Ten at the Top
Upstate News

May 4, 2015 - Vol 6, Issue 5
UPCOMING SCHEDULE

May 19, 2015
Shaping our Future Speaker Series: Dollars and Cents of Quality Development
3:00PM - 5:00PM
The Crowne Plaza
851 Congaree Road, Greenville

June 2, 2015
Our Upstate Vision Forum:Innovation & the Changing Landscape of Healthcare
3:00PM - 5:00PM
The Crowne Plaza
851 Congaree Road, Greenville

June 4, 2015
Upstate Professional Planners Meeting
10:00AM-12:00PM
Powdersville Branch Library
4 Civic Court, Easley

June 18, 2015
The Upstate Bus Tour... Getting to Know Our Neighbors - Union County
8:30AM - 4:30PM

June 25, 2015
Natural Beauty & Resources Task Force Meeting
10:00AM-12:00PM
Ten at the Top Offices
124 Verdae Boulevard, Greenville
Register Here

June 25, 2015
Sustainable Growth & Task Force Meeting
1:00PM-3:00PM
Ten at the Top Office
124 Verdae Boulevard, Greenville

September 22, 2015
Our Upstate Vision Forum: Growing Economic Vibrancy in Downtown's & Rural Communities
3:00PM - 5:00PM
USC Upstate
800 University Way, Spartanburg
Registration Coming Soon
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RECAP:
THE FIRST OUR UPSTATE VISION FORUM OF 2015
Overcoming the Failure to Act: Investing in Transportation and Infrastructure 

On April 9, 2015 former Governor of Pennsylvania and one of the founders of the nonpartisan organization Building America's Future, Ed Rendell, made the trek to South Carolina to offer insight into how and why it is important for the region, state, and nation to get past the longtime failure to act and move forward on investing in transportation and infrastructure.

 

Ignoring the Warning Signs. 

According to Rendell, Washington and state governments have ignored the warning signs, whether they be the D+ grade that the American Society o Civil Engineers assigned to the nation's infrastructure or that 20% of all bridges in the country are in need of repair. "Ten years ago, the World Economic Forum rated the United States infrastructure the best in the world," Rendell said, "Today we rank 12th and are regularly getting beat by countries like France, Iceland, and Singapore."

 

4 Impacts of Investing (or not) in Infrastructure

Rendell highlighted for areas that are specifically impacted with adequate investments are not made in transportation and infrastructure, whether at the local, state, or national level.

  • Jeopardizing of public society
  • Negatively impacting quality of life
  • Economic competitiveness
  • Jobs

Successful companies are those that invest in their own growth, Rendell said. One of the problems in the United States is that our elected leaders are not fulfilling their obligation to invest in infrastructure. "There is government spending that is wasteful." Rendell said, "but there is also government spending that is vitally important..."

 

America is a country of risk takers and we "cannot be afraid to make the investments that are necessary, the consequences are too high."

 
For a full recap of the Forum please visit the Upstate Business Journal.
REGISTER TODAY!
THE SECOND OUR UPSTATE VISION FORUM
JUNE 2, 2015
Innovation and the Changing Landscape of Healthcare
 
On June 2, 2015 we will hear from Thornton Kirby, President & CEO of the South Carolina Hospital Association to learn about the changing healthcare landscape and how those challenges are being addressed across South Carolina. We will also learn about some of the innovative programs being initiated here in the Upstate focused on ensuring that this region is recognized both today and into the future as a leading place for health care and innovation.
 

The program will include subject experts providing insight on two key components of the changing landscape in healthcare:

  • Advances & Changes in Care Process
    • Moderated by: Jim Shew of BlueCross BlueShield of SC
    • Howard Einstein - Rosenfeld Einstein
    • Dr. Angelo Sinopoli - Greenville Health System
    • Dr. David Isenhower - Self Regional Health System
    • Dr. Saria Saccocio - Bon Secours St.Francis Health System
  • Innovation in Medical Science
    • Moderated by: Angel Rodriguez of Genesis Surgical Solutions Inc.
    • Dr. Melanie Thomas - Gibbs Cancer Center
    • Michal Bolick - Selah Genomics
    • Matt Gevart - Kiyatec
3:00PM-5:00PM
Reception to Follow
The Crowne Plaza
851 Congaree Road, Greenville
 
 

The cost to attend the forum is $10 and advance registration is required.

COMMUNITY VIBRANCY TASK FORCE INITIATIVE: "HOW TO" GUIDES

The Community Vibrancy Task Force began 2015 by presenting five "How To" guides for planning and carrying out various initiatives intended to draw people to a community. The five guides included advice for implementing the following types of projects:  

  • Marketing 
  • Branding & Signage
  • Public Art
  • Festivals & Events
  • Forming a Local Action Committee.

In order to include real life experience and best practices in the guides, the task force teamed up with Dr. Abe Goldberg's Urban Planning and Policy class at USC Upstate. The students interviewed community leaders who have experience in planning a festival or event, marketing a community, implementing successful branding or signage, or leading a local action committee. On Thursday, April 30th students presented their projects to the Community Vibrancy Task Force, university professors, and various community leaders.

  

Once the guides created by the task force have been blended with the students' work, they will be made available to communities to assist them in implementing future projects. The "How To" guides will include a step-by-step guide to best practices, frequently asked questions, and contact information of community leaders willing to offer additional advice to communities that want to implement a community vibrancy initiative.

ELECTED OFFICIALS DISCUSS ROLE OF K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION IN SHAPING THE UPSTATE
 The important role that public k-12 education plays in shaping the future of the Upstate was the topic for the Upstate Elected Officials Meeting held at Fisher Middle School in Greenville County on April 30th.

 

With 23 school districts, more than 218,000 students and a combined budget of more than $1.1 billion, the school systems in the Upstate play the role of serving as both a major employer and as a key component of molding future generations of Upstate residents. During the session, educators discussed some of the shining-light programs happening in the region, discussed some of their largest challenges and outlined some of the issues they see as crucial moving forward.

  

The Upstate is one of only a handful of regions across the country where city, county and state elected leaders gather on a regular basis to discuss issues that cross jurisdictional and stakeholder boundaries. This marked the 12th Upstate Elected Officials Meeting since 2010.

 

You can check out the entire discussion on the TATT YouTube Channel.




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"THE UPSTATE BUS TOUR...
GETTING TO KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS"
NEXT STOP: UNION COUNTY ON JUNE 18th
The first Upstate Bus Tour was a great success, taking 28 participants to Greenwood on March 12th for an enjoyable day of learning about all the innovations and community partnerships underway in that portion of the Upstate.

So, we are thrilled to announce the second Getting to Know Our Neighbors Bus Tour to Union County on June 18th, so mark your calendars now! More details coming soon, but you do not want to miss the chance to learn about Union's history, economic development, and network with county leaders and businesses.

 

Registration is available now and limited to only 33 participants, so be sure and secure your seat on the bus. 

 

REGISTER TODAY!

REGISTER TODAY!
SHAPING OUR FUTURE SPEAKER SERIES
MAY 19, 2015
Dollars and Sense of Quality Development
 
On May 19, 2015 we will hear from Joseph Minicozzi, principal of Urban3, LLC. He will provide a basic overview of how property tax policy impacts county and municipal budgets and basic lessons in the cost to serve varying development types. He will demonstrate how the design of cities impacts both counties and their incorporated municipalities and how more compact development patterns generally make better economic sense in the long run. Finally, he will share land-use policy ideas and incentive programs that have been used by other localities to encourage economically sustainable development. 

 

The event will also include presentations from Upstate governments who have experienced the positive impacts of investing in their downtown core areas - and the dangers of growing without asking whether that growth will pay for itself in the long run - as well as a representative from the National Association of Homebuilders to report on market trends as evidenced by their recent national consumer preference poll, with a focus on what millennials are looking for in their first home purchase.  

 

3:00PM-5:00PM
Reception to Follow
The Crowne Plaza
851 Congaree Road, Greenville
 

The cost to attend the forum is $10 and advance registration is required.

JOIN A TEN AT THE TOP TASK FORCE
Ten at the Top has active task forces and sub-committees working on a wide variety of issues related to the five driver areas of the Our Upstate Vision.

If you are not already involved with a Ten at the Top Task Force or Committee, but would be interested in getting engaged, please contact Tiffany Tate, Program Manager, at [email protected] or 864-283-2313.

 

IN THEIR WORDS:
ANN ANGERMEIER DISCUSSES THE IMPORTANCE OF REGIONAL COLLABORATION 
 
We recently asked leaders from across the Upstate region to share their thoughts on the current and future status of the Upstate and why it is important to work collaboratively to address issues that impact economic vitality and quality of life.

The "In Their Words" feature for this month is Ann Angermeier, Executive Director of the Upstate Workforce Investment Board and current Board Member of Ten at The Top.

You can view all the "In Their Words" videos along with videos from TATT Forums and other features on the TATT YouTube Channel.
CELEBRATING SUCCESSES: MILESTONE SPOTLIGHT
GREENVILLE LITERACY ASSOCIATION   
 

Ever year Ten at the Top Recognizes companies, organizations and initiatives celebrating milestone anniversaries during the final regional forum of the year.

 

In 2015, instead of recognizing those milestones only in November, we are going to feature a company or organization each month in the TATT e-Newsletter.

 

This month we are recognizing Hub City Writers Project.

 

In May 1995 a trio of writers in Spartanburg, SC, began to talk in a downtown coffee shop about how they could help preserve a sense of place in their rapidly changing Southern city. What their community needed, they said, was a literary identity. Modeling their organization after the Depression-era Federal Writers Project, they chose the name Hub City because it invoked Spartanburg's past as a 19th century railroad center and challenged them to make their hometown a center for literary arts.

 

Twenty years later, the organization they created-the Hub City Writers Project- has published 70 books featuring nearly 700 authors, built Spartanburg's premier independent bookstore and facilitated innumerable events for readers and writers alike. Hub City has given away more than $20,000 in scholarships to emerging writers. It has sold some 150,000 Hub City Press books, provided creative writing instruction to hundreds in the Carolinas and beyond, and hosted lively book launch events in unlikely locales, including an abandoned train station, a river bank, and a concert hall. Hub City has won South Carolina's Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Award for the Arts, the SC Governor's Award for the Humanities, and 13 IPPY (Independent Publisher) Awards.

 

Hub City Writers Project has grown into one of the most substantial literary arts organizations in the Southeast.

 

To celebrate 20 years in the Upstate, Hub City Writers Project is hosting the Hub City Homecoming Extravaganza May 8th-10th with several events including the Lit Crawl, Minnow book launch, a street party, and a champagne brunch!

 

For a full list of events and information, visit Hub City Writers Project.

IS YOUR COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION CELEBRATING A MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY IN 2015?
IF SO, PLEASE LET US KNOW  
 
Would you like to see your company or organization featured during the TATT e-newsletter Milestone Spotlight in 2015?

Each year at the final Ten at the Top Forum we recognize companies, organizations or initiatives celebrating milestone (years ending in a 0 or 5) anniversaries of 20 or more years. This year we will also be recognizing a milestone anniversary every month in the TATT e-newsletter.

If your company of organization is celebrating a milestone anniversary in 2015, please contact Ashley Downing to be added to our list.

TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE UPSTATE?
CHECK OUT THE UPSTATE INFORMATION HUB FOR
PROGRAMS, EVENTS & RESOURCES
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. 

In addition to the events and resources available on the web site, you can also sign up  for the weekly "Uniquely Upstate" e-newsletter, which highlights the "hot events" happening across the region that weekend and also includes a feature story that showcases something unique about the Upstate.

If you have calendar events, resources or feature stories that you would like to see added to the Information Hub, please contact Ashley Downing.
SHARE YOUR UPSTATE NEWS  
Latest 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 Ashley Downing.