Good news for business owners and others in need of help.

For the 1st time in a year, South Carolina will require those on unemployment benefits to prove they are seeking work.

The work search requirement begins the week of April 18, the SC Department of Employment and Workforce announced.

To remain eligible for benefits, SC residents must conduct 2 job searches each week via the SC Works Online Services portal or smartphone app.

Lexington County’s 4.1% and the state’s 5.2% unemployment rates have been consistently below the nation’s 6.2%.

The state gained nearly 18,000 jobs from January to February.

Transportation and utilities, professional and business services, and manufacturing had the biggest gains.

$30 million lost to Net scams

Online criminals are getting bolder.

Throughout 2020, South Carolinians lost more than $30 million to cybercriminals according to Acting US Attorney M. Rhett DeHart.

The results were released in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2020 Internet Crime Report, which noted an increase of more than 300,000 suspected internet crime complaints since 2019.

Nearly 800,000 were reported in 2020 fo a loss of over $4.2 billion nationwide.

Victims in SC lost the most money to criminals compromising business and other email accounts. The total losses netted over $8.3 million.

The past year also saw the rise of covid-19 scams with nearly 30,000 complaints made nationwide.

Victims of cybercrimes are encouraged to contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Free showing of The Lion King

LRADAC will host “Stay in at the Drive In”—a free, outdoor family screening of “The Lion King” April 9.

The showing will be Friday from 6:30 to 9:30 pm in the parking lot of the Airport Campus of Midlands Technical College, 1260 Lexington Drive in West Columbia.

Student-made short films about substanc misuse prevention will be shown before the main attraction. LRADAC Prevention Staff and the AET will also be handing out Prevention Resources treat bags, educational materials on substance misuse and free refreshments.

Stay in at the Drive In is a free event, but space reservations are suggested and can be made online at https://bit.ly/3w8xCA6. For more information, contact Kimberly Henry-Myers at 803-667-7876 or by email at Khenry-myers@lradac.org.

Nephron wants women in manufacturing

An industry-leading tour stopped at Nephron Pharmaceuticals in West Columbia last month.

The National Association of Manufacturers and the Manufacturing Institute were celebrating Women’s History Month.

The virtual event featured a panel discussion, “Creator Stories: Women Make Manufacturing.”

Leaders from the Manufacturing Institute, Nephron Pharmaceuticals, Boeing, Volvo Cars, Smithfield Foods and PHOENIX joined the tour.

Nephron CEO Lou Kennedy said, “As a woman-owned company, Nephron Pharmaceuticals is proud to set the standard for what it looks like to create space and opportunities at all levels for women in manufacturing.”

The campaign includes a nationwide virtual tour to reshape how most American women view modern manufacturing careers.

Old timey barber comes to Chapin

Southern Gentleman’s Barbering Co. is now open in Chapin.

Co-owner Joe Michaelis told Cola Daily the expansion was planned after seeing a boom at its Five Points and Lexington locations.

The 1,000 sq.-ft. Chapin location offers hair cuts, beard trims, straight-razor shaves and eyebrow waxing. A discount is offered for all military, veterans and first responders.

The Chapin shop is open at 203 Amicks Ferry Road, in the previous space of Chadwick’s Barbershop.

Michaelis said they are hiring qualified barbers for the new store. Anyone interested in applying should call 803-941-7024 and ask to speak with Derek.

For more information, visit www.southernbarbering.com .

New U-Haul location

Speed Mart has signed on as a U-Haul® neighborhood dealer to serve the West Columbia community.

Speed Mart at 1914 Augusta Road will offer essential services like U-Haul trucks, towing equipment, moving supplies and instore pickup for boxes.

Normal business hours are 9:30 am-6 pm every day. Reserve U-Haul products at this dealer location by calling (803) 832-0378 or visiting https://www.uhaul.com/Locations/Truck-Rentals-near-West-Columbia-SC-29169/024281/ today.