Hughes Investments
ELEVATE UPSTATE Grants InitiativeAn 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 2025 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
HOW TO APPLY
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 to the button below to download the 2025 application, which is due by September 12, 2025.
2025 ELEVATE UPSTATE GRANT CYCLE
On Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 the application process for the Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate Grants officially opens. The deadline for interest forms is on Friday, August 9th, 2025. The deadline for full applications will be Friday, September 12th, 2025.
Finalists will be required to present their projects at our annual Celebrating Successes event on November 19, 2025.
2024 Grant Recipients
Abbeville County Chamber of Commerce
“Porchfest Abbeville”
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.
Town of Pacolet
“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.
Walt’s Waltz
“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.