PUBLIC POLICY AGENDA 2024
ADVOCATING FOR YOU Guiding Principles The Columbia Chamber has been the trusted voice of the business community since 1902. As such, the Chamber serves as a watchdog for public policy items that we deem impactful to local businesses and business leaders. The Columbia Chamber Public Policy team is the dedicated voice of our region’s business community. We work to shape the Greater Midlands Region into a vibrant, diverse, and sustainable business climate by:
■ SUPPORTING
■ ENCOURAGING and
local and state legislation that will help attract new quality business, industries, and jobs.
■ HELPING the region’s
educating entrepreneurs in their pursuit to expand and create new businesses.
businesses and industries retain and recruit talent and prosper.
Business Growth TOTAL NUMBER OF
EVERGREEN INITIATIVES
TOTAL NUMBER OF
businesses 123 New businesses 460 New in the city of in the town of Columbia
Lexington
1/1/2023 to 10/16/2023
1/1/2023 to 10/31/2023
Source: City of Columbia
Source: Town of Lexington
The Chamber will continue to advocate for: ■ Affordable Housing ■ Sustainable Transportation and Public Transit
COLUMBIA CHAMBER PUBLIC POLICY TEAM
2
Carl Blackstone
Logan Howard
Susan McPherson
President & CEO
Director of Government Affairs
Vice President of Public Policy & Military Affairs
cblackstone@columbiachamber.com
lhoward@columbiachamber.com
smcpherson@columbiachamber.com
2024
columbiachamber.com
Income and Employment at a Glance More than 445,000 small businesses operated in South Carolina in 2021 with more than 830,000 employees. Source: SC Department of Revenue
Unemployment Rate by County in 2022 2.80%
2.40%
Horry
Charleston
2.10%
Greenville
2.20%
Lexington
Richland
2.60%
Source: SC Power Team
Median Household Income by County 2022
Per Capita Personal Income by County 2022
$80,346
Source: SC Power Team
$57,076
$56,653
Horry
$46,995
Charleston
$53,963
Greenville
Horry
Charleston
Greenville
Lexington
$57,771
Lexington
$60,864
Richland
$76,546
$71,520
Richland
$70,111
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Employment Gains from September 2021-2022
6.10%
5.80%
4.60% 3.40%
Horry
Charleston
Greenville
Lexington
Richland
2.10%
Source: SC Power Team
columbiachamber.com
2024
3
WORKFORCE Education
Teachers Returning per Year
■ ADVOCATE for accountability and
transparency from all public-funded entities.
■ ENSURE the best use of resources to
encourage increased student achievement in an economic and efficient way.
RICHLAND ONE $12,676 $12,781 $13,804 $11,265
LEXINGTON ONE LEX-RICH FIVE GREENVILLE
LEXINGTON ONE LEX-RICH FIVE GREENVILLE Source: SC Report Cards 2022-2023
$17,823
RICHLAND ONE RICHLAND TWO LEXINGTON ONE LEX-RICH FIVE GREENVILLE
Career Ready Assessment
Total Revenue per Student RICHLAND ONE LEXINGTON ONE LEX-RICH FIVE GREENVILLE
24.20% 30.80% 42.60% 46.50% 36.70% Source: SC Department of Education
Source: SC Report Cards 2022-2023
RICHLAND TWO
77.50% 81.90% 88.50% 98.80% 89.30%
College Ready Assessment
Total Expenditure per Student RICHLAND TWO
RICHLAND ONE RICHLAND TWO
$16,864 $16,588 $18,012 $14,608
$26,061
RICHLAND ONE
53.10% 62.80% 70.50% 77.20% 72.40%
RICHLAND TWO LEXINGTON ONE LEX-RICH FIVE GREENVILLE
Source: SC Department of Education As of 11/1/2023
Source: SC Report Cards 2022-2023
College & Career Ready RICHLAND ONE RICHLAND TWO LEXINGTON ONE LEX-RICH FIVE GREENVILLE
21.50% 25.90% 39.80% 43.40% 34.40% Source: SC Report Cards 2022-2023
Talent Development ■ SUPPORT legislation that addresses workforce barriers, education pipelines and training, including apprenticeships.
■ MODERNIZE the childcare tax credit in order
to increase the accessibility and affordability of childcare for employees.
4
2024
columbiachamber.com
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Infrastructure ■ PROVIDE new incentives to increase
workforce and affordable housing projects.
■ CHAMPION an increase in state funding to synergize transit operations and workforce mobility.
■ ENCOURAGE new developments in the electric vehicle industry.
» Scout Motors is expected to occupy more than 4,000 permanent jobs. Source: Scout Motors
Tax Modernization & Licensing Fees ■ DEVELOP a competitive tax environment by
working with the legislature to lower taxes for small businesses.
■ REDUCE property tax rates to be more competitive for new businesses.
Property Taxes County Millage Rates for 2022 12.64% 5.91%
Energy
5.56%
■ ADVOCATE for legislation that ensures
5.32%
the state has adequate energy generation and infrastructure to meet the demands of current and future developments.
Source: SC Association of Counties
City Millage Caps FY 2023-2024
Regulations, Ordinances & Permits
10.42% 8.03% 9.24%
■ SUPPORT joint and several protections for
businesses to reasonably reflect fault in tort and liability actions.
11.87% Source: SC Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office
» Example: supporting retail liquor liability revision rates to ensure small businesses are protected and those convicted are held wholly responsible.
■ MONITOR and regulate tax provisions for short term rentals.
■ ADVOCATE for regulatory environments
that promote business growth and reduce unnecessary costs.
■ PROMOTE initiatives that ensure county zoning ordinances protect landowners, business owners and developers.
Photo provided by City of Columbia Department of Public Relations, Media & Marketing
columbiachamber.com
2024
5
MILITARY ■ ENGAGE with local
■ COLLABORATE with state and
The greater Columbia area touts itself as “the most Military-friendly community in America.” The impact that the military community, particularly Fort Jackson, has on our community is significant.
Fort Jackson, the South Carolina National Guard and McEntire Joint National Guard Base, Department of Defense Contractors, military retirees and veterans, and the US Army Reserve have a combined economic impact in excess of $6.6 billion.
leaders to strengthen the connection between the community and military installations.
local legislatures to expand opportunities for transitioning military families to earn professional licenses in the state.
■ UTILIZE military outreach
initiatives to integrate military families into our community in an efficient and timely manner.
In the Midlands, Fort Jackson has an economic impact of over $4.2 billion. The Fort has over
8,200 employees
(3,200 soldiers and 5,000 civilians) with 6,150 soldiers living off-post. With graduations each Thursday, Fort Jackson brings over 250,000 visitors annually who visit area restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality businesses.
The base supports 63,882 retirees and 397,649 veterans in South Carolina. 6
2024
Columbia is home to two Purple Star school districts: Richland One and Richland Two. columbiachamber.com
Fort Jackson is the largest Initial Entry Training site in the US ARMY.
45,000+ soldiers
are trained annually and it graduates about 1,000 soldiers from basic combat training each week.
Fort Jackson trains:
56%
60%
FEMALE
BASIC COMBAT
OF ALL ARMY SOLDIERS
OF ALL ARMY SOLDIERS
Columbia Chamber Partners,
In 2023, The Columbia Chamber launched the FORWARD TOGETHER initiative to help propel our region towards a sustainable yet progressive future. This three-year program of work was developed to address the most pressing opportunities and challenges in the Midlands. One such initiative is the enhancement of local and state advocacy efforts. In 2024, the Chamber will be dedicated to communicating the needs and concerns of the business community to elected officials at all levels. Working together, we will continue to focus on the following goals: • Creating a regional vision and plan • Continuing to build support for local military installations • Cultivating a competitive business climate for the Midlands • Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with the local, state and federal government • Partnering with K-12 schools along with local institutions of higher education and technical colleges to ensure a competitive workforce Our mission is to create an environment for sustained prosperity and future success through public policy and advocacy. We are proud that, together, we will continue to make our region the best place to live, play and work. Take care, Carl Blackstone PRESIDENT & CEO
columbiachamber.com
2024
7
PRESENTING SPONSOR
INFLUENCER SPONSORS