Archive for month: December, 2021

The US Chamber of Commerce polled Americans who lost their job during the pandemic and remain unemployed and found that many are not actively looking for work and may not return to the workforce for six months or more.

America is grappling with a workforce crisis that is slowing the nation’s economic recovery. There were 2.3 million fewer people in the workforce in October than there were in October 2019 before the pandemic.

According to the poll:

• Less than half (47%) are actively and consistently looking for work, with one-in-five not looking for work at all.
• 56% believe they can get by for more than six months before it becomes essential to return to full time work.
• More than one-in-ten (13%) have left multiple jobs during the pandemic
• Nearly a third (32%) of unemployed workers said they would prefer to work in a different industry for their next job

Duke Energy has closed out a monthlong initiative to support organizations that address food insecurities and inequities across South Carolina with nearly $150,000 in surprise microgrants to community organizations across the state. The November focus provided a total of $250,000 to about 50 feeding programs leading up to Thanksgiving Day.

The microgrants were unannounced and not solicited by the receiving organizations. These “surcee” grants recognize the important gaps these typically smaller agencies fill in the neighborhoods they serve.

To read the full story, click here.

Do you or someone you know have what it takes to become America’s “Small Business Person of the Year” for 2022?  If so, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) wants to hear from you. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration is ready to accept nominations for its 2022 National and South Carolina Small Business Week Awards, including the annual Small Business Person of the Year award.

Winners will be recognized during our Annual Salute to Small Business Event, South Carolina’s major Small Business kick-off event that is held in the beginning of May. Winners for national awards may continue to be recognized at the regional and national levels.

Visit SBA’s dedicated website www.sba.gov/nsbw to download forms, criteria, and guidelines for submitting a nomination.

Grab a friend and a sweater and celebrate the Holiday Season with us on Thursday, December 16^th beginning at 5:30 pm at Local Motive Brewing.  The first 50 in the door will receive a free drink ticket. Come enjoy games, prizes, apps, beer & tacos.

For more information, click here.

The Greater Florence Chamber held a legislative drop-in with Congressman Tom Rice, U.S. House Representative for South Carolina’s 7th congressional district on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.

Congressman Rice covered several legislative issues going on in Washington DC., including the “slimmed-down” version of the infrastructure package and workforce concerns. He also touched on inflation worries and the reemerging COVID-19 anxieties.

The hour-long session was attended by 45 community leaders as part of the Chambers on-going programming effort to have our current Federal Legislators available in a small informal setting to answer questions.