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WEEKLY UPDATE Wednesday, August 3, 2011
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| Greetings! |
We are deeply saddened by the loss of former Greenville Chamber Board Member Jeff Papenfus. Jeff served on our board as the voice of the technology companies in the region, and significantly helped the Chamber focus on that industry as the critical player in economic development it has become.
A true entrepreneur, Jeff was the original visionary for NEXT, and was one of the co-founders of the NEXT Innovation Center. He and his wife, Lisa, joined us on our Intercommunity Visit to Ireland in 2007. He even drove us to select the name NEXT when we were hesitant about making the final decision.
Jeff was always friendly, always smiling, and genuinely passionate about his life and improving the community he loved. He was a dedicated husband to his wife, Lisa. Our thoughts are with her, his family, and friends as Greenville mourns the untimely passing of one of our finest innovators.
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| Greenville Racking up the Rankings! | |
Add these to our designation last week as fDi Intelligence's #1 Micro City of the Future:
 RelocateAmerica Ranks Greenville #6 on it's annual Top Ten Places to Live List!
This list, released yesterday, highlights the best communities from RelocateAmerica's annual listing of America's 'Top 100 Places to Live" and is determined after extensive reviews of data considered most important in a community: real estate and housing, local economics, recreation and safety. In addition, feedback from local residents, business and community leaders was also taken into consideration.
"We received thousands of submissions and connected with leaders from all of the Top 100 communities that were vying for Top 10 distinction," said Steve Nickerson, RelocateAmerica president and CEO. "Greenville demonstrated the enthusiasm and attributes that make a community great."
Forbes Magazine Ranks Greenville #13 Top Metro Areas for Young Professionals
 Forbes Magazine ranked the top 15 metro areas for young adults in the nation last week based on incomes and job growth. Greenville came in at 13 - one slot behind Boston and just ahead of Little Rock. Leaders of the Chamber's PULSE Young Professionals program also believe Greenville ranks high because of it is quality of life that includes access to the mountains, beaches and a vibrant downtown.
PULSE, founded six years ago as part of the Vision 2025 plan, provides leadership, social and volunteering opportunities for close to 700 young leaders in the Greenville area. Members take part in bi-monthly luncheons that feature area business leaders as speakers; networking events, quarterly service projects, the annual Hanger Party, specifically targeted art events for young leaders and a mentoring program known as PaceSetters. "Greenville is poised to be one of the premier communities for young leaders in the nation," said Seph Wunder, PULSE chairman for 2011. "We believe PULSE is creating the next generation of leaders."
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Summer Small Business Focus
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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 tomorrow, Thursday, August 4 from 9:00-10:00 a.m. and from 1:00-2:00 p.m. To register, send an RSVP to knightj@llr.sc.gov.
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/Everify or call
1-888-464-4218.
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Small Business Matchmaking Bus Trip to Columbia Wednesday, August 31!
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and statewide partners are having a one-day workshop on how to finance your small business on August 31st from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Columbia Conference Center. The workshop will offer advice from bankers and small business service providers on how to effectively pitch a business idea to secure financing. After the sessions, participants will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with lenders, resource providers and other non-bank sources of capital.
The Greenville Chamber is coordinating a bus trip for this event, which will leave our lower parking lot at 6:30 am, and return at approximately 6:30 pm. The cost is $40 and includes event registration, lunch and bus rides. Click here to register.
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ONLY 5 FOURSOMES LEFT! RAFFLE TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
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Golf Tournament Raffle Tickets are on Sale now! $100 Raffle Tickets are available for these items:
- E-Z-GO Electric Golf Cart
- Tag Heuer Men's Watch
- Dinner for 8 at Nantucket Seafood Grill
- Mountain Home Rental for Extended Weekend
- Razor Dirt Quad Electric Four-Wheeler
Winners will be announced at the After-Play Party on Monday, August 22. Whether you are playing in the tournament, sponsoring the event, attending the After-Play Party or can't make it at all, you can show your support for the Chamber by purchasing a Raffle Ticket. Click here to purchase your Raffle Ticket(s) now! Tickets will also be available at the tournament. You do not have to be present to win.
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Market Your Business to Greenville's Newest Residents!
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 The Chamber is selling advertising space for a Welcome Card to our new residents. Business-to-Consumer Members, don't miss this opportunity to let new residents in the area know about you and your goods or services! Advertisers will also have access to the new resident list.
Ad space is limited and starts at $199! For information, contact Lorraine Woodward at 864-239-3742 today!
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Governor Haley to Speak at our Next Quarterly Public Policy Luncheon August 30th
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Join us for our next Public Policy Luncheon featuring
South Carolina Governor
Nikki Haley
Tuesday, August 30 at the TD Convention Center
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Networking and registration will begin at 11:30 am
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
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Are Your Young Professionals Plugged-in? Get their 2011 PULSE Memberships Now!
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 PULSE now has $35 pro-rated membership rates (valid through 12/31/11) available for Chamber Members!
Click here to get pro-rated memberships or visit www.greenvillepulse.com for more information.
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Advertise on the Big Screen at Camelot Cinemas and Get $100 off Production Costs!
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 The Chamber has partnered with Camelot Cinemas and Pot O' Gold Productions to make advertising on the big screen even more affordable for our members!
Our representative, Cory Williams is in town this week (August 1-5), so contact him ASAP to set up an appointment at 904-333-9243 or cory@pogusa.com. Make sure to let him know you are a Greenville Chamber member!
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Here's What's Happening This Week and Next at the Chamber:
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Business Women in Action Lunch & Learn featuring Ellen Stevenson on Emotional Intelligence
Date/Time: TODAY, August 3, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
Who Can Come: All Greenville Chamber Members
Where: Greenville Chamber Board Room
Leadership Greenville Class 38 Orientation & Reception
Date/Time: Thursday, August 4, 4:00-6:00 pm
Who Can Come: New Class 38 Members, the Leadership Development Executive Committee, Greenville Chamber Board of Directors, and the Leadership Greenville Alumni Association Board
Where: Greenville Chamber
PULSE Family Bowling Social
Date/Time: Sunday, August 7, 2:45-5:00 pm
Who Can Come: PULSE members and their Families
Where: Starlight Lanes
Business Before Hours Date/Time: Tuesday, August 9, 7:30-9:00 am
Who Can Come: All Greenville Chamber Members
Where: Commerce Club
PULSE Signature Series Progran & Reception
Topic: The program will feature a discussion with the following elected officials about the major issues SC is facing:
Representatives Dillard (D - Greenville),
Hamilton (R - Greenville), and
White (R - Anderson); Senators Thomas (R - Greenville) and Reese (D-Spartanburg); Moderated by Dr. Brent Nelson (Furman University)
Date/Time: Tuesday, August 9, 5:30-7:30 pm
Who Can Come: PULSE Members/Guests
Where: BMW Zentrum
Manufacturers Roundtable
Date/Time: Wednesday, August 10,
Where: Greenville Chamber Board Room
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Is your company hiring? Post Local Jobs for FREE at NationJob! | |
Greenville  Chamber Members can post local job listings for FREE at NationJob! Take advantage of this valuable benefit by E-mailing the job description to njlistings@nationjob.com and note that you are a Greenville Chamber member, or call 888-256-0919 for further details. |
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Are You Saving Your Company Money with SmartBuys?
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 To 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!
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More Upcoming August Events
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- 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 23: SC OSHA Training - Lock Out/Tag Out and Electrical Safety Work Practices
- August 30: Public Policy Luncheon featuring South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley
- August 30: Environmental Issues Committee Meeting
- August 31: Small Business Matchmaking Bus Ride to Columbia
- August 31: PULSE Social featuring US Senator Jim DeMint
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Connect with the Chamber on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn!
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Building one of the premier business communities in the world! | |
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