Read the Spring/Summer 2021 special issue of the Upstate Advocate

We are proud to share with you the latest issue of the Upstate Advocate, our twice-yearly print publication. Below, read the letter from Executive Director Andrea Cooper introducing this Spring/Summer 2021 special issue and offering an update on Upstate Forever's work during this unprecedented year.

Click here to read a digital copy of the Spring/Summer 2021 issue of the Upstate Advocate

Many thanks to our generous sponsors of this issue: Greenville Journal, Half-Moon Outfitters, Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission, Legacy Early College, Maddrey & Associates, Natural Investments, ReWa, and Spinx.

In the past year or so, I've become particularly attuned to good news. With all the challenges and uncertainty of the pandemic, I've really treasured every piece of hopeful, joyful, or laughworthy news (Google "Lawyer Cat" and thank me later) that has offered a respite.

Thanks to your support, Upstate Forever continues to be a source of good news for our community. You can find some of our recent success stories later in the newsletter, but I'll mention a few specific ones here:

After a banner year of protecting 2,176 acres in 2020, the UF Land Trust has 6,000 acres slated for protection this year, including additions to public parks, working farms, headwater streams, and scenic views. Read about some recent conservation projects on pages 6-7.

UF also partnered with a broad coalition of businesses, nonprofits, and other stakeholders to support an ordinance creating the Greenville County Historic and Natural Resources Trust. With a unanimous vote, the ordinance was passed by County Council late last year. That's a huge step towards conserving more land for public recreation, local food, and drinking water protection in a fast-growing county.

Our lawsuit against Kinder Morgan was settled, resulting in a $1.5 million fund to enhance water quality in Anderson County. Read details on page 3.

There's also plenty of good news in this issue of the Upstate Advocate, which honors the 2021 ForeverGreen Award recipients. While we chose not to host our annual ForeverGreen Luncheon this February due to COVID-19, we want to celebrate these incredible local people who have dedicated their lives to making their communities greener, cleaner, and more just. I also want to thank the 2021 ForeverGreen Award sponsors: Greenville Journal, Half-Moon Outfitters, Laurens County Water and Sewer Commission, Legacy Early College, Maddrey & Associates, Natural Investments, ReWa, and Spinx. We appreciate their support!

Finally, the best news of all: we have people like you working alongside us for a better future in the Upstate. We could not do what we do without your support, and we are deeply grateful. Thank you again, and here's to making more good news in the Upstate in the months ahead!

Andrea Cooper
Executive Director

Click here to read a digital copy of the Spring/Summer 2021 issue of the Upstate Advocate