August 5, 2013 - Vol 4, Issue 8

Thanks to a new grant program being implemented as part of the Clean Air Upstate initiative, the number of Upstate schools planning to participate in the Breathe Better (B2) School Program during the 2013-2014 school year has grown rapidly throughout the summer.

 

This anti-idling/clean air program helps protect the health and safety of children by encouraging parents and other drivers to turn off their vehicles instead of idling during daily arrival and dismissal periods. Because they're still growing, children are particularly sensitive to the harmful, pollutive emissions from vehicles. The simple action of turning off your car's engine when not in motion safeguards the health of kids and parents while also conserving fuel and helping preserve the environment by reducing emissions- a win-win!

 

As part of the Clean Air Upstate Grant Program, which is coordinated by Ten at the Top and funded through grants from the Duke Energy Foundation and the Hollingsworth Funds, schools that participate in the B2 program submit data to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), which spearheads the program, at several points throughout the year. Once the first set of data has been reviewed and approved, the schools receive an unrestricted grant of $400 and will be eligible to participate in a Sustainable Grant initiative to be kicked off in early 2014 that will award $1,000 Sustainability Grants to five Upstate schools.

 

In 2012, 50 schools across South Carolina participated in the B2 program with 14 of those coming from within the Upstate. The goal of the Clean Air Upstate Grant Program is to increase the number of Upstate schools participating in the program to 40 by the end of 2014. So far, nine schools have been awarded B2 grants for successfully implementing the program and submitting their results to DHEC. In addition, 15 other Upstate schools have signed up to start the program and are in the process of submitting their data.

 

If you are interested in bringing the Breathe Better (B2) program to your school, please contact Kirbie Crowe at kcrowe@tenatthetop.org for more information and a program application. You can also learn more about the Clean Air Upstate initiative at www.cleanairupstate.org.

 

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is seeking comment from the public on seven (7) projects identified for the Fiscal Year 2013 Transportation Alternatives Program. In this regard, we are providing this information to you for your review and  consideration.

 

A copy of the press release highlighting the seven projects proposed to receive  FY 2013 Transportation Alternatives Program funding and project location maps are available for public review and comment until August 9, 2013 here.

 

To ensure greater awareness of the request for public comment, please forward this email to your  members, constituents, local Businesses, Community Leaders, Policy Committee members, Transportation Study groups, Technical Committee members, local governments, local Chambers of Commerce, staff, and other interested groups as you determine.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Information provided, including name and address, is subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

 

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.

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.

Regional Sponsors:

Barnet Development Corporation, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Inc., Craig Brown, City of Greer, ScanSource, The Furman Company, The Palmetto Bank, Welling Strategic, World Acceptance Corporation
Regional Patrons:
Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce, BB&T, Broad River Electric Cooperative Inc., Carol Burdette, Coldwell Banker Caine, Community Foundation of Greenville, Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood, Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce, Greenville Technical College, Hughes Commercial Properties, Hughes Investments, Johnson Development Associates, Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, Marchant Company, Inc., Nate Lipscomb, McMillan Pazdan Smith, MGFA/Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., Rick Quinn, Minor Shaw, South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Tri-County Technical College, Union County Chamber of Commerce, USC-Upstate

Annual Partners:

Regional Sponsors:
Bank of America, Bradshaw Automotive Group, Brown Mackie College, City of Mauldin, Fluor Enterprises, GSP International Airport, Self Regional Healthcare, Rutland Institute for Ethics Clemson

Regional Patrons:
City of Anderson, Briar Patch Fund, Brown Mackie College, Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, Countybank, Daniel Mickel Foundation, Elliott Davis, LLC Greenwood Office, Gallivan, White & Boyd, P.A., Greenwood Regional Tourism & Visitors Board, Greenwood Partnership Alliance, Regions Bank, Laurens Electric Cooperative, Self Family Foundation, Spartanburg County Foundation, Spartanburg Area Transportation Study (SPATS), SYNNEX Corporation, Upstate WIB