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. Our goal is to ensure that businesses can do business without interference. We work to shape the Greater Midlands Region into a vibrant, diverse, and sustainable business climate by:
■ SUPPORTING local and state legislation that will help attract new quality business, industries, and jobs.
■ ENCOURAGING and educating entrepreneurs in their pursuit to expand and create new businesses.
Growth by the Numbers
TOTAL NUMBER OF New businesses in the City of Columbia
1/1/2024 to 9/11/2024
Source: City of Columbia
Total population of Columbia is 143,717.
The median age is 29.07.
Source: SC Power Team
TOTAL NUMBER OF New businesses in the Town of Lexington
1/1/2024 to 8/31/2024
Source: Town of Lexington
Columbia has a labor force of 81,524 people.
Source: SC Power Team
In 2023, there were 88,174 employees in Columbia
Source: SC Power Team
Columbia has a total of 7,251 businesses. In 2023, the leading industries in Columbia were Health Care and Social Services, Public Administration, Banking, Finance and Insurance, and Education.
■ HELPING the region’s businesses and industries retain and recruit talent and prosper.
The Chamber welcomed 176 new Partners
Source: Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Navigating the Legislative Session:
Bill Filing
Bill Introduced and read 3 Subcommittee and Full Committee Hearings for consideration 4 Committee report sent to the full body (Senate or House) for second and third reading
5 Send to opposite chamber to repeat the bill process
6 Bill introduced and read for the first time
7 Committee consideration
8 Committee report sent to the full body for second and third reading
9 When passed by both the House and Senate, the bill is sent to the Governor for signature, to become a law.
10 The law then becomes an Act, creating the Code of Laws.
Session Length:
South Carolina has a two-year long regular session beginning on the second Tuesday of January and ending on the second Thursday in May. 2025 will mark the first year of a two-year session. If a bill does not pass in May 2025, the bill will not need to be reintroduced prior to January of 2026.
ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT
IN THE MIDLANDS
78,355 small businesses operated in Columbia, South Carolina in 2024 with 130,219 small business employees.
A total of 6,246 identified firms exported goods worth $27.8 billion from South Carolina in 2020. Of those exporters, 5,259 — or 84.2 percent — were small. Exports by small firms reached $2.8 billion, making up 10 percent of exports by identified firms.
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy
Workforce and Childcare
CURRENT UNEMPLOYMENT:
U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics
EXPECTED GROWTH:
■ 74 companies announced projects in South Carolina in 2024, 26 approved by Commerce.
■ Total of 5,672 potential jobs if all 74 companies are approved.
TOP INDUSTRIES BY JOBS STATEWIDE IN 2023:
Healthcare and Social Services
216,209 jobs AND 16,401 establishments
Manufacturing
195,164 jobs AND 5,943 establishments
Retail
207,441 jobs AND 23,001 establishments
Accommodation and Food Services 147,347 jobs AND 12,088 establishments
■ 6 companies located in the Midlands: HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO BUSINESSES IN COLUMBIA HAVE?
*2024 investments listed only
MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION IN RICHLAND COUNTY 2023: (Workers 16 years or older)
Source: 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates
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 the affordability of childcare for employees.
» The Child Care Tax Credit was utilized by just 19 employers in 2022.
HOW DOES CHILDCARE IMPACT THE WORKFORCE?
■ Nearly 42% of South Carolinians live in what is known as a childcare “desert,” where there are more than three children under the age of five for each licensed childcare slot.
■ A married couple with two children spends about 21.3% of their income on childcare, while a single parent may spend up to 75.8%.
■ Average compensation for childcare workers in SC $13/hour; nationwide is $16/hour.
■ In the Midlands, childcare costs range from $150-$220 a week.
FOUR TYPES OF CHILDCARE SETTINGS:
CENTERBASED CHILD CARE
Licensed for 13 or more children and can be commercial, faithbased, or school-based. Centers operate for more than four hours per day and serve children from birth up to school age.
LICENSE EXEMPT
These programs serve school-age children for less than four hours per day and do not require a license if they meet specific criteria.
■ The average cost of center-based childcare for infants is $9,048 per year.
■ 61% of our 167,000 children ages newborn to three have mothers in the workforce.
■ Businesses play a role in solving the childcare crisis through on-site childcare, flexible scheduling, and financial support for employees to access childcare.
■ The current childcare crisis for children, ages newborn to three years old costs South Carolina’s economy an estimated $1.4 billion annually
FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME
These facilities operate within a residence and care for no more than six children, including those related to the operator.
GROUP CHILD CARE HOME
Similar to family childcare homes, can accommodate 7-12 children.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Infrastructure
■ PROVIDE incentives for employers and employees in the workforce.
■ South Carolina Industry Data: JanuaryDecember 2023, SC’s capital investment was $9.22 billion, (second largest in state history).
» Includes 81 projects and 14,120 jobs
■ $4.3 billion capital investment in Automotive, EV and EV Batteries in 2023.
■ $1.56 billion capital investment in Alternative Energy and Fuels in 2023.
■ Domestic-based companies accounted for 67.25% of capital investments in 2023.
Energy
■ Population growth, economic development, environmental and economic factors all affect our three major utility companies that serve individuals and companies in South Carolina.
■ ADOPT an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy to increase South Carolina’s generation capacity to ensure business consumers have available, affordable, and reliable power.
NUMBERS TO KNOW:
■ By 2040, South Carolina’s population is estimated to grow by nearly 1 million people, according to the state Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office.
■ In 2022, nuclear energy was the leading source of electricity generation in South Carolina and produced 55% of total in-state electricity.
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 and address the disparity in property tax rates between primary residences and non-owner-occupied residences.
South Carolina has a 5% corporate income tax rate, a 6% state sales tax rate, and an average combined state and local sales tax rate of 7.5% .
South Carolina is ranked 11 in the country for corporate taxes, ranked 33 in sales tax, and ranked 42 in property taxes.
Regulations, Ordinances & Permits
■ SUPPORT joint and several protections for businesses to reasonably reflect fault in tort and liability actions.
» Example: supporting retail liquor liability revision rates to ensure small businesses are protected and those convicted are held wholly responsible.
» SC is 1 of 29 states that follows a modified joint and several liability.
» The Institute for Legal Reform ranks South Carolina’s lawsuit climate 37th in the nation, and our tort costs are 2.5% of the state GDP and $3,181 per household.
■ 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.
Education
■ ADVOCATE for accountability and transparency with all public-funded entities.
■ ENSURE the best use of resources to encourage increased student achievement in an economic and efficient way.
Total Expenditure per Student
Source: SC Report Cards 2023-2024
Total
Revenue per Student (Est.)
Teachers Returning per Year
College Ready Assessment
Career Ready Assessment
College & Career Ready
MILITARY
■ ENGAGE with local leaders to strengthen the connection between the community and military installations.
■ COLLABORATE with state and 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 order to continue to promote and grow the mission.
In the Midlands, Fort Jackson has an economic impact of over $4.7 billion.
Fort Jackson, the South Carolina National Guard and McEntire Joint National Guard Base, Department of Defense Contractors, military retirees and veterans, and the U.S. Army Reserve have a combined economic impact in excess of
$6.6 billion.
CHAMBER MILITARY PROGRAMMING:
■ Military Outreach Group Meetings: designed to bring together members of the business and military community to educate, enhance and unite partnerships to create a strong support network.
■ Clear Path to Transition: aims to connect seniorlevel military retirees with regional business leaders to help explore pathways for service members to transition into civilian careers. Program results will be mutually beneficial as companies retain talent and build their management teams and military retirees find a career that utilizes their skills and allows them and their families to remain in the area.
■ Congressional Scope of Work: strategic partnership designed to promote defenserelated economic development and support maintenance of military installation infrastructure to enhance and grow Fort Jackson and McEntire Joint National Guard Base. Work daily to ensure growth at local bases as a defense mechanism against BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure).
PRESENTING SPONSOR
INFLUENCER SPONSORS
