UPSTATE – Ten at the Top (TATT), an organization created to foster collaboration and planning in the Upstate region, is partnering with the South Carolina Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to host a Spanish speaking community forum on Thursday, January 13, 2010. This special Spanish language forum is being held, in addition to 12 county-specific community forums that were held in October and November, to ensure additional community involvement in the development of the Shared Upstate Growth Vision and implementation strategy for the region. The event will take place at the NEXT Innovation Center in Greenville County from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. and is open to all Upstate residents, though attendees are asked to pre-register to participate by going to www.sharedupstatevision.org.

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, leaders and decision makers within the region must have an understanding of what people 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.

“Community involvement is the backbone of creating a Shared Growth Vision for the region,” said Dean Hybl, executive director of TATT. “We are thrilled to partner with the South Carolina Hispanic Chamber to host this forum and reach out specifically to the Hispanic community. We hope that many Hispanic Upstate residents will participate in this and future community outreach because every voice is important.”

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. A regional forum will be held on April 27, where the final Shared Upstate Growth Vision and Implementation Strategy will be unveiled.

The schedule for the event is:

5:30 p.m.-6 p.m. — Light Dinner (provided)

6 p.m.-6:30 p.m. — Welcome – The Continuing Journey to Create a Shared Upstate Growth Vision. Where Are We Now?

6:30 p.m.-7:15 p.m. — Table Discussions – Crafting a Regional Vision

7:15 p.m.-7:30 p.m. — Wrap-up and Dismissal