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Ten at the Top
Upstate News
July 1, 2013 - Vol 4, Issue 7
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE
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July 25th
TATT Executive Committee Meeting
12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Trehel Corporation
1330 Miller Rd Greenville, SC 29607
September 6th
Our Upstate Vision Forum - Transportation
3:00-5:00 p.m. with reception to follow
CU-ICAR
4 Research Way Greenville, SC 29607
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CONTACT US
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Dean Hybl
Executive Director
Ten at the Top
Phone: 864.283.2315
Alissa Ritzo Duncan
Program Manager
Ten at the Top
Phone: 864.283.2313
Meredyth Boaz
Communications Director
Ten at the Top
Phone: 864.283.2317
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SEPTEMBER 5TH VISION FORUM TO FOCUS ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE UPSTATE
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In 2013 the Our Upstate Vision Forum Series is focusing on  Destination 2030 and looking for those BIG and BOLD ideas that will help ensure that the Upstate in 2030 is universally recognized as a leading place to live, learn, do business and raise a family. Each forum will focus on a key issue that not only impacts the Upstate today, but will play a critical role in ensuring the region meets its long-term potential.
For the third forum of the year, to be held on September 5th from 3-5 pm (reception to follow) in the AT&T Auditorium at CU-ICAR, we will be exploring the important role that transportation and infrastructure.
Transportation and infrastructure are major issues facing the Upstate South Carolina region as we look toward 2030 and how to maintain and grow our economic vitality and quality of life.
Recent studies have established the need for billions of dollars of road and bridge repairs just to maintain an average transportation network in South Carolina into the future. If the Upstate is going to maintain its growing presence within the global economy, having a high quality infrastructure and transportation system is a necessity. The region has a number of strong assets including an expanding airport and a new inland port. What will be needed moving forward to ensure that these assets are fully utilized?
The Our Upstate Vision Forum on September 5th will dive into these important issues as we discuss BIG and BOLD ideas that can help the Upstate (and all of South Carolina) overcome current challenges and ensure that we have the long-term infrastructure needed to remain globally competitive.
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TEN AT THE TOP FOCUSES ON FOSTERING
REGIONAL COLLABORATION
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The month of June was an extremely busy one for Ten at the Top  and the mission to foster collaboration across the Upstate region.
During June, TATT hosted or facilitated 10 regional forums, meetings and workshops on a wide variety of subjects including workforce & skill development, air quality, natural resources, services for individuals with disabilities, messaging around early childhood education and economic development. More than 400 Upstate residents participated in these regional activities.
This past month epitomizes the efforts TATT has made since 2010 to grow the spirit of collaboration and partnerships across the Upstate on issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries.
Since 2010, TATT has now hosted more than 170 regional meetings, forums and workshops while also making nearly 100 outreach presentations to organizations across the region. Over 15,000 Upstate residents have been engaged through these regional efforts.
Click here for a summary of TATT's current efforts to promote collaboration, partnerships and planning across the Upstate on issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries and impact the quality of life and economic vitality of the region.
If you are interested in becoming engaged in any of the regional efforts coordinated by TATT, please contact Alissa Ritzo Duncan at 864-283-2313 or aritzoduncan@tenatthetop.org.
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NO IDLING SIGNS SPOTTED IN DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE
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 As part of the Clean Air Upstate outreach, education and action strategy, "No Idling " signs are starting to pop-up in Downtown Greenville and will soon be seen across the Upstate region.
The first Upstate business leader to place signs around his parking facilities is developer Phil Hughes. We hope others will soon be following suit to help provide an important reminder that running your engine when your car is parked increases emissions and also costs money.
Another new component of the Clean Air Upstate program is a series of Clean Air Public Service Announcements. The result of a partnership between WSPA-TV, the Duke Energy Foundation, Ten at the Top and the Clean Air Upstate program, the 30-second spots "Clean Air Tips" which will help not only keep the Upstate air clean, but also help you save money.
More than 20 businesses, organizations and counties have signed the Clean Air Upstate Regional Pledge. Among those that have recently approved the pledge are BMW, Duke Energy, Michelin and the Greer Chamber of Commerce.
If you are interested in having no-idling signs in your parking lots or signing the Clean Air Upstate pledge, contact Alissa Ritzo Duncan at 864-283-2313 or
aritzoduncan@tenatthetop.org.
For more information on how to help keep the Upstate Air Clean or to find out more ways you can get involved with Clean Air Upstate, visit the Clean Air Upstate website!
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IMPRESSIONS OUTREACH PROGRAM GRAND OPENING
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Impressions Outreach celebrated with a Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting on Friday, June 7, 2013.  Impressions Outreach is the latest small business to join the Union County Chamber of Commerce.
Our goal is to educate teens at risk, offering them the expanded advantages of full participation in our society, which can only be achieved after elevating their self-esteem and their scholastic levels. We assist teens at risk of all races.
Impressions Outreach works one on one with teens building strong characters through mentorship. They work with parents and grandparents.... giving real advice for everyday situations with today's youth. Impressions Outreach is in the schools working with the teachers and students to create good study habits and work ethics. They assist with after school homework and group exercises to build self-esteem, communication, and to teach the benefits of working together. They also take teens on trips to expose them to different cultures and ways of life. Impressions Outreach is now offering the Suspension Program to assist parents with their teens that are suspended from school and would like to help their teen reconsider their negative choices.
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UPSTATE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN STEM ACADEMY WORKSHOP
AND OFFER SUGGESTIONS ON ENHANCING THE FUTURE OF THE UPSTATE
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Summer is a time for camps and programs for area youth. Last week,  TATT had the chance to lead a workshop intended to get students thinking about how they can become engaged in their communities in the areas of Education, Workforce & Skill Development, Community Vibrancy, Natural Resources, and Sustainable Growth.
The workshop was part of the Upstate STEM Academy coordinated by the Urban League of the Upstate and was entitled "Community Vibrancy and Global Competitiveness." One three hour session was for high school youth and the second session was for middle school students. Participants were given an overview of the Upstate region and the importance of working together as a community and a region to accomplish goals. Then they worked in groups to come up with priority issues in their community.
The high school group identified employment internships, solar energy, gathering places for young people and families (such as an amusement park) and valuing education as the actions and programs that could best help enhance the quality of life and economic vitality in the Upstate.
The middle school group felt that job opportunities through creating community vibrancy, protecting species natural to the area and getting people to understand the importance of education should be top priorities in the community.
TATT is fortunate to have had the opportunity to get input from this group of young people and their message is already being relayed to leaders in the Upstate.
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UNDERSTANDING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT EVENT TO BE HELD ON JULY 10TH
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The SC Hispanic Chamber is excited to announce their next upcoming networking seminar: Understanding the Affordable Care Act. Join the SCHC for a conversation on the major effects of this law and how it affects small businesses throughout South Carolina. The event will feature Chris Gantt-Sorenson, Hansworth, Sinkler and Boyd, as the main speaker and industry vendors to answer questions you may have.
The event is free to attend and will be held from 8:30-10:30 am on July 10th at the University Center in Greenville. Click Here to register today!
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COMPLETE THE COMMUNITY WORKS SURVEY
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CommunityWorks is working to establish a new federal credit union which will GREATLY benefit the Upstate community. Unlike other banks and credit unions in the area, this credit union will be specifically geared towards community development and empowering low wealth families who cannot access traditional banks. We need your help to better understand what specific financial needs exist and how the credit union would best serve that community. Please take a few minutes to voluntarily complete this brief survey. You can receive $50 through our weekly drawings AND you could win an iPad mini through our big drawing at the end of October. If you have any questions regarding the survey or the new proposed federal credit union, we would love to hear from you @ 864-235-6331.
Complete this important survey by clicking here !
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PUBLIC COMMENT SOUGHT FOR STATE FISCAL YEAR
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The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) Office of Public Transit is seeking  comment from the public on the South Carolina State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2013-2014 Transit Programs Funding Sub-Allocation (Full Federal Apportionment). In this regard, we are providing this information to you for your review and consideration.
The press release may be reviewed with the MAP-21 Full Apportionment - FFY2013 Federal Transit Administration Allocations for Public Comment Updated 5- 23-13 Document and provide comment until July 9, 2013 here.
For information pertaining to Funding Recommendations for SFY2013 - 2014 Transit Programs, contact: Ms. Diane Lackey, Statewide Programs Manager, Office of Public Transit.
PLEASE NOTE: Information provided, including name and address, is subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
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COMMUNITY VIBRANCY GRANT
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Ten at the Top (TATT), through a funding commitment from Phil Hughes and Hughes Investments Inc., has established the Hughes Investments Vibrancy Initiative: ELEVATE UPSTATE Grants (EU).
The purpose of the ELEVATE UPSTATE Grants is to identify and provide initial funding support for community based programs that promote community and economic vibrancy in local areas across the Upstate. The initiative will award two grants annually with each being for up to $5,000 (total of $10,000 per year for five years) from 2013-2017 to entities including neighborhood associations, civic or community based organizations, non-profit organizations or local governments that are committed to developing and implementing programs designed to increase local vibrancy in communities within the Upstate. The TATT Community Vibrancy Task Force will provide some guidance through the project implementation process if it is needed.
The application for the first ELEVATE UPSTATE Grants is available on the TATT web site or click here to download the PDF. The application deadline is September 15th and the first grants will be announced at the final TATT Forum of 2013. The judges will include: Phil Hughes, President of Hughes Investments, Inc., Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Fleming, President of Converse College, and Terence Roberts, Mayor of the City of Anderson.
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UPSTATE INFORMATION HUB HIGHLIGHTS PROGRAMS, EVENTS & RESOURCES
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The  Upstate Information Hub continues to offer a "one-stop" internet location to find links to resources and events from across the Upstate. Overall, the Information Hub has listings of hundreds of local calendar events and more than a thousand local community resources from across the 10 counties of South Carolina's Upstate.
If you have calendar events, resources or feature stories that you would like to see added to the Information Hub, please contact Meredyth Boaz (mboaz@tenatthetop.org).
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TEN AT THE TOP THANKS COMMUNITY VIBRANCY AND FORUM SPONSORS
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Over the last three years, 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.
This month we want to thank our current Regional Sponsors:
Continuing Partners:
Regional Visionary: Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina
Regional Steward: GSA Business, The Greenville News
Regional Benefactor: Greenville Health System
Regional Partner: AnMed Health
Regional Sponsors: Bon Secours St. Francis, BMW, Charter Business, Elliott Davis, Greenville Water, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, Piedmont Natural Gas, PMPA, SeaLevel Systems, Trehel Corporation
Annual Partners:
Regional Sponsors: Oconee County, Pacolet Milliken, Spartanburg Water, TD Bank
Interested in sponsoring a Ten at the Top event? Contact Meredyth Boaz or call 864-283-2317
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| SHARE YOUR UPSTATE NEWS | 
If your city, county or organization has news you want to share or an event you want to promote with people across the 10-county Upstate Region, send it to us and we will include it in the next Ten at the Top e-newsletter.
The TATT newsletter is typically distributed the first Monday of each month (except for when there is a holiday) to more than 6,500 residents across the Upstate. The deadline for submitting information is the Thursday prior to the first Monday of the month.
Send information about an upcoming event, special recognition or anything else you think is of regional interest to Meredyth Boaz.
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