Ten at the Top Upstate News
August 5, 2019 - Volume 10, Issue 8
Dates and Topics Set for TATT 10th Anniversary Workshops in Abbeville, Greenwood, Pickens and Oconee Counties
Following successful County Workshops in Laurens and Union Counties, the dates and topics have now been set for four additional County Workshops. Each workshop will be focused on an issue of interest in that particular county and will be free and open to the public, though advanced registration is requested.

Registration is now open for the three workshops to be held in September in Abbeville, Greenwood and Pickens counties while registration for the Oconee workshop will open soon.

Additional workshop dates and topics will be announced in the coming weeks for Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville and Spartanburg counties. You can read about all the past and upcoming County Workshops on the 10th anniversary county workshop web page .

Sept. 9 - Abbeville County Workshop - Growing Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
11:30 am - 1:30 pm - West Carolina Tel - Click Here to Register

Sept.16 - Greenwood County Workshop - Cultivating Transportation Solutions: Models for Mobility
11:30 am - 1:30 pm - Arts Center of Greenwood - Click Here to Register

Sept. 30 - Pickens County Workshop - Cultivating Community Through Connectivity
12:00 - 2:00 pm - Tri-County Tech Easley Campus - Click Here to Register

Oct. 17 - Oconee County Workshop - The Potential Impacts of Trail Connectivity
11:00 am - 1:00 pm - Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative Oconee Office - Registration Coming Soon
Applications Now Being Accepted for
2019 Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate Grants
The 2019 grant period for the Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate Grants is currently open, and on July 16 th, Ten at the Top hosted workshop to guide applicants through the process and parameters of the grants, with 43 people in attendance.

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.

Phil Hughes, president of Hughes Investments, Inc., said, “The Elevate Upstate Grants are for those wishing to bring new life to their communities—a spark, a fresh idea, a new tradition—something that will excite the public and bring people together from all walks of life in a new way.” Since 2013, Hughes Investments has provided $80,000 in funds to 24 local communities.

Final grant applications are due September 16 th. Two grants of $5,000 each will be awarded at Ten at the Top’s annual Celebrating Successes event in November, where finalists will have the opportunity to present their proposed project before a final judgment is made. Applications and questions should be sent to Sharon Purvis, at spurvis@tenatthetop.org.

Upstate Professional Planners Discuss
Planning for the Environment
On July 30 th the Upstate Professional Planners group gathered for their second workshop of 2019. This event was hosted at the Milliken & Company headquarters in Spartanburg. Milliken is the presenting sponsor for this series and their campus is a nationally recognized Arboretum featuring noble trees, hundreds of fountains, and sprawling greenspaces.

The workshop focused around the topic of environmental planning. There were four presenters that covered topics related to this, including why environmental planning is important as our region continues to grow, how planning decisions affect water quality, how to incorporate trees as a sustainable element of design, and what progress is being made to update Greenville’s heritage tree ordinance. Attendees were also invited on a guided walking tour of the Milliken grounds and heard about the vision and process by which they developed their arboretum.

As always, the workshop served as a great connection point for the individuals and organizations in our region that work in city and county planning, as well private planning, architecture, and development industries. The group will reconvene for their final workshop later this year.

Cultivating Entrepreneurship and Community Messaging Discussed During Union County Workshop
On July 23rd more than 100 area residents attended the Ten at the Top Workshop held in Union County at USC-Union. The focus of the workshop was on cultivating community through entrepreneurship and messaging.

Janet Hartman, the Executive Director of the Oconee Economic Alliance, shared how Oconee County has developed an inclusive economic development and community messaging program through Destination Oconee and the “Think Oconee” campaign.

Erin Ouzts, Chair of the Upstate Entrepreneur Support Providers Network and LeKesa Whitner, with Community Works and the Northside Development Group’s StartMe program, and Patty Bock from the City of Spartanburg provided an overview of how to build opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners within a community.

The evening concluded with attendees providing their ideas related to Union County. You can read their responses here (click on the Union tab).

Special thanks to USC Union for providing the excellent venue at the Truluck Gymnasium and to the members of the Union County steering committee who helped with logistics and promoting the event.
State of the Upstate Looks at Education
and Workforce in the Region
Ten at the Top is pleased to again partner with Greenville Business Magazine to produce the 2019 State of the Upstate Report.

The focus for this year is education and workforce development. The publication includes in-depth articles about the K-12 teacher shortage, innovative techniques for developing the workforce of tomorrow as well as county reports on initiatives being undertaken across the Upstate.

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
61 Regional Engagements in 2019
2,206 Participants in 2019
867 Regional Engagements since 2010
40,320 Participants since 2010
On the Calendar

Be sure and put these TATT events on your calendar:

Upstate Senior Issues Workshop:
Focus on Transportation
August 22nd | 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Ten at the Top/ Park 37 Complex
250 Executive Center Drive, Greenville, SC

Pizza & Beer Redefined
September 5th | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Skyline Exhibits & Design
135 Commerce Center, Greenville, SC
(Open to TATT Funding Partners & Board Members)

Abbeville County Workshop
Growing Entrepreneurs & Small Businesses
September 9th | 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
West Carolina Tel
229 Highway 28 Bypass, Abbeville, SC

Upstate Entrepreneur Support Providers Network Workshop
September 11th | 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Ten at the Top/ Park 37 Complex
250 Executive Center Drive, Greenville, SC
Registration Coming Soon

SAVE THE DATE
TATT 10th Anniversary & Celebrating Successes Luncheon
November 20th | 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Greenville Convention Center
More Details Coming Soon


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