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Endeavor announces international and local gamechangers for Collaborators & Cocktails speaker series

Endeavor announces international and local gamechangers for Collaborators & Cocktails speaker series

GREENVILLE, SC (March 20, 2024) – Endeavor Workspaces welcomes Global Brand Marketer Fabio Tambosi and Greenville entrepreneur Carl Sobocinski for two special Collaborators & Cocktails events on April 11th and 24th. Limited tickets are now available with a discount to attend both.

Tambosi’s presentation on Thursday, April 11th, “Esports as the New Global Sport and The Power of Gaming in Influencing Culture” promises to be especially fascinating for marketers, gamers, and client-facing professionals. Formerly on the global stage with Nike and adidas, Tambosi’s current role with ESL FaceItGroup puts him in the center of the rise of esports around the world, and how gaming increasingly impacts U.S. business and consumer decisions. ESL is the prominent brand in esports events, festivals, leagues, tournaments, and online competitive gaming platforms.

Tambosi’s history of working with sports brands in nine different countries brings a global perspective that influences his approach to business, leadership, and teaching. Known for his high energy and engaging style, he also serves on Clemson’s Erwin Center board and adjunct faculty, where he teaches individuals to pay-it-forward, stay connected to the latest cultural trends, and foster the next generation of brand leaders. This event is co-hosted by the The American Advertising Federation/AAF Greenville and full-service marketing agency Crawford.

On Wednesday, April 24th, Table 301 and euphoria Founder Carl Sobocinski will join Endeavor and Greenville Triumph Chairman Joe Erwin for “A Candid Conversation on Entrepreneurship, the Power of Food, and Chasing Your Dreams.” This opportunity to eavesdrop on these two friends as they discuss challenges, highlights, lessons, and tough decisions is a one-of-a-kind opportunity – and promises to be inspirational, educational, and loads of fun.

Over the last 20+ years, Sobocinski has spearheaded Table 301’s growth and development, which includes standouts Soby’s, Camp and Nose Dive in its portfolio. He is also the co-founder of Greenville’s award-winning food, wine and music festival, euphoria. Marketing executive Erwin leads Erwin Creates and Endeavor, and he is Chairman of the Greenville Triumph and Greenville Liberty soccer clubs. This session is co-hosted by global manufacturer AFL and Greenville’s own Plus Inc.

Important event details:
• Endeavor is located at 1 N. Main Street, in the ONE tower overlooking One City Plaza.
• Networking 5:00 – 5:45 p.m., followed by presentation and Q&A beginning at 5:45. The event concludes with networking until 7:15 p.m.
• Tickets are $30 for one event, or $50 to attend both the April 11th and April 24th events. Cocktails included. All C& C events are free to Endeavor members.
• Seating is limited. To attend one or both events, request an invitation at Endeavor@EndeavorGreenville.com (no walk-ins).

Endeavor wishes to thank its co-hosts:
• The American Advertising Federation of Greenville (AAF Greenville), an association comprised of nearly 100 members who work in advertising, marketing, media, public relations and all other related industry businesses throughout Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson. As a chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), AAF Greenville encourages professional development through seminars, award presentations networking and industry leader recognition.
• Crawford, a marketing and communications agency that creates holistic and compelling campaigns that connect brands to the heart of decision making. From sound strategic direction to excellence in execution, Crawford provides a full suite of branding, advertising, public relations, social and digital media services. Now in its 14th year of business, the woman-owned agency regularly receives recognition from its clients, community, and peers, and was recently named a six-time Best Place to Work in S.C.
• AFL, an international manufacturer providing end-to-end fiber optics and telecommunications solutions to the energy, service provider, enterprise, hyperscale, and industrial markets as well as several emerging markets, with products in use in over 130 countries.
• Plus Inc., a comprehensive solutions company, locally owned and operated since 1958, that has become a one-stop shop for the purchase and service of leading brand-name printers, printers-copiers, all-in-ones, computers, IT, network services and network products.

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About Endeavor
Endeavor is a membership-based coworking community for creative and entrepreneurial professionals, as well as corporate teams and business travelers. Endeavor’s premium location in the ONE Development in Greenville, SC provides members with state-of-the-art work and meeting space, and uniquely, surrounds them with a diverse array of peers who offer a broad range of services and experience. Training opportunities, networking events and business consulting are available for the professionals who call Endeavor home every day, as well as business team members across the region. Endeavor has been recognized as the winner of the Coworker Member’s Choice Award for Greenville, SC. For more information, visit endeavorgreenville.com.

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Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty honors top Associates

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty has honored its top Associates for February 2024.

In the Greenville office, the top Associates for listings sold were Matt Nocks, Patrick Furman, and Pat McNamara, and the top Associates for transactions closed for buyer clients were Michael McGreevey, Caroline Allison and Furman. In the Clemson/Lakes office, Lisa Vogel was the top Associate for listings sold, and Amy Hammond was the top Associate for transactions closed for buyer clients.

A New York native, Furman spent fifteen years working in the title sector of real estate and owned a regional title search and property research company for the last eight of those years. Furman is a part of the Furman Group. He earned Chairman’s Circle status in 2023 for doing more than $10 million in sales.

Nocks joined Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty in 2019. In 2020, he became a member of the President’s Circle, which is for Associates who did more than $5 million in sales and received the Most Improved Award. He earned President’s Circle honors again in 2022 and 2023.Nocks is a member of the Furman Group.

A Greenville native, McNamara brings decades of real estate experience to each deal, and has a true passion for residential land, farm land, timber land, recreation land, hunting land, mini-estates, mini farms, home sites, mountain view land, waterfront land and investment land. He has sold tracts from one to 1,000 acres and focuses on the “edge of growth and out.”

McGreevey entered the real estate industry in Atlanta in 2006. He joined Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty in 2019 and his commitment to real estate is evident in his sales growth. He is tireless in his efforts to support his clients as well as his fellow Associates. He was the winner of the F. Reid Hipp Award for most valuable associate in 2023 as well as a member of the President’s Circle.

Allison joined Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty in 2015, and was a top producer and company Rookie of the Year in her first 12 months selling real estate. Allison consider herself a lifelong student and spends her time cultivating her knowledge of Greenville neighborhoods to help all her clients get the inside scoop on Greenville living. She was named to the President’s Circle in 2023.

Vogel specializes in Lake Keowee’s luxury market and private gated communities, and was the company’s top producer in 2023. She also has been the top producer for the Clemson office for two consecutive years. Before joining Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty, Vogel was broker-in-charge for one of North Carolina’s largest real estate companies.

Hammond has been in real estate since 1996, and is known for being involved in every detail of the transaction process. Hammond did almost $20 million in sales in 2021 which made her a member of theChairman’s Circle. She also was the top producer for Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty’s as well as the office MVP.

“Our Associates continue to create exceptional experiences for our buyers and sellers,” said Joan Herlong, owner and CEO of Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty. “Attention to detail and honesty are what drives our Associates.”

About Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty

Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty is one of the leading and most trusted names in real estate in the Upstate of South Carolina. First founded by Owner/CEO Joan Herlong as AugustaRoad.com Realty in 2011, the firm has since handled thousands of properties in the Greenville and Upstate area. In 2017, the company affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, becoming Joan Herlong & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty. The company has more than tripled in agent count and production volume since that time. Learn more at www.jha-sothebysrealty.com.  

About Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC

Founded in 1976 to provide independent brokerages with a powerful marketing and referral program for luxury listings, the Sotheby’s International Realty network was designed to connect the finest independent real estate companies to the most prestigious clientele in the world. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Holdings Corp. (NYSE: RLGY), a global leader in real estate franchising and provider of real estate brokerage, relocation, and settlement services. In February 2004, Realogy entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Sotheby’s, the operator of the auction house. The agreement provided for the licensing of the Sotheby’s International Realty name and the development of a full franchise system. Affiliations in the system are granted only to brokerages and individuals meeting strict qualifications. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC supports its affiliates with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational, and business development resources. Franchise affiliates also benefit from an association with the venerable Sotheby’s auction house, established in 1744.

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Reedy Reels Film Festival happening this weekend, 66+ films to see in downtown Greenville

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Movie lovers will see more than 66 films at the Piedmont Natural Gas Presents Reedy Reels: The Greenville Film Festival being March 22 to March 24 at the South Carolina Children’s Theatre in downtown Greenville.
The three-day festival, one of the best in the Southeast, is being held in the heart of downtown Greenville as film fans have hundreds of options for food, drink, and sightseeing during breaks between movies. The 66 films being shown, that’s 11 hours of movies over three days, are an engaging mix of short films, documentaries, student films, and animations in a variety of genres.
Tickets include daily passes and weekend festival passes. A daily pass gives attendees entry to all film sessions for that day. The weekend festival pass gives attendees entry into all festival screening sessions. Purchase passes here and see the film schedule here, which includes breakout Q&A sessions with filmmakers and the selection of Indie Grant winners.
“We are getting so excited now that the event is so close,” said Matt Foster, co-founder of the festival. “This is our biggest festival yet—we can’t wait to see everyone there.”
About The Reedy Reels Film Festival: The Greenville Film Festival:
Piedmont Natural Gas Presents Reedy Reels: The Greenville Festival is an independent film festival promoting the appreciation of the art of film-making while generating support for independent filmmakers in the Upstate. The Reedy Reels Film Festival is a non-profit organization that supports the education and appreciation of filmmaking. Learn more at www.reedyreels.com.

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Potential economic impact of professional licensures for lawfully present workforce to be unveiled at March 25 event

A report authored by Clemson University researchers that explores the economic impact of allowing lawfully present workers to receive occupational and professional licenses in various sectors will be unveiled to the public on March 25 in Greenville. Co-hosted by Hispanic Alliance and Ten at the Top, the Allied4Work event will also include an overview of S.C. House Bill 3288 and a panel discussion on the opportunities and challenges for the lawfully present workforce in South Carolina.

“The community of lawfully present immigrants is a rapidly growing portion of the Upstate’s workforce. We look forward to a productive, data-driven discussion on strategies that will enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in our ten-county region and the state as a whole,” said Dean Hybl, executive director of Ten at the Top.

“Our goal is to shine a light on opportunities to engage the Hispanic population, and other lawfully present members of the workforce, in building prosperous communities for everyone across the state,” said Adela Mendoza, executive director of Hispanic Alliance. “We invite people from all industries, backgrounds and cultures to join us in dialogue and collaboration to build bridges towards equitable policies and a thriving future for all South Carolinians.”

Date and Time
● Monday, March 25, 2024
● 8:15 a.m. Doors open
● 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Event

Location
Clemson ONE Center, 1 North Main Street, Greenville, S.C. 29601
Registration
The event is free and open to the public. Register online at: hispanicalliancesc.org/allied.

Speakers
● State Representative Neal Collins (R – Pickens)
● Brandy Amidon, mayor of Travelers Rest
● Nina Cano Richards, attorney and co-founder, Spanglish Consulting
● Scott Cochran, president, Spartanburg Methodist College
● Jason Zacher (panel moderator), president and founder, Bridge Public Strategy Group

Fast Facts
●. Seventeen percent of South Carolina’s workforce is currently employed in a licensed field.
● There are at least 5,500 individuals in South Carolina with approval and authorization from federal authorities to be employed who are barred by state law from obtaining licensure to work in fields such as real estate, nursing and education.
● According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, South Carolina ranks 4th among states by 2030 with a nursing shortage.
● According to the Center for Educator Recruitment Retention and Advancement (CERRA), the teacher shortage in South Carolina was at an all-time high at the start of the 2023-2024 school year with more than 1,600 vacancies.
● S.C. House Bill 3288 is a one-sentence bill to allow people who have current and valid employment authorizations approved by federal immigration authorities to be eligible for occupational or professional licensure if all other applicable requirements are met.

About Hispanic Alliance
The Hispanic Alliance is the largest convener of ideas, individuals, and institutions collaborating to advance Hispanic communities across South Carolina. With the mission of fostering collaboration and connectivity among people, resources, and cultures to build thriving communities, the Hispanic Alliance envisions a vibrant and inclusive community where everyone has access to opportunities for success and prosperity. The Hispanic Alliance is a nonpartisan organization that faithfully advocates for diversity, equality, acceptance, understanding, and embracing the American dream. For more information, visit HispanicAllianceSC.com.

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.

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R&R Resolute Staffing Adds Front Office Coordinator

Greenville, S.C. – March 12, 2024 – R & R Resolute Staffing Firm (R&R), a woman owned employment agency focused on contract, contract-to-permanent, & direct hire positions, is thrilled to announce the addition of Brittany Langston as Front Office Coordinator.

“We are delighted to welcome Brittany to the R&R Team,” said Rachel Touchet, Owner/CEO of R&R Resolute Staffing Firm. “She has a keen eye for detail and a client-centric approach, something we greatly value. Her role is extremely important as it sets the tone for every person we meet daily. Whether they are seeking a new career or looking for assistance filling roles, each person that steps through our doors will be helped by Brittany.”

Bringing a wealth of experience from a regional medical practice, Langston assumes the crucial role of front office coordinator, where she will be instrumental in ensuring a seamless client focused experience. Langston’s background in patient coordination through the medical industry allows her to provide a unique and special experience for all clients at R&R Resolute Staffing.

“The first thing that drew me to R&R Resolute Staffing was their core values and mission,” said Langston. They value and appreciate every single person they come in contact with and truly seek to impact each person’s life. Being able to place people in a job they love and allow them to earn a living is truly a rewarding experience.”

In her free time, Brittany enjoys traveling, hiking, riding horses and spending time at her farm with friends and family.

About R&R Resolute Staffing Firm
R&R Resolute Staffing Firm, headquartered in Greenville, S.C., is a woman owned employment agency specializing in contract, contract-to-permanent, and direct hire positions for all types of businesses in upstate South Carolina. We believe our processes, personnel and customer service deliver the highest quality standards in the industry and we look to be a partner to all of our clients. Founded in August of 2023, R&R Resolute Staffing is a team of five working to meet your staffing needs. To learn more visit, www.randrstaff.com.

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MEDICINAL WHISKEY CHARITY KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY

Medicinal Whiskey Charity is hosting a Kentucky Derby Party on Saturday, May 4, 2024, featuring a viewing of the Kentucky Derby, a live performance by The Dirty Guv’nahs, bourbon tasting, food and much more! Tickets are available NOW!

All funds raised will benefit the fight against childhood cancer and blood disorders through Clement’s Kindness Fund for the Children and Prisma Health Children’s Hospital BI-LO Charities Children’s Cancer Center.

For tickets, sponsorships or more information, visit medicinalwhiskeycharity.org.

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ShalomFest coming back after a four-year hiatus

GREENVILLE – Returning for its 12th year following a four-year hiatus, the Upstate SC Jewish Festival event will be happening on April 7.

ShalomFest will feature choir performances, Israeli dancing demonstrations, exhibits on Israel, Jewish history and customs, a mock Jewish wedding, and presentations on Judaism and inter-faith topics. Traditional food, pastries, drinks, and gift items will be available for purchase.

The event will be held at the Temple of Israel, 400 Spring Forest Road from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to all interested people and groups. Admission is free. Temple of Israel first presented ShalomFest in 2009 and continued through 2019, with thousands attending annually. Learn more at www.shalomfest.org. The Greenville Jewish Festival is an event partner.

“We are so excited to be part of ShalomFest and having it back this year,” said Courtney Tessler, CEO of the Greenville Jewish Federation. “We hope to see the greater community turn up to experience and celebrate Jewish culture here in the Upstate.”

About the Greenville Jewish Federation:

The Greenville Jewish Federation is a dynamic organization dedicated to serving and strengthening the Jewish community in Greenville and neighboring counties. With a rich philanthropy and community-building history, the Federation works tirelessly to support educational programs, social services, cultural events, and advocacy efforts that promote Jewish values, heritage, and unity.

To learn more about the Greenville Jewish Federation’s initiatives and upcoming programs, visit www.jewishgreenville.org.

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Affordable Upstate honored by Greenville Chamber of Commerce

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Leadership programs are designed to engage people in the concept of creating positive change in their communities. Two members of Leadership Greenville’s 2016 class took the concept and ran with it.
Brian Albers and Mario Brown of Affordable Upstate were honored earlier this month by the Greenville Chamber of Commerce for their efforts to create communities where everyone can prosper with the Leadership Greenville Alumni Award.
The two met during the 2016 edition of Leadership Greenville, a year-long program aimed at developing people to take charge and spearhead community change. Class 43 took an intensive look at many pressing issues in Greenville County. They identified the lack of affordable housing as a pressing challenge facing the community.
And that led Brown and Albers to combine their experience in investing and construction to try and meet these community needs. They formed Affordable Upstate in 2017, committing themselves to a positive, people-centric approach.
“We decided to address these issues with a positive, people-centric approach to real estate investing,” Brown said. “Our goal is to impact the community by supplying an affordable housing product superior to what is typically available in this market.”
Affordable Upstate began with the purchase and revitalizing of 63 multifamily units in Greenville/Spartanburg, Albers said. Today, it owns nearly 1,500 units and is actively pursuing new projects throughout the Southeast.
After graduating from Davidson College in 2007, Albers began his career at Raymond James in the marketing department at the firm’s home office in Florida. In 2012, he was promoted to Operations Manager and moved his family to Greenville to oversee administration, operations, compliance, marketing, and financial management in the downtown Greenville and Greer branches. In 2015, Albers earned the Certified Financial Planner designation. He also held Series 7, 9, 10, 31, 66 and life and health insurance licenses. Albers has served on the boards of the Salvation Army Kroc Center, Downtown Symphony Club, and the organizational committee of Opportunity Greenville.
Brown is a former college football All-American, graduating from Gardner-Webb University in 2009 with degrees in English and Political Science. After cutting his teeth in business management and marketing with a national sports training company, Brown decided to go all-in on Greenville in residential construction and brokerage. He spent three years representing a regional production builder. There, using marketing and social media skills crafted at his previous profession, Brown quickly became the company’s top agent. Eager for a more integrated, local work concentration, he joined Milestone Custom Homes, an exclusive luxury home builder, as its director of sales and marketing. The four years Brown spent at Milestone helped him truly understand the creative impact builders and developers have on the residential landscape. The education and exposure he received being a part of best-in-class developments such as Hartness Village stick with him to this day.
In the community, Brown is vice chairman of the Homes of Hope Board of Directors; a member of the YMCA Greenville board; and formerly served on the Fall for Greenville board.
Affordable Upstate will continue to work on strengthening the community through affordable housing, Brown said.
“We are committed to safeguarding the preservation efforts we’ve undertaken thus far,” he said. “To achieve this, we aim to establish a fund through local impact investors and businesses contributions.”
Albers said this strategy will enable Affordable Upstate to retain ownership of its assets and prevent their sale to external parties who may not appreciate the affordability housing needs of the community.
“It will allow us to maintain stable rental rates for our residents despite the properties incurring higher interest rates,” he said.

About Affordable Upstate:
Affordable Upstate is a real estate investment firm focused on redeveloping and redefining naturally occurring affordable housing in the Upstate of South Carolina. Since 2017 they have placed over $50 million of investor equity into socially responsible, environmentally enhanced workforce housing assets, resulting in a diverse and thriving portfolio with over 1,450 apartment units that satisfy the expectations of residents, investors, and communities. Learn more at Affordable Upstate.

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CDS promotes Brooke Schmidt to Director of Family Programs

Greenville, SC (March 11, 2024): The Center for Developmental Services (CDS) is excited to announce the promotion of Brooke Schmidt as their new Director of Family Programs. In her new role, Schmidt will lead their case management program and a team of 20 as they continue to accept new referrals for service coordination in Greenville. She has over 17 years of experience serving the disability community with prior experience as a case management supervisor at Thrive Upstate before joining CDS in 2018.

“For the past six years, Brooke has been responsible for the hiring, onboarding and developing of a dynamic team that has made CDS one of the top ranked case management programs in SC,” said Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director. “We congratulate Brooke on her well-deserved promotion and look forward to her many contributions on the leadership team.”

Schmidt has a B.S. in Early Intervention from Winthrop University and is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Academy from the SC Human Services Providers Association. She is actively involved in the disability community as a board member for the Barbara Stone Foundation.

About CDS
CDS is the largest multi-disciplinary treatment facility in the Upstate for children with disabilities and developmental delays. In one location, children receive services in therapy, diagnosis, audiology, day care needs for the medically fragile, early intervention, case management, and a family support network. The partnership is comprised of Clarity; Project Hope Foundation; KidVentures of Thrive Upstate; and four programs of Prisma Health – Upstate: Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Kidnetics, The Wonder Center, and Prosthetics and Orthotics. CDS and its partners serve over 8,000 children and their families each year on property donated by the First Presbyterian Church at 29 North Academy Street in Greenville, SC. For more information about CDS and its partners, visit www.cdservices.org.

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WCFIBER AND UPCOUNTRY FIBER TO BRING BROADBAND INTERNET TO NEARLY 13,000 IN UNDERSERVED AREAS OF ANDERSON COUNTY

WCFIBER AND UPCOUNTRY FIBER TO BRING BROADBAND INTERNET TO NEARLY 13,000 IN UNDERSERVED AREAS OF ANDERSON COUNTY

Abbeville and Pickens, SC – March 08, 2024 – Underserved areas of Anderson County will soon have access to broadband internet through internet service providers WCFIBER, a wholly-owned subsidiary of West Carolina Rural Telephone Cooperative (WCTEL), and Upcountry Fiber, a partnership between Blue Ridge Electric Co-op (BREC) and WCFIBER, thanks to a $32 million federal grant designated by the South Carolina Broadband Office (SCBBO). The grant allows WCFIBER and Upcountry Fiber to continue to fulfill their mission to help bridge the “digital divide” where little to no access exists. An additional $10 million from WCFIBER and Upcountry Fiber will be invested to extend the reach of the project.

Nearly 3,000 Anderson County underserved addresses identified by SCBBO that currently do not have access to broadband internet service are included in the grant. Construction has begun, and by the end of 2025, those addresses included in the SCBBO grant, and an additional 10,000 addresses surrounding them, will be able to sign up for broadband internet service through either WCFIBER or Upcountry Fiber, depending on their location.

Specifically, the underserved addresses in areas of Anderson County that will soon have access to fiber internet are around Belton, Honea Path, Piercetown, Sandy Springs, La France, Broadway, Williamston, Homeland Park, and other areas throughout Anderson County. Residents will be notified of construction and order timelines in the coming weeks.

Upon completion of construction mainly funded by this grant, WCFIBER and Upcountry Fiber together will have invested approximately $76 million in broadband to areas that have been previously underserved since 2021, resulting in construction of approximately 1,155.8 miles of fiber that will pass nearly 19,000 eligible addresses, mainly residential.

“We are so thankful to Jim Stritzinger and his team in the South Carolina Broadband Office for awarding us this grant so that more citizens of Anderson County have access to this necessary utility,” said Anderson County Council Chair Tommy Dunn.

“No matter where you are located within the grant footprint, you can expect to receive the same exceptional fiber internet service from either WCFIBER or Upcountry Fiber,” said Jeff Wilson, president and CEO of WCTEL. “Thanks to the South Carolina Broadband Office, we are able to help modernize the infrastructure in these underserved communities.”

“Utility cooperatives like ours have a long history of serving our neighbors in traditionally underserved areas,” said Jim Lovinggood, president and CEO of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative. “This grant not only benefits people in their homes but makes it possible for them to have access to better healthcare, education and job opportunities, which helps to build a better, more competitive community for everyone.”

WCTEL has served parts of the Starr-Iva communities of Anderson County with fiber internet services for more than 15 years, and with telecommunications services since the cooperative was founded more than 70 years ago.

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About WCFIBER
The WCTEL family of companies, including WCTEL, WCFIBER, and Upcountry Fiber, combine a tradition of service with the best technology available. Friendly, community-minded employees are committed to building a fiber network that is ready for whatever the future of technology may hold. The fiber optic network provides voice, data, video, security, and hosted business services in upstate South Carolina to include McCormick County, Abbeville County, and the city of Newberry as well as parts of Anderson County, Greenwood County, Oconee County, Pickens County, Greenville County, Spartanburg County, and Columbia County, GA. To find out more about WCTEL, visit wctel.com. WCTEL is designated as a nationally recognized Smart Rural Community and Certified Gig-Capable Provider by NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association.

About Upcountry Fiber
Upcountry Fiber is a high-speed fiber internet provider to Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, and Pickens counties. Established in Fall 2020, Upcountry Fiber is the product of a partnership between Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and WCFIBER, a subsidiary of West Carolina Rural Telephone Cooperative (WCTEL). Founded by organizations created to electrify and connect rural areas of South Carolina; decades later, Upcountry Fiber’s mission is to bridge the digital divide. Offering symmetrical internet speeds up to 10 Gbps over a fiber network, Upcountry Fiber has the fastest and most reliable high-speed internet in the area. To learn more about Upcountry Fiber, visit us at www.UpcountryFiber.com.