South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce

??SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES?? Looking to grow your small business? Check out these helpful resources to get started: 1. mbda.gov Minority Business Development Agency - U.S. Department of Commerce 2. scsbdc.com SC Small Business Development Centers 3. obo.columbiasc.gov 4. score.org SCORE Mentors Feel free to reach out — we're here to help every step of the way! #smallbusiness #southcarolina #SC #columbia #greenville #charleton #myrtlebeach #spartanburg #resources #growyoursmallbusiness #businesstips

New Tariffs Could Bring Higher Prices for Consumers and Challenges for Businesses For consumers, tariffs could mean significant price hikes: up to 56% on toys, 31% on appliances, and 20%+ on apparel and footwear. The National Retail Federation warns these increases could cost households up to $2,045 annually. "We have been planning for this possibility since the spring," Mike Creedon, CEO of Dollar Tree Stores Inc., said of the prospect of new tariffs on imported goods when President-elect Donald Trump moves into the White House in January. "We also have the flexibility to adjust product specs and price points to address any changes in the market." "Small businesses are very competitive, and they may not be able to pass those higher costs on to consumers," said Frank Knapp president and CEO of the S.C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce. "So, they'll have to find somewhere else to trim costs. It might be layoffs. It might be cutting health care or some other benefits. It could be devastating for some businesses." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/epi4ayPQ... ??https://lnkd.in/ehdt9pXF #SmallBusiness #SouthCarolina #SC #Columbia #Greenville #Spartanburg #DollarTree #Tariffs #Ports #SCPorts #Carolinas #News #ShortNews

??SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT?? Cliff Wilson is the founder and president of The Centric Group, LLC, a leading Columbia-based general contracting company established in 2014. Known for projects like Richland School District 2 HVAC Renovations and the Columbia Housing Authority Annex, Wilson brings expertise in managing construction projects from start to finish. With degrees in Electrical Engineering Technology, (SC State University) and an MBA in Technology Management (University of Phoenix) he’s also a graduate of the prestigious Babson College & Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. A dedicated leader, Wilson is active in industry organizations, including the National Association of Minority Contractors and the Carolina-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council. He also gives back to his community, supporting scholarships for his alma mater and participating in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Thank you for everything you do! #SmallBusiness #SouthCarolina #SC #SCState #Columbia #Greenville #Spartanburg #Contractor #ChamberofCommerce

If you are one of the 80% of SC small businesses that can’t afford to offer group health insurance, this video will show you how you can still help your employees at little cost to your business while saving considerably more money on your taxes. This 24-minute recording of our webinar tells exactly how to use the federal tax code to benefit you and your employees. Don’t complain about taxes if you won’t take 24 minutes to find out if your business can use this program. WATCH WEBINAR HERE: https://lnkd.in/eR5HVF_K #Columbia #Webinar #Taxes #SaveMoney #SmallBusiness #SouthCarolina #South #Carolinas #Greenville #Spartanburg #Charleston

Santee Cooper has proposed a new rate design that will have nearly 44% of Santee Cooper’s 25,000 small business customers in Horry and Georgetown Counties facing bill increases between 10%-100%, far more than their stated average increase of 4.6%. We believe this proposal remains unfair, especially for small businesses that use less electricity. The new rate design is outdated and ineffective in promoting energy conservation. We, along with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, urge Santee Cooper to adopt a fairer Time-of-Use rate structure. The Santee Cooper Board votes on this plan in December; if they move forward with this flawed rate design, the state legislature should act to protect small businesses from excessive and confusing rate hikes.?? Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/e6GHTD3X Contact us TODAY with any questions: [email protected] #energy #southcarolina #columbia #statistics #Legislature #SC #Greenville #Charleston #Georgetown #horrycounty #bill #increase

THIS WEDNESDAY: How Your Business Can Save Money by Helping Employees with Health Insurance Join us for an in-depth webinar where we’ll explore how the Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) and Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans can empower you to offer competitive benefits while cutting payroll costs. Webinar Highlights: -ICHRA Essentials: Tax advantages and flexibility for small businesses -Leveraging ACA Plans: Providing compliant, accessible coverage -Attract & Retain Top Talent: Compete in a tight market with affordable health benefits -Real-world Insights & Q&A: Ask questions and learn from industry experts Who Should Attend? - Small business owners - HR managers - Benefits coordinators - Anyone interested in practical, affordable health insurance solutions for small businesses Date: Wednesday, November 13 Time: Noon ET RSVP: [email protected] for the link Reserve your spot today! Space is limited—don’t miss out on strengthening your benefits for 2025! #webinar #businesswebinar #healthcare #smallbusiness #smallbusinessinsouthcarolina #southcarolina #Cola #Columbia #Greenville #Spartanburg #Charleston #MyrtleBeach

An analysis commissioned by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) reveals that Duke Energy's reliance on natural gas is the main factor behind rising power bills in North Carolina. The report from EQ Research indicates that gas fuel costs are responsible for 67% of the increase in residential rates in Duke Energy Carolinas (DEC) territory and 46% in Duke Energy Progress (DEP) areas since 2017. This reliance on gas exposes customers to volatile price swings, since we cannot control the price of gas, especially in DEC, where gas makes up a larger share of the energy mix. Despite rising power costs and customer concerns, Duke Energy plans further expansion of gas plants, which could increase financial risks for ratepayers. The EDF argues that greater investment in clean energy could reduce these costs and protect consumers from future gas price volatility. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ezSDmi5m ??https://lnkd.in/eQXMTQ3n... #gas #dukeenergy #energy #cleanenergy #Carolina #Carolinas #NC #SC #SouthCarolina #SCEnergy #NorthCarolina #Columbia #Gas #Greenville #Spartanburg #Charleston

Why South Carolina needs to reduce energy usage in low-income housing... A quick read:?? The Energy Efficiency Program for Low-Income Housing targets over 100,000 households in the Dominion territory in need of energy improvements. Last year, the Tennessee Valley Authority provided free upgrades to over 6,000 homes, resulting in a 25% energy use reduction and annual savings of about $500 per household. In South Carolina, energy programs exist, but only 265 homes have received weatherization services annually since 2015. At this rate, it would take 377 years to address the needs of low-income households in the Dominion area. South Carolina needs significant funding, similar to a "Marshall Plan," to reduce energy usage in low-income households. This would lower future energy demands, improve residents' finances, and create jobs. The legislature should evaluate existing programs and allocate budgetary and surplus funds for this initiative, benefiting all communities in the state. #energy #southcarolina #legislature #SC #unitedstates #dominionenergy #Columbia #Greenville #Spartanburg #Cola #Charleston

BUSINESS WEBINAR: How Your Business Can Save Money by Helping Employees with Health Insurance Join us for an in-depth webinar where we’ll explore how the Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) and Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans can empower you to offer competitive benefits while cutting payroll costs. Webinar Highlights: ?? ICHRA Essentials: Tax advantages and flexibility for small businesses ?? Leveraging ACA Plans: Providing compliant, accessible coverage ?? Attract & Retain Top Talent: Compete in a tight market with affordable health benefits ?? Real-world Insights & Q&A: Ask questions and learn from industry experts Who Should Attend? - Small business owners - HR managers - Benefits coordinators - Anyone interested in practical, affordable health insurance solutions for small businesses ?? Date: Wednesday, November 13 ?? Time: Noon ET ?? RSVP: [email protected] for the link Reserve your spot today! Space is limited—don’t miss out on strengthening your benefits for 2025! #webinar #businesswebinar #healthcare #smallbusiness #smallbusinessinsouthcarolina #southcarolina #Cola #Columbia #Greenville #Spartanburg #Charleston #MyrtleBeach

??SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT?? Meet Debi Schadel: Co-founder of Flock and Rally: Integrated Communications & Marketing , a women-owned creative agency in Columbia, SC. With a passion for community-building and placemaking, she’s been recognized as one of Columbia's “Most Influential” and is a proud advocate for local initiatives. From co-founding TEDxColumbia to serving as a Kudzu Queen, Debi’s impact is felt throughout the region. Originally from upstate New York, she brings an open, direct approach to the table and excels at developing and managing integrated marketing campaigns, branding and long-term project management. Thank you for everything you do Debi! #FlockandRally #Columbia #SC #SouthCarolina #KudzuQueen #TedTalk #Marketing #WomenOwned #SmallBusiness