Ten at the Top
Upstate News


October 5, 2015 - Vol 6. Issue 10

82 Regional Engagements in 2015        500 Regional Engagements Since 2010      
   
2,708 Participants in 2015                      25,779 Participants Since 2010   
Contact Us:

Executive Director 864-283-2315

Program Manager
864-283-2313

Communications Manager
864-283-2317

Administrative Associate
Ten at the Top Reaches 
500 Regional Engagements! 
We are pleased to announce that Ten at the Top,
recently conducted the 500th regional engagement (presentations, forums, meetings, surveys) since the organization began its current phase in January 2010. The activities have included more than 25,000 participants from across the Upstate.

"TATT was created to serve as a regional connector and 'safe place' where stakeholders can discuss key cross-jurisdictional issues and how we can work collaboratively to make the Upstate stronger," said Executive Director Dean Hybl.

"What a great milestone," said TATT Founding Chairman Irv Welling."Regionalism is clearly gaining ground in the Upstate! We need to keep pulling our Upstate together and capitalize on our momentum and relevance!" 

The issues on which TATT has convened regional meetings and encouraged collaboration focus around the five driver areas of the Our Upstate Vision (which TATT developed through feedback from more than 10,000 Upstate residents). The specific topics on which TATT has convened meetings and forums include child well-being, supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, senior issues, air quality attainment, food system planning, transportation & infrastructure, workforce and skill development and local community vibrancy.

"Ten at the Top is bringing together and engaging leaders from all over the ten upstate counties with a milestone of 500 regional engagement sessions," said current TATT Chairperson Carol Burdette. "Through these gatherings we are becoming a stronger region because our leaders are talking about and exploring solutions to problems facing the upstate today and in the future."

There are currently more than 600 people participating on TATT committees and task forces. Check out the TATT web site to learn more about  
current activities and how to become engaged. 
 
HISTORY OF COLLABORATION HELPS UPSTATE MEET NEW EPA OZONE STANDARDS 
On Thursday, October 1st, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new 8-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone. The public health based standards call for a strengthening of the attainment level from 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 70 ppb. Based on the most recent monitoring results through the 2014 ozone season, the Upstate region would be in compliance with the new standards as the highest testing monitor in the region had a level of 66 ppb.

"That the Upstate looks to be within attainment of the new ozone standard is obviously great news," said Dean Hybl, Executive Director of Ten at the Top, which coordinates the Upstate Air Quality Advisory Committee. "Considering that the Upstate monitors had levels above 80 ppb a decade ago and were at 73 ppb in 2011, it shows that the voluntary local efforts by many governments, organizations and businesses from across the region have been working.

"Having clean air that meets the EPA standards is crucial for the health of all Upstate residents and is also important because it means that manufacturers and needed transportation projects in the region will not be subject to additional regulations and costs."

According to Hybl, the history of collaboration amongst communities and businesses in the Upstate deserves a great deal of the credit for the dramatic improvement the Upstate region has made in air quality over the last 15 years. The ozone levels in the Upstate have declined from 95 ppb in 2000 to 83 ppb in 2006 and 73 ppb in 2011 to the current levels. Though the final 2015 monitor numbers will not be available for several weeks, the region had only one Ozone Alert Day during a hot summer.

Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg counties first came together to start the EPA Early Action Compact (EAC) process in 2002 and were soon joined by other Upstate counties along with public, private and non-profit organizations, businesses and industries. This regional effort led to the Upstate remaining within compliance of the standards at that time and set the foundation for the decline in ozone emissions that has continued.

"This is a perfect example of an issue that needed to be addressed both through local actions and regional partnerships," Hybl said. "The cumulative impact of communities and businesses working to ensure cleaner air has a positive impact on all Upstate residents."

For more information about the new EPA standards as well as to learn ways you can help the Upstate maintain clean air please go to the Clean Air Upstate web site at www.cleanairupstate.org.   
Our Upstate Bus Tour, 3rd Stop... 
Laurens County
Getting to Know Our Neighbors!
Presented by:  
Piedmont Natural Gas

On Wednesday, September 23rd, Ten at the Top and a group of leaders from across the region took the third bus tour of 2015 to Laurens County.

 

We started the day in downtown Clinton where Mayor Bob McLean and Frank Stovall, City Administrator introduced the City of Clinton and showed us a display, depicting the unique history of Clinton.

 

Just down the road, the Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy boasts state of the art facilities, an engaged faculty, and students from around the world. Dr. Cliff Fuhrman, Dean of PC Pharmacy School gave an in depth tour of the school which is located in an old hotel, completely renovated inside to accommodate classrooms, labs, and study rooms, of course!  

 

Making a stop at the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, we heard from several city officials and community leaders including Ernie Segars, Laurens County Administrator and Marvin Moss, Executive Director of the Laurens County Development Corporation. Dr. Cynthia Pitts, Chairman on the Laurens County Workforce Development Committee discussed Workforce Development and Greg Alexander, President of the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce talked about the Future Scholarship program which allows students to attend a two year institution on scholarship. Finally Don Walker, Executive Director of Laurens County Trails Association discussed the current trails and waterways in Laurens and their plans for the future.

 

Throughout the day Greg Alexander, Marvin Moss the Executive Director of the Laurens County Development Corporation, Gary Coleman the Laurens City Administrator, and others provided us with economic development discussions while driving around to several key development sites in Laurens County. 

 

Jonathan Irick, Main Street Laurens Director, showed us around downtown Laurens and took us to lunch at one of Laurens own restaurants, Roma where owner Yvan Nedal prepared a wonderful meal for the group. 

 

We visited the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Piedmont Technical College where Jeff Estes, the director gave us a great tour and presentation on the program. Jeff Field, Executive Director of the Laurens County Water & Sewer  

Commission gave us a tour of the Owings Park Water Tower, taking us inside!

 

Finally, it is especially known that Laurens County is home to ZF Transmissions, one of the largest companies in the Upstate. Senior Executive, Bob Capell gave an overview of the Upstate operation.

 

The Upstate Bus Tours have been a huge success, don't miss your chance to get to know your neighbors and spend a great day in the Upstate! The next bus tour will take place November 5th with a trip to Oconee County. 

 

Presentations from the day can be downloaded on the TATT website, click below!

GROWING ECONOMIC VIBRANCY IN DOWNTOWNS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER: ED MCMAHON

On September 22nd, The Our Upstate Vision Forum Series held the third forum of 2015 on the USC Upstate campus.

The forum included presentations from the Mayor of the Town of Pendleton along with the City Administrator of Pendleton in which they discussed how the Town of Pendleton, celebrating its 225th anniversary in 2015 is making strides in becoming a vibrant and booming community in the Upstate.

Jennifer Tinsley from The Lower Savannah Council of Governments discussed the sustainable growth strategies in rural Orangeburg County and how Orangeburg is making a name for itself.

Serving as the Keynote Speaker, Ed McMahon, Senior Fellow at the Urban Land Institute discussed "The Economics of Uniqueness" and how communities must be different, must be unique in order to stand out and be recognized as a leading place to live, work, and have a social life.  

The presentations can be downloaded on the TATT website and full video of the forum can be found on the TATT YouTube Channel.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Child Well-Being Network Leadership Team Meeting 
Tuesday, October 6th 3:30-5:30PM
 
Ten at the Top Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, October 8th 12:00-2:00PM

Regional Food System Group Meeting 
Wednesday, October 14th 10:00AM-1:00PM 
 
Shaping Our Future Speaker Series: The Economic Benefits of Conservation & Open Space featuring Jessica Sargent, Trust for Public Land 
Tuesday, October 20th 3:00-5:00PM
 
The Upstate Bus Tour... Oconee County
Thursday, November 5th 8:30AM-4:30PM
 
Our Upstate Vision Forum: Celebrating Our Successes 
Thursday, November 19th 3:00-5:00PM

Click Here for the Full Upcoming Schedule & Registration Details
SHAPING OUR FUTURE SPEAKER SERIES
"THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF CONSERVATION & OPEN SPACE"
October 20th
The value of open space is often discussed in relation to its beauty, environmental benefits, and quality of life impacts - but have you ever considered its economic value? Join us for the final event in the Shaping Our Future Speaker Series: The Economic Benefits of Conservation and Open Space with keynote speaker, Jessica Sargent from the Trust for Public Land. Sargent's presentation will discuss how open space and parks provide real and tangible economic benefits to the local community and how this information can be used to successfully enhance public funds for land conservation, open space protection, and parks. 

The event will also include presentations from the perspective of a local developer and chamber of commerce. Jason Armstrong, Project Manager at Patrick Square, a traditional neighborhood development in Clemson, SC will discuss why developers decided to conserve approximately one third of that development's land area and how that decision is paying dividends. Spartanburg Convention & Visitors Bureau will present on "marketing outdoor recreation in Spartanburg" - a component of Spartanburg's Tourism Action Plan. 

This event is the final offering in the 2015 Shaping Our Future Speaker Series in partnership with Upstate Forever, Ten at the Top, the Riley Institute at Furman University, the Greater Greenville Association of Realtors and the Upstate SC Alliance. Special thanks to the JM Smith Corporation who is helping to sponsor this particular event. The goal of the series is to inspire dialogue regarding the connections between land use decisions, transportation options, housing choices and quality of life. 

Greenlink Transit will provide complimentary bus ride from Greenville to/from Spartanburg. Space is limited to the first 14 registratns interested.

The event will be held: 
3:00-5:00 p.m. on October 20, 2015
USC Upstate, The University Readiness Center
A networking reception will follow

Cost to attend is $10* and advance registration is required. 
THE UPSTATE BUS TOUR... LAST STOP IN 2015
OCONEE COUNTY - NOVEMBER 5TH
Don't miss the last stop on the Upstate Bus Tour in 2015 to Oconee County on November 5th! 

Our first three stops to Greenwood, Union, and Laurens Counties were a great success so you do not want to miss this! It's a great opportunity to learn about our neighboring county, meet and interact with other community leaders, to spend the day getting to know the Upstate! 

Participants will have the opportunity to take a driving tour of Economic Development sites in Oconee County as well as tour Duke World of Energy and enjoy lunch at the beautiful Chattooga Belle Farm.

Space is limited to 33 people, so be sure to secure your spot today. 
Cost for the day is $25*.
OUR UPSTATE VISION FORUM 
CELEBRATING SUCCESSES: GREAT THINGS HAPPENING 
ACROSS THE UPSTATE
On November 19th, Ten at the Top will host the final forum of 2015. The theme will be Celebrating Successes: Great Things Happening Across the Upstate. 

As part of the forum we will be recognizing all companies, organizations, or initiatives celebrating milestone (years ending in 0 or 5) anniversaries of 20 years or more.

The ELEVATE UPSTATE Grants will also be awarded!
THE UPSTATE INFORMATION HUB:
UNIQUELY UPSTATE FEATURE STORIES
In addition to the events and resources available on OurUpstateSC.info, the weekly "Uniquely Upstate" e-newsletter highlights "hot events" happening across the region and a feature story that showcases something unique about the Upstate.
 

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Call to Volunteers!

We are looking for volunteers to assist in a variety of ways  throughout the year. 
 
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Is Your Company/Organization Celebrating a Milestone in 2015? 
 
We Want to Know!   

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The Upstate Info Hub

The "one-stop-shop" for all things Upstate. Find a regional events calendar and resources

 

 
HAVE NEWS? WE WANT TO KNOW!
Latest NewsIf 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. Send information to Ashley Downing

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