Staff Report

COLUMBIA -- The S.C. Chamber of Commerce will meet with the members of the business community across the state starting next week to gather input that will shape its legislative agenda next year.

The state chamber holds “grass-roots meetings” throughout the state every fall to identify issues of concern to employers and industry. State chamber leaders also will discuss issues that they see as a likely focus in the next legislative session.

The events are free and anyone can attend. To register, send an e-mail. For more information, contact Julie Scott at the S.C Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-799-4601.

The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce said the local meetings help it develop policy goals throughout the year.

"The coastal grass-roots meeting helps our Public Policy Committee in prioritizing the many issues for the 2010 legislative agenda,” said Scott Woods, chairman of the Charleston Metro Chamber’s public policy committee. “We are able to hear from our members about their key issues and then compare those to other chambers across the state.”

The first meeting will be held from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Aug. 25 at Magnolia's @ 26th, 2605 N. Ocean Blvd. in Myrtle Beach. Five other meetings will be held at verious locations:

Aug. 25
Grand Strand Grassroots Meeting
3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Magnolia's @ 26th
2605 N. Ocean Blvd
Myrtle Beach

Aug. 26
York Grassroots Meeting
12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
City Club of Rock Hill
140 East Main Street
Rock Hill

Aug. 28
Pee Dee Grassroots Meeting
9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology
1951 Pisgah Road
Florence

Sept. 1
Charleston Grassroots Meeting
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Charleston Metro Chamber Of Commerce
2750 Speissegger Dr
North Charleston

Lowcountry Grassroots Meeting
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Palmetto Electric Cooperative, Inc.
One Cooperative Way
Hardeeville

Sept. 9
Piedmont Grassroots Meeting
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
T.W. Boon's Restaurant
405 Main Street
Greenwood