Data Center electricity costs, legislation to protect consumers SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce’s Frank Knapp testifies on the need to regulate data centers Read testimony: scsbc.org/data-center-...

Fuel spike puts pressure on small business owners (Meagan Daukshus, WLTX, March 4, 2026) “This is where we are now at $4 a gallon for diesel. It’s about the highest we have seen on the road in the past couple months,” Pszenny said. scsbc.org/fuel-spike-p...

The data center industry is seeking a bigger footprint in SC. Question is, who should regulate them? (Nick Reynolds, Post and Courier, February 22, 2026) “Data centers are simply not critical infrastructure that the PSC and the Office of Regulatory Staff should have on their

Great News for Small Business Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Sweeping Tariffs

Protests planned, businesses wary after news of ICE office in Columbia. What are leaders saying? (Post and Courier, 2-11-26, by Chloe Barlow and Anna Wilder) Frank Knapp, president of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, said the state’s businesses have

Deepfake expert has warning for all politicians rss.com/podcasts/scs...

SC Professor talks about his experience in Minnesota rss.com/podcasts/scs...

SC Small Business Chamber in the news on regulations, taxes, bar insurance and data centers. scsbc.org/sc-small-bus...

National non-profit consumer organization pushes for states to regulate AI—“Backbone” Podcast Ben Winters, Director of AI and Data Privacy at the Consumer Federation of America, leads

January 13, 2026 Help Advocate for Affordable Energy Please consider participating in this important energy advocacy day at the Statehouse on January 27th. The SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce supports this effort. Please let me know if you will attend so I can see you there.

AI regulations in the SC news scsbc.org/ai-regulatio...

National coalition supports regulating AI to protect the public—“Backbone” Podcast The sexual and suicide grooming of children by AI generated chat boxes are horrific examples of why states should regulate AI. rss.com/podcasts/scs...

President Trump recently issued an executive order to preempt states from passing new legislation or having laws on the books that regulate artificial intelligence, with some exceptions. How should the South Carolina Legislature respond? Read more: scdailygazette.com/2025/12/16/l...

Sierra Club attorney gives update on state efforts to regulate data centers—“Backbone” Podcast rss.com/podcasts/scs...

The impacts of shopping locally in the Lowcountry during the holiday season (WCBD, by Hannah Baker, November 25, 2025) MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. Online shopping continues to take over the Black Friday deals, but small businesses in the Lowcountry have been working hard to keep customers walking through

SC small businesses and everyone along our Atlantic Coast has something to be especially thankful for this Thanksgiving. Last week the Administration released its draft of a 5-year plan for where offshore oil drilling will be permitted along the entire U.S. coast.

Atlantic Coast not included in offshore drilling The U.D. Department of Interior released its draft plan for offshore oil drilling. The agency is required to produce a plan every five years. Read more: scsbc.org/atlantic-coa...

Charlotte immigration raids financially devastate local small businesses Federal government must be held responsible for losses

“were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” --Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, Paris, January 16, 1787

How to make the old ICE seem responsible. The Bovino “Bullies” Task Force does the trick. securegrowthinitiative.com/how-to-make-...

Settlement reached in Duke Energy Progress rate case Rate hike proposed for small business cut 36% scsbc.org/settlement-r...

Missing Labor Data, Squeezing the Economy (Counter Punch, October 24, 2025) Seth Sandronsky Speaking of the necessary, we turn to the monthly federal employment report. It is a necessary but insufficient piece of data to understand how the economy is (not) working.

Company picked to jump start failed nuclear project tied to Columbia atomic fuel plant (The State, October 24, 2025) By Sammy Fretwell and Lucy Valeski The company chosen to jump start construction of the failed V.C. Summer nuclear expansion project is a

Economist Steve Rattner explains the current job market and how small business is “hurting”. “In the last four months virtually all the job creation has come from big companies. The smaller companies all the way down to the very smallest business, 1-19 employees, they’ve actually been losing

Before the next data center debate in SC, read this story and see the pics. What it looks like in the world’s data center capital www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/int... Join us in the fight to protect our consumers.

Protecting the “Rule of Law” is goal of national small business organization--"Backbone" Podcast rss.com/podcasts/scs...

SC GOP state Senator defends “freedom of speech”. Criticizes government silencing efforts--"Backbone" Podcast rss.com/podcasts/scs...

National Guard network expresses concerns on misuse of state armed forces--"Backbone" Podcast

Small businesses support new H-2C program to address “low-skilled” labor shortage Washington, DC—The Secure Growth Initiative, a national small business coalition representing over 100,000 small business voices, today endorsed the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act (EWEA).

Over 12 million will lose health insurance unless Congress acts --"Backbone" Podcast Affordable health insurance is facing a crisis if Congress refuses to extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits in the Affordable Care Act.

Fight back against Duke Energy Progress electricity rates going up over 15% Public hearings start September 25th scsbc.org/fight-back-a...

Fight back against Duke Energy Progressive electricity rates going up over 15% Public hearings start September 25th scsbc.org/fight-back-a...

Do you want a 15% rate hike from Duke Energy Progress in SC? Let your voice be heard! If you are one of the residential or small business customers of Duke Energy Progress (see counties below), the utility wants to increase your electricity rates by 15%.

About Half of Adults with ACA Marketplace Coverage are Small Business Owners, Employees, or Self-Employed-KFF report. Congress is letting the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credit expire at the end of 2025. www.kff.org/affordable-c...

South Carolina Supreme Court lifts injunction as Feds seek SC voter data (Post and Courier, 9-11-25) “The information concerning those responsible, at the state and local levels, for carrying out our elections is a threat to holding fair and secure elections, free scsbc.org/south-caroli...

Small businesses want their private, personal information protected Court should block SC voter details from being released to the Dept. of Justice scsbc.org/small-busine...

New Bill Offers Green Card Pathway for Immigrant Workers A Democratic lawmaker has introduced legislation that would create a pathway to permanent residency for undocumented migrants employed in key industries such as agriculture, health care, construction, and emergency services.

Momentum for better immigration policy grows in Congress “Strengthen Our Workforce Act” adds to movement On September 2, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) pushed to strengthen America’s labor force and support workers by introducing the Strengthening Our Workforce Act.

Employers have used E-Verify for years. ICE's arrest of a Maine police officer raises new questions Going beyond E-Verify can be risky abcnews.go.com/Business/wir...

Lt. Governor Evette talks about her background, McMaster’s surprise ask, issues, and her take on her opponents--"Backbone" Podcast Listen to this podcast here. rss.com/podcasts/scs...

Lt. Governor Evette talks about her background, McMaster’s surprise ask, issues, and her take on her opponents--"Backbone" Podcast Listen to this podcast here. rss.com/podcasts/scs...

Karen Riordan leading association of nonprofits--"Backbone" Podcast Karen Riordan, president and CEO of Together SC (formerly the SC Association of Nonprofit Organizations), talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about how she got from the smallest state in the nation,

Rep. Hamilton Grant—drum major to state legislator—leadership counts--"Backbone" Podcast First elected in 2024, Representative Hamilton Grant of Richland County went into his first year as a legislature with no expectations. He cites his leadership experience, including being a drum major at

Dignity Act receives strong support from business organizations Bipartisan immigration bill offers better path forward for economy securegrowthinitiative.com/dignity-act-...

Duke Energy seeks big rate hikes across entire northern part of SC Small Business Chamber files to intervene scsbc.org/duke-energy-...

2025 Small Business Profile The SBA Office of Advocacy has issued it's Small Business Profiles for the nation and for each state. The South Carolina profile can be found here: advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/u...

Beaufort County doesn’t need Alligator Alcatraz cages or masked gunmen, Hilton Head Island Packet, The State (Columbia, SC) July 17, 2025 Opinion By David Lauderdale The cages of “Alligator Alcatraz,” the federal government’s new 3,000-bed immigration detention center in Florida, are not a good

Rooftop solar small businesses on deathwatch due to Big Beautiful Bill A tax credit that offsets the cost of solar panels by 30 percent was removed when Congress approved the bill. “It’s a growing business that’s about to die.

Small businesses endorse bipartisan immigration bill Dignity Act offers better path forward on immigration “The Dignity Act recognizes the critical labor contributions of the undocumented and Dreamers to our small business economy. This is the path Congress needs to quickly take

Newsweek Mass Deportations Are Killing Small Businesses, Owners Say (David Rebolloso provided his story to the American Sustainable Business Network, a Secure Growth Initiative coalition leader.) In 2014, he purchased his first laundromat, and after seeing steady success, he opened a second