Category Archives: Startups

Mauldin: An Emerging Community

For the past year it has been a pleasure for us to learn more about the city of Mauldin. Given that Mauldin has never had an actual main street or “downtown” area, it has an extraordinary 61% population growth since 2000! One of the challenges is how can Mauldin provide the growing residents and visitors a thriving environment of culture, business, and activities.
One of the things we’ve learned is George Patrick, Administrator, Office of Cultural Affairs has been diligently working to promote provide artistic and cultural activities to continually develop a more energetic community. As we spoke with George, it was evident that all the avenues were explored including bench-marking other municipalities and their growth plans. You can read more about Mauldin’s Downtown Master Plan here: Master Plan. However, he wanted an additional component, a grassroots community driven ideas for input into their strategic plans.

Beer and Napkins provided the platform where both residents and visitors delivered their input at the July 21st and August 5th idea events. George shared with the group about the underdeveloped spaces behind Chicora Alley and the Cultural Center ripe for ideas. He also shared with the group about plans for connecting with the Swamp Rabbit.

Many ideas ranging from open air cafes, interactive art displays, to pubs, breweries, and high end shopping were mentioned. Additionally, the #MauldinEdge was born representing both the spirit of progress of Mauldin and where the hub sits on the edge of the crossroads formed by 107 [East Butler Road] intersecting with 276 & the railroad.

You can review, add, and vote on these ideas here: https://beerandnapkins.imaginethat.io/mauldinedge

Through these community idea generation events two key themes emerged: a center hub where guests can interact with each other and art and a walkable, connected city.

At our September 1st Event we will developing short-term and long-term recommendations to support these two key themes. Join us at the Turtle Shell, September 1st at 6:30pm for a fun and engaging community event! RSVP Meetup Here: #MauldinEdge: The Final Session

George, Tony, and I look forward to seeing you Tuesday!

Phil McCreight, Founder Beer and Napkins

#MauldinEdge : The Final Session

Date: September 1st, 6:30 pm Location: The Turtle Shell

RSVP here: #MauldinEdge Meetup

We have explored a number of ideas in our last few sessions and we are on our way to establishing a number of vitalizing game plans!

At our last event at the Turtle Shell, we will be narrowing down the collective input into from our last session into 2-3 “Themes / Goals” for the community (e.g. “walkability”, “local flavor”, etc) and establish 1-3 short term and long term recommendations for each of them.

Even though you may have not attended the earlier sessions your input is still desired!

We are continuing to collect ideas so please vote, add to our#MauldinEdge idea stream!

https://beerandnapkins.imaginethat.io/mauldinedge

Appetizers will be served. Food and drinks available for purchase.

For questions please contact [email protected]m or [email protected]

MauldinEdge: Round II – A Community Based Idea Session Moving the Mauldin Crossroads Forward

Wednesday, August 5th, 6:30pm – 9:30pm The Turtle Shell Grill & Bar
306 N Main St, Mauldin, SC

Sign up here http://www.meetup.com/Greenville-Beer-and-Napkins-Community-of-Growth/events/224132739/

Beer and Napkins will be stimulating creativity in Mauldin, South Carolina! Diverse group of Thinkers and Doers Wanted!

We had a great event on Tuesday July 21st. Attendees brainstormed ideas around two challenges.

• What should we see when we walk (or bike) around Mauldin in 5, 10 or 25 years?”

• What kinds of businesses do you want to see in Mauldin?

We collected many ideas and want to continue to dive deeper on potential projects. Please join us at the Turtle Shell in Mauldin

Meetup is free. Food and Beverages will be available for purchase.

Please feel free to add additional ideas on our crowd sourced ImagineThat site:

https://beerandnapkins.imaginethat.io/mauldinedge

We will be using the hashtag #MauldinEdge

For more information contact Phil McCreight or Tony Miller

Meetup Scheduled for May 27, 2015: Engaging Creativity and Innovation of the Upstate’s International Community

As part of Beer and Napkins Community of Growth we seek to engage diverse members of our community to continue to brew innovative ideas to help individuals, communities, and organizations. We are excited to be spotlighting two leaders in the community who are devoting their energies to tap the creativity of diverse community in the Upstate

Veronica Schoell – Business Coach and Leader in the upstate automotive industry

Veronica is the founder of The Greenville (SC) International Group – Group used as a tool to increase the interaction and integration of the international community and its American friends in Greenville, SC. She will share insight into her group and some of the needs of the international community and how to engage them more.

Juan G Gonzalez, MS- Business Consultant and Entrepreneur

Juan is the owner of Innovation Builders, LLC, and co-owner of Optimum Professional Services, LLC, His is also the founder of Spanish Writers, a mixed group of published writers and writers in the works, with the common ground of finding beauty, culture and history in any language we can find them, and then share our thoughts to other cultures and communities. Beside managing his companies he is devoted to his Hispanic Innovation Exchange HiE. HiE has a bi-fold purpose: On one side, HiE intends to bring the cutting-edge events in the English (Mainstream) Innovation Market into the Local Hispanic Group Market, this process implies the use of an interface that translates into Spanish initially (other languages in the future) and promote events, flexibly, timely and on the most appropriate target market inside the Hispanic Group. The other side involves building up relationships with Spanish speaking countries and foster innovation exchange into and from this countries with America Innovation.

Come join us for this free event sharing ideas.

Space limited to 20 attendees. Snacks will be provided.

(Coffee, wine, and beer are available for purchase)