Nov 15, 2022 | News
Ten at the Top is pleased to announce Craig Scharton is taking over responsibility for its entrepreneurship initiatives, commonly referred to as the Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem. He replaces Erin Ouzts who volunteered for 10 years before officially creating the role in 2019. Erin is retiring from her work at Ten at the Top to focus on other ecosystem needs and family.
“Supporting entrepreneurship and specifically the service providers who support entrepreneurship within our region has been a key driver area within Ten at the Top since the beginning of the organization,” said TATT Executive Director Dean Hybl. “Erin Ouzts has done an amazing job cultivating relationships and building awareness of the importance of having a strong entrepreneur ecosystem. I especially want to thank her for all she has done to support entrepreneurship in the Upstate.”
“Erin will be tough to replace, but we are very fortunate to have Craig Scharton moving into the role of facilitator for the Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem. Craig has great experience working with businesses and entrepreneurs and is the ideal person to continue TATT’s work building the collective capacity of support providers and entrepreneurs in the Upstate.”
Scharton, who moved to the Upstate in June 2022, has over 35 years of progressive experience leading diverse teams in non-profit and public service environments to execute meaningful and innovative projects to improve the standard of living in local communities.
“Craig’s well-rounded experience and welcoming personality make him a great fit for this role. The Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem will benefit from his knowledge and ability to bring people together around complex topics,” said Erin Ouzts.
In Fresno City, CA, he built ecosystems of support for entrepreneurs and support providers as Senior Director, Economic Development with One by One Leadership, president of the California Main Street Alliance, as a Fresno City Council member, owner of a restaurant, director of Central Valley Business Incubator for Water and Energy Technology, and multiple positions with the City of Fresno and Downtown Fresno Partnership.
While working with California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC) (similar to SC MEP), he strengthened CMTC’s relationship with 40+ partner organizations to realize an additional $100 million + in additional sales for small and medium-sized manufacturers.
He taught urban entrepreneurship at Fresno State University as an adjunct professor for 14 years and created the Fresno Downtown Academy which received the International Downtown Association Award in 2016. Craig has been a featured speaker at multiple events, including the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) National Conference, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the California Workforce Association, and the California Assembly of Local Arts Agencies.
Scharton has experience on multiple boards, including the Fresno Community Development Financial Institution, Jane Addams Community Development Corporation, and the President of the California Main Street Alliance.
“Erin Ouzts has built out an incredible framework for entrepreneurs and those who support them. I am honored to be able to build on her work,” said Scharton. I love building communities to support our independent businesses from home-based cottage businesses to downtown retailers to local manufacturers. Every sector has a role in growing our entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
‘What serendipity to find someone who will seamlessly take over for Erin Ouzts who is such a pro herself at bringing together people and organizations to continue to build a healthy Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem!’ said Justine Allen, Ten at the Top Program Manager.
Scharton will continue the Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem’s mission to increase the ecosystem’s ability and capacity to help entrepreneurs be more successful faster. The quarterly Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem, Innovation Leaders Coalition, and Rural Entrepreneurship Leaders Coalition groups will continue to meet. He will focus on continuing to create awareness of the multiple entrepreneur resources available through the StartGrowUpstate.com resource navigator and connecting disconnected entrepreneurs to the ecosystem.
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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 connect 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.
Nov 15, 2022 | News
“I” Marks the Spot Scavenger Hunt – City of Inman (Inman)
“I” Marks the Spot will be a scavenger hunt in our downtown/Historic district. Our vision for this project is to develop an interactive scavenger hunt in our downtown. We believe that this will be of value to our community in many ways. The plan is to use a combination of bronze peach place markers and “vanishing” paint to create an interactive scavenger hunt for people to use to explore our downtown and learn about important pieces of our history, along with current places of importance.
Children’s Art in the Park – The Shaw Center (Clemson)
Neighborhood children will be invited to participate in painting individual boards to create a fun, diverse, and eclectic picket fence. The fence will serve as a backdrop for the park located in the middle of the neighborhood. They will be provided with a single board (already painted with primer), a variety of paint colors, a protective apron, and brushes and other painting supplies. They will be instructed to paint to represent their family, themselves, their neighborhood, things they love to do, Monarch butterflies – endless possibilities. We will also include educational information for them about Monarch butterflies and the recent recognition of Clemson as a Monarch City, so butterflies will be an option to include in their artwork. To incorporate an educational opportunity in collaboration with the SC Botanical Gardens, we plan to offer a field trip offered through the Littlejohn Community Center and CatBUS. The kids can apply what they learned by illustrating through painting on the fence boards. The Arts Center staff will also provide artists to help the kids brainstorm and sketch ideas before actually painting their boards.
Honea Path’s Got Talent – Town of Honea Path (Honea Path)
The Honea Path Planning Committee plans to reinstitute a successful one-time event that happened over 6 years ago: Honea Path’s Got Talent. This one-season event was very popular, but the event organizer only intended to provide the event for one year. The Town of Honea Path is under new leadership for the past 3 years and has placed a high priority on revitalizing the downtown by adding and enhancing events that draw tourists from surrounding areas to Honea Path. Honea Path’s Got Talent will be a reinvented 6-week event allowing people of all ages and backgrounds in Honea Path and the surrounding areas to showcase their talent.
Open Doors Studio Tours Spartanburg – Artists Collective of Spartanburg (Spartanburg)
The Open Doors Studio Tour is a chance to showcase the unique talents and diversity of the visual arts community of Spartanburg County. The Artists Collective Spartanburg is working with a committee of arts professionals and organizations from the area to establish the event. None of these organizations are funding Open Doors, and the event could be coordinated by any of these organizations in the future. The Open Doors Studio Tour is a self-guided 2-day event that is free to the public. Participating artists will open their studios to show and sell their work from 10 AM – 5 PM on Saturday, April 22, and from 12 – 5 PM on Sunday, April 23. Visitors will be directed by a map on the Open Doors Website, and a printed map inside the Open Doors catalog.
Polar Experience – City of Clinton (Clinton)
With the closest movie theater being over 30-minutes away, many children in Clinton will never get to experience what it is like to see a movie on the big screen. However, by bringing the big screen to the depot, they could finally get to experience something magical. The Polar Express is all about a magical experience that will be brought to life, not only for the children but also for the adults. With hot cocoa all around and the chairs nicely spaced out with a chill in the air, nothing says winter is here like the Polar Express.
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Nov 7, 2022 | News
Upstate Warrior Solution (UWS) is celebrating 10 years of service to our local veterans!
Founded in 2012, this community-based, 501(c)3 nonprofit provides holistic services to veterans, first responders, and their families in the Upstate of South Carolina. UWS’ mission is to connect their clients to the services they need to thrive, lead them through the process of self-empowerment, and inspire the community to embrace them as valuable neighbors.
UWS takes a holistic, collaborative approach to achieving their ultimate goals of eliminating veteran suicide, homelessness, and unemployment. Their case managers work with a robust network of community partners to provide wrap-around services for housing, employment, mental health, recreation, VA benefits, and more. Through their referral pipelines with health care systems, law enforcement agencies, churches, nonprofits, and businesses, UWS works to build an environment where there’s no wrong door for veterans to access the help they need.
According to UWS President, Charlie Hall, those needs are often complex. “Our experience shows that there’s always a need beneath the need,” says Hall. “A veteran may come to us for help with housing, but we also find that they have untreated PTSD or legal issues that are keeping them from holding down a job. Our team takes a knee-to-knee approach to get to know our clients and understand their needs as a whole person.”
In 2023, UWS will take their community collaboration to the next level with the opening of the Rupert Huse Veteran Center in Greenville. The first of its kind in the region, this center will bring service providers together under one roof to help streamline services. “The idea to have a one-stop shop where clients can address a range of needs without having to travel to multiple locations,” says Charlie Hall. At this new resource center, veterans and their families will be able to apply for VA home loans, access legal services, connect with mental health resources, attend art therapy classes, and much more.
Currently, UWS is gearing up to serve local veterans and their families through the holidays and winter months. This includes engaging the community for their Operation Christmas Blessing, a sponsorship program where individuals or groups can help provide presents and necessities to local veteran families in need. It also includes supporting Operation Stuff the Duffel, Greenville County Veterans Affairs’ drive to collect hygiene items for homeless veterans.
Since 2012, UWS has connected with over 9,000 veterans and their families, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg with an estimated 100,000 veterans living in the Upstate. There’s still much work to be done to improve access to care for veterans, but UWS is committed to the work and excited to see what the next decade of service will bring.
Connect with UWS:
www.uws.us
Facebook: @UpstateWarriorSolution
Instagram: @upstatewarrior
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Nov 7, 2022 | News
Finding top talent for your business – where to hire veterans and why
COVID-19 has dramatically altered the face of the job market both for employees and employers. Many businesses are struggling to find skilled workers to fill open positions across industries, including hospitality, food, tech, and construction.
But every business owner knows that it’s not enough just to fill open positions – they need to hire individuals with the right skills, temperaments, and work ethics to see consistent success. That’s why the best way to find good talent for open jobs isn’t to widen the applicant pool. Instead, it’s a better idea to specifically hire veterans.
With their practical skills, hard-earned experiences, and shared codes of conduct, the growing pool of military veteran job seekers is oftentimes the best place to find candidates for your business’s open jobs.
The value of veterans’ skills and experiences
Why hire veterans in the first place? Every veteran, regardless of their rank or position, learns several key skills and develops personal characteristics that they share with their veteran brothers and sisters. All of these skills are vital to corporate America, no matter the industry or niche. For example, transitioning military veterans are trained in core skills and values like:
- Problem-solving
- Excellent work ethics
- Leadership
- Adaptability
- High performance, even under pressure
- And more
It’s easy to see how these qualities can be valuable for any civilian job. But veterans also bring their experiences from their military postings to their new careers.
When you hire a veteran, you aren’t just hiring an appropriate candidate. You’re hiring a go-getter, a self-starter with leadership skills, and a team player through and through. For business owners that only want the best for their companies, veterans are the obvious choice for future job openings.
Where to hire veterans
Fortunately, the federal government and various nonprofit organizations make it easy for any business to hire veterans, if they choose.
For example, July 25th is National Hire a Veteran Day. Since 2017, National Hire a Veteran Day has been an opportunity for veterans and employers to connect through
promotional programs, online job boards, and more. Business owners looking to hire vets should double down on their hiring efforts on and around this important date.
Additionally, companies can take advantage of several resources to connect to veteran job seekers, including:
Does hiring vets make sense for your company?
Yes!
In fact, looking for vets to fill the open positions at your company makes more sense than looking for civilians in many cases. Their skills and shared work ethic combined make veterans the ideal choice for new civilian jobs in all industries.
Perhaps most important of all, hiring veterans helps America’s bravest men and women find a place in civilian life. The transition from active service to civilian life can be difficult for many. Hiring a veteran is great for your company’s bottom line, but it’s also good for America as a whole.
If you’d like to learn more about Veteran One and their scientific approach to helping veterans find their purpose and corporations find valuable talent, reach out here.
Resources accessed on July 10th 2021 –
US Department of Labor – Hire a Veteran
US Department of Labor – RVEC
National Labor Exchange – Indexing Request
US Department of Veterans Affairs – Veteran Readiness & Employment
Oct 25, 2022 | News
Imagine a new rail trail that will transform the quality of life for those in the Carolinas.
From decades of dreaming of such a trail, PAL, along with Conserving Carolinas and Upstate Forever, are working towards a game-changing 31-mile trail that will provide access along the countryside of Upstate South Carolina to the breathtaking mountain views of Western North Carolina.
This vision will turn the historic Saluda Grade Railroad into a place that welcomes runners, bikers, hikers, and dog walkers.
Improvement of Quality of Life
We are excited about the opportunity to provide an outlet for outdoor recreation and quality of life improvements to the people that live along the trail.
Visitors who explore the trail will enjoy scenic views, lively downtowns, historic landmarks, and natural sites of majestic lakes and waterfalls along the 16 miles in South Carolina and 15 miles in North Carolina – a great partnership between the two states.
Revitalizing Local Economies
Quality of life is a critical driver for economic development, and PAL and our partners are pursuing the purchase of the Saluda Grade corridor from Norfolk Southern Railroad.
Similar to the Virginia Creeper Trail, this legacy project is good for the local economies as it starts just north of Spartanburg, SC, in Inman and continues to Zirconia, North Carolina, just south of Hendersonville.
Travelers will pass through Campobello, Landrum, Tryon, and Saluda as they make their way through the area.
Numerous case studies testify that rail trails have become economic drivers for local communities.
The trails bring customers to local businesses, attract tourists, and appeal to companies looking to locate in areas with high quality of life.
Recently published in the Tryon Daily Bulletin, “While the cost associated with the Saluda Grade Trail is steep, the economic benefits from the trail will be a significant windfall for the communities along the route, according to an economic impact study conducted by Clemson University.
The study predicts communities will see a direct economic benefit of $27-30 million per year with an anticipated 282-313 new jobs created by the trail, including initial construction, ongoing maintenance of the trail, new businesses and development, and expenditures at those businesses by patrons and visitors along the trail corridor.” In 2011, a national study found that every $1 invested in land conservation (including parkland) returned $4 in economic value.
The opportunity to strengthen local businesses, grow the local tax base, celebrate local history, and connect visitors with the natural world of this beautiful area is a win-win for all.
History of the Saluda Grade Railroad
Active from Independence Day 1878, the Saluda Grade Railroad was considered the steepest standard gauge mainline railroad ever built in the United States.
It connected Asheville to Spartanburg and crossed the Blue Ridge Escarpment with a grade of 5% along its route.
The tracks have an elevation of 606 feet in less than just 3 miles in the area between Melrose and Saluda, North Carolina. Currently operated by Norfolk Southern for the past 40 years, and the last train ran in 2001.
Conserving The Carolina’s Natural Beauty
The Saluda Grade project will transform the northern part of Spartanburg County and serve as a regional destination and want everyone, locals and visitors, to enjoy a relaxing walk to an unforgettable hike as they experience Carolina’s exquisite views.
The trail would also offer an unbroken corridor for wildlife. It would help connect protected natural areas like Lake Summit, the Greenville Watershed, Chestnut Ridge Heritage Preserve, the Green River Game Lands, Pearsons Falls, Melrose Falls, and Norman Wilder Forest.
Abundant wildlife will enhance recreation by making the trail an excellent place for birding and enjoying nature.
Making Way for Future Connections
This project has the potential to connect to the growing Palmetto Trail, Hellbender Trail, The Daniel Morgan Trail System, and the Ecusta Trail.
Through partnerships, creating the Saluda Grade Trail will provide endless possibilities for people of all ages and abilities to reach their favorite destinations by walking, running, or biking.
Now is Our Chance
This project is a community effort, and we need your help constructing this trail to make the area’s dream a reality.
PAL and others see a window of opportunity with current federal trail funding, and we are excited about bringing the Saluda Grade Trail to our communities.
Due to strong partnerships with One Spartanburg and the Spartanburg County delegation, the state budget includes a $5 million allocation toward acquiring the South Carolina corridor portion.
All of these benefits add up to significantly raise our quality of life. We’re creating communities where we can enjoy good health and economic opportunity.
Our work will cultivate a pride of place and a sense of history.
We’re deepening joy by finding more ways to connect with nature and each other.
Will you help create the Saluda Grade Trail?
Our elected leaders need to know that there is overwhelming public support for this new rail trail Sign up for emails about the Saluda Grade Trail, and the PAL team will let you know how you can support the trail.
Follow this project and learn more about PAL’s initiatives and the upcoming 18th Annual United Community Bank Turkey Day 8K; visit www.palspartanburg.org.
Oct 24, 2022 | News
The Dream Center is a faith-based, 501(c)3 non-profit that has been assisting those in need in the Upstate of South Carolina since May 2012.
Our primary focus is to encourage, educate, and empower people in need by offering them a hand up instead of a hand out. A hand-up limits one-way giving to emergencies only and prevents “toxic charity”.
All of the programs have been developed to empower and equip people with the tools to become self-sufficient.
The Dream Center offers hope and empowerment through education by providing free classes to the public.
All of the classes that we offer are taught by volunteers. Class topics include parenting, budgeting, health, Bible Study, and more.
When someone attends a class, they earn $8 Dream Dollars that can be used to purchase items from the General Store at The Dream Center or from any four of our Resale Stores. Dream Dollars can also be redeemed for use of the laundry or shower facilities.
The Santa Shoppe is an exciting Christmas assistance program offered by The Dream Center.
This is a referral-based program that allows qualifying parents in need to earn Christmas gifts for their children, instead of depending on organizations that provide gifts through one-way giving. Families who need assistance are referred to The Dream Center by their child’s school.
Parents are then required to attend free classes to earn a shopping voucher. Parents are also able to receive Santa Shoppe credit for attendance at pre-approved school family literacy nights, parent night, or parenting classes offered by Title One schools.
To complete their shopping experience, a gift-wrapping area is also provided. At the Santa Shoppe, toys are selected, gifts are wrapped, life stories are shared and relationships are made. 100% of parents who have participated in Santa Shoppe said that they do not want to return to one-way giving at Christmas time. Our Santa Shoppe is in need of new toy and gift donations for this year. If you, your organization, church, school, or business would like to donate toys, we would be so grateful.
The Dream Center does not receive any government funding and depends on the resale proceeds to operate. 100% of the store proceeds go directly to support the programs at The Dream Center. We currently have four resale store locations:
Easley (5991 Calhoun Memorial Hwy, Easley, SC 29640)
Greenville (2111 J North Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville, SC 29609)
Pickens (529C Hampton Ave, Pickens, SC 29671)
Seneca (11011 North Radio Station Rd, Seneca, SC 29678).
All of our stores are open Monday-Saturday from 10:00am-6:00pm.
Donations are accepted during business hours.
For a free furniture donation pick up, you can call us at (864) 722-3030
Another program that we offer is Crisis Intervention.
We realize that there are emergency situations that arise that do require immediate attention. Intake specialists are able to meet with individuals who need assistance Monday-Thursday from 9:00am-4:00pm.
The specialist will meet with the individual, hear their story, and determine an action plan that is specific to that person.
We offer food boxes, showers, store vouchers, or a change of clothes in these emergency situations. We are also able to offer housing and employment assistance.
The program we are most known for is the Opportunity Village which is a year-long residential homeless program for women and women with children developed by The Dream Center. Using a “tiny house” model, the village provides 23 tiny houses and 10 transitional houses.
The program requires residents to take measurable action steps to regain their health, specifically in the areas of physical, financial, behavioral, spiritual, and workforce development. Throughout the program, each resident works through their Individualized Success Plan with their Social Worker,
Financial Coach, Care Coach, and the Opportunity Village staff. Upon graduation from the program, residents are working, have reliable transportation, savings, and are offered the opportunity to enter the Bridge Program.
Bridge residents live in the transitional houses for an additional year, while working and maintaining connection with The Dream Center.
Want to get involved?
The Dream Center has over 600 volunteers that help in all aspects of the ministry.
All volunteers must attend a Dream Center orientation prior to serving as a volunteer.
Orientations are offered twice a month to anyone that would like to hear about the vision and ministries of The Dream Center, take a tour, and learn about volunteer opportunities.
You can sign up for orientation on our website at www.dreamcenterpc.org under the “Get Involved” tab.
Dream Big is our annual fundraising event.
This year, Dream Big will be extra special as we celebrate The Dream Center’s 10 year anniversary.
This event will take place on November 15th at The Greenville Convention Center where guests will enjoy dinner, an update from The Dream Center, and a silent auction. Come join us as we celebrate the last 10 years, hear stories of life transformation, and look forward to what is to come.
Sponsorships and tickets are available to purchase on our website under the “Events” tab. If you would like more information about sponsorships or would like to donate an item to the silent auction, please email Sarah Shupert at sshupert@dreamcenterpc.org. We hope to see you there!
