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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 1d

Settlement reached in Duke Energy Progress rate case
Rate hike proposed for small business cut 36%

scsbc.org/settlement-r...

Settlement reached in Duke Energy Progress rate case - SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce

October 29, 2025 Settlement reached in Duke Energy Progress rate case Rate hike proposed for small business cut 36% Columbia, SC—A settlement has been reached on Duke Energy Progress’s (DEP) proposed ...

scsbc.org

South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 4d

Just ask Knapp. “Small business owners are being hammered by immigration enforcement reducing labor supply and consumer demand as well as by tariffs driving up costs and reducing consumer demand.” …

Read the story here.
www.counterpunch.org/2025/10/24/m...

Missing Labor Data, Squeezing the Economy

My late and loved high school football coach could spin a compliment into a critique flawlessly. Taping a teammate’s ankle one day before practice, my

www.counterpunch.org

South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 4d

“Small businesses know firsthand how the economy is going,” according to Frank Knapp, president and CEO of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce. Let him count the ways that perception works. Spoiler alert: immigrants’ labor is central to the small business sector stateside.

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 4d

…Welcome to the flying blind school of economics. That doesn’t mean mom-and-pop shops are unaware of what’s happening on Main St. Small businesses don’t need a weatherwoman to tell them which way the wind blows, to paraphrase the acclaimed musician Bob Dylan.

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 4d

Currently, however, the September jobs report is missing at least in part due to the shutdown of the federal government. Given the reach and size of the U.S. economy, that’s a big problem, one grabbing attention, politically speaking….

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 4d

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.

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 4d

“The people who were responsible for that are gone.’’

Read the story here.
www.thestate.com/news/local/e...

Company picked to jump start failed nuclear project tied to Columbia atomic fuel plant

A company that was chosen to lead the re-start of a failed nuclear construction project has ties to Columbia’s nuclear fuel plant

www.thestate.com

South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 4d

Santee Cooper,as well as a Westinghouse executive ran afoul of criminal authorities.

“I’m not concerned that this Brookfield company has some relationship with the past problems at the V.C. Summer plant,’’ Knapp said.

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 4d

it now owns Westinghouse, which played a role in the 2017 nuclear construction project failure. But Knapp said he’s not worried about that causing problems in restarting the project. The project’s troubles were kept secret by utility executives who later faced criminal charges. Executives from

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 4d

The Westinghouse plant in Columbia makes fuel rods for nuclear power plants like the ones that would be constructed under Brookfield at the V.C. Summer site in Fairfield County….

…Frank Knapp, who heads the S.C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce, called the choice of Brookfield ironic given

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 4d

multinational corporation that owns Westinghouse, the company that previously was involved in the shuttered expansion project and one that operates Columbia’s atomic fuel factory on Bluff Road. Brookfield Asset Management acquired a majority interest in Westinghouse two years ago.

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 4d

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

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 14d

jobs for four months. So small business has really been hurting.”

Watch Rattner’s 6-minute analysis:
www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/...

Steve Rattner: The job market is clearly getting rough right now

Morning Joe economic analyst Steve Rattner discusses why he says the American economy seems to be entering what is sometimes called a “K-shaped” period, a period in which the economy is working well f...

www.msnbc.com

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 14d

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

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 18d

Frank Knapp
President & CEO
SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce
1717 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC 29201
803-600-6874
[email protected]

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 18d

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.

Opinion | What it looks like in the world’s data center capital

Among cemeteries, baseball fields and homes, these Northern Virginia buildings power the internet.

www.washingtonpost.com

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 20d

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

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 21d

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

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 23d

He worries that members of the National Guard will start not renewing their contracts with the Guard and employers will start being uncomfortable in hiring a Guardsman if the National Guard becomes politicized.
Listen:
cts.vresp.com/c/?SCSmallBu...

National Guard network expresses concerns on misuse of state armed forces | Podcast Episode on RSS.com

Christopher Purdy, founder and CEO of the Chamberlain Network, talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about the National Guard being inappropriately used by the Trump Administration. Knapp, CEO of the So...

cts.vresp.com

South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 23d

Chrisopher Purdy, founder and CEO of the Chamberlain Network, is concerned about how misuse of the National Guard will negatively impact the Guard in moral, community trust, and readiness.

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · 23d

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

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · Sep 24

The EWEA would establish a new H-2C visa program for non-agricultural, “low-skilled” workers. Rep. Loyd Smucker (R-PA) introduced the bipartisan bill with ten cosponsors.

Read more
securegrowthinitiative.com/small-busine...

Small businesses support new H-2C program to address “low-skilled” labor shortage - Secure Growth Initiative

PRESS RELEASE September 23, 2025 Small businesses support new H-2C program to address “low-skilled” labor shortage Washington, DC—The Secure Growth Initiative, a national small business coalition repr...

securegrowthinitiative.com

South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · Sep 24

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).

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · Sep 23

will likely not be able to afford health insurance through the ACA if this happens.

This is a looming disaster for health care, the economy and potentially for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections.

Listen to this podcast here.
cts.vresp.com/c/?SCSmallBu...

More than 12 million small business owners and employees are facing a dramatic rise in health insurance premiums, unless Congress acts | Podcast Episode on RSS.com

Affordable health insurance is facing a crisis if Congress refuses to extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits in the Affordable Care Act. Matt McGough of KFF talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about ...

cts.vresp.com

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South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce @scsbcc.bsky.social · Sep 23

Matt McGough of KFF talks with podcast host Frank Knapp about how these tax credits make health insurance more affordable and why over 12 million Americans, many of whom are small business owners and their employees,

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