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Thrive Upstate outlines services and funding strains to Greenville County Council
Summary
At a Greenville County Council public forum, Tyler Rex of Thrive Upstate described services for people with developmental disabilities and brain/spinal cord injuries, citing roughly 250 residents, 400 day‑program participants, a $30 million annual budget and staffing and Medicaid reimbursement challenges.
Tyler Rex, representing Thrive Upstate, told the Greenville County Council at its public communication forum that the nonprofit supports people with lifelong developmental disabilities, acquired traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury across the county and is facing mounting staffing and funding pressures.
Rex, introduced to the council before his presentation, said Thrive Upstate operates residential homes for “a little over 250 individuals” and day programs that serve roughly “over 400 individuals” daily. He said the organization’s annual budget is “a little over $30 million” and that about 400 staff members are needed to support the work.
The presentation framed Thrive’s mission as helping people “thrive in life, work, and play.” Rex described specialized services including an accessible music studio (Studio 1700), a head and spinal cord injury drop‑in center at McAlister Square and an early‑intervention program serving about 100 families with newborns who have disabilities.
Rex outlined program models that range from apartment‑based supports to 24/7 medically complex care and emphasized individualized training: “The training that we do is always focused on helping someone gain an increased level of independence based on wherever they’re at,” he said.
In answers to councilors’ questions, Rex described state oversight and funding constraints. He said the state agency OIDD (formerly DDSN) was combined with others under recent legislation and that no single secretary has been appointed to coordinate the consolidated entity, complicating state‑level supervision. He also said Thrive Upstate is largely Medicaid‑reimbursed and faces rising costs while reimbursement rates remain flat.
Rex described partnerships and housing finance: most residences were constructed in partnership with the Housing Trust Fund about two decades ago, using a mix of board capital and trust funds; Thrive Upstate currently owns most of its residences except where Housing Trust Fund interest remains. He also urged continued communication with council members about events and outreach activities.
Why it matters: Thrive Upstate provides a range of residential, day and rehabilitation services that touch municipal, county and health systems. The organization’s funding constraints — driven by flat Medicaid rates, aging infrastructure and workforce shortages — could affect local service capacity for people with complex, lifelong needs.
The council did not take formal action on Thrive Upstate’s presentation; the organization said it would follow up with council offices about outreach and events.
