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WEEKLY UPDATE            Wednesday, July 20, 2011  

Greetings! 

We'd like to thank GE's Director of Ecomagination Dave Searles for presenting to our Chairmen's Circle Investors yesterday morning about sustainabilty. We are truly fortunate to have GE and all the partner companies in the new "Greening of Greenville" projects announced yesterday. Their investments in our community create wonderful ways for us to attract and retain great businesses and great talent. 

2011 LEGISLATIVE RECAP: Your Legislative Agenda at Work

UCC Mark and Elizabeth have compiled several important business-related issues that were considered by the South Carolina General Assembly in 2011. Many of these issues, which directly impact the Upstate's ability to improve our business climate and create jobs, were addressed as part of our 2011 Legislative Agenda. Check out the 2011 Legislative Recap here.

 

 

Are Your Young Professionals Plugged-in? Get their 2011 PULSE Memberships Now!

PULSE Logo PULSE, the Chamber's program for young professionals, now has pro-rated membership rates (valid July 1-December 31, 2011) available for $35 for Chamber Members!

Click here to get pro-rated memberships or for more information, visit www.greenvillepulse.com

 

 

Summer Small Business Focus 

These upcoming events may be helpful for our Small Business Owners:

 

Beginning January 1, 2012, every employer in South Carolina will be required to verify their new hires using E-Verify. A South Carolina Employer E-Verify Seminar has been developed to aid employers in understanding and complying with the South Carolina Illegal Aliens and Private Employment Act, and to train employers on how to enroll and use E-Verify. The Upstate Seminar will be held at Greenville Technical College on Thursday, August 4 from 9:00-10:00 a.m. and from 1:00-2:00 p.m. To register, send an RSVP to [email protected].


What is E-Verify? 
E-Verify is a free, Internet-based service provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration that allows employers to easily verify the employment eligibility of their newly hires. For more information about E-Verify visit www.dhs.gov /E-Verify or call 1-888-464-4218.

Small Business Matchmaking: Connecting Small Business Owners with Capital Opportunities

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and statewide partners are having a one-day workshop on how

to finance your small business August 31 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Columbia Conference Center. This workshop will offer advice on how to effectively pitch a business idea to secure financing. Hear directly from bankers and small business service providers about how business owners can best position themselves to access capital. Following the information sessions, participants will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with lenders, resource providers and other non-bank sources of capital. For information, contact Claudia Wise: [email protected] or 864-239-3728.

 

Small Business Owners' Forum: Recruiting and Selection Processes featuring panelists Steve Hall with Find Great People International and Adam Landrum with MERGE
Wednesday, July 27, 11:30 am - 2:00 pm at the Greenville Chamber. This event is free to attend. You may bring your own lunch, drinks will be provided. Please register here.

 

 

South Carolina-Israel Collaboration at the Chamber Next Wednesday July 27, 8-10 am

The South Carolina-Israel Collaboration is hosting a series of education events that will enable you to:

  • Hear how Israel has become the "Start-Up Nation" with the world's top entrepreneurial innovation economy. 
  • Learn of plans to strengthen South Carolina's economy through business and research partnerships with Israel. 
  • Discuss identified clusters of strength in South Carolina and Israel (Biomedical, Advanced Materials, Sustainable Systems, Transportation, Insurance / Health IT, and Defense / Security) and how this collaboration may be advantageous for you.
  • Consider joining a delegation of South Carolina's industry and scientific leaders who will travel to Israel in November for a week-long economic and trade mission. 
According to New Carolina's George Fletcher, "Israel has the most innovative economy on earth. This trade mission provides a great opportunity to share business and research relationships with our counterparts in Israel."

Learn more and register here
or contact Michele Brinn at 864-242-1050 for additional information.

 

 

Have you been impressed by a Small Business lately? 

Click here to nominate them for the Chamber's Small Business of the Month Award! 

 

 

Chanticleer Sold Out! Register today to secure a spot at Riverside!

Golf 2011.Register Now

Governor Haley to Speak at our Next Quarterly Public Policy Luncheon August 30th

Governor Haley

Please save the date for our next Public Policy Luncheon featuring South Carolina Governor

Nikki Haley

Tuesday, August 30th

TD Convention Center

12:00 - 1:00 pm

Networking and registration will begin at 11:30 am     


CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
 

 

 

Here's What's Happening This Week and Next  at the Chamber:

Sales Roundtable/Time Management with Steve Bailey, Merus Refreshment Services
Date/Time: TODAY - Wednesday, July 20, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Who Can Come: All Greenville Chamber Members
Where: Greenville Chamber Board Room
Cost: Free to attend/Jason's Deli will be on site with $7.50 box lunches/Please register here

  

PUBlic Art Crawl with PULSE in the Arts 
Date/Time: Friday, July 22, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Who Can Come: PULSE Members
Where it starts: Peace Center for the Performing Arts
Cost: $20 if you pre-register here /$25 at the door

  

SC-Israel Collaboration Upstate Event
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 27, 8:00 - 10:00 am
Who Can Come: All Greenville Chamber Members
Where: Greenville Chamber Board Room
Cost: Free to attend/ Please register here
 
PULSE Leadership Luncheon
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 27, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Who Can Come: PULSE Members
Where: Embassy Suites Verdae Blvd
Cost: Free to attend/PULSE Members Only/lunch included/ Please register here

 

Small Business Owners' Forum: Recruiting and Selection Processes
Panelists: Steve Hall, Find Great People International & Adam Landrun, MERGE
Date/Time: Wednesday, July 27, 11:30 am - 2:00 pm
Who Can Come: All Greenville Chamber Members
Where: Greenville Chamber Board Room
Cost: Free to attend/Bring Your Own lunch, drinks will be provided/ Please register here
 
Member Orientation
Date/Time: Thursday, July 28, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Who Can Come: All New Greenville Chamber Members & New Employees of Existing Members
Where: Greenville Chamber Board Room
Cost: Free to attend/lunch will be provided/ Please register here

  

 

 

Advertise on the Big Screen at Camelot Cinemas and Get $100 off Production Costs!

Camelot Cinemas AdvertisingThe Chamber has partnered with Camelot Cinemas and Pot O' Gold Productions to make advertising on the big screen even more affordable for our members!  

 

Call or email to learn more at 800-466-5330 or [email protected] - and don't forget to mention you are a Greenville Chamber member! 

 

 

Is your company hiring? Post Local Jobs for FREE at NationJob!

Greenville NationJob LogoChamber Members can post local job listings for FREE at NationJob! Take advantage of this valuable benefit by E-mailing the job description to [email protected] and note that you are a Greenville Chamber member, or call 888-256-0919 for further details. 

 

 

Are You Saving Your Company Money with SmartBuys?

BlureCross BlueShieldTo help our members save money, we've selected the best discount offerings for health insurance, office supplies, and  telecommunications that we could find. 

Our SmartBuys partners are BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Office Depot, and Windstream Communications. 
Start saving with them today!

 

 

More Upcoming Events

August 2: Small Business Council on Growth: Upstate Chamber Coalition
August 2: Non-Profit Alliance
August 2: PULSE Orientation
August 3: BWIA Lunch & Learn
August 4: Leadership Greenville Class 38 Orientation
August 9: Business Before Hours
August 10: Manufacturers Roundtable      
August 12: Legislative Issues Committee Meeting
August 16: Business After Hours August 17: Sales Roundtable 
August 19: Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting 
August 22: 19th Annual Greenville Chamber Golf Tournament
August 24: PULSE Social
August 30: Public Policy Luncheon featuring South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley

August 30: Environmental Issues Committee Meeting


 

 

 

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