Ten at the Top announces finalists for 2023 Elevate Upstate Grants; recipient to be selected at TATT’s Celebrating Successes Event on November 15th

Ten at the Top (TATT) is excited to host their Annual Celebrating Successes event on Wednesday, November 15th.  At this event, the finalists for the 2023 Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate Community Vibrancy Grants will be honored. TATT seeks to recognize businesses, organizations and individuals who are helping make the Upstate a leading place to live, learn, do business, and raise a family.

The finalists were chosen from a total of 18 applications submitted for the grants available in 2023. Hughes Investments is contributing at least $10,000 per year to the program with recipients receiving funds to support a new vibrancy initiative in the Upstate. The program began in 2013 in conjunction with a series of Community Vibrancy Workshops hosted by Ten at the Top. Since the inception of the grants program, more than 30 communities across the Upstate have received funding to support vibrancy initiatives through Hughes Investments.

Below are the five Elevate Upstate finalists that will present at this event, as well as the finalist for the Bridgeway Station Award:

Downtown Family Movie Night – City of Belton (Belton)

Family Movie night will combine family friendly movies and food trucks 4 times during the year to bring local families and families from the surrounding area to downtown Belton. The City of Belton decided to focus on a family event appropriate for all ages to provide vibrancy back to the downtown area. Our past Downtown Sounds have been wonderful and will continue but there were less children attending than we anticipated. We want to offer something specifically tailored to fun for children. Our goal is to bring vibrancy back to downtown Belton and create fond memories of movie nights on the Square in Downtown Belton. Our focus is on children and family fun!

Revitalization Mural – Girl Scouts of South Carolina Midlands to Mountains (Anderson)

Girl Scouts believe in leaving our communities better than we found them. It is our goal to create a lasting impact in the communities we serve. In Anderson County, South Carolina, we have a heavy Girl Scout presence. Our Girls are passionate and appreciative of the community in which they live, grow, and thrive; they would like to enhance the vibrancy and enhance the Girl Scout footprint in Anderson County by creating a mural for the entire community to enjoy. Our goal is to create a mural development committee consisting of older Girl Scouts, from the Upstate, interested in the Arts and local Culture. We have partnered with the Anderson Arts Center to find a local artist to act as the lead artist on the mural and to determine the most appropriate public space for the mural. The United Way of Anderson is also assisting with the project; they are committed to helping us find a space for the mural and have committed to sponsoring the unveiling event, if funded. We are in conversation with West Side Community Center for the potential location of the mural.

Fun in the Park – Town of Honea Path (Honea Path)

The Honea Path Planning Committee plans to build upon the success from last year’s hugely successful project, “Honea Path’s Got Talent by hosting a new project, Fun In the Park. The Town of Honea Path has been under new leadership for the past 4 years and has placed a high priority on revitalizing the downtown and adding and enhancing events that draw tourists from surrounding areas to Honea Path. Fun In the Park will consist of movies in the park, Karaoke, line dancing and listening to music. Fun in the Park will be an 8-week event divided over the course of Spring through Fall. We will have 4 weeks of events such as line dancing, karaoke, and listening to music leading up to our Honea Path’s Got Talent Event which we started last year. We will show movies in the park during July, August, September, and October. There will be no admission charged for any of these events. Each week, small home-based vendors will be allowed to set up at no charge at the event. Instead of an event fee, vendors will be asked to donate a prize to be raffled off during the event.

Movies by the River – Town of Pacolet (Pacolet)

The Town of Pacolet will be hosting a new event called Movies by the River which will be a weekly event in the Spring where we will show various movies, free to the public. The event will be in the large grassy area next to the Pacolet River. We posted on our Facebook page a request for ideas on a new event and movie nights were one of the suggestions. 

The Clinton Carnival – United Way of Laurens County (Clinton)

The Clinton Carnival will be an Annual Event. We would look to have it every year around March, while kids and students would be on Spring Break. We know this will be a tremendous success and popular event! In the county of Laurens, there is no other event like this. This event is to encourage families to come out together and enjoy a fun evening full of games, food, music and much more! This is also for all ages! We are looking to make this event into a fundraising event for United Way. We will charge a fair price for the entry fee. That entry fee will include all the amenities inside excluding the food. The food we will arrange for tickets or meal prices to be made. We believe this event meets the goals it being FUN, enticing & exciting and gives vibrancy to Laurens County!

Bridgeway Station Award Finalist –

Upstate 48-Hour Film Project – Urban League of the Upstate (Greenville)

In 2023, the Urban League partnered with the South Carolina Film Commission to bring more filmmaking to the Upstate. As our signature workforce development program, we created Studio 9.22, located at the George Dean Johnson School of Business & Economics. At Studio 9.22 we support creative professionals, independent filmmakers and entrepreneurs who want their businesses camera ready. In partnership with the SC film Commission, SC-ETV and USC-Upstate, Studio 9.22 has recently hosted free classes and certification programs for individuals to be film grips, hairdressers that want bring their skills to directors shooting in South Carolina and our annual SC Film and Entertainment Symposium and Red-Carpet Reception. Here we bring together industry professionals from around the state and the country. Based on the success of our work, and our commitment to making the Upstate the epicenter independent filmmakers, the Urban League is now licensed and part the exclusive society of 48HFP Producers for the state of South Carolina. The 48Hr Film Project is the oldest and the largest timed film competition in the world. It is a highly efficient process with a strong brand within the short film industry. Last year alone, events were in 115 cities. Studio 9.22 will launch the 48Hr Film SC Project in May 2023. We anticipate that over 100 people, forming approximately 20 teams, will create short films in this two-day competition. Films will be judged with a premier showing at a commercial theater. Because Studio 9.22 is now part of the 48HFP international tour, our winning film will be submitted to Filmapalooza, the annual event open to all filmmakers where each city’s winning film is screened and judged. This year’s event will be in Lisbon Portugal. The winners from Filmapalooza will go on to the Short Film Corner in Cannes, during the Cannes Film Festival. With access to a collection of short films, we can easily replicate the premiere showing of the films at Bridgeway Station and other outdoor venues throughout the region.

During this event on November 15th, the five finalists will each provide a brief overview of their initiative before the 2023 recipients are selected and announced. The Burdette Leadership Award and the Welling Award for Regional Collaboration recipients will also be honored at the event. After the conclusion of program, there will be a reception for attendees to enjoy lunch and refreshments while networking with others from across the region.

The cost to attend this event is $20 and prior registration is required. The event will be held from 10:30 am -1:00 pm at the Greenville Convention Center. To register or for more information, go to www.tenatthetop.org or visit Eventbrite.

 

About Ten at the Top

Comprised of public, private, and civic leaders from across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina Region, Ten at the Top was created to connect and encourage regional collaboration 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 foster collaboration and strategic planning to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life for Upstate residents both today and as the region continues to grow. For more information, visit www.tenatthetop.org.