supper, you'll experience the true flavor of this increasingly popular annual gathering.

Don't miss your chance to take to the streets of scenic Downtown Greenville for euphoria 2011 - simply log on to euphoriagreenville.com to reserve your tickets and view the complete schedule of events. Space is limited, so be sure to purchase your tickets before more intimate gatherings, like our Guest Chef Dinners, fill up.

We hope you'll join us in Greenville for what promises to be the best euphoria experience yet.

Tickets are now on sale at euphoriagreenville.com.

 Over the last year and a half, more than 80 organizations and individuals from across the Upstate have helped support the mission of Ten at the Top to promote collaboration and planning in the Upstate by donating funds or services as either a continuing funding partner (commitment of at least three years), annual funding partner or event sponsor.

Each month we will be highlighting some of these organizations that recognize the value of regional collaboration, planning and partnerships across the 10-county Upstate region as we work together to ensure that the Upstate remains a great place to live, learn, do business and raise a family for generations to come.

Below are the organizations and individuals that are currently serving as annual partners for TATT in 2011:

Regional Steward: GSA Business 

Regional Benefactor: Upstate Business Trends 

Regional Partner: Fairway Outdoor, Entercom Upstate, Greenville Business Magazine 

Regional Sponsors: Greenville News, Anderson Independent Mail, Spartanburg Herald, Business Black Box 

Regional Advocate: Hughes Agency 

Regional Patron: Brad Wyche, Piedmont Natural Gas, Quinn & Satterfield Inc., Oconee Medical Center, Spartanburg Area Transportation Study (SPATS) 

You can read the entire list of TATT Funding Partners on our web site.

If your organization recognizes the value of regional collaboration, planning and partnerships and would like to become part of this prestigious group of local champions, please contact Dean Hybl (dhybl@tenatthetop.org) or go to the web site to download our pledge form.