2014 Elevate Upstate Community Vibrancy Grant Applications Now Available

UPSTATE, SC  – Applications are now being accepted for the 2014 Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate Community Vibrancy Grants, which are designed to provide communities in the Upstate with seed money to help develop a local initiative that promotes community or economic vibrancy. The grant program was established in 2013 by Ten at the Top (TATT) utilizing a funding commitment from Phil Hughes and Hughes Investments Inc. In 2014 two grants will be awarded with each project receiving up to $5,000 in grant support.

Organizations eligible to apply for the funding support include neighborhood associations, civic or community based organizations, non-profit organizations or local governments that are committed to developing and implementing programs designed to increase local vibrancy in communities within the Upstate.

During the first year of the program, grants were awarded to the City of Greer Parks & Recreation Department to develop an international festival; the Blue Ridge Arts Council for a public art project in Seneca; and the City of Anderson for a public art project in their Wren Park.

Applicants must be located in and do their work within communities in one of the ten Upstate counties: Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, or Union. Successful proposals for projects funded with Elevate Upstate grants should be able to clearly demonstrate how the implementation of the initiative that they propose will benefit and provide vibrancy in the local community.  These proposals may seek to produce a physical result, such as a mural, sculpture or signage that will increase the vibrancy and sense of place within a community, or implement the first of a reoccurring or annual event or program that helps grow vibrancy within a community.

The applications are now available on the Ten at the Top website (http://tenatthetop.org/elevate-upstate-grants). Interested candidates are asked to complete an interest form by August 1^st and the completed applications are due by September 15^th.  Interest forms and completed applications can be sent to Dean Hybl ([email protected]).