Be sure and register today for the  fourth and final TATT/Our Upstate Vision Forum of 2013, which will be held on Tuesday, November 19th from 3-5 pm (reception to follow) at the Embassy Suites in Greenville. The forum will focus on celebrating some of the successes and great things happening across the Upstate. 

While it is critical to look at areas where we must continue to work to make the Upstate an even better place for generations to come, it is also important that we take opportunities to recognize and understand some of the great things from our past and that are happening today in our region.

The November 19th forum will highlight some of the people, organizations and businesses that are making the Upstate a great place to live, learn, do business and raise a family.

In 2011, the TATT Economic and Entrepreneurial Vitality Subcommittee set out to identify ways that would eliminate barriers to starting a business in the Upstate.  It was determined that many of our communities most in need of entrepreneurship are also the ones least prepared for it.  When an entrepreneur walks through the door of a City Hall or Chamber of Commerce with an idea for a new business, what are they told?  Are they being directed to the right resources and contacts?  Are there programs they can utilize to help with business planning and business finance?  Are the local permitting and business licensing procedures efficient and clearly communicated?  

From these Committee discussions, an idea formed to develop a program that would help Upstate communities strategically plan for entrepreneurship: "the Entrepreneur Friendly Toolkit".  The SC Appalachian Council of Governments (SCACOG), a regional service agency for local governments, successfully applied for a federal planning grant to develop the program.  The Toolkit will take participating communities through eight steps to help them get their proverbial ducks in a row for attracting and supporting local entrepreneurs.  SCACOG is working with two pilot communities to help develop the Toolkit over the next year: the City of Pickens and Oconee County.  One interesting facet of the Toolkit is that it is being developed as an on-line, interactive program for Upstate communities - complete with a private log in process and automatic tools for printing customized reports and business start-up guides which contain local information.  The ultimate outcome of the Entrepreneur Friendly Toolkit will be a dynamic resource to assist Upstate communities who wish to become more supportive of entrepreneurship and small business.