Advanced Machine Works hosts Easley Chambers Manufacturers’ Luncheon
Photo above: from VCI, Inc. Pete Brown, Rachel Pierson, Andy Large, speaker Mark Cothran from Upstate Coalition of Chambers and Gene Harrison, President of VCI
Advanced Machine Works was the host for the quarterly Easley Chamber of Commerce Manufacturers Luncheon held June 8, 2011 at the Kimberly Hampton Library. Craig Homan, President of Easley Custom Plastics is the chairman of the group and opened the meeting.
Special guests attending were from VCI, Incorporated who are the new manufacturers coming to Pickens County located on 2632 Farrs Bridges Road. Gene Harrison, President of VCI, Incorporated and his staff of Andy Large, General Manager, Pete Brown, and Rachel Pierson were introduced by Ray Farley, Director of Alliance Pickens County.
A report on the modification of the SC state unemployment tax changes was given by Blanton Phillips of Phillips Staffing. This is a large tax increase on businesses that was levied to repay the $931 million the federal government loaned South Carolina to pay unemployment compensation. The SC legislature allocated $143 million to reduce the debt and changed the tier structure of businesses to ease the payments. Unemployment compensation was also reduced from 26 weeks to 20 weeks in South Carolina. The Easley Chamber of Commerce through its affiliation with the Upstate Coalition of (12) Chambers and the SC Chamber of Commerce supported our manufacturing group to moderate the tax impact.
Mark Cothran, lobbyist for the Upstate Coalition of Chambers was the speaker and he also reviewed the unemployment tax changes and other legislation that has effect on business in South Carolina. Important to businesses was the passage of a Tort reform bill (H.3375) which will cap awards from punitive damages. South Carolina was the only state in the south which did not have a limit on damages which made us less attractive for businesses looking to relocate here.
The next luncheon will be September 14 and will have as its program a roundtable of human resource managers discussing wellness programs for companies.
