SBA Deadline in South Carolina for Working Capital Loans Due to Excessive Rain is April 28

The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes that April 28, 2014 is the filing deadline for federal economic injury disaster loans in South Carolina as a result of the excessive rain that began on March 1, 2013.

The loans are available in the following counties: Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson,
Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield,
Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Florence, Georgetown,
Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Lee, Lexington, Marion, Marlboro, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, Williamsburg and York in South Carolina.

Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers.

The loans are for working capital and can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 4 percent for eligible small businesses and 2.875 percent for non-profit organizations, and terms up to 30 Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure
website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than April 28, 2014.

S.C. recognized for business friendly policies.

The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council ranked South Carolina as one of the nations entrepreneur-friendly states. The index takes a look at 46 different policy measures including an assortment of tax, regulatory, and government spending measures. The Palmetto State was ranked No.14 on the council’s annual index of states with the friendliest policies and lowest costs for small business. According to the council, South Carolina earned its ranking for our fairly low individual capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, low consumption- based taxes, low fuel taxes; and a low number of health insurance mandates. However, our 7% personal income tax plus high dividend and interest taxes were listed as negatives, along with high workers compensation costs and a high crime rate.

South Dakota ranked as the councils No. 1 entrepreneur-friendly state followed by Nevada at No. 2; Texas, No. 3; Wyoming, No.4; and Florida, No.5.

In contrast, the states with the least favorable policies include Maine at No. 46; New York at 47, Vermont at 48, New Jersey at 49, and California at No. 50.

“Small businesses are benefiting from policy competition between the states and it is encouraging to see leadership on key issues such as fiscal reform, sensible spending, and tax and regulatory relief.” Karen Kerrigan council president  and CEO.

For more information on the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council click here.

GSA Business: S.C. Ranks 16th in Friendliness Toward Small Businesses

South Carolina ranked No. 16 nationally for friendliness toward small business, according to a recent survey by Thumbtack.com, in partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

The Palmetto State received an overall grade of B+, garnering mostly high marks in the two-month survey that involved 6,000 small-business owners nationwide.

Other key findings for South Carolina included:

  • It costs relatively little to hire a new employee in South Carolina — the state was the second-least costly place in the nation to hire a new employee. 
  • Women-owned small businesses in South Carolina were significantly more optimistic about their financial future than their male counterparts. Female entrepreneurs were 15% more likely than male entrepreneurs to rate their company’s financial situation as likely to improve over the coming year. 

The state received a grade of A+ for the ease of starting a small business, cost of hiring a new employee and friendliness of environmental regulations. It received an A for overall regulatory friendliness, and friendliness of employment, labor and hiring regulations.

HBA of Greenville Succession Planning Education Forum

HBA of Greenville Succession Planning Education Forum

Succession Planning Education Forum
Who: Your HBA of Greenville is proud to present Jason Freeman of J. Freeman & Associates.  Jason will speak on Succession Planning for your business
What: This program presents an educational class specific to business owners on the topic of Succession Planning.  The seminar will help further the success of your business in the years after you decide to turn it over to a successor.
When: February 14th, 2012 from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Where: Hubbell Lighting
701 Millennium Blvd
Greenville, SC. 29607
How: To register please click here or call (864) 254-0133

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS