Small business owners want US Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott to support immigration reform.

The Carolinas Chapter of the American Business Immigration Coalition, SC Small Business Chamber and other organizations urged the senators to help ease the worker shortage.

SC Small Business Chamber CEO Frank Knapp said there are two critical issues, the continuing labor shortage and a 40-year low in new business start-ups.

Who’s making news

• Palms to Palmettos owners Edie Enright and Dawn Ridge plan to reopen their art gallery and shop at 3357 Leaphart Road in West Columbia July 20.

Enright’s art work is for sale. Ridge is a massage therapist and Reiki practitioner. They offer items ranging from crystals, candles and CBD products, to incense, jewelry and Bohemian style clothing.

Irene Cervantes’ Symphony of Aromas will offer essential oils, soaps, bath bombs, lip balms and skin products.

• Always Original Bakery will open this month at 501 Meeting St., West Columbia.

Jay Dawson will do the baking and partner George Grogan the marketing.

For details see www.restaurantji.com/sc/west-columbia/always-original-bakery-/

• The Boyd Group which operates under the name Gerber Collision & Glass has acquired 16 John Harris Body Shops ib South Carolina and Georgia including 3 locations in in Lexington and Irmo.

• Keep the Midlands Beautiful announced that a $50,000 grant was given to the nonprofit. The donation was made by the Arbor Day Foundation’s Community Resilience Grant program in partnership with Bank of America. The grant will strengthen vulnerable neighborhoods against the impacts of a changing climate.

1st responders help

Lowes Foods’ community give-back program donated more than 600 boxes of food to the Lexington County Fire Service. Lowes has donated 1,700 boxes of food to area 1st responders including the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and the Lexington Police Department.

Hospitality help

The Restaurant Revitalization Program is closing after paying out $28.6 billion to more than 100,000 restaurants and others in the service industry struggling in the pandemic. The Small Business Administration said about 101,000 applications from restaurants, bars and other hospitality-type businesses were approved.

Rising stars in our schools

Tiffany Miller has ben promoted to assistant principal of Forts Pond Elementary and Kelly Smoak to assistant principal of Gilbert Middle. Smoak has taught so cial studies at River Bluff High and Miller served as a digital learning coach at White Knoll High.

Job opportunity

The Chronicle has an opening for someone who wants to learn to run a business,

Entry level accounts receiveable and payable clerk. Send resume to lexinngtonchronicle@gmail. com