July 20, 2011
Your July Newsletter
July 20, 2011
Click HERE for Original Version
E-Verify for Everybody
Last month the General Assembly put aside its proclaimed love of small business and instead loaded us up with another regulatory burden. On almost a straight party line vote, the majority GOP legislature mandated that every business only use E-Verify when hiring an employee. No more will simply making a copy of a driver’s license or social security card be enough to prove that you didn’t hire an undocumented worker.
Using the federal internet-based E-Verify system is now a mandate with the penalty of the government shutting down your business if you don’t. And you’ll love this offer from the Legislature if you don’t have broadband or even internet service. They say that you can just drive to the nearest designated state agency office in your county and ask a state employee to help you use their computer and show you how to use E-Verify. Have you stopped laughing yet?
As of right now it looks like the E-Verify mandate starts in 2012. The state agency that will enforce the mandate is the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations. That agency has sent out a notice “inviting” employers to attend seminars in August to learn how to be an E-Verify immigration enforcer. Contact Jim Knight if you’re interested.
SBDC Budget Saved
The legislative session did end last month with some good news. Governor Haley’s veto of the entire Small Business Development Center (SBDC) budget was overridden by a vote of 96 to 16 in the House and 26 to 11 in the Senate. The Small Business Chamber took a very active role in encouraging legislators to override the veto and received a very nice message of appreciation from the SBDC state director (click here).
You might want to look at the names of the following legislators who voted against the state helping small businesses with technical assistance and let them know how you feel.
Senators opposing funding of the SBDC: Lee Bright, Kevin Bryant, Chip Campsen, Ronnie Cromer, Tom Davis, Larry Grooms, David Thomas, and Danny Verdin.
Representatives opposing funding of the SBDC: Todd Atwater, Eric Bedingfield, William Chumley, Tom Corbin, Kris Crawford, Greg Delleney, Phillip Lowe, Jim Lucas, Peter McCoy, Jim Merrill, Wendy Nanney, Ralf Norman, Kevin Ryan, Tommy Stringer, Thad Viers and Mark Willis.
Small Business Health Insurance Plan
The new Small Business Chamber health insurance plan through Carolina Care Plan is on track to begin enrollment October 1st. Specifics about the multiple packages within the plan (i.e. benefits and rates) will be ready late August. Click here to sign up to be contacted with the details.
We hope that this new plan will make health insurance more affordable for both businesses presently offering the benefit to employees and those that do not offer health insurance due to cost.
Promoting the Smallest of Small Businesses
The Small Business Chamber has taken a leadership role in promoting our state’s microenterprises—businesses with fewer than 5 workers and started with less than $35,000. According to the Association for Enterprise Opportunity there are 338,000 such microbusinesses in our state making them very important to our economy and offering great potential for job growth if they have access to capital and technical assistance.
Representative Kenneth Hodges successfully passed a legislative resolution naming June as Microenterprise Development Month. Plans are underway to create a state Microenterprise Development Association within the Small Business Chamber.
SCSBCC Asked to Join Capitol
Press Conference on Taxes
Michigan U.S. Senator Carl Levin asked Frank Knapp, president and CEO of the SC Small Business Chamber, to join him in a press conference on July 12th. Senator Levin has been a tireless advocate for closing tax loopholes and offshore tax havens that have allowed U.S.-based multinational corporations to avoid paying their fair share of taxes.
At the press conference Senator Levin announced his Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act. Mr. Knapp’s comments supported the effort to help level the competitive playing field between small business and corporate giants as well as end small business subsidy of government services used by the multinational corporations. You can read Mr. Knapp’s comments by clicking here.
Savvy Entrepreneur Club
On behalf of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber, you are cordially invited to a once-in-a-lifetime business coaching session with Teri Hawkins. Teri was a protégé of Og Mandino, the World’s Greatest Salesman, a Money magazine top entrepreneur, and one of America’s premier speakers. She has received a million dollar grant to tour the country to teach entrepreneurs how to thrive. The Lowcountry is one of five markets selected to get access to the grant this year. Over 30 applied! This is a great opportunity to be part of a very interactive discussion that will help your business expand rapidly! Two seminars available! Seating is limited!
Date: July 26 @ 2:30
Location: Keller Williams, 496 Bramson Court, Suite 200 in Mt. Pleasant
Date: July 28 @ 7pm
Location: The Real Estate Studio, 214 King St. in Charleston
Kindly RSVP to Victoria or call us at (803) 252-5733
August BuySC Micro Conference is
Monday August 22!
Please join us August 22 from 6-8pm for the August BuySC Micro Conference at the Mad Platter Studio, a paint your own pottery studio in the heart of Columbia!
Mad Platter Studio
3101 Millwood Ave.
Columbia SC 29205
We will have two great guest speakers in attendance:
6:15 pm George Scott from Seeds of Wealth Financial will be speaking about How to Become Your Own Leasing Company, Businesses Transfering Money from Your Company to Your Personal Wealth.
6:40pm: Sharon Gregory a business motivational speaker and strategist from SBG Learning Strategies will speak on creating a values-based hiring practice for your small business.
Bring your business cards for networking, mingling and awesome door prizes afterward. Refreshments will be provided.
The event is MONDAY August 22 from 6-8pm.
Space is limited. RSVP required. Email Victoria or call 803-252-5733.