ELEVATE UPSTATE Grants Initiative

ELEVATE UPSTATE Grants Initiative is sponsored by Ten at the Top. Provides initial funding for community-based programs promoting vibrancy in Upstate South Carolina.

ELEVATE UPSTATE | Ten at the Top Resilient Upstate Behavioral Health Initiative Homelessness & Housing Initiative TATT x GVL Drive Regional Spotlights Upstate Mobility Alliance Ten at the Top Podcast Channel ELEVATE UPSTATE Grants Initiative An annual grant program that provides initial funding for community-based programs that promote vibrancy Ten at the Top, through a funding commitment from Phil Hughes and Hughes Investments Inc., has established the Hughes Investments Vibrancy Initiative: ELEVATE UPSTATE Grants.

The purpose of the ELEVATE UPSTATE Grants is to identify and provide initial funding support for community-based programs that promote community and economic vibrancy in local areas across the Upstate.

For the 2026 grant cycle, three grants of up to $5,000 each (total of $15,000) will be awarded to entities including 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.

One of the three grants will be dedicated for a project that will be hosted or completed at the Bridgeway Station location Applicants must be located in and do their work within one of the ten Upstate counties: Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, or Union.

Successful proposals for projects funded by ELEVATE UPSTATE (EU) 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. Click the button below to download the 2026 Grant FAQ.

Elevate Upstate Grant FAQ 2026 Elevate Upstate Grant Cycle On July 15, 2026 the application process for the Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate Grants officially opens. The deadline for full applications to be submitted is Friday, September 11, 2026. Finalists will be required to present their projects at our annual Celebrating Successes event on November 18, 2026.

Abbeville County Chamber of Commerce The Abbeville Alive Music Festival is a new community-driven event designed to showcase local talent and attract visitors from surrounding areas. The festival will feature a dynamic lineup of local bands, with a regional headliner, food vendors, and activities aimed at bringing together the community and boosting the local economy.

Our goal is to create an annual event that supports local businesses, provides entertainment, and increases tourism in Abbeville. “Pacolet Landing Kayak Launch” The Pacolet Landing Kayak Launch Project will establish a safe and convenient dock that provides direct access to the Pacolet River for paddlers.

This initiative directly supports the Town’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan goals of protecting natural resources, expanding recreational amenities, and driving local economic growth. By enhancing Blueway access, the project strengthens Pacolet’s identity as a river community and increases tourism potential. Community surveys have consistently highlighted the need for easier river access as a top priority for residents.

This launch will serve as a lasting investment in both quality of life and long-term sustainability for the Town of Pacolet. “Bridgeway Beckons: A Renaissance of Hope and Community” Join us for Bridgeway Beckons, a joyful, Renaissance-themed gathering to lift hearts, build connection, and break down stigma together.

With maypole dancing, mascot butterfly painting, bubbles, music, and our symbolic Stigma Wall, there’s something for all ages to enjoy. Partners NAMI Greenville and Just Say Something will help lead the way, alongside our 25+ Walt’s Waltz Stigma-Free Environments and other invited community partners. Together, we’ll turn a town square into a space of healing, lightness, and hope.

Past Recipients of the Elevate Upstate Grant Join our newsletter to stay up to date on features and releases.