Dec 4, 2020 | Staying on Top, UpstateVibe365
Senator Tim Scott
Senator Tim Scott answered the questions below. Please watch the full conversation here.
How has the Pandemic impacted your daily and weekly routines? What has been your biggest adjustment?
Ten at the Top recently recognized “Unsung Heroes” in the Upstate, so we know that people here are resilient, hardworking and have adapted quickly and well. The stimulus package was vital. There are questions now about the next round of stimulus. The House has passed a stimulus bill already, the Senate is talking about it, a bill has been proposed yesterday. What are the chances for success and what do you see happening?
How do you make sure that those who are going to be provided additional funds can show the losses specifically due to the pandemic and economic shutdown resulting from it?
Do you see anything happening before the end of the year or before the end of the current administration? If not, what timeframe do you see for future stimulus or is it possible no future stimulus will be passed?
There is possibility of a government shutdown if a new spending bill is not approved by December 11. How likely do you see a shutdown happening? What do you expect to see passed to avoid a shutdown? Could a new stimulus bill be tied to the general funding bill or are they being treated totally separate?
You were a major supporter of the opportunity zone program. How do you think it has been working? Do you have ideas for expanding or tweaking the program moving forward?
When will Republicans come up with a formal healthcare plan in addition to challenging various aspects of the Affordable Care Act? What policies are the Republicans looking to enact that would protect people with pre-existing conditions, especially if the Affordable Care Act is thrown out by the Supreme Court?
County Updates
Cherokee: Dalton Pierce, Town Administrator, Blacksburg:
A strategic plan (17-year outlook) is being developed
Hopefully the NC casino expansion will generate business in SC too
New website launch planned this year
Christmas parade December 12
Oconee: Ken Sloan, Executive Director, Visit Oconee
Due to some unforeseen events, hotels and short-term rentals have been booked during COVID (Duke Energy contractors, contractors doing repair work after the tornado, and tourism due to people wanting to recreate out of populated areas)
Oconee has many natural areas to enjoy with waterfalls, lakes, trails, etc. and encourages people to come out and have safe outdoor experiences
Spartanburg: Courtney Oliver, Marketing & Special Events Manager, Spartanburg Philharmonic
To continue their mission, SP spearheaded “Together Spartanburg”, daily social video content
Drive in experiences continue on December 12 with Fireside Collective
Their biggest challenge was trying to re-engineer classics concerts, so in September they recorded three concerts that are available online
‘Burg Bound includes presentations from Spartanburg Little Theatre and Ballet Spartanburg with household passes available online and to stream through the end of December
Dec 1, 2020 | Economic & Entrepreneurial Vitality, Staying on Top, UpstateVibe365
James Bennett, Founder, Upstate Home Health Care Solutions
If you’ve ever been to a theme park, you know that roller coasters are generally the main attraction. In order to appeal to everyone, most parks have varying degrees of roller coasters ranging from the kiddie rides to those that nearly defy gravity. Usually, the thrill of the roller coaster ride lasts no more than 5 minutes; however, for the life of an entrepreneur, they experience the emotional ride of a roller coaster every day. In 2011, I made that leap into entrepreneurship when I started my home care company. There have been many loops, dips, twists, highs & lows on this entrepreneur journey and I have discovered a few essentials that will hopefully help the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Stay focused on the why! There is a plethora of reasons why entrepreneurs start their own business. Desire to build something from the ground up, corporate burn out, financial independence, solving a new problem, bad experience from a service or product and thought they could do it better, etc. No matter the reason, one of the keys to success is to always remember why you started your business. This is especially important in the start-up phase of your business. The road to building something great is long…. very long and it will challenge you physically, emotionally, and financially. It’s important to keep your “why” ever before you to help through the challenges you will face in operating your business.
Don’t Be the Hero! Everyone loves a great movie; especially when the hero is able to overcome incredible odds to achieve the goal. Every movie, no matter the genre, are structured the same way. Each movie has a hero, a nemesis, and a mentor/guide. The sooner an entrepreneur understands they are not hero, the more likely they are to succeed. No matter if you are providing a service or producing a product, the role of your business is to be the guide for your client/customer. Your clients are the heroes and you are there simply help them write their own story.
Utilize your community resources! As the business grows, you will experience challenges and face obstacles that may seem insurmountable; but remember you don’t have to face those challenges alone. There are resources in the community to help guide you through these obstacles so you are not re-inventing the wheel. These resources include but are not limited to the Small Business Development Center, local chamber of commerce, and Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). The sole purpose of these organizations is to equip, educate, & encourage small businesses to be successful in their industry. They are available to help the entrepreneur overcome challenges and assist in creating strategic plans to help grow your business.
Establish your team! As an owner, you bring certain strengths to your business. You’ve developed that strength whether through your professional career, educational background, or just natural ability. However, when consider building your team, build your team around your weakness and add people based on their ability to fit within your company culture vs only their skill. Having a diverse team and a company culture where team members can thrive in their strengths can produce dynamic results.
Never Stop Learning! As an entrepreneur, your employees are depending on your leadership. You are the person that is setting the direction and providing the vision for the company. Your employees need you to be best version of you; therefore, you should never stop learning. One of the best investments you can make is to invest in yourself. The most economical way is to read books that will stimulate your growth. It’s been said that all readers are not leaders but all leaders are readers. Attend conferences, workshops, and seminars that are specific to your industry to discover innovative strategies to grow your business. Also consider attending conferences on leadership development to ensure you are becoming the best leader you can be as well as attain the skills to train the leaders in your organization.
Define your success! Quite often, society dictates the definition of success. Usually, it is based on some quantifiable factor such as gross sales, net profit, number of locations, number of employees, etc. These factors are great and are necessary for growth; however, have you truly defined what is success to you? Have you ever asked yourself what makes you happy? What gives you joy? When are you most satisfied? What does success look like and how will you know when you reached it? These are just a few questions any entrepreneur should asked themselves to determine their own definition of success. “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out you own inner voice, heart and intuition” – Steve Jobs.
Nov 23, 2020 | Economic & Entrepreneurial Vitality, Education, Staying on Top, UpstateVibe365
Upstate SC Alliance launches regional gateway to technical training programs
Although the coronavirus pandemic has slowed some areas of the economy, within many sectors, businesses continue to grow. A new Upstate initiative highlights those sectors and seeks to connect unemployed or underemployed individuals with short-term training programs that can place them in an in-demand career.
The platform, Skill Up, is a one-stop shop for individuals to explore the earning potential, projected growth, and training programs available for an array of in-demand careers that can be obtained with 12 months or less of technical training. In many cases, financial support is available for these programs.
Occupations on display range from information technology specialist to pharmacy technician to commercial truck driver — and, among the in-demand occupations featured on the site, there have been 46,899 job postings in the last 12 months, with an average earning potential for in-demand careers of $72,037.
The platform was created by the Upstate SC Alliance in partnership with the Upstate’s technical colleges: Greenville Technical College, Tri-County Technical College, Spartanburg Community College and Piedmont Technical College.
“Our goal is to inspire individuals to acquire new skills for better paying, more resilient in-demand jobs and connect people with programs available at the Upstate’s technical colleges that can launch their careers,” says Upstate SC Alliance President & CEO John Lummus.
The site emphasizes training programs that can be completed in between two and 12 months, informed by Strada Education Network research.
Strada finds that millions of American adults are aspiring learners, though two-thirds of those considering enrolling in education prefer non-degree pathways.
What’s more: fewer than one in three adults without degrees say they understand the available career pathways, valuable skills, and details about potential education programs “very well.”
Skill Up is an extension of the Move Upstate SC website and brand, which were launched in 2019 to attract individuals to professional jobs in the Upstate.
“The goal of Move Up has always been to connect employers and talent. And, the pandemic has presented an opportunity to address the skills gap by shining a light on those sectors that have remained resilient,” Lummus adds.
“Skill Up recognizes that the pandemic’s challenges may present an opportunity for some individuals to pursue new avenues. From hands-on manufacturing roles to network configuration to patient support, these careers have staying power and play an important role in our community.”
Explore Skill Up here: www.skillupsc.com
See more on Move Up here: https://moveupstatesc.com/
Nov 23, 2020 | Community Vibrancy, UpstateVibe365
The holidays are nearing and given the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Christmas events and parades have had to be adjusted, postponed, or cancelled. As an organization that focuses on connecting the Upstate region, we wanted to provide a comprehensive list of the status of Christmas parades throughout our 10-county region. For further information and updates, be sure to continue to check with individual county and parade websites and Facebook pages.
Holiday Parades Scheduled in December:
- Boiling Springs: December 5th, 10:00 am
- Clemson Parade: This year’s event is entirely digital. Businesses and organizations have opted to compete in a window-decorating contest which will be featured online.
- Denver Downs: December 20th at 3:00 pm
- Duncan Christmas Parade: December 6th, 2:00 pm
- Fountain Inn: December 9th, 5:30pm
- Greer: December 6th, 2:30pm
- Landrum: December 12th, 2:00 pm
- Liberty: December 5th, 6:00 pm
- Lyman Duncan Wellford Christmas Parade: December 5th, 4:30pm
- Mauldin: December 5th, 2:00 pm
- Pickens: Tentatively scheduled for December 12th at 11:00 am
- Simpsonville: Check out their drive-thru Christmas Parade, December 6th at 3:00 pm at Heritage Park.
- Traveler’s Rest: The annual Christmas parade in Traveler’s Rest will take place December 12 at 11:00am with several restrictions. Parade director Diana Kilgore is advising attendees to remain socially distant and wear masks or stay inside their vehicles. The event will also be live streamed on the Travelers Rest Christmas Parade Facebook page.
- Williamston: December 12th, 3:00 pm
Cancelled Parades:
- City of Greenville – Poinsettia Parade
- Spartanburg Jaycees Christmas Parade
- Clinton
- Pendleton
- Uptown Greenwood
- City of Anderson
- Easley Christmas Parade of Lights
- Woodruff
- Inman
- Chesnee
Even though many events have been cancelled, there is still a great air of Christmas spirit in the Upstate. If your annual parade has been cancelled, check out a live-streamed option or venture to another county for a new experience. Stay safe this holiday season!
*The above schedule is subject to change. If you have any additions or changes, please send them to directly to info@tenatthetop.org. For more information on area Christmas parades, refer to our Upstate Vibe 365 Calendar.
Nov 20, 2020 | Staying on Top, UpstateVibe365
Myra Reece, Director of Environmental Affairs, SC DHEC
Myra Reece, Director of Environmental Affairs, SC DHEC
You can watch the full presentation here.
Thank you all individually and collectively as leaders across the Upstate fighting the spread of COVID19. Something this big is going to take each one of us to minimize the spread.
Six Upstate counties are currently in the COVID red zone and all except one SC county are trending upward.
Consider hosting a free, drive-through testing site.
Public Health/Environmental Affairs are linked in SC with the Public Health team leading the way in case investigations, closely watching data, designing new IT tech, and are still very focused on providing essential services like clean water, clean air, cleaning up contamination areas, etc.
DHEC set up a Business Assistance Office to cover the economic crisis, maintain safety requirements, environmental controls. A line of communication was developed to maintain compliance and assist with Accelerate SC.
DHEC has focused on environmental justice communities around the state with support for others like Michelin who has donated up to 100,000 masks. A lot of our community members are at greater risk because of where they work (essential workers, etc.) but there are so many reasons why communities might be at risk/be disproportionally affected by COVID.
Fran Marshall, Director of the Office of Applied Science and Community Engagement
If 80% of people wore masks for 80 days, the virus would be virtually eradicated.
Distribution of the vaccine will be a long, tedious, and frustrating process, so please mask up.
County Updates:
Anderson: Neil Paul, Executive Director, Anderson Convention & Visitors Bureau
Lake Hartwell is a tremendous resource which lends itself to outdoor recreation and tourism activities like fishing tournaments, bringing over 5,000 room nights to Anderson since the start of August.
With federal grant money, facilities upgrades and updates are happening, including an amphitheater and dock space are being made to Green Pond landing.
Working with City of Anderson to improve way finding.
Greenville: Dianna Gracely, City Manager, City of Simpsonville
Simpsonville growth booming despite the pandemic, including three assisted living permits, five multifamily projects (over 1K new housing units), and nine single family projects.
West Georgia Road is the next commercial road for development in Simpsonville.
Hospitality tax revenue will be used to update downtown with a plan to incorporate a festival street, streetscaping, fix traffic issues, and make it pedestrian safe.
Work on the Swamp Rabbit Trail is continuing.
Simpsonville has been rebranded with new signage and landscaping.
An arts center is be developed in an old school.
Downtown development includes new building $4M office, restaurant, light manufacturing, outdoor gathering space.
Mayor Senn, Mayor, City of Laurens
Recently dedicated Back Street Park: nod to city’s African American entrepreneurs.
Held a ribbon cutting downtown of a mural (postcard from Laurens).
A 140 home housing development and 1K homes on the way.
Sutter Sticks is bringing 80 new jobs; we have 4.8% unemployment and many new jobs coming.
We passed Capital Sales tax referendum, funds will be used for construction downtown and on Swamp Rabbit Trail.
Restaurant numbers are up 30% due to people staying close to home vs. traveling to eat.
Nov 19, 2020 | Community Vibrancy, Staying on Top, UpstateVibe365
On Wednesday, November 18th, Ten at the Top hosted the Celebrating Upstate Unsung Heroes Virtual Event in place of their annual Celebrating Successes Luncheon. This event focused on honoring the many individuals throughout the Upstate who have devoted their time and selflessly served their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 130 nominees were recognized during the event as “Upstate Unsung Heroes.” You can read the full list here.
One individual per county was selected to receive special recognition during the event. Below are the 10 county representatives that were present for this special presentation:
Abbeville: Ethan Cornick – Dreams with Open Arms, Volunteer
Anderson: David Baker – Anderson County, Emergency Services Director
Cherokee: Dr. Carol McFadden – Know(2) Neighborhood Association, Volunteer Director Greenville: Marina Lewis – Mauldin High School, Social Worker
Greenwood: George McKinney – Greenwood County, Emergency Management Director
Laurens: Joey Avery – Laurens County, Emergency Management Director
Oconee: Vanessa Earle – Prisma Health, Community Health Worker
Pickens: Lesa Howard – 5 Point Church Food Pantry, Director
Spartanburg: Charlene Cheeks – Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Upstate, CEO
Union: Shanna “Nikki” Burgess – SC Works Greater Upstate, Talent Development Specialist Supervisor
“To adapt to these unprecedented times, Ten at the Top felt it was necessary to change both the format and focus of this annual event. We decided to bring the upstate together by recognizing the hundreds of individuals who have remained committed to serving others amidst the many unfortunate circumstances this pandemic has brought our way,” said Dean Hybl, Executive Director of Ten at the Top.
“We hope that our event has not only shown great appreciation to these 132 nominees, but also highlighted the number of heroes we have living amongst us in the 10-county Upstate region that we encounter daily.”
Comprised of public, private and civic leaders across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina Region, Ten at the Top was created to build regional trust and consensus 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 encourage quality growth and enhance the economic vitality, natural and cultural resources and quality of life for Upstate residents both today and as the region continues to grow. www.tenatthetop.org.
