Jun 9, 2022 | Staying on Top
Laurens County Chamber of Commerce
Laurens County (LC), SC is on the move and the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce is proudly promoting and supporting the tremendous impact across the County. With a mission to serve as the unified voice to promote, strengthen and develop the County by connecting organizations, supporting businesses, and building community, the recent develops enhance the Chamber’s success. The Chamber has traditionally and continues to support local, small business and the success of entrepreneurs through educational workshops, grants, marketing campaigns, and promotions, often working in tandem with County officials, Main Street organizations within the County, and their city officials. There are many other focus areas, like Agribusiness, Government Affairs, Workforce Development, Leadership, Non-profit support, Beautification, and acting as the Tourism arm of the County. But this is not all we do!
The LC Chamber is celebrating some huge accomplishments with the County, impacting the Chamber mission work, businesses, residents and visitors. Over the past year, the Chamber hired their fourth full time team member, the Keep Laurens County Beautiful Affiliate (KLCB) Coordinator, an official LC American Revolution 250th Sestercentennial Committee was approved, Capital Project Sales Tax projects are underway, and Laurens County Council allocated $5 million in ARPA funds, to non-profits and for infrastructure projects across the County. Read on for details…
One June 22, 2022, LC Council, the City of Clinton, City of Fountain Inn, and City of Laurens, in partnership with the LC Chamber of Commerce, the LC Development Corporation and the LC Sheriff’s Office celebrated the passing of individual, yet matching, litter control ordinances and resolutions to blanket the County. These partners funded a new position under the Chamber umbrella and on April 22, 2022, Earth Day, Laurens County officially became the 36th Keep SC Beautiful Affiliate, joining more than 700 Keep America Beautiful affiliates. The new KLCB Affiliate Coordinator, Courtney Stonell, is in position with exciting results for the first quarter of 2022. Over 46, 515 lbs. of litter collected, over 2,828 supplies distributed (bags, vest, gloves, grabbers) through the partnership with Palmetto Pride, and Lt. Governor, Pamela Evette, kicked off her annual Grab A Bag event in County. LC now has a focus and goal to engage the public in county-wide litter, recycling, and beautification efforts through impact, education, and enforcement.
Year 2026 marks the 250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War. LC has over 112 notable Revolutionary War engagements, according to a local Battlefield Preservationist, Durant Ashmore. In September 2021, LC Council appointed the official committee, to represent the County and oversee the celebration planning, working with the SC250 Commission (www.southcarolina250.com). This committee has recognized fourteen historic sites across the County to highlight through a driving tour and a partnered cycling trail, through the LC Trails Association. Some sites will be on the Liberty Trail, stretching across South Carolina (www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/libertytrail) and all sites will be a preserved piece of history once the archaeology studies are complete and the plan is in place. LC looks forward to welcoming visitors and residents to enjoy the history and character of this amazing County.
The LC Capital Project Sales Tax was approved, through vote by LC citizens on November 3, 2020 (58%/42%). This is a 1% sales tax on goods and services (with the exception of unprepared food, pharmaceuticals and fuel), funding $35 million to 16 building and improvement projects all around the County. One project is the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Loop Trail, hosted by the LC Trails Association and LC Parks and Recreation Commission. The groundbreaking for this 1.7-mile walking and biking trail was held on Friday, June 3, 2022. This is just the beginning to a multi-year project and plan for future trail development across LC.
LC County Council recently allocated $5 million to infrastructure and non-profit projects from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The fund requests were reviewed by Council through an application process. $2.5 million was allocated to non-profits (34 community grant applications received) and $2.5 million to infrastructure projects (5 infrastructure applications received). Decisions were based on how each organization was impacted by the pandemic. These funds will be a great boost to the agencies and organizations receiving them, helping them better serve clients across Laurens County.
Like Ten at the Top envisioning an Upstate region where collaboration, coordination, and cooperation across communities and business sectors creates a stronger upstate, this also creates a stronger County. The LC Chamber is proud of the work being done across the County, especially due to the leadership and partnerships from municipalities, businesses, non-profits, and individuals, working together for overall success.
Jun 8, 2022 | Staying on Top
National Night Out Info Session
June 6, 2022
As part of Ten at the Top’s Creating a Safer Upstate Initiative, a virtual information session was held on June 6 featuring National Night Out (NNO) Executive Director, Matt Peskin.
2022 is the 39th year of NNO community events. More than 16,400 communities in the country will celebrate on August 2 with community events to promote police-community partnerships, crime, drug, and violence prevention, and neighborhood unity. Events range in size from block parties to larger centralized events. NNO has national sponsors, including Starbucks, AT&T, Renewal by Anderson, Academy Sports, and Ring. Information about the benefits of registering an event may be found on the NNO website, as well as tips and tricks to plan, promote, and run events.
A recording of the information session is available online here.
Jun 8, 2022 | Staying on Top
We welcome you to Family Promise of Laurens County. When you walk into these doors, we hope you recognize right away the Promise we make to families each day for safe and stable housing. When you walk into these doors for services, we hope you see the love of Christ firsthand.
Family Promise of Laurens County provides three levels of care at our Center located at 205 Church Street in Laurens, South Carolina. We provide prevention services by assisting families to keep their current housing. Secondly, we provide sheltering services where families come in-house and join the rotation of churches who provide shelter and meals. Finally, we provide sustainability services for up to one year. We follow our families for a lengthy period of time to assure they are stable and following financial guidelines and planning designed for long term success. We are glad to service the citizens of Laurens County who need our services.
Our framework is a promise to families: PROMISE
- P=Passion to care for families
- R=Rapport by training and learning how to best serve our families
- O=Optimism is important for families going through difficult times in their lives
- M=Mission minded
- I=Impact the community for greater change
- S=Sensitive to the needs of our families
- E=Empathy through seeking our volunteers and others who have empathy and care and understand that homelessness can happen to anyone
Jun 1, 2022 | Staying on Top
Greenville, SC | May 26, 2022 – The Upstate Mobility Alliance is excited to announce GP Mcleer as their new Executive Director. Born and raised in Anderson, South Carolina, GP has been an active member in his community for years and was recently named one of the “50 Most influential People” by Greenville Business Magazine, and one of Greenville’s “Best and Brightest 35 & Under”.
Made up of more than 40 public, private, and civic leaders across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina Region, the Upstate Mobility Alliance was created to advance efforts that make the region more vibrant and connected, encourage investments in needed and innovative transportation policy and infrastructure, promote sustainable development, and support economic prosperity for all residents and businesses.
As Director of the Upstate Mobility Alliance, Mcleer will work to advance transportation solutions across ten counties in the Upstate of South Carolina. These transportation solutions include public transit, vehicular innovations, walkability trails, and other methods of connectivity. In addition to being the Director of Upstate Mobility Alliance, GP also is the co-founder of Pecan Public Relations LLC, which focuses on advocacy, communications, and governance for nonprofits across the state.
GP Mcleer holds a BA in Arts Management from the College of Charleston, where he has been recognized with the university’s 250th Anniversary Young Alumnus Award in 2020. With a passion for arts, GP previously served as the Executive Director of the SC Arts Alliance, where he led advocacy efforts to increase public support for the arts at the state and federal level.
As mentioned previously, GP is extremely active in his community and has served on numerous boards and committees across the Upstate. Elected in 2019, he is also the Mayor of Fountain Inn and serves as the Chair of Keep Laurens County Beautiful, a member of the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s Legislative Committee, and a member of the Greenville- Pickens Area Transportation Study Policy Committee.
ABOUT UPSTATE MOBILITY ALLIANCE
Made up of more than 40 public, private, and civic leaders across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina Region, Upstate Mobility Alliance was created to make the region vibrant and connected, where transportation policy and investments promote innovation, sustainable development, and economic prosperity for all residents and businesses. www.upstatemobilityalliance.org
May 16, 2022 | Staying on Top
Welcome David Feild, TATT Chairman
Guest Speaker
Brooke A. Brittain, Clemson University Associate Director, Food and Nutrition Security
Mary Hipp, Feed & Seed
Link to presentation
here.
Resource Update
Jacqueline Gilchrest, Greenwood Chamber of Commerce— The Greenwood Chamber of Commerce is actively promoting public transportation with a pilot vanpool program, working with Enterprise and Upstate Mobility Alliance. They are also working to address the urgent need for workers to fill open positions, launching a new software program called JobsEQ, which lists all open positions in Greenwood County. They continue to plan job fairs including one inJune. Upcoming is a Housing Summit, in partnership with Greenwood Together, to look at pocket neighborhoods to bring to the city. They recently held the annual Women’s Leadership Upstate Conference with 200 women in attendance.
Alice Hodges, Meg’s House— The goal of Meg’s House is to respond to the emotional and physical needs of those experiencing domestic violence and chronic homelessness. They offer residential services (an emergency shelter with 26 beds), a 24/7 crisis line, legal advocacy, support groups/ counseling, homeless services, and a prevention program.
Adjourn
David Feild
Save the Date!
TATT CHAT June 9, 2022 | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Chad Hardaway from the University of South Carolina
May 12, 2022 | Staying on Top, UpstateVibe365
Come out and join us at the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX tournament taking place June 9-12 at Thornblade Club in Greer and The Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg. We will have a fun line up of celebrities ranging from professional athletes, actors, golf influencers, and musicians. Some of the celebrities attending include Country Music Artist George Birge as well as Country Pop Musician Jay DeMarcus from the Rascal Flatts, Comedian Larry the Cable Guy, Television Actors Andy Buckley and Brian Baumgarter from the Office, and Anthony Anderson from Black-ish, as well as Professional Boxer Canelo Álvarez, and LPGA Hall of Famer, Amy Alcott. So even if golf is not your thing, come out to see your favorite celebrities, and/or sign up to volunteer at the Carolina Country club!
The tournament will include many fun events for the community such as A Night with The Marshall Tucker Band presented by The Johnson Group in Daniel Morgan Square on Tuesday, June 7th. There will also be many other exciting events to engage with during and leading up to the tournament such as the First Tee of the Upstate Junior Golf Clinic presented by Pacolet Milliken at The Carolina Country Club driving range on Monday, June 6th from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. The South Carolina Junior Golf Association Junior Golf Clinic presented by Pacolet Milliken on Tuesday, June 7th at 5:00 p.m at Thornblade Country club. As well as the Spanish Speaking Junior Golf Clinic presented by Pacolet Milliken at The Carolina Country Club driving range on Wednesday, June 8th at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday there will also be a Women’s Golf Clinic and Luncheon at The Carolina Country Club with Amy Alcott and Friends from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m which will include all of the tournament’s female celebrities, a golf clinic, lunch, speakers, and lots of awesome local shops and vendors.
June 9th from 7:30-10:30 p.m. there will be a Thursday Night Shootout with live music and entertainment at 3’s Greenville Golf & Grill. And June 10th there will be the Friday Night Concert presented by MAGNA featuring Generation Radio: Deen Castronovo (Journey), Jay DeMarcus (Rascal Flatts) and Jason Scheff (Chicago) at Camperdown Plaza in Greenville.
If you are interested there are a limited number of VIP ticket experiences and sponsorship opportunities are available for purchase for the Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evening events and the Wednesday Ladies Clinic. Please visit www.bmwcharitygolf.com or contact the tournament office to reserve tickets or inquire about sponsorships.
All the funds raised during the 2022 BMW Charity Pro-Am will benefit our incredible five featured charities: Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, Roper Mountain Science Center, Cancer Society of Greenville County, Meyer Center for Special Children and Gibbs Cancer Center and Research Institute. The community is also invited to take part in the tournament’s annual Birdies for Charity program, which will continue to raise dollars by enabling individual donors to make a one-time flat donation or pledge one cent or more per birdie during the tournament.
We would love for you to come out and join in on all the fun community events, sign up to volunteer, and contribute to the incredible local charities that do so much for the Upstate area. To learn more about this year’s volunteer opportunities visit here or email cassadzandi@sccharities.org. To learn more or to purchase tickets to the 2022 tournament, visit BMWCharityGolf.com.
