Opening Welcome & Observations – Terence Roberts, TATT Chair
TATT General Overview and Introduction of New Staff Members – Dean Hybl
COVID-19 TATT Focus – Dean Hybl & Sharon Purvis
- Dean introduced our social media efforts and the COVID-19 repository page, encouraging participants to let people know we are one of several platforms for getting information out.
- Sharon elaborated on the social media efforts: Ten at the Top and UpstateVibe365 on Facebook, Ten at the Top and UpstateVibe365 on Twitter, Ten at the Top on LinkedIn, and UpstateVibe365 on Instagram
- Sharon gave an update on Pique: Currently, we are still planning on June 15th, but we do have a couple of Plan C dates in the works in the event that large gatherings are still not possible by that date.
Upstate Mobility Alliance – Michael Hildebrand
- On the COVID-19 front, GreenLink is currently fare-free, allowing no more than 10 passengers on a bus at a time; Electric City Transit in Anderson found that going fare-free increased ridership, so they are charging a fee to allow for social distancing
- With an increase of use of public trails, municipalities have had to close them
- Upstate Mobility Alliance continues to convene groups virtually, working with Greenlink and others.
Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem – Erin Ouzts
- COVID-19
- Conducting weekly webinars addressing what entrepreneurs need to know now
- #1 – SBDC regarding SBA lending
- #2 – Legal aspects related to employees
- #3 – Non-SBA lender panel
- #4 – Tax changes and deferrals
- Work Groups
- Storytelling
- Intersections
- Connecting the Disconnected
- Regional Vision
Senior Issues & Education Spectrum Updates – Justine Allen
Education Spectrum
- Teach at the Top teacher elevation campaign was launched in November with a focus on the K-12 teacher shortage
- Plan – develop web portal for potential teachers to find resources and easily move through process of becoming a teacher (modeled after MS and KY websites with clearly defined pathways)
- Original plan – create website then focus on Teach at Top elevation campaign, but due to C-19, Teach at the Top FB page created to celebrate good news about teachers, students, schools, etc.
- Some initial funding provided by SC Department of Commerce, with continuing work with Education Spectrum committees through summer to develop the web site
- Once site is up there will be potential for additional funds to support the promotional campaign and develop a robust Teach at the Top marketing strategy
Senior Issues Group
- Speaker series – postponed to August due to pandemic
- Case document started with data about current and projected needs of seniors to be pushed out to business and community “influencers” in the Upstate to share with their constituents
Professional Planners Group
- First meeting of the year in March moved to May
- Tentatively planning to work with 2020-2020 Clemson graduate students on a project related to the interconnectivity between land use and transportation in the Upstate
Upstate Air Quality Advisory Committee
- Meeting planned in May for National Air quality Awareness Week postponed to later in 2020
County Updates – Brief updates from TATT partners from each of the 10 Upstate counties
Cherokee, Spartanburg, Union: Hannah Jarrett, Community Impact Specialist, United Way of the Piedmont
- Dealing with homelessness
- Partnering with 211, encouraging individual organizations to update their info
- Biggest needs seen are food insecurity and childcare
- Volunteer needs listed in UW Get Connected page; donations can go to One SC Fund
Abbeville: Mike Clary, Community Development Director, City of Abbeville
- Using the hashtag #shoplocalsafely to encourage support of local businesses
- Recent growth in tourism (particularly through the Abbeville Opera House) creates an economic hit
- Positive news: the business incubator that was announce in the fall is filled, and restoration of a historic church is underway
Anderson: Pam Christopher, President & CEO, Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce
- Contacting business via phone to assist
- Holding zoom calls to assist businesses by category
- Webinars on google – data to drive growth; online customer connections
- Child care is an issue—there are groups providing it for essential workers, but not for “non essential” workers
- Restaurants and staff hard hit
- COVID-19 radio series: Anderson leaders will speak on WPPB each evening at 5:00 p.m.
Greenville: Katy Smith, Executive Director, Piedmont Health Foundation
- Local philanthropists paying close attention to what’s happening in government, encourages people to call Senators Graham and Scott with opinions
- 211 assistance calls are focused on food and shelter—both homelessness and rent assistance
- Charitable giving is down, so it’s important for government to step up—increased SNAP assistance, second wave of stimulus
Greenwood: Angelle LaBorde, President & CEO, Greenwood Chamber of Commerce
- Flower festival on hold, but topiaries will be out for people to look at
- Aggressive webinar schedule with non-profits, social media, greenwood good deeds
- Disaster fund, spearheaded by County Emergency Management
- Small group started to work on recovery
- Social media: Greenwood Good Deeds
Laurens: Amanda Munyan, President & CEO, Laurens County Chamber of Commerce
- Helping small businesses with social media, checking on them one on one
- Also helping non-chamber members
- FB videos – accessing resources, celebrating local heroes
- Think Local Laurens County Facebook page
Oconee: Dave Eldridge, Chairman, Tri-County Economic Development Corporation
- Group in Walhalla has raised money to give grants to downtown businesses
- SCORE has created Women’s Business Leaders Resource Center
Pickens: Roy Costner, Chair, Pickens County Council
- County Manager Ken Roper doing live Facebook video updates
- Code Red alerts—people can opt in for time-sensitive alerts to be sent to their phone
- County has eliminated credit card fees online for 30 days for online payment of taxes and fees
- Special term of virtual court for jail pleas only
- Working on Earth Day plans while in isolation—people can pick up litter as they’re able outdoors
