AROUND TOWN

South Carolina is the 9th fastest growing state in the nation.

That’s the finding of a recent report by Joseph C. Von Nessen, Ph.D., Research Economist at the Division of Research at the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business.

The report covers population growth trends over the past decade, the impact of the housing industry by region, industry sub-sector effects, and the social benefits of housing.

The report found:

• The annual economic impact of the housing industry on the state of South Carolina is $44.7 billion.

• The housing industry is associated with 281,439 jobs and $10.2 billion in labor income for South Carolinians.

• South Carolina annual employment growth outpaced US employment growth from 2009-2019 at (1.6 percent vs. 1.2 percent). The state’s GDP growth also outpaced that of the US over the same time period.

See the full Economic Impact Study at https://www.screaltors.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/SCREALTORS_ECNIMPACT_FD3.pdf .

B-L fire chief named

Josh Frye is the new Town of Batesburg-Leesville Fire Chief.

Frye replaces Jay Hendrix who recently accepted the position of Assistant Town Manager for Batesburg-Leesville.

Frye had been serving as the BLFD Recruitment and Retention Officer.

Frye’s career began in the fire service in 1995 as a volunteer with the B-L Fire Department and later served in full-time positions with Clinton Fire Department, Columbia Fire Department, and Lexington County Fire Service.

Chief Frye will begin the role of Fire Chief effectively immediately. His first duties will be to find a replacement for the Recruiting and Retention Officer for the department and to continue with the successes of the fire fighting class at B-L High School.

Get your food passport

Restaurant Week Columbia is Oct. 10-20.

More than 50 restaurants will offer multi-course meals for special prices during the event.

Lexington County restaurants include Alodias, Bodhi, Catch, Grecian Gardens and Lizards Thicket.

Ask your host for a passport and stamp for a chance to win restaurant gift cards.

For more information on Restaurant Week Columbia, visit www.Restaurant-WeekColumbia.com .

You can also learn more on the Restaurant Week Columbia Facebook page.

Flooring pros

The Floor Boys Flooring Professionals have opened a new location in Lexington.

The new 13,500 sq ft. building is located at 1728 N. Lake Drive.

Teacher, nurses loan forgiveness

Teachers and nurses may be able to escape some of their federal student loan debt.

To qualify for teacher loan forgiveness you must teach at least 5 full years in a low-income school in an eligible district.

You may have up to $17,500 in student loans forgiven. For complete details, visit www.ed.gov .

To qualify for 60% nursing loan forgiveness, you must be at least a registered nurse and agree to work full-time for at least 2 years in a critical shortage facility.

Another 25% will be forgiven if you work a 3rd year.

Nurses teaching at an accredited school of nursing may also qualify. For complete details, visit https://bhw.hrsa.gov .

The downside is the Internal Revenue Service counts the forgiven amount as income. Talk with a tax professional to understand the impact it may have on your taxes.

LMC’s leading heart program

Lexington Medical Center’s heart program reached a new milestone this month.

Doctors implanted the first LOTUS Edge™ aortic valve system in South Carolina. This device represents the latest generation of valve replacement for patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Severe aortic stenosis is significant narrowing of the aortic valve opening that can restrict blood flow out of the heart. It makes the heart work harder to move the blood throughout the body and can ultimately lead to heart failure.

The LOTUS Edge is unique because it’s the only replacement valve on the market that allows doctors to reposition the new valve into an optimal position within the heart.

It also has a seal that has been proven to reduce leakage of blood around the outside of the valve.

Dr. Leonardi and Dr. Travis performed the procedure together inside the cardiac catheterization lab at Lexington Medical Center.

For more information about Lexington Medical Center’s heart program, visit www.LexMed.com/heart .