Nov 20, 2013 | News
Upstate, SC [November 20, 2013] – Ten at the Top (TATT), an organization created to foster collaboration, partnerships and strategic planning across the Upstate, has announced the recipients for the first-ever Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate Community Vibrancy Grants.
There were five finalists chosen from a total of 30 applications that were submitted for the two grants available in 2013. Hughes Investments is contributing $10,000 per year over the next five years to the program with two recipients each year receiving $5,000 to support a new vibrancy initiative in the Upstate.
During the Our Upstate Vision/Ten at the Top Forum on November 19th the five finalists provided a brief overview of their initiative. After all presentations were given, Phil Hughes, President of Hughes Investments and a member of the Ten at the Top Community Vibrancy Task Force, announced the two recipients of the grants.
The recipients are:
City of Anderson – Transforming utility and traffic signalization boxes and crosswalks into public art based around the book “Little Wren Lost and the Teakettle Call.”
City of Greer Parks and Recreation – Greer: An International Destination Festival will be a one-day event in Downtown Greer as part of Upstate International Month. The festival is scheduled for March 29, 2013.
Phil Hughes then surprised the attendees by announcing a third grant recipient for 2013.
“I was absolutely amazed by the number of great ideas submitted for the program. It was a real challenge to narrow the field from 30 applications to five finalists, to two winners”, said Hughes. “In fact, we couldn’t, so I am pleased to announce a third recipient.”
The third recipient is:
Blue Ridge Arts Council – “3 Part Public Art” project includes murals, custom and hand built street furniture and interactive sculptures in downtown Seneca.
“The Elevate Upstate Community Vibrancy Grants are a great opportunity to provide seed funds to help communities increase the vibrancy and sense of place within their community,” said Ten at the Top Executive Director Dean Hybl. “Phil Hughes has been a great champion of the community vibrancy task force since the beginning and the idea for the grant program was his. That he took it up a notch by announcing a third recipient just speaks to his commitment to the region and to the value growing vibrancy can have for communities in the Upstate.”
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Nov 6, 2013 | News
Upstate, SC– Ten at the Top, an organization created to foster collaboration, partnerships and strategic planning across the Upstate, will focus the fourth and final Our Upstate Vision Forum of 2013 on celebrating successes in the Upstate. The forum, which is free and open to the public, is being held from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at the Embassy Suites (670 Verdae Boulevard Greenville, SC 29607). A networking reception will immediately follow the forum.
The overall theme for the 2013 Forum Series is “Destination 2030: Thinking BIG and BOLD About the Future of the Upstate.” Each forum will focus on a different topic and look at short, middle and long term opportunities that can help ensure that the Upstate in 2030 is universally recognized as a leader in that particular area. During this forum, we will celebrate the successes and great things happening in the Upstate.
While it is critical to continue looking at areas where we must continue to work to make the Upstate an even better place for generations to come, it is also important that we take opportunities to recognize and understand some of the great things from our past and that are happening today in our region.
The forum will also include recognition of companies and organizations celebrating milestone anniversaries (20 years or more) in 2013. Ten at the Top will announce the first recipients of the Elevate Upstate Grants. The five finalists will give a short presentation about their project and what it will do for the community they represent.
The Our Upstate Vision Forum Series began in 2012 with TATT hosting four forums across the Upstate. The series continues in 2013 with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina serving as the Series Premier Sponsor.
There is no cost to attend the forum, but attendees are asked to register in advance at www.tenatthetop.org. Registration deadline is November 18th. For more information contact Ten at the Top at 864.283.2313.
Nov 4, 2013 | News
Upstate, SC – Ten at the Top (TATT), an organization created to foster collaboration, partnerships and strategic planning across the Upstate, has announced the finalists for the first-ever Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate Community Vibrancy Grants.
The five finalists were chosen from a total of 30 applications submitted for the two grants available in 2013. Hughes Investments is contributing $10,000 per year over the next five years to the program with two recipients each year receiving $5,000 to support a new vibrancy initiative in the Upstate.
The program was announced earlier this year in conjunction with the Community Vibrancy Workshops conducted by Ten at the Top across the Upstate. The workshops showcased examples from across the state and nation of communities that have created innovative programs to enhance community and economic vibrancy.
“The goal of the Elevate Upstate program is to get communities thinking about what types of initiatives or programs might help spark vibrancy within their area and then provide some seed money to get some of them started,” said Hughes Investments President Phil Hughes. “I was absolutely amazed by the number of great ideas submitted for the program. It was a real challenge to narrow the field from 30 excellent applications to five finalists.”
During the Our Upstate Vision/Ten at the Top Forum on November 19th the five finalists will each provide a brief overview of their initiative before the two 2013 recipients are announced. The forum is free and open to the public and will be held from 3-5 pm at the Embassy Suites in Greenville.
Here are the five finalists:
City of Anderson – Transforming utility and traffic signalization boxes and crosswalks into public art based around the book “Little Wren Lost and the Teakettle Call.”
Town of Calhoun Falls – Lighting project in the Blue Hole Recreational Area on Lake Russell.
Greenville County Parks, Recreation and Tourism – Swamp Rabbit Trail Mural project.
City of Greer Parks and Recreation – “Greer: An International Destination Festival” would be a one-day event in Downtown Greer as part of Upstate International Month
Blue Ridge Arts Council – “3 Part Public Art” project includes murals, custom and hand built street furniture and interactive sculptures in downtown Seneca.
The selection committee for the Elevate Upstate Grants Program includes Phil Hughes (President, Hughes Investments), Betsy Fleming (President, Converse College), and Terence Roberts (Mayor, City of Anderson).
Sep 17, 2013 | News
Upstate, SC – Ten at the Top (TATT), an organization created to foster collaboration, partnerships and strategic planning across the Upstate, recently conducted the 300th regional engagement (presentations, forums, meetings, surveys) since the organization began its current phase in January 2010. The activities have included more than 18,000 participants from across the Upstate region.
Ranging from issue-based task force meetings to presentations for community organizations or gatherings of hundreds of elected officials, community & business leaders and Upstate residents discussing key issues around the economic vitality or quality of life in the Upstate, each session has helped grow the spirit of collaboration and partnerships across the Upstate region.
The issues on which TATT has convened regional meetings and encouraged collaboration focus around the five driver areas of the Our Upstate Vision (which TATT developed through feedback from more than 10,000 Upstate residents). The specific topics on which TATT has convened meetings and forums include the value of education, developing entrepreneurial friendly communities, senior issues, air quality attainment, water planning, transportation & infrastructure, workforce & skill development, community vibrancy and preventive health care.
“We can make better decisions on common issues which cross municipal and county lines by talking with each other,” said current TATT Chairman Neal Workman. “We can’t solve the types of things that Ten at the Top is involved with by ourselves.”
“Reaching 300 meetings and activities is significant because it illustrates that TATT is actively engaging stakeholders from across the Upstate to build regional trust and ensure that consistent discussions are occurring about how we can work together to strategically impact issues that are key to maintaining and enhancing our economic vitality and quality of life,” Workman added.
Ten at the Top was originally formed under the name Upstate Together in 2005 as an ad hoc regional committee with the goal of encouraging regional discussions on cross-jurisdictional issues. In 2009, the group hosted the Upstate Reality Check event that brought together more than 400 leaders from across the region. It was at that point that the name of the organization was changed to Ten at the Top and it was incorporated as a non-profit.
The current work plan of community activities, meetings, forums and presentations began in 2010 following the hiring of Dean Hybl as executive director. Irv Welling served as the chair of Ten at the Top through 2011 when he was succeeded by Neal Workman. The board of directors includes more than 60 leaders from across the ten counties of the Upstate region.
Aug 19, 2013 | News
Upstate, SC – Ten at the Top, an organization created to foster collaboration, partnerships and strategic planning across the Upstate, will focus the third Our Upstate Vision Forum of 2013 on the topic of Transportation and Infrastructure in the Upstate. The forum, which is free and open to the public, is being held from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 5, 2013 in the AT&T Auditorium at CU-ICAR (4 Research Drive Greenville, SC 20607). A networking reception will immediately follow the forum.
The overall theme for the 2013 Forum Series is “Destination 2030: Thinking BIG and BOLD About the Future of the Upstate.” Each forum will focus on a different topic and look at short, middle and long term opportunities that can help ensure that the Upstate in 2030 is universally recognized as a leader in that particular area. During this forum, we will explore transportation and infrastructure needs and opportunities in the Upstate.
Speakers will include Max Metcalf, Manager of Government & Community Relations for BMW and Vice Chair of the SC Infrastructure Bank, Dave Edwards, President and CEO of GSP Airport, Brian White, SC House of Representatives Member and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman and Byron Miller, Vice President, Marketing and Sales Support, for the South Carolina Port Authority.
There will also be a group discussion where the audience and subject experts will discuss some of the specific opportunities that can help the Upstate (and all of South Carolina) overcome current challenges and ensure that the region has the long-term infrastructure needed to remain globally competitive.
The Our Upstate Vision Forum Series began in 2012 with TATT hosting four forums across the Upstate. The series continues in 2013 with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina serving as the Series Premier Sponsor.
There is no cost to attend the forum, but attendees are asked to register in advance at www.tenatthetop.org. Registration deadline is September 4th. For more information contact Ten at the Top at 864.283.2313.
May 29, 2013 | News
Upstate, SC – Ten at the Top, an organization created to foster collaboration and partnerships across the Upstate, will focus the second Our Upstate Vision Forum of 2013 on the topic of Natural Resources and the Upstate Economy. The forum, which is free and open to the public, is being held from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2013 in the AT&T Auditorium at CU-ICAR (5 Research Drive Greenville, SC 20607). A networking reception will immediately follow the forum.
The overall theme for the 2013 Forum Series is “Destination 2030: Thinking BIG and BOLD About the Future of the Upstate.” Each forum will focus on a different topic and look at short, middle and long term opportunities that can help ensure that the Upstate in 2030 is universally recognized as a leader in that particular area. During this forum, we will explore the relationship between natural resources and the Upstate Economy.
Speakers will include Deepal Eliatamby, President of Alliance Consulting Engineers, to look at the direct connection between the economy and our natural resources, as well as Myra Reece from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), David Bereskin from Greenville Water and Dr. Barry Nocks from Clemson University to look at the current and future status of our important resources of air, water and land.
There will also be a group discussion where the audience and subject experts will discuss some of the specific challenges and opportunities facing the Upstate as we look toward maintaining our natural resources both for their relationship to quality of life and to economic vitality.
The Our Upstate Vision Forum Series began in 2012 with TATT hosting four forums across the Upstate. The series continues in 2013 with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina serving as the Series Premier Sponsor. The lead sponsor for the Natural Resources and the Upstate Economy Forum is TD Bank.
There is no cost to attend the forum, but attendees are asked to register in advance at www.tenatthetop.org. Registration deadline is June 5th. For more information contact Ten at the Top at 864.283.2313.
