Mar 9, 2015 | News
Upstate, SC [March 9, 2015] – On March 20th, city, county, and state elected leaders from within the 10-county Upstate will assemble for the first Upstate Elected Officials meeting of 2015, to be held from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the BMW Zentrum (1400 S. Highway 101, Greer SC 29651).
Started in 2010 through a partnership with the Appalachian Council of Governments, Catawba Regional Council of Governments, Upper Savannah Regional Council of Governments, Ten at the Top, Upstate Forever, and the Upstate SC Alliance, this will be the __#__ meeting designed to provide elected officials and business leaders from across the Upstate with a forum to gather to discuss key issues impacting the region.
The focus for this session will be how potential transportation legislation will impact local communities. In addition, panelists including Tommy Stringer from the SC House District 18, Brian White from SC House District 6, and Woodrow Willard Jr., the South Carolina Department of Transportation Commissioner, 4th Congressional District, will be discussing the possible impacts on local communities of the Upstate and across South Carolina based on the proposals that have been presented to fund needed transportation and infrastructure maintenance and improvements.
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.
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Feb 26, 2015 | News
Upstate, SC [February 25, 2015] – In 2015 Ten at the Top is continuing efforts to bring together leaders and residents from across the Upstate by creating the “Upstate Bus Tour… Getting to Know Your Neighbors” quarterly tours to communities across the region. The first stop will be to Greenwood on March 12th. The bus tour will leave from Greenville at 8:30 am and return by 4:30 pm and is open to anyone interested in learning more about the Upstate region.
“The Upstate is full of special places that are working to grow their economic vibrancy while also enhancing the quality of life and educational opportunities for their local residents,” said Dean Hybl, Executive Director of Ten at the Top. “We hope this new bus tour will provide an opportunity to learn about those communities and continue sharing ideas for how to keep the Upstate special.”
Greenwood is rich with history, economic growth, and a growing downtown. The day trip will start with a tour of economic development sites across the region led by Heather Jones, CEO of the Greenwood Partnership Alliance. The morning session will also include updates from the city and county, Greater Greenwood Arts Council, and the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce as well as a walking tour of downtown Greenwood.
The afternoon session will take participants to the internationally recognized Greenwood Genetic Center for a tour and also include briefings from Self Regional Hospital and around workforce and education initiatives in the county.
“Greenwood is a model for how a community can work strategically and collaboratively to make themselves economically competitive and a great place to live and raise a family. It is the perfect place to kick off our quarterly bus excursions across the Upstate,” Hybl added.
This is a unique opportunity to learn about Greenwood in one action-packed, educational, and fun day. The tour is limited to only 50 participants and is filling quickly. The cost for the day is $25, including transportation, program, and lunch. Register today by clicking HERE or contacting Ashley Downing, at 864-283-2317 or adowning@tenatthetop.org. Reservation deadline is March 9th.
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.
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Feb 10, 2015 | News
Upstate, SC [February 10, 2015] – More than 80 school board members and district superintendents from across the Upstate region are expected to participate in the first-ever Upstate School Boards & Superintendents Meeting, which is being coordinated by Ten at the Top (TATT) and will be held on Thursday, February 12th from 2-5 pm on the campus of USC Upstate in Spartanburg.
There are 23 public school districts within the ten counties of the Upstate. The February 12th meeting will provide leaders from the districts with an opportunity to share best practices and discuss opportunities for future collaboration. The education leaders will also work to craft a regional message about education to share with other leaders from across the region during an upcoming Upstate Elected Officials Meeting.
“School districts in the Upstate each have some unique challenges,” said TATT Executive Director Dean Hybl. “However, they also have many common goals and are all doing amazing things to enhance the education opportunities for their students. This regional gathering will allow them to learn from each other while also discussing how to grow the regional education capacity.”
The meeting will include breakout sessions with districts sharing best practices around the topics of “Increasing the Value of a High School Diploma” and “Innovative Instructional Strategies and Delivery”. The program will conclude with a message from the Honorable Rita Allison, Chair of the House Education and Public Works Committee, and a networking reception.
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.
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Jan 22, 2015 | News
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.
![Ten at The Top Names Ashley Downing as Communications Manager]()
Jan 22, 2015 | News
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.
Jan 6, 2015 | News
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.
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