Ten at the Top Releases Mid-Year Report

57 Regional Engagements With More Than 2,000 Participants in First Half of 2015

UPSTATE, SC –Ten at the Top (TATT), a non-profit organization created to foster collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that enhance economic vitality and quality of life in South Carolina’s Upstate region, has released its 2015 Mid-Year Report. Through the first six months of 2015, the organization conducted 57 regional forums, meetings, presentations and programs with 2,004 participants from across the Upstate region. This marks the busiest six month stretch since the organization started its full-time efforts in 2010.

“This has been the busiest six month period for Ten at the Top,” said Executive Director Dean Hybl, “but I think it has also been our most successful in terms of seeing long-term regional efforts starting to take shape and make an impact across the Upstate.

“More leaders from across the region are recognizing the importance of building partnerships that grow capacity and maximize resources. Continuing to grow this spirit of collaboration and cooperation will have a tremendous positive long-term impact for the region.”

Among the regional engagements have been 32 committee or task force meetings with more than 500 individuals currently participating on Ten at the Top task forces and committees or as TATT Board Members.

One of the primary roles of Ten at the Top is to connect stakeholders from across the Upstate region to grow relationships and identify opportunities for cross-jurisdictional and cross-sector collaboration. The current focus of TATT’s volunteers and regional partners include the following initiatives:

• Building a regional Child Well-Being Network of providers, volunteers and elected officials to help ensure that all children have optimal opportunities to achieve success
• Supporting the development of a regional Food System Strategy focused on building local capacity around the primary areas of food production, processing and market
• Developing a consistent regional message around the WorkKeys Workforce Development initiative
• Creating regional “How To Guides” to help communities enhance their community vibrancy

In addition, so far in 2015 Ten at the Top and other partners have hosted three regional forums, two Upstate Elected Officials Meetings and the first-ever Upstate Superintendents & School Boards Meeting. The topics for these sessions have included transportation & infrastructure, education and land use development patterns. TATT also started the “Getting to Know the Upstate” Bus Tours in 2015 and more than 50 people have participated in day-long trips to Greenwood and Union. Additional trips are planned later this year to Laurens and Oconee.

The full Ten at the Top Mid-Year Report is available on the TATT web site.