July 2022 Advocacy Updates
Below are things you should know or take action on right now as a local-independent business owner or leader:
– SBA Summer School:
Whether you’re looking to start a small business or expand your current one, SBA’s digital learning platform has everything you need to educate yourself on entrepreneurial best practices and available financing options.
– Small Biz Hurricane Guide:
The 2022 hurricane season is officially underway, and according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this year is predicted to be “above-average” with 14 to 21 named storms. The South Carolina Emergency Management Division has created a Small Business Hurricane Preparedness Guide. Additionally, the S.C. Department of Commerce works with Emergency Support Function (ESF) – 24 (business and industry) to assist South Carolina businesses in disaster preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery. The program works to minimize business interruptions to get citizens back to work quickly and safely. If your business is interested in continuity planning, hosting a workshop or being added to an ESF-24 notification list, please email esf24@emd.sc.gov.
– Great Ideas from Other Places:
UpNext in Massachusetts is match-making between brands and spaces to create opportunities for pop-up retail, mobile retail and collectives, and to activate under-used spaces. We love this!
– #AntitrustSummer:
If you haven’t been following the movement on the bipartisan antitrust bills in congress – it’s worth a quick read: Bill Tech bill has votes needed to pass, top U.S. antitrust lawmaker says – Reuters. For more background on why this issue matters for small businesses, this is a GREAT podcast listen: But They Make It So Easy! (with Stacy Mitchell)
– ERTC: Do you know if your business qualifies for tax refund?:
The South Carolina Small Business Chamber held a webinar in February on Employee Retention Tax Credits (ERTC). These tax refunds range from the mid $30k all the way up to just under $700k, with multiple companies receiving six figure refunds. Even if you received a PPP loan, your business can still qualify for the ERTC. Even if your business did not see reduced revenue during 2020 and 2021, you still can qualify. If you were not able to watch the 30-minute webinar, here is a 60-second video explaining ERTC. You can also dive into the full webinar here.