We have plenty of ‘green space’ here in the Upstate, and now you can ‘own’ a section of the Swamp Rabbit trail for yourself or a loved one.

You can help build and maintain the growing Greenville County Greenways network by purchasing a 25′ section of the GHS Swamp Rabbit trail for $25.00.

For your tax-deductible support, you will receive a certificate of ownership listing the exact GPS coordinates of your section(s). The Greater Greenville Parks Foundation site assures us that 90% of the monies received will be used to directly mobilize public support and financial resources for public parks, trails, and recreational opportunities in our community.

Just posted to the Greenville County Libraries page is “Social Media, Libraries, and Web 2.0: How American Libraries are Using New Tools for Public Relations and to Attract New Users”, a study from The South Carolina State Library providing data gathered from library staff members across the United States.

The report provides data gathered from library staff members in the U.S. to determine how libraries are employing a variety of Web 2.0 and social networking tools to promote library programs and services, according to SC.gov.

As can be expected, Facebook was far and away the favorite Web2.0 tool of choice for social media participants. Be sure to follow our Facebook page for Greenville County information pertaining to you and your community.

No, this graph is not America’s economic status over the last decade; rather, it is Greenville County’s Per Capita Income since 1986, and unfortunately, it’s right back to where it was 24 years ago!

Indeed, the turn of the century apexed high-times here in Greenville County. For 20 years, Greenville outperformed the U.S. in income growth and the quality of life here steadily rose because of it.

A’las, “what goes up, must come down”, and Greenville County has lost over $1.3 billion in spendable income every year since to prove it.

Timing is on our side now though: Greenville Chamber President and CEO Ben Haskew has a plan to return Greenville County to it’s glory days.

South Carolina has been awarded $3.5 million by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency to help serve the state’s homeless and hungry.

The funds, awarded through FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program, more than double what we received last year, which is needed now more than ever with many students going homeless here amid the recession.

The number of children in SC without a regular home has risen more than 45% since 2007.

FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program Allocation to Greenville County, SC for 2010

For more information on the EFSP grants for 2010, visit the United Way’s EFSB Current Award website.

The BMW Charity Pro-Am has been named the 2009 Nationwide Tour Charity of the Year for its far-reaching impact on charities in the Upstate region of South Carolina and Western North Carolina.

Tournament organizers will receive a check for $30,000 from the PGA TOUR to enhance the tournament’s charitable endeavors.

Earlier, the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation announced it had raised $651,829 for 78 organizations as a result of last year’s tournament.

The next BMW Charity Pro-Am in Greer, S.C. is May 10-16 for a purse of $600,000.