Ten at the Top Wraps Up 12 Successful Community Forums Across the 10 Upstate Counties

Over 730 Attendees Shared Their Vision for the Future of the Upstate
   
GREENVILLE, SC – November 11, 2010 – Ten at the Top (TATT), an organization created to foster collaboration and planning in the Upstate region, has completed its latest community outreach activity during which 730 Upstate residents, community leaders, business leaders and elected officials participated in one of 12 Community Forums across the Upstate. Participants provided input on “What Matters Most” to them as part of the year-long initiative by TATT to create a Shared Upstate Growth Vision.  At least one forum was held in each of the Upstate’s ten counties, with two forums being held in the more populous counties of Greenville and Spartanburg.

Photo at left: Dean Hybl, Executive Director of Ten at the Top

The Upstate is projected to add more than 250,000 residents and 200,000 new jobs over the next 20 years. In preparation for this growth, it is important for leaders and decision makers within the region to have an understanding of what residents value about the region today and what they see as priorities for the future in order to maintain and enhance the quality of life that makes the Upstate a wonderful place to live. 

Since the beginning of the TATT visioning effort, nearly 9,000 residents across the Upstate have provided input through questionnaires, visioning exercises, community meetings and outreach presentations.

“The community forums provided a great chance to hear first hand from residents across the region as to what they value about living in the Upstate and what they see as being important as we continue to grow,” said Dean Hybl, Executive Director of Ten at the Top. “In each county we met many people who are passionate about where they live and want to ensure that we continue to maintain and enhance the quality of life for all residents.”

All of the input received during the Community Forums, as well as the Regional Vision Summit that involved more than 400 participants on September 28th, is available for review on the Ten at the Top web site at www.tenatthetop.org.

Anyone who was unable to attend one of the community forums but still would like to provide input about what matters to them as we look to the future may do so by going to www.sharedupstatevision.org and clicking on the “Your Voice Matters” icon.

All community input will be used over the next several months by the Ten at the Top Vision & Values committee as they develop the final Shared Upstate Growth Vision.

Current plans call for the Shared Upstate Growth Vision to be unveiled during a Regional Forum and Workshop on April 27, 2010 at the Carolina First Center. As is the case with all Ten at the Top events, the unveiling and workshop will be free and open to the public. Registration will begin in March 2011.

About Ten at the Top
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.