Greenville's Next Big Bets

Can a church take state child care vouchers and keep its ministry? Derek Lewis talks with David Snodgrass, Lead Pastor of HopePointe Church in Greenville, about running HopePointe Learning Center, what pastors should plan for before opening a center, and why child care workers who lost their ABC vouchers deserve state help with child care.Episode Resources:HopePointe ChurchHopePointe Learning Center (SC First Steps listing)SC child care scholarships (DSS)First Steps 4KEdTalks:Greenville Federal Credit UnionPublic Education PartnersGreenville First StepsSimple Civics:Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good GreenvilleGet in touchSupport Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contributionSign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.View our entire catalogueSimple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

How did Greenville County show up at the polls in 2026? Katy and Nathaniel look past who won to the voter data: turnout up nearly 10 points from the 2022 midterm, how straight-party voting shifted in South Carolina, and the precincts where turnout and voter registration grew or declined.Resources:Greenville County precinct map (SC Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office)Greenville County 2026 General Election results by precinct (SC Election Commission)Simple Civics:Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good GreenvilleGet in touchSupport Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contributionSign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.View our entire catalogueSimple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Big bets like the recruitment of Michelin and the BEST school program shaped the Greenville County we know today. What’s next? Derek Lewis talks with the Greenville Chamber's Hank Hyatt, Senior Vice President of Economic Competitiveness, and Brittney Kessler, Director of Economic Competitiveness Initiatives, about their Big Bets series and how housing, child care, and other needs and opportunities are on the minds of business and civic leaders.Resources:Greenville ChamberOpportunity GreenvilleBig BetsSimple Civics:Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good GreenvilleGet in touchSupport Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contributionSign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.View our entire catalogueSimple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

With 30% of Greenville County's registered voters already voting early, Election Day 2026 sends the rest to their assigned precincts. Katy Smith of Greater Good Greenville and Nathaniel DeSantis cover where to vote, the five accepted photo IDs, what to do if something goes wrong at check-in, poll watchers versus poll observers and why local results take time to become official.Disclaimer: This episode is for general information only and is not official election guidance. Please check with the South Carolina Election Commission at https://scvotes.gov/ for official details.Resources:Simple Civics candidate look-up toolFind your polling place (SC Election Commission)Accepted photo IDs for voting in South CarolinaGreenville County Voter Registration and ElectionsGreenville County's 2026 penny tax referendums explainedSimple Civics:Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good GreenvilleGet in touchSupport Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contributionSign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.View our entire catalogueSimple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Five years after Chromebooks came home during COVID, Greenville County Schools has a new rule on classroom technology and a new framework for AI. Catherine Schumacher talks with Dr. Susan Stevens, Associate Superintendent for Academics, about what changes at each grade level, how student voices sparked the shift, and where AI tools like MagicSchool fit.Episode Resources:Greenville County Schools Administrative Rule IAMagicSchool AIEdTalks:Greenville Federal Credit UnionPublic Education PartnersGreenville First StepsSimple Civics:Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good GreenvilleGet in touchSupport Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contributionSign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.View our entire catalogueSimple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Every Greenville County voter will see two countywide penny tax questions on the November ballot, and residents of the cities of Greenville, Mauldin, Simpsonville and Travelers Rest will see a third. Katy Smith of Greater Good Greenville and producer Nathaniel DeSantis walk through what each referendum would fund, why there are both county and city referenda on the ballot, and how the same tax can be called both a penny and a 17% increase. The goal is not to sway your vote, but to give you clear, neutral facts before you head to the polls.Resources:Look up your ballot, candidates and referendums by addressGreenville County Voter Registration and Elections (official referendum wording)South Carolina State Election Commission (check your registration and sample ballot)Greenville County Transportation Sales and Use Tax Portal2024 Penny Tax vote by precinctSimple Civics episode "Cities, Towns, Places, and ZIP Codes"Simple Civics:Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good GreenvilleGet in touchSupport Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contributionSign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.View our entire catalogueSimple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Who's running for U.S. House of Representatives in South Carolina's District 4? Meet Jessica Ethridge, Courtney McClain, and William Timmons, the three candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.How the interviews worked:All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves. There were no edits made to the interview.Candidate links:Jessica EthridgeCourtney McClainWilliam TimmonsSample BallotSimple Civics:Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good GreenvilleGet in touchSupport Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contributionSign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.View our entire catalogueSimple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Who's running for U.S. House of Representatives in South Carolina's District 3? Meet Sheri Biggs and Eunice Lehmacher, two of the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day. Libertarian Brian Corriea was invited to participate but was unable to join us.How the interviews worked:All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves. There were no edits made to the interview.Candidate links:Sheri BiggsEunice LehmacherSample BallotSimple Civics:Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good GreenvilleGet in touchSupport Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contributionSign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.View our entire catalogueSimple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 28? Meet Alan Buckalew and Chris Huff, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.How the interviews worked:All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves. There were no edits made to the interview.Candidate links:Alan BuckalewChris HuffSample BallotSimple Civics:Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good GreenvilleGet in touchSupport Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contributionSign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.View our entire catalogueSimple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 27? Meet John MacCarthy and David Vaughan, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.How the interviews worked:All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves. There were no edits made to the interview.Candidate links:John MacCarthyDavid VaughanSample BallotSimple Civics:Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good GreenvilleGet in touchSupport Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contributionSign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.View our entire catalogueSimple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.