Ten at the Top Upstate News
July 1, 2019 - Volume 10, Issue 7
Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate Grant Applications Now Being Accepted; Grant Workshop To Be Held On July 16th
Since 2013, Hughes Investments has provided $80,000 in grants for vibrancy initiatives in 24 communities across the Upstate region. The purpose of the ELEVATE UPSTATE Grants is to identify and provide initial funding support for community-based programs that promote community and economic vibrancy in local areas across the Upstate. You can see the entire project list .

The 2019 Grant Application is now available with the initial interest forms due by August 2nd and the full applications due by September 16th. The 2019 grant recipients will be selected during the TATT Celebrating Successes event on November 20th.

Here are direct links to the interest form and application .

TATT will be hosting a grant workshop for anyone interested in learning more about the grants and application process on July 16th from 1:30-3:00 pm in the Park 37 Community Room at 250 Executive Center Dr., Greenville, SC. Please click here for more details and to register to attend .
Union County To Host 10th Anniversary Workshop On
Cultivating Community Through Entrepreneurship & Messaging
As part of the organization's 10th anniversary, TATT is holding community workshops in each of the 10 Upstate counties with each one focused on an issue of interest within that county. The program will include communities, businesses or organizations that are successfully working on that issue in other parts of the Upstate sharing insights and ideas with those interested in that specific issue within the focus county.

The Union County Workshop will take place on July 23rd with the focus being on Cultivating Community Through Entrepreneurship and Messaging. 

Guest Speakers will include Janet Hartman, the Executive Director of the Oconee Economic Alliance and coordinator of the Destination Oconee and Think Oconee programs; Erin Ouzts, Chair of the Upstate Entrepreneur Support Providers Network; Natasha Pittman from the City of Spartanburg and LeKesa Whitaker with Community Works and the Northside Development Group’s StartMe program.

The workshop is free and open to the public, but advance registration is requested. Dinner will be served from 5:30-6 p.m. and the program will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Entrepreneur Support Network Learns About New Resource
On June 4th, the Entrepreneur Support Providers Network gathered for their 2 nd workshop of 2019. After narrowing the focus of the network to four priority areas, the group has begun developing specific recommendations to address needs in our ecosystem. Leading labor and employment law firm Ogletree Deakins is the 2019 Series Sponsor. 

The purpose of the Q2 workshop was to provide an update on work being done in each of the priority areas, as well as to introduce Scribble, a web-based resource for entrepreneurs and supporters provided by the Office of Innovation at the SC Department of Commerce. Laura Corder from the Office of Innovation at the SC Department of Commerce gave an outline of Scribble, a new web-based Innovation Hub that will better connect innovators with the resources they need to be successful.

Members of the network are developing the framework for a shared calendar tool for entrepreneurs and collaborating with the Upstate Business Journal on an Entrepreneur Editorial series. Attendees spent a portion of the meeting working on elements of those projects and are continuing the development over the summer.

As always, the workshop served as a great connection point for the individuals and organizations in our region that support entrepreneurs and small businesses. The network will reconvene on September 11 th for their next workshop.  
Cultivating Community Investment Is Topic of
Community Workshop Held In Laurens County
On June 13th, nearly 100 area residents attended the Ten at the Top Workshop held in Laurens County. The focus of the workshop was cultivating a culture that supports community investments.

The featured speaker was Allen Smith, President & CEO of the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce. Smith shared about the steps taken by Spartanburg to develop the OneSpartanburg initiative and successfully fund local community projects.

Following Smith's presentation, he was joined for a panel discussion by Greenwood County Council Member Theo Lane and Greenville area community volunteer Lisa Stevens. The panel was moderated by Greenwood Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Angelle LaBorde.

The evening concluded with attendees providing their ideas related to what they like about Laurens, what they wish was different, their vision for the future of Laurens, potential barriers to that future and what elements of their community they feel are most important to invest in moving forward. You can read their responses here (click on the Laurens tab).

Special thanks to the City of Laurens for providing the excellent venue at the Ridge and to the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce for coordinating the event logistics.
Leadership Level Partners
Ten at the Top is fortunate to have many great funding supports and appreciate all who help ensure the current and future success of the organization. In 2019 we have introduced our Leadership Level Funding Partners. These partners have committed to support TATT with contributions of $10,000 or more in 2019. If your company or organization is interested in joining TATT's Leadership Level Supporters, please contact Allison Drew today.
Stay Connected with Upstate Initiatives & Resources

Check out the TATT YouTube Channel for archives from meetings, presentations and events hosted by Ten at the Top. The channel also includes videos of the Elevate Upstate Grant recipients and other TATT initiatives.

TATT volunteers have developed a number of interactive regional asset maps. Check out links to regional resources below.









There is something interesting, educational or entertaining happening in the Upstate 365 days a year.

Be sure to post your Upstate experiences using the hashtag #UpstateVibe365 and check out the regional calendar for what is happening across the region.

Ten at the Top
52 Regional Engagements in 2019
1,984 Participants in 2019
858 Regional Engagements since 2010
40,098 Participants since 2010
On the Calendar

Be sure and put these TATT events on your calendar:

Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate
Grant Workshop
July 16th | 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Ten at the Top/ Park 37 Complex
250 Executive Center Drive, Greenville, SC

Union County Workshop
Cultivating Community Through Entrepreneurship and Messaging
July 23rd | 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
USC Union
309 E. Academy Street, Union, SC

Upstate Professional Planners Workshop
Planning for the Environment
July 30th | 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Milliken & Company
920 Milliken Road, Spartanburg, SC

Become a TATT Supporter

In 2019 Ten at the Top is celebrating a Decade of Connecting the Upstate.

We are grateful to the many funding partners and supporters who have played a critical role in supporting the development of the organization over the last decade.

In 2019 we plan to recognize our long-term partners and supporters while also looking to grow engagement across the region.

We hope you will continue your TATT support or become a new partner in 2019.


If you have questions about TATT partnership and sponsorship opportunities or would like to set up a personal meeting, please contact Allison Drew.or Dean Hybl for questions or more information.

Ten at the Top is a regional non-profit organization with the mission of fostering collaboration and partnerships across the Upstate around issues that impact economic vitality and quality of life.
Ten at the Top | 864-283-0346 | info@tenatthetop.org| www.tenatthetop.org