Potential Economic Impact of Lawfully Present Workers To Be Unveiled March 25

A report authored by Clemson University researchers that explores the economic impact of allowing lawfully present workers to receive occupational and professional licenses in various sectors will be unveiled to the public on March 25 in Greenville.

Co-hosted by Hispanic Alliance and Ten at the Top, the Allied4Work event will also include an overview of S.C. House Bill 3288 and a panel discussion on the opportunities and challenges for the lawfully present workforce in South Carolina.

“The community of lawfully present immigrants is a rapidly growing portion of the Upstate’s workforce. We look forward to a productive, data-driven discussion on strategies that will enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in our ten-county region and the state as a whole,” said Dean Hybl, executive director of Ten at the Top.

“Our goal is to shine a light on opportunities to engage the Hispanic population, and other lawfully present members of the workforce, in building prosperous communities for everyone across the state,” said Adela Mendoza, executive director of Hispanic Alliance.

She added, “We invite people from all industries, backgrounds and cultures to join us in dialogue and collaboration to build bridges towards equitable policies and a thriving future for all South Carolinians.”

Date and Time

Monday, March 25, 2024

8:15 a.m. Doors open

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Event. 

Location

Clemson ONE Center, 1 North Main Street, Greenville, S.C.  29601.

Registration

The event is free and open to the public. Register online at: hispanicalliancesc.org/allied. 

Speakers

State Representative Neal Collins (R-Pickens) 

Brandy Amidon, mayor of Travelers Rest 

Nina Cano Richards, attorney and co-founder, Spanglish Consulting

Scott Cochran, president, Spartanburg Methodist College

Jason Zacher (panel moderator), president and founder, Bridge Public Strategy Group.

Fast Facts

Seventeen percent of South Carolina’s workforce is currently employed in a licensed field.

There are at least 5,500 individuals in South Carolina with approval and authorization from federal authorities to be employed who are barred by state law from obtaining licensure to work in fields such as real estate, nursing and education.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, South Carolina ranks 4th among states by 2030 with a nursing shortage.

According to the Center for Educator Recruitment Retention and Advancement (CERRA), the teacher shortage in South Carolina was at an all-time high at the start of the 2023-2024 school year with more than 1,600 vacancies.

S.C. House Bill 3288 is a one-sentence bill to allow people who have current and valid employment authorizations approved by federal immigration authorities to be eligible for occupational or professional licensure if all other applicable requirements are met.

The Hispanic Alliance is the largest convener of ideas, individuals, and institutions collaborating to advance Hispanic communities across South Carolina.

With the mission of fostering collaboration and connectivity among people, resources, and cultures to build thriving communities, the Hispanic Alliance envisions a vibrant and inclusive community where everyone has access to opportunities for success and prosperity.

The Hispanic Alliance is a nonpartisan organization that faithfully advocates for diversity, equality, acceptance, understanding, and embracing the American dream. For more information, go to HispanicAllianceSC.com.

Comprised of public, private, and civic leaders from across the 10-county Upstate South Carolina Region, Ten at the Top was created to connect and encourage regional collaboration through data-driven research and regular convening of leaders and citizens to address key issues facing the region.

Ten at the Top works with regional partners to foster collaboration and strategic planning to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life for Upstate residents both today and as the region continues to grow.

For more information, go to www.tenatthetop.org.

Breezeline to Launch Mobile Service Across 13 States, Including SC

Breezeline, a leading provider of broadband internet, TV and voice services in the U.S., said it plans to launch mobile phone service across its service areas starting in spring 2024.

Breezeline Mobile, which will be available to Breezeline Internet customers, will include unlimited nationwide talk and text, combined with By-the-Gig or Unlimited data plans.

The Breezeline mobile offering is flexible, allowing customers to customize their services, including mixing and matching unlimited and By-the-Gig plans on a per-line basis. Additionally, customers have the freedom to change plans at any time at no additional cost.

For added convenience and savings, customers will bring their existing mobile devices to Breezeline Mobile, officials said.

“We are deploying our services on a robust, industry-leading mobile network with unique customization options that will allow customers to mix and match Unlimited and By-the-Gig plans,” said Heather McCallion, Breezeline’s vice president of new business and business transformation.

Breezeline will launch its mobile operations through the National Content & Technology Cooperative’s (NCTC’s) mobile virtual network operator agreement.

A turnkey mobile service solution including customized billing, account management and provisioning will be supported by the cloud platform of Reach.

Breezeline is the eighth-largest cable operator in the United States. The company provides its residential and business customers with Internet, TV, and Voice services in 13 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

Breezeline is a subsidiary of Cogeco Communications (TSX: CCA), which also operates in Canada, under the Cogeco Connexion name.

CoastalSouth Bancshares, Inc., Coastal States Bank Announce Changes to Boards of Directors

Hilton Head Island-based CoastalSouth Bancshares, Inc. ("COSO") and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Coastal States Bank ("CSB"), said Ping Lee, Ph.D., is stepping down as a member of their boards of directors.

Lee has served as a director since COSO's acquisition of Cornerstone Bancshares, Inc. in 2021.

Lee will continue to function as a board observer going forward.

The boards of directors of COSO and CSB also said John G. Aldridge, Jr., has been appointed to serve as a member of both boards.

Aldridge is the founder and managing partner of Aldridge | Pite, LLP ("A|P").

A|P is a multi-state law firm, located in 16 states, focusing on the representation of banks, financial institutions, mortgage servicing concerns and institutional investors with respect to all facets of the commercial and residential real estate life cycle.

In addition to running the day-to-day operations of A|P, Aldridge is also the senior partner at Aldridge | Pite | Haan, LLP ("A|P|H").

A|P|H is a multi-state collections law firm, located in 12 states, with a primary emphasis on consumer and commercial collections.

A|P|H provides representation to national and regional banks, automobile financing lenders, hospitals, medical service providers and debt buyers, along with other lenders and financial institutions.

Professionally, Aldridge has founded, owned, operated and sold numerous companies involved in the real estate industry, including title companies, trustee companies, service of process companies, technology (as a service) companies and technology and business process consulting companies.

He currently sits on the board of directors of Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A. and Atlantic Title & Escrow – a private equity-run title company out of the Northeast.

Aldridge received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his J.D. from Emory University School of Law, and he is admitted to the State Bar of Georgia.

Voting Narrows Field To Four in 3rd Annual Manufacturing Madness Contest to Select ‘Coolest Thing Made In SC’

Four products have advanced in the 3rd Annual Manufacturing Madness contest presented by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.

The winner will earn the title of “Coolest Thing Made in SC.”

Members of the public voted March 11-14 for their favorites during the Top 8 round, and more than 41,000 votes were cast to determine which products would advance to the Top 4 bracket.

Voters can go to scmanufacturingmadness.com to select a winner. The winner will be announced in a ceremony at the Statehouse in Columbia on March 28th.

The 2024 Top 4 finalists are:

Honda Talon 1000R-4 Fox Live Valve, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. South Carolina Manufacturing, Florence

High Noon Sun Sips, E. & J. Gallo Winery, Chester

Fire Sprinklers, Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc., Pickens

Signa Hero MRI Scanner, GE HealthCare, Florence

Created by the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance, the Manufacturing Madness: The Coolest Thing Made in SC contest debuted in 2022.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon made by Lockheed Martin in Greenville won the contest in 2023, and Steel made by Nucor Steel Berkeley in Huger won the inaugural contest in 2022.

Remaining Contest Timeline:
March 18-21: Final round of bracket voting
March 28: Winner announced.

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