Dec 18, 2020 | News
Welcome – Terence Roberts, TATT Chairman
Year in Review
TATT 2020 Overview – Dean Hybl, TATT Executive Director
Upstate Mobility Alliance – Michael Hildebrand, UMA Director
Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem – Erin Ouzts, Ecosystem Coordinator
TATT Initiatives – Justine Allen, TATT Program Manager
County Updates
Abbeville – Stephen Taylor, Economic Development Director
Decrease in ROIs and unemployment hit 13.9% in May but decrease to 4.2% in October
Marketing focus in 2021 with assistance from Department of Commerce
Promise Campaign and workforce to be highlighted
Water study and public transportation study also in 2021
Oconee – Christine de Vlaming, Marketing Director, Keowee Key
Real estate is sold out at close to 4,000 residents
Keowee Key’s model of engaging volunteer professionals includes a videographer with drone capabilities, photographer, landscape designer, and project manager (see presentation during video recording for examples of their work)
Union – Annie Smith, Marketing & Development Director, USC Union
USC Union received a 88.2% success rating
Started a Bachelor of Science/Nursing degree with 16 upper division juniors and 16 upper division seniors on campus this fall
Granted 100K dollars for upgrades to facilities, including projecting microscopes
10K grant to stock a student food pantry (large need)
Athletic department competes in the national junior college league, NJCAA, and has added a women’s volleyball team
Acquired an old high school gym in Jonesville to be renovated into an indoor training facility which is huge for recruitment (only one in the league)
Union County has designated many new development regions to attract new families and business
Dec 4, 2020 | News
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
Nov 20, 2020 | News
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 6, 2020 | News
Welcome Terence Roberts
Speaker Jordana Megonigal, CEO of The RECON Network
You can view a recap of the meeting here.
RECON focuses on veterans transitioning to civilian life
RECON helps veterans transition to meaningful careers with purpose, including physical and mental health for vets and spouses
Summit 11/19-11/20 will include tracks for vets, spouses, and companies looking for employees
Veterans Ascend platform (locally owned) predicts career fit to 98.2%
Q & A
- Are there financial incentives and tax benefits to hiring veterans? Yes! Learn more at the summit. There are work opportunity tax credits for those who are WOTC certified from $2,400-$9,600 per year. Must be set up in advance, not retroactive to post-hire.
- SC Works can help with hiring. What is new programs? Programs have not changed, are usually focused on benefits to be received vs. career transition. There are 1,800 organizations in SC, the trick is to find the right one.
- What help is out there for veterans’ spouses? Spouses’ resumes have gaps due to moving and role as support staff. https://www.veterans.gov/milspouses/
- What is the reach of RECON? Focus is in the U.S. with the assistance of networks.
- Is there a list of veteran owned businesses? Hard to find because of parameters – must apply for status or have been served by VA. https://avosba.org/avoba-membership/veteran-owned-businesses-by-state/ & https://www.veteranownedbusiness.com/
- Is there certification reciprocity in SC? Legislation is being discussed across the nation.
- What is the relationship to higher education? While education is a huge factor, RECON is not currently involved in SCACE.
- How is RECON funded? RECON is funded through events (many cancelled in 2020) and corporate partners.
Abbeville: Shannon Sears, WCTel
4 million dollar waste treatment, water treatment project
12 million dollar housing investment in downtown Abbeville, new businesses downtown
City back to normal pre-COVID operations
WCFIBER and Blue Ridge Electric offering high speed internet to customers. 67000 customers, some of them underserved by internet
Frannie Stockwell, Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce:
Job Fair Nov 19th for all of Cherokee County: Dollar Tree, Natl Guard, Brown Pack, UPsource, Home Fashion, school district
Survey recently sent out regarding need and interest in public transportation
Small businesses opening in the county and the mall is renting out spaces to small businesses
Meeting with Catawba Indians to partner on 85/transportation and projects
Roy Costner, Pickens County Council
COVID spiking
Unemployment is down to 3.5%
Working on Hurricane Zeta clean up; 60 roads were closed, 54 are open
Grant acquired to build a pull off viewpoint for Table Rock, the most photographed location in the state
Working on a broadband initiative
New partnership with Clemson Paws
Pickens held a drive through job fair today
Sara Butler from USC Upstate/Spartanburg County:
COVID procedures being followed strategically, particularly with uptick in cases
USC task forces formed and lots of communication from staff/admin
Many services are available, testing, counseling (dealing with Covid, loss (financial, emotional, losing a family member))
Resources are available to students and faculty
USC is adapting and surviving by providing live, online, and hybrid options
Katherine Pendergrass, Union County:
USC enrollment in Union County has doubled
Honorable mention for the J Mitchell Graham award having to do with higher education and workforce training
KJ is replacing Bi-Lo and Rose’s opening
Alcohol sales on Sunday was approved so restaurants may want to be opening downtown
Several events upcoming, drive in movie, coon hunt, Union Reads, Christmas parade
Jonesville will share their comprehensive plan in December and Union will post for the public next week
Oct 23, 2020 | News
Dr. Galen DeHay, President, Tri-County Technical College
Welcome Terence Roberts, TATT Chairman
Guest Presentation Dr. Galen DeHay, President, Tri-County Technical College
You can watch the video recap here.
You can view the presentation here.
TCTC has created a safe on-campus learning and working environment, delivering high quality learning experiences for the 2020-21 academic year
Students include 17 to 60+ year olds
Changes and new methods include restructured fall instruction and redesigned virtual enrollment experience
Online training of faculty, advisors, coaches
Librarians and tutoring embedded into classes
Communications include town halls, open virtual office hours, weekly blogs
40-50% of employees on campus any given day with a mix of telework
Virtual and drive-in job fairs
Student Workforce Completion Fund for emergency funds for students and more to come
Students of color, low income students have been impacted heavily
Despite many challenges, resiliency is focused on with priorities to fit college into students’ lives, expand workforce pipeline, build new partnership, and strengthen community relationships.
TCTC is a great choice for quality, support, and cost.
TATT Updates Dean Hybl, TATT Executive Director
Events coming up include Upstate Professional Planners, Air Quality Advisory Council, Creating Upstate Unsung Heroes Virtual Event
County Updates
Anderson: Steve Nail, Anderson University
Largest private university in SC
Increase of 7%, 3,848 students
Boarders up 5%
Diversity at 18%, high rate historically
COVID 1% positivity rate
Long winter break starting before Thanksgiving
Greenville: Caroline Robertson, Greer Relief
Able to assist with rent, mortgages for many people with a great team of people and community support
Hiring a data entry person (remotely) 10-15 hours/week for the next year
Gearing up the Greer Christmas Parade on Dec 6th, largest fundraiser
Greenwood: Stephen Gilbert, Greenwood Community Theatre
Tough time in the entertainment industry
Outdoor concerts, we are going to try an outdoor Charlie Brown Christmas in Dec (literacy program)
Struggling with appropriate time to re-open and still be safe and a draw
Oconee: Suzette Cross, Blue Ridge Arts Council
Became involved with TATT through a grant and produced art around Seneca
Work with Hamilton Career Center
Housed in oldest church in Seneca
Have had tree fall on building and tornado damage but moving forward
Hosting Members gallery, art classes starting, and studio open
Working on two new murals in Seneca
Laurens: Amanda Munyan, Laurens Chamber of Commerce
Continuing support through funding, promotions, and education
Laurens City Council approved for reading to sell 66 acres to SK Builders out of Greer for a home development in Laurens
Excited about growth and development in the area
