Upstate, SC [January 21, 2015] – With new EPA air quality standards having been announced in late 2014, the Upstate may soon be facing more stringent standards for ozone emissions. On January 27th, representatives from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) will be providing the Upstate Air Quality Advisory Committee with an overview of the new standards as well as the 2014 emission numbers for South Carolina.
The Upstate Air Quality Advisory Committee, which is coordinated by Ten at the Top and consists of stakeholder representatives from both the public and private sectors, developed the “Clean Air Upstate” initiative to help ensure that the Upstate region is continuing to focus on reducing ozone and other air pollutants in order to remain within EPA attainment levels.
Since starting the Clean Air Upstate campaign in 2012, the Upstate Air Quality Advisory Committee has been working to educate Upstate residents, businesses, local governments and organizations on how to help reduce emissions across the region. In addition, the committee has focused on specific emission-reducing initiatives to help lower the emission levels in the region.
In addition to receiving a report from DHEC, the January 27th meeting will also include development of the committee areas of emphasis for 2015.
The January 27th meeting is open to anyone interested in air quality in the Upstate. It will be held at 10 am at the TATT/Upstate Alliance Offices (124 Verdae Boulevard, Suite 202, Greenville, SC). Contact program manager, Tiffany Tate, ttate@tenatthetop.org, or check out the TATT web site (www.tenatthetop.org) for more information or to register.
Upstate, SC [January 7, 2015] – Ten at the Top (TATT) has announced the addition of Ashley Downing as Communications Manager. Ashley will be responsible for management and promotion of all online services, including the weekly Uniquely Upstate e-news, the Upstate Information Hub and the Ten at the Top web site. She will also coordinate all Upstate Regional Forums and the quarterly “Getting to Know the Upstate” bus day-trips as well as other TATT regional events. In addition, she will serve as the TATT liaison with local media and community organizations.
Ten at the Top works with regional partners to foster collaboration and strategic planning to enhance the economic vitality, natural and cultural resources and quality of life for Upstate residents both today and as the region continues to grow.
“We expect Ashley to be a great addition to Ten at the Top and our continuing efforts to promote the initiatives and programs being done across the region today and needed in the future if the Upstate is to reach the vision of being universally recognized as a leading place to live, learn, do business and raise a family,” said TATT Executive Director Dean Hybl. “Her enthusiasm, familiarity with the region and background in growing awareness will be valuable to the success of TATT and the Upstate.”
A Greenville native and graduate of Clemson University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Social Sciences, Ashley has always called Upstate South Carolina home and interested in staying active and engaged in the community. Her professional experience includes administration, social media communications, sales, marketing, and client services in the financial and real estate industries.
“I’m excited to be able to use my energy and creativity to help our Upstate continue to grow and collaborate together,” Downing said. “I am proud to call the Upstate my home.”
About Ten at the Top Comprised of public, private and civic leaders from across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina Region, Ten at the Top was created to build regional trust and encourage regional collaboration through data-driven research and regular convening of leaders and citizens to address key issues facing the region. Ten at the Top works with regional partners to foster collaboration and strategic planning to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life for Upstate residents both today and as the region continues to grow. For more information, visit www.tenatthetop.org.
Upstate, SC [January 5, 2015] –Ten at the Top (TATT), a non-profit organization created to foster collaboration and strategic planning in South Carolina’s Upstate region, conducted 96 regional forums, meetings, presentations and programs in 2014 with more than 4,000 participants from across the Upstate region.
Since 2010, TATT has conducted 418 regional engagements with more than 23,000 total participants.
Highlighting 2014 was the Upstate Regional Summit: Rechecking Our Reality, the largest event ever hosted by TATT, which was held on September 16th and included more than 800 Upstate residents looking at where we have been, where we are and where we are going as a region related to key issues impacting current and future growth in the region, especially as it relates to economic vitality and quality of life.
In addition, TATT hosted a pair of regional forums and partnered with other regional organizations to host two Upstate Elected Officials Meetings. These regular sessions provide an opportunity for city, county and state elected officials and business leaders to come together to discuss key regional issues.
During 2014, Ten at the Top also convened more than 50 committee and task force meetings where stakeholders from across the region came together to work on regional opportunities to address issues including workforce & skill development, transportation & infrastructure, senior needs, education, air quality, child well-being and community vibrancy.
“Ten at the Top has strived to elevate the conversation about how working collaboratively across the Upstate region isn’t just a ‘good idea’, but is crucial if our local communities are all going to reach their full potential,” said TATT Chairperson Carol Burdette. “With the successful Upstate Regional Summit as well as multiple initiatives bringing together key stakeholders, 2014 was another important year in growing collaboration across the Upstate.”
The Upstate Professional Planners Group, which TATT started in 2012, partnered with the graduate program in City & Regional Planning at Clemson University to conduct the first-ever regional analysis of the comprehensive plans for each county in the region. The results will be used in 2015 to continue discussions on how we are growing as a region.
In 2015, Ten at the Top will continue the Upstate Regional Forum Series with four forums, each focused on a key issue impacting the Upstate region. In addition, for the first time ever, TATT will conduct quarterly “Getting to Know the Upstate Bus Tours” where participants will spend a day traveling to a county within the region and meeting with community, business and education leaders from that county while also touring key locations within that area.
A full 2014 Ten at the Top program overview as well as information about the 2015 Forums and Regional Bus Trips is available on the TATT web site.
