Ten at the Top
Upstate News


December 7, 2015 - Vol 6. Issue 12

100 Regional Engagements in 2015             518 Regional Engagements Since 2010
3,220 Participants in 2015                            26,297 Participants Since 2010        
Contact Us:

Executive Director 864-283-2315

Program Manager
864-283-2313

Communications Manager
864-283-2317

Administrative Associate
2015 ELEVATE UPSTATE GRANT RECIPIENTS


The ELEVATE UPSTATE Grant program, which began in 2013, annually provides "seed funds" to support vibrancy initiatives in communities across the Upstate region. There were 26 applications for the 2015 grants and five finalists gave brief presentations before the selections were made during the Our Upstate Vision Forum on November 19th.
 
The commitment from Phil Hughes and Hughes Investments is to annually provide two grants of $5,000 each. However, for 2015, Hughes provided an additional $5,000 with the third grant being split amongst two communities.
 
The two $5,000 recipients are:
 
celebrate agriCULTURE: Greenwood - The Arts Council of Greenwood County plans to celebrate national farmers market week with several activities: tailored pieces of art to exhibit and family fun day focused on our agricultural heritage, cooking demonstrations, etc. throughout the six week celebration.
 
Music at the Museum: Greenville - In a partnership between the Children's Museum of the Upstate and the Furman University Partners in the Arts Program, student and faculty ensembles will perform a series of mini concerts.
 
Two other finalists will receive $2,500 towards their project:
 
Art in the Park: Woodruff - The Woodruff Living Arts Festival will be a downtown event which will bring art to life in the Upstate.

Walkable Cultural District: Spartanburg - The Art Partnership (TAP) in collaboration with the Spartanburg Arts Museum (SAM) aims to create a temporary public art installation to uniquely launch the newly designated Spartanburg Downtown cultural District.
 
Since the inception of the program in 2013, Hughes Investments has provided $43,000 to fund projects in 12 different communities. 
CELEBRATING SUCCESSES: 
GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN THE UPSTATE
The final Our Upstate Vision Forum
of 2015
2015 Anniversary Guests
 was held on November 19th at the Greenville Marriott.

The forum featured many successes including the recognition of more than 100 companies and organizations that celebrated a milestone anniversary in 2015 of 20 or more years in the Upstate.

This year the organization spotlight was Pendleton Place for Children and Families. Laurie Rovin, President of Pendleton Place, gave a brief presentation on the organization and their impact in the Upstate. She also discussed the Ten at the Top Child Well-Being Network Group that was formed in 2015. The groups purpose is to look at and identify ways to ensure children in the Upstate have optimal opportunities for success.

Prior to the 2015 ELEVATE UPSTATE Grant recipients were chosen, we checked in with the 2014 recipients to see how their projects have come together and continued to grow. Watch the video HERE!

Phil Hughes & Irv Welling
Every year, the Welling Award for Collaboration is given to a member of the community who stands out and stands up for the Upstate. This year Phil Hughes, President of Hughes Investments, was awarded for his undeniable dedication to making the Upstate the best it can be.





A very special THANK YOU to JHM Hotels and R.P. Rama for the generous donation of the event space and reception. We greatly appreciate your contribution to Ten at the Top as a Board Member and Chairman of the Community Vibrancy Task Force. In addition to the space, The Greenville Marriott donated a weekend night stay and a bottle of wine to a guest at the event. And in the spirit of kindness, the recipient then gave the certificate to Pendleton Place. Angela and Joshua Gilbert, a foster family, will receive the certificate. The Gilberts are active foster parents who have gone above and beyond to ensure that the foster child in their care needs are met.

For more details, videos, and highlights from the Forum, click below!
THE UPSTATE BUS TOUR, FINAL STOP OF 2015
OCONEE COUNTY
The last Upstate Bus Tour of 2015 took place on November 5th in Oconee County.
 
Participants heard from several county, government, and education leaders throughout the day. 
 
Presentations were made throughout the day from Paul Cain, Oconee County Councilman,Richard Blackwell, President & CEO of the Oconee Alliance, City Administrators and other elected officials from Oconee, Walhalla, and Seneca. Presentations covered many successful efforts to enhance economic development, job growth and workforce development.
 
Duke World of Energy provided a special presentation and tour to participants. BJ Gatton, corporate communications with Duke Energy discussed the economic and environmental impact of the facilities in the Upstate.
 
And even on a drizzly day, participants enjoyed a nice walk around Stumphouse Tunnel and Issaqueena Falls.
 
 
 
Chattooga Belle Farm, a fully operational farm to many fruits, vegetables, & grapes for wine is also a popular event and wedding venue in the Upstate. The farm is open year round and now hosts more than 70 weddings a year! They have recently opened their very own distillery. Participants enjoyed a wonderful lunch in front of a (normally sunny) beautiful backdrop overlooking the vineyards. Owners, Ed and Kitty Land gave us a brief history of the farm and how it has grown and made a huge impact to not only Oconee county but to the Upstate! 
INNOVATIVE TRANSPORTATION & SMART TECHNOLOGY 
AND 
THE UPSTATE PLANNERS MEETING
Innovative Transportation and Smart Technology Opportunities

On November 30, Ten at the Top and the Greenville County Economic Development Corporation (GCEDC) hosted more than 80 participants in a regional workshop on Innovative Transportation & Smart Technology Opportunities in the Upstate. The session included presentations on Low Speed Electric Vehicles (LSEV), GreenVillages, the Internet of Things and Research & Development of Electric Vehicles. Dave Edwards from GSP International Airport served as the featured speaker and shared with the audience the current status of GSP Airport's potential Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) Project. A consultant agreement for phase 2 of the project exploration has been finalized and there is potential that a design/build bid package could be issues by mid-2016. Attendees of the workshop were asked to identify one priority opportunity to move forward related to Innovative Transportation and Smart Technology opportunities. Click Here to read the comments and see the event presentations.

Upstate Professional Planners Meeting:

On December 3rd, Upstate
professional planners met to learn how to use online mapping tools to incorporate conservation into their planning efforts. Hilary Morris, with the South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative, and Adam Terando, with the Southeast Climate Center, walked attendees through using online conservation tools. Working together as a region is essential to ensuring growth happens in a sustainable manner. Click Here to see the presentation.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Child Well-Being Network: Health Workgroup Meeting 
Wednesday, January 13th, 3:00-5:00PM
Ten at the Top
124 Verdae Blvd., Suite 202 | Greenville, SC 
 
Child Well-Being Network: Family Engagement Workgroup Meeting 
Thursday, January 14th 3:30 - 5:00PM 
Ten at the Top 
124 Verdae Blvd., Suite 202 | Greenville, SC  

Child Well-Being Network: Housing Workgroup Meeting 
Wednesday, January 20th 3:30 - 5:00PM 
Ten at the Top 
124 Verdae Blvd., Suite 202 | Greenville, SC 
 
Child Well-Being Network: Substance Abuse Prevention Workgroup Meeting 
Thursday, January 28th 3:30 - 5:00PM 
Ten at the Top 
124 Verdae Blvd., Suite 202 | Greenville, SC  
 
Child Well-Being Network Leadership Team Meeting 
Tuesday, February 16th 3:00 - 5:00PM 
Ten at the Top 
124 Verdae Blvd., Suite 202 | Greenville, SC  
 
the PIQUE: Young Leaders Elevating the Upstate 
Monday, March 7th 2:30 - 5:00PM 
One Building 
1 North Main Street | Greenville, SC  
 
Upstate Regional Summit: Creating a Leading Region 
Thursday, September 13th 
TD Convention Center 
1 Exposition Dr. | Greenville, SC  
the PIQUE
YOUNG LEADERS ELEVATING THE UPSTATE

Mark you calendars for March 7, 2016!

The Upstate is home to more than ten young professional groups and the millennial generation (ages 21-39) is quickly surpassing the Baby-Boomer generation and will soon be our leaders. By offering valuable career and personal development opportunities, the PIQUE will open the doors for future leaders of the Upstate to gather in one place to share ideas and discuss how and why it is important to get involved and work collaboratively.
SUPPORT TATT WITH A YEAR END CONTRIBUTION

All TATT funding partners and individual contributors are invited to the annual TATT funding partner and board reception in January and are recognized at events and in publications throughout the year.

You can contribute online through the secure link below.
 !
THANK YOU TEN AT THE TOP FUNDING PARTNERS!
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of Ten at the Top, we would like to thank all the businesses, organizations and individuals that have supported the mission of TATT during 2015.
 
Below is a full list of funding partners and sponsors:
 
Regional Visionary: BlueCross BlueShield SC
  
Regional Stewards: GSA Business, WSPA-TV 
  
Regional Benefactor: Greenville Health System
  
Regional Partners: AnMed Health, Fluor
  
Regional Sponsors: Baptist Easley Hospital, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, BMW Manufacturing, Business Black Box, Duke Energy, Elliott Davis Decosimo, Fairway Outdoor Advertising, Greenville Business Magazine, Hughes Investments, JHM Hotels, Erwin Maddrey, Oconee County, Pacolet Milliken Enterprises, Inc., Palmetto Technology Group, Piedmont Natural Gas, Sealevel Systems, TD Bank, Trehel Corporation.
 
Regional Advocates: Barnet Development Corporation, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Inc, Broad River Electric Cooperative, Inc., Brown Mackie College, Craig Brown, City of Greer, City of Mauldin, CommunityWorks Carolina, GSP International Airport, Laurens Electric Corporation, Lockhart Power, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP., Rutland Institute for Ethics - Clemson, ScanSource, Self Family Foundation, The Palmetto Bank, Irv Welling.
 
Regional Patrons: Anderson Regional Joint Water System, Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce, Anderson University, Ann & Ingo Angermier, Carol Burdette, Canal Insurance, Childs & Halligan, City of Anderson, City of Easley, City of Pickens, City of Union, Clayton Construction, Coldwell Banker Cain, Community Foundation of Greenville, CountyBank, Easley Chamber of Commerce, Gallivan, White, & Boyd, Genesis Surgical Solutions, Gibbs Cancer Center, Goodwyn, Mills, & Cawood, Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce, Greenville Technical College, Greenville Water, John Miller, Johnson Development Associates, KPMG,LLP., Laurens County Chamber of Commerce, Marchant Company Inc., MB Kahn, Nate Lipscomb, McMillan Pazdan Smith, PMPA, Professional Mortgage Company, Seamon, Whiteside & Associates, Inc., Self Regional Healthcare System, South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, South Carolina School Boards Insurance Trust, Southern Wesleyan University, Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Spartanburg Community College, Town of Due West, Tri-County Technical College, Union County Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Greenwood & Abbeville Counties, USC Upstate, Upstate Workforce Investment Board, West Carolina Tel, Brad Wyche.
 
Contributing Gifts: Paul Corbeil, Sam Erwin, Mike Forrester, Hank McCullough, Barry Nocks, Terence Roberts, Angelle LaBorde, S&ME, Inc., Teri Cox Gilstrap
 
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.


Info Hub Button
Call to Volunteers!

We are looking for volunteers to assist in a variety of ways  throughout the year. 
 
Contact 
Is Your Company/Organization Celebrating a Milestone in 2016? 
 
We Want to Know!   

Contact
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

Copyright © 20XX. All Rights Reserved.