Business Bridge
Your connection to news, resources & more
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Business Bridge will hit your inbox on Tuesdays. It will contain chamber events, community events, Business Highlights, member-to-member news, Federal and State legislative updates, and so much more.
If you have information, updates, or special promotions to share in the newsletter, please email the details to nramirez@easleychamber.org. And if applicable include links to websites or dedicated web pages, as well as attachments of promotional materials in pdf and jpeg/png format. Lastly, reading a newsletter a day helps you work, rest, and play so make this one your Tuesday newsletter.
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Upcoming Events & Socials | |
With a busy schedule, it's hard to add events as they come, so here is the 2023 Easley Chamber Calendar of Events. Make it a goal to attend at least one event to expand your network. It's at your choice- a luncheon, a social, or even a day away from the office in the Easley and Powdersville golf tournaments for PAR TEEs! | |
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SAVE THE DATE & NEW TIME
We’re changing our Annual Meeting & Awards Celebration from an evening dinner to a business luncheon! Please save the event date & NEW time!
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Tuesday, March 21, 2022
11:30 AM – 1:15 PM
Tri-County Technical College (Easley Campus)
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Register NOW to join the celebration in recognizing the work of your chamber, as well as honoring our 2023 business and leadership award recipients. We encourage you to submit award nominations no later than March 8 for Small Business of the Year, Non-Profit of the Year, Young Professional of the Year, and Pillar of the Community. | |
CANCELLATION POLICY: If notice of cancellation is not provided by 12:00 noon on Friday, March 17, registrants are responsible for the full registration fee. In addition, no-shows are also responsible for the full registration fee. | | |
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Are you under 40 & interested in becoming more involved in the Easley-Powdersville area? Then look no further! We invite you to join us for our Young Professionals C3 Socials.
February's Social will be hosted and sponsored by Guest & Brady. This social will offer the opportunity to meet the staff and tour the office. Breakfast treats and coffee will be provided to start conversations and make connections! So come ready to socialize, asks questions, and share business cards. It'll be a great time!
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Friday, February 10, 2023
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Guest & Brady, Attorneys at Law
107 Village Lane, Easley
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Interested in sponsoring a Young Professionals Social? Corporate Sponsorships are available at $300 and include: company highlighted on pre-event promotion on this e-newsletter, sponsor recognition on the day of the event, “Word from our Sponsor” remarks at the event, ability to distribute company promotional materials to the event attendees, and company logo & hyperlink on YP page of chamber’s website for the year. You can select the date of available socials. To start, please contact Neydi Ramirez at 859-2693 or email nramirez@easleychamber.org. | |
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Ribbon Cuttings & Milestone Anniversaries
Celebrate With Us
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That's Karma Consignment Boutique- 11 Year Milestone Celebration
That's Karma is celebrating 11 years in Easley this weekend. To honor the milestone, join us on Friday at 1:00 PM to present That's Karma Consignment Boutique with an 11-Year Milestone Certificate. Then, join That's Karma on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM for a Birthday Party that will include a storewide sale, giveaways, refreshments, and a chance to win a shopping spree of $250. For questions, call (864) 360-9658.
When: Friday, February 10 @1:00 PM
Where: 203 West Main Street, Easley
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The Easley Chamber would love to celebrate your business milestone. Contact Neydi Ramirez at nramirez@easleychamber.org or at (864) 859-2693 to schedule a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to celebrate the opening or renovations of your business. We also do Milestone Celebrations to celebrate your first year, second, and onward. | |
Want to expand your network in the Easley-Powdersville area? Then join us at the next Young Professionals C3 Social happening this Friday (February 10) at Guest & Brady at 107 Village Lane in Easley from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM. There will be coffee, kolaches, and plenty of parking. Registration is not required but preferred. | |
Jack's Parlour, LLC is having a Mardi Gras celebration all day this Friday, February 10th. There will be king cake, jambalaya, and punch. Anyone receiving a service that day will be entered to win one of three gift baskets. Book your appointment online at jacksparlour.com or call (864) 810-3222. Laissez les bons temps rouler! | |
That's Karma Consignment Boutique is turning 11 Years Old this weekend! To celebrate the milestone, join the Easley Chamber on Friday at 1:00 PM to present That's Karma with an 11-Year Old Milestone Certificate. Then, join them on Saturday at anytime for a Birthday Party which will include a storewide sale, giveaways, refreshments, and a chance to win a shopping spree of $250. Don't miss out. For additional details, visit the event page here. | |
Dealing with a broken heart this Valentine's Day weekend? Then axe throwing is a great way to take out some aggression and your ex's photo makes the perfect target!! Come out on Saturday, February 11th from 7pm -11pm for a night of axe throwing, awesome break up tunes and a great bar & food menu at 312 Throwing Co.! For additional details, click here. | |
Foothills Playhouse will showcase the first show in their 2023 Season Line-Up this weekend followed by next weekend. Showtimes for The Sound of Music will be Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and at 3:00 PM on Sundays. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office. Foothills Playhouse is located at 201 South 5th Street in Easley and doors open 30 minutes before the show starts. | |
Mark Twain was arguably America’s first celebrity. Everybody knows Mark Twain. He is the most quoted humorist ever. His fictional characters, Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and Becky Thatcher are more fondly remembered than most American presidents. It has been said of his influence on our language: "Mark Twain wrote the way we talk, and now we talk the way he wrote.” To hear the story of Mark Twain (portrayed by George Frein), attend the FREE event happening this Sunday, February 12 at 2:00 PM at the Pickens County Performing Arts Center (314 West Main Street, Liberty). While the event is free, registration is required. | |
Not feeling the love this Valentine's season? Been wronged by a love interest? Been ghosted? That's okay because the furbabies at Anderson County PAWS have your back. They want to help you celebrate in a Not-So-Sweet way on Valentine's Day. For a $5 donation, they will write the name of your ex in a litter pan or on a stuffed toy, and Anderson PAW furbabies will happily oblige in taking care of them for you! To do this, send the name(s) with your donation via PayPal: AndersonCountyPAWS by 11:59 pm on 2/13/23 or stop by during business hours (M-T-Th-F-Sa 12-5 pm). If you don't have an ex, send them the name of someone who is mean because dogs rule and [insert name] drools! | |
Dads, time to throw on your favorite tie to enjoy a special evening of dancing with your daughters at the YMCA's Annual Father-Daughter Dance. Enjoy desserts, photo ops, and a fun time as you and your daughter create a special memory that will last a lifetime. Make your reservations today! The dates are February 17 at the Pickens YMCA and February 24 at the Powdersville YMCA. The event will run from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Tickets are $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Tickets are for one adult and one child with each additional person attending at $5. | |
GIVE ME – PAW knows that you love your pet and that "LOVE moves the world" so they provide the very best to your family. They offer kennel-free daycare for your fur baby with range-free enrichment play. To get started, call their office at (864) 442-6105 or stop by for a tour at 402 Sheriff Mill Road in Easley. Even start with a test stay with their 3-Hour Romp Play and when you get 5, it's only $55. Doggy Daycare hours are 24/7. Business hours are Monday to Sunday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and boarding hours are Monday to Sunday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 AM. | |
The City of Easley is excited to host Spring Fling on Saturday, April 1 at Old Market Square from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. They are currently looking for vendor applications. If you would like to be considered as a vendor at the Spring Fling event, please follow this link. Vendor applications are due by Monday, March 6th. | |
Prisma Health Shares Tips to Keep Your Heart Healthy | | |
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Prisma Health is delighted that South Carolina has moved from #45 to #41 in the most recent state health rankings. Prisma is encouraged to see movement in the right direction. Now, February is Heart Health Awareness Month and they have tips for keeping your heart healthy. Remember, a healthy heart is the key to a healthy life:
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Want to share special business highlights with chamber members?
The Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce would love to share your business highlights in the Business Bridge Newsletter. Highlights can be awards, celebrations, certifications, recognitions, and more. Please let us know what you would like to share by contacting us at 864-859-2693 or nramirez@easleychamber.org. It's our business to share YOUR business!
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Pickens County: LEAPS for Public Servants Participants Announced
The Pickens County Leadership Enhancement Academy for Public Servants (LEAPS) kicked off its 2023 season last week and welcomed emerging leaders in local government throughout the county for a nine-week program designed to help participants hone their leadership skills, better understand local government as a whole and strengthen communication with their peers in public service in order to become highly effective leaders and better serve the public. The program was developed and courses are taught by county staff who have graduated from the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) High Performance Leadership Academy...Read More
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Anderson County: Josie Jones Named Anderson County DSS Director
The South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) named Josie Jones as the new Anderson County DSS Director beginning Tuesday, January 17, 2023. Jones had served as Spartanburg County Director since 2018. She has been working in the DSS field since 2006 in Anderson as a Foster Care Case Manager and was promoted as a Supervisor in 2011 where she remained fro three years. She then left to explore being a guidance counselor but realized her niche really was working with DSS. So she explored other places and ended up back in Anderson County in 2018 where she... Watch Video
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Increasing Popularity Isn't Translation to Union Membership
According to a 2022 Gallup survey, union popularity in the United States is the highest since the 1960s. However, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that union members as a share of workers have hit an all-time low. While the Gallup data reveals that 71% of Americans approve of labor unions, only 10.1% of employed U.S. workers are union members. The total number of union members grew by 273,000 last year. Still, the labor movement could not keep up as non-union jobs grew at a faster pace than union positions in a thriving job market that saw the creation of more than 5 million jobs.
South Carolina had the lowest union membership in the country with only 1.7% of workers represented by unions, far below the U.S. state average of 11.3%. Bob Morgan, President & CEO of the SC Chamber of Commerce, stated “South Carolina’s employment-at-will doctrine and the state’s right to work status remain fundamental to the success of our economy. Maintaining both are key to making South Carolina’s economy the most vibrant in the United States, creating opportunity and prosperity for all.”
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EV Tax Credits for Manufacturers and Consumers
As South Carolina is surging with electric vehicle (EV) and EV material manufacturers moving to our state, the Biden Administration is championing a tax credit to bolster the U.S. supply chain for EVs to offer carmakers new tax credits as an incentive to scale up domestic battery manufacturing - and they're racing to take advantage," reported Axios. In addition to jump-starting the EV supply chain in America, other goals of the credit are to reduce dependence on China and to transition the U.S. auto industry to cleaner transportation more quickly.
As EV manufacturers are receiving incentives, so are EV purchasers and leasers. The existing EV tax credit program for consumers underwent dramatic changes as of January 1st because of adjustments included in the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022”. Purchasers and leasers of new and used EVs are eligible for up to a $7,500 tax credit as long as the model fits price restrictions and the buyer does not have too high of an income. Read this article from NPR to understand better who qualifies for the EV tax credit on the consumer end.
In 2022, multiple companies announced they would start or expand EV operations in South Carolina. Redwood Materials announced they are building a $3.5 billion EV battery materials campus in Berkeley County, BMW announced a $1.7 billion investment in the upstate to accelerate EV manufacturing, and Envision AESC announced they are setting up shop in Florence County with an $810 million EV battery gigafactory. To prepare the Palmetto State for more EVs, Governor McMaster authorized the S.C. Department of Transportation to create a working group to plan for South Carolina's EV charging plan following the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula program.
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SC Legislative Update
Last week's legislative actions in the SC General Assembly include:
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Education Scholarships (S.39) – After multiple weeks of debate, the Senate passed legislation providing roughly $6,000 to parents to cover tuition, fees, course materials, transportation, or other qualified expenses to send their children to private schools. In year one, eligible families must have a household income that does not exceed two hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines (ex. $60,000 for a family of four). That percentage will increase until year three, where household income must not exceed four hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines ($120,000 for a family of four). Additionally, qualified students must have been previously enrolled in the public school system and must take the same testing required of public-school students so that the Department of Education can track their academic progress and the success of the program. For year one, enrollment in the program will be capped at 5,000 students, 10,000 students in year two, and 15,000 students in year three. The bill now heads to the House.
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Certificate of Need (S.164) – Last Thursday, the Senate passed a bill that essentially repeals the state’s Certificate of Need (CON) requirement for health facilities in South Carolina, with the exception of nursing homes or ambulatory surgical facilities with more than eight operating rooms. The CON program requires health facilities to receive state approval before building out new facilities, opening new practices or purchasing large medical equipment. Additionally, the bill establishes a study committee to examine the effect of repealing the CON program on access to care in rural areas of the state. The bill now heads to the House.
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Occupational Licensing Reform for Previously Incarcerated Individuals (H.3605) – Last Tuesday, the SC Chamber was happy to see the House pass H.3605 which will modernize South Carolina’s occupational licensure laws to mirror our neighboring states and remove barriers to entry for previously incarcerated individuals who want to join the state’s workforce. The bill now heads to the Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, who recently passed similar legislation (S.165), which is currently on the Senate floor for consideration.
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Fentanyl Trafficking (H.3503) – The House passed legislation that would add a criminal penalty for trafficking fentanyl. Individuals convicted of possessing at least four grams of drugs containing fentanyl will face a minimum sentence of at least seven years and a $50,000 fine. The bill now heads to the Senate where similar legislation passed out of the Judiciary Committee last week.
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Permit Extensions (H.3209) – The House passed legislation that would retroactively extend certain economic development related permits, including wastewater and air quality, issued by the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) dating back to 2020. The bill now heads to the Senate.
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FY2023-24 – House Ways and Means budget subcommittees continued listening to state agency budget requests while the Senate Finance Committee began their budget subcommittee deliberations. Timelines for the House and Senate FY2023-24 budget deliberations can be found here and here.
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Your Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce serves as an important connection between small businesses and resources & current information. And we're here to personally assist you with questions or concerns. Please contact us at 864-859-2693 or ecc@easleychamber.org. It's our business to support YOUR business!
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