February 11, 2021, Vol. 11, Issue 3
TEN COUNTIES | ONE UPSTATE | STRONGER TOGETHER
SECOND DRAW PPP - WHAT'S NEW

Written By: Earl Gregorich, CBA
Area Manager & Business Consultant,
Greenville Area Small Business Development Center

On January 11, 2021, the SBA and the U.S. Treasury Department reopened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for First Draw PPP loans. Second Draw PPP Loans were made available on January 13, 2021. Interested borrowers can apply for both PPP loans through participating lenders but, you may want to check into the details first.

It is recommended you work with your local SC Small Business Development Center and your business banking professional. The SBA.gov website has a Lender Match tool and a lender mapping tool if you need help finding a lender.

As part of the second draw, there is a $25 billion set-aside for borrowers who meet specific criteria like, having a maximum of 10 employees and need a loans of $250,000 or less. Borrowers considered for the set aside program must also be located in low or moderate income neighborhoods.
PROTERRA TO BE PUBLICLY TRADED; UPSTATE INVESTORS PROVIDE SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS

Written By: Erin Ouzts, Director, Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem

Proterra, a leading commercial electric vehicle technology company with manufacturing operations in Greenville, will become publicly listed through a merger with special purpose acquisition company ArcLight Clean Transition Corporation (Nasdaq: ACTC).

Many in our Upstate region know the story of Proterra’s move to Greenville and subsequent loss of funding. What may not be known is that over the years VentureSouth and the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) invested over $5,000,000 to support Proterra’s growth. It was these two groups coming together that helped keep Proterra alive and its manufacturing in Greenville.

VentureSouth’s investors started propping up Proterra in 2011 through the Upstate Carolina Angel Network (UCAN). As of today, 95 individual angel investor-members of VentureSouth, plus about 50 angel investors through 2 of the VentureSouth funds, believed in the electric bus company enough to continue investing almost $5,000,000 over the years. These VentureSouth angels can invest as little as $5000 to support growing companies in the southeast.
FEBRUARY 18 | 3:00 to 4:00 PM

GUEST SPEAKERS | Tiffany Tate & Aimee Redick, Upstate Alliance “Skill Up” Initiative

TATT board members and partners, business and community leaders, and county representatives are gathering virtually twice each month for local updates that help us stay connected even when we can't meet in person.
GIVE HELP

MEALS ON WHEELS - GREENVILLE
Virtual Volunteer Orientation
(GREENVILLE COUNTY)

THE BLOOD CONNECTION
Upstate Blood Drives
(MULTIPLE COUNTIES)

CITY OF SPARTANBURG
21 Days of Kindness Challenge
(SPARTANBURG COUNTY)
Ten at the Top has created a web repository of links to key information on COVID-19. With schools, organizations, businesses and many others canceling events and altering schedules due to the COVID-19 virus, having access to reliable and timely information as well as details about available resources is critical. 
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A lot of people are facing food insecurity, perhaps for the first time, during the COVID-19 crisis. Our Upstate Food Access Map lists food resources across the Upstate.
The Upstate has plenty of natural resources for you to explore and still maintain your distance—you can find them on our Outdoor Activity and Recreation Interactive Map.