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| | Executive's Circle Partner Sponsor | | Recruiting Leadership Pickens County Class XXXIV | | |
Leadership Pickens County (LPC) is currently accepting applications for Class XXXIV. Sponsored by our local chambers of commerce in Pickens County and facilitated by the LPC Board of Regents, the program is designed to equip emerging county leaders with skills and knowledge regarding many issues facing Pickens County. It encourages these leaders to participate actively in the decision-making process.
The ten-month program begins with an Orientation in August, followed by a Class Retreat in September. After the retreat, class members attend monthly full-day sessions during the months of October through May, typically on the first Tuesday of the month. Sessions include presentations at various sites throughout the county on topics related to leadership skills, education, state/local government, community service, communications, healthcare, economic development, and recreation/tourism. In addition, LPC presents a unique opportunity for class members to foster new working relationships and life-long friendships.
Tuition for Leadership Pickens County is $1,100, which covers all materials, food, transportation, and any other related program costs. Payment is by check only and made payable to Leadership Pickens County. In addition, there are three partial scholarships of $550 (half of the full tuition amount), which are awarded based on financial need.
Space is limited. If you wish to apply for scholarship assistance, the deadline to apply is July 25, 2025. The overall deadline to apply is July 31, 2025.
For questions or more information about the LPC program, please call the Easley Chamber office at (864) 859-2693.
| | Let's Celebrate the Newest Mural in Downtown - July 7 @1PM | | |
We are thrilled to announce the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the second mural in downtown Easley, and you are invited to attend this vibrant celebration!
Attend to meet the artist, Lacey Hennessy, enjoy some refreshments provided by Garland & George, and be among the first to experience the beauty of downtown's latest addition!
Monday, July 7, 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Garland & George - behind the building
126 S Pendleton Street, Easley, SC
| | Young Professionals Networking Event ~ July 11 | | |
Are you 40 and under, and interested in becoming more involved in the Easley-Powdersville community? Then look no further! We invite you to our monthly Young Professionals Networking Event.
The July Young Professionals Networking Event will be at Elevate Audiology. Dr. Tarvin will share with us her passion for the industry, as well as share information on the many organizations they help in the Upstate.
Discover better hearing with Elevate Audiology in Easley, SC! They provide expert care in hearing loss, tinnitus, balance issues, hearing aids & more.
Come ready to learn how Elevate Audiology amplifies life through hearing, all while enjoying coffee, conversations, and connections with other young professionals. Don't forget your business cards & feel free to invite a plus one!
| | **While this event is free, we kindly ask for RSVPs** | | |
Ribbon Cuttings & Milestone Anniversaries
Celebrate With Us
| | Mural II Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - July 7 at 1 PM | | | | |
You are invited to attend this vibrant celebration! Attend to meet the artist, Lacey Hennessy, enjoy some refreshments provided by Garland & George, and be among the first to experience the beauty of downtown's latest addition!
When: Monday, July 7, 2025 @1:00 PM
Where: 126 S Pendleton Street, Easley, SC
| | The Easley Chamber would love to celebrate your business milestone. Contact Neydi Ramirez at nramirez@easleychamber.org or at (864) 859-2693 to schedule a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony to celebrate the opening/renovations of your business or organize a Milestone Celebration to recognize your first year of business or the second...and onward. | | |
Annual Cops & Cones with the Easley Police Department
~ Tomorrow ~
| | Get ready for a cool way to kick off 4th of July celebrations. All are invited to join the Easley Police Department's Annual Cops and Cones event. Attend the event to meet our friendly officers, enjoy free Kona ice, dance to music, and get the chance to win giveaways. It's a sweet way to show our appreciation for our local heroes! | | |
2025 Historic Easley 4th of July Festival
~ Thursday & Friday ~
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Historic Easley 4th of July Celebration
Experience the magic of Independence Day in our charming downtown area! The City of Easley is throwing a 2-day celebration that will leave you feeling star-spangled and joyful. Enjoy live music, mouth-watering food, more music, fireworks, activities, craft vendors, food vendors, FREE carnival rides, and more!
The event is FREE with no admission fees!
Takes place at Old Market Square in Downtown Easley
Just bring your lawn chairs, grab some local eats, and enjoy this beloved Easley tradition with family, friends, and neighbors.
(Fireworks immediately following Tyler Farr’s performance lined up from 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM on the 4th)
| | Ambassador's Circle Partner Sponsor | | Young Professionals Networking Event ~ June Recap | | |
On Friday, June 13, Cindy Fox Miller & Associates hosted June's Young Professionals morning networking event and provided a great time for attendees, food, and giveaways! Melting Trading Co. supported the event by providing their signature and delicious coffee.
At the event, attendees had a great time connecting with peers while getting the opportunity to hear from Cindy Fox Miller. She discussed her passion for business and serving from her mother, Jo Anne Fox. She reiterated to attendees how important it is to get involved in the community, which leads to doors, opportunities, and the betterment of your community. Add to the reason why you love where you live!
In addition, attendees got to know one another a little better through an icebreaker question, which was provided by CFM's team. The question was, if you had unlimited money, what would be the one thing you would add or change about the house you currently live in? Some answers were upgrading their fireplace, sprucing up the backyard, making the backyard into an outdoor home, adding a movie theater, making your whole house a kitchen, a mini golf area, adding a backyard for their beloved pet, making the front of their house into a community gathering where are welcome to sit for a chat, adding 20K acres of land, adding a basketball court, moving to the Lowcountry, and so much more!
Now, what if Cindy Fox Miller & Associates can make some of these wishes come true? They can! With expertise, passion, and a personal touch, CFM’s team can help you turn a house into heaven. Let them be a guide on your journey to find your dream home and in selling your property. They take the time to work with each client to understand their unique lifestyle, needs, and wishes!
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Want to share business highlights with chamber members?
The Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce would love to share your business highlights in the Business Bridge Newsletter. Highlights can be awards, celebrations, certifications, recognitions, and more. Please let us know what you would like to share by contacting us at 864-859-2693 or nramirez@easleychamber.org. It's our business to share YOUR business!
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Pickens County Begins Maintance at Chastain Road Recycling Center (July 1-15)
The Chastain Road Recycling Center is next to receive an upgrade as part of the county's Sustainable Routes initiative to improve the safety and convenience of all centers. Beginning today (July 1) through July 15, this center will be closed for scheduled maintenance.
Click the link below to learn more about the Sustainable Routes initiative and to watch a video walk-through of the first two completed centers to better understand how the county uses your feedback to implement upgrades.
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Anderson County Council to Meet on July 15 at Historic Courthouse
The County Council will meet only once in July. The next regularly scheduled meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on July 15 at the Historic Courthouse. Members of the council are:
Chris Sullivan, Councilman, District 1
Matt Hogan, Deputy Administrator
Rusty Burns, Administrator
Councilman Tommy Dunn, Anderson County Council District 5
Second Row:
Brett Sanders, Councilman, District 4
Councilman Glenn Davis - Anderson County District 2
Jimmy Davis Anderson County Council District 6
Cindy Wilson, Councilman, District 7
Anderson County Council District 3 - Greg Elgin
Leon Harmon, County Attorney
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Report Touts Economic Impact of Infrastructure Investments in S.C.
A new report released last week by the American Council of Engineering Companies of South Carolina (ACEC-SC) in partnership with the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business projects that from 2021-2027, infrastructure investment and the construction industry will have a total impact of $56 billion on the state’s economy, creating over 45,000 jobs, underscoring just how much infrastructure investment powers South Carolina’s economy.
The report also shows that in-state infrastructure maintenance, modernization, and expansion could lead to the creation of 157,000 new jobs over the next decade, to the tune of more than $16 billion in annual labor income for South Carolinians. The report found that these jobs, spanning construction, engineering, logistics, and professional services, pay 9.8% higher annual income than other jobs across the state.
With continued investments in infrastructure, the state’s employment will grow by 1.5% compared to a rate of just .9% without, as improved infrastructure unlocks greater productivity across multiple sectors, from logistics and manufacturing to healthcare, tourism, and agriculture.
Learn more here.
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Do You Know About the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR)?
As a South Carolina employer, you should know about the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and how to contact them.
The ESGR has been around since 1972 and is a division of the United States Department of Defense (DOD), primarily staffed by volunteers. Their role is to assist in making the relationship between employers and their National Guard and Reserve employees work as smoothly as possible.
Most employers are familiar with FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act), but not familiar with USERRA (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act), which is the law governing Guard and Reserve employees when they leave for and return to their civilian employers for military service.
ESGR has a team in each state and territory ready to assist employers in answering any questions they might have concerning their employees in the National Guard or the Reserves. While helpful resources exist on their website, ESGR is also willing to come and brief a company’s Management or HR teams, no matter how small or large the company. This is all provided for at no cost to the employer.
ESGR is there to support both the employer and the service member as a disinterested neutral party. Their goal is to prevent issues from being escalated to either the Department of Labor (DOL) or civilian litigation, which can be costly even if the company is found not to be in violation.
Even if you don’t currently have an employee in the Guard or Reserve, you never know when you might hire one or when a current employee might decide to serve, so keep the ESGR resources at the top of your mind and make sure others in your company are aware.
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CCWD Releases "Workforce Pulse" Report
Last week, the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development (CCWD) released a report titled “South Carolina Workforce Pulse: Perceptions, Priorities, and Policy Implications”. The report is the result of a statewide survey to better understand public perception, priorities, and barriers related to employment and identify actionable insights to guide workforce development.
Specifically, the objectives of the survey were to measure baseline awareness and preferences of eight industry sectors, explore perceived barriers and motivators, capture social and demographic context, support CCWD’s public engagement and messaging, and ultimately deliver actionable recommendations. Key findings of the report include:
- Limited public awareness exists in fast-growing industries
- Perceived workforce challenges are structural and specific to the industry or sector
- The public has a narrow understanding of job types outside of front-line roles
- Priorities of job seekers and a sector’s perceived offerings are mismatched
- Long-term value perceptions favor the Public and Health sectors
- Job market sentiment is divided across different demographic groups
- The main barrier to the job market is access to the job, not availability
- Training and career advancement opportunities are perceived to be uneven
- Job seekers face structural barriers and increasingly prioritize flexibility
- Veterans continue to encounter credentialing and navigation gaps
The report offered ten strategic recommendations, including specific next steps to implement to help combat the barriers to workforce development. The recommendations were to:
- Launch targeted awareness campaigns in sectors poised for growth
- Close perception gaps to attract next-generation talent
- Use trust-based messaging to promote healthcare-related careers
- Tailor workforce strategies to regional needs
- Streamline employer outreach and engagement across agencies
- Expand access to training and credentialing pathways for all
- Enhance employer support for flexibility, stability, and advancement
- Prioritize wage transparency and job quality messaging for streamlined communication of job availability
- Shift the narrative from job quantity, or available jobs, to job quality, being livable jobs
- Strengthen workforce messaging using digital and in-person channels
Read the full report here.
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Your Greater Easley Chamber of Commerce serves as an important connection between small businesses and resources & current information. And we're here to personally assist you with questions or concerns. Please contact us at 864-859-2693 or ecc@easleychamber.org. It's our business to support YOUR business!
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