Dear Friend, 

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OZ Virtual Tours

Last Week, I launched my Nationwide Virtual Opportunity Zones (OZ) Tour, beginning in our great state of South Carolina. Opportunity Zones allow the governors of each state to designate economically distressed communities and give private companies a tax incentive to shift the economic future of the community. 

This first Virtual Tour takes a look at an agricultural facility in Hampton County and the 1,500 high-paying jobs that it will create for the community within the next couple of years. We are excited about the future of Hampton County and the future of all of the other Opportunity Zones around the country. Stay tuned for more Virtual Opportunity Zone Tours!

Telehealth

I am proud of the strides that we have made in health care, but many people in the country still lack access to the care that they need. While telehealth and virtual health technology more broadly have long helped Americans in some medically underserved communities to receive potentially life-saving services, the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the urgency of telehealth access. Thanks to emergency flexibilities created in the CARES Act and granted by the Administration, seniors have enjoyed unprecedented access to telehealth services, limiting their exposure to viral infection and allowing providers across the country to serve broader communities. This is why I, along with a bipartisan group of 49 lawmakers, have joined together to ensure that these benefits do not go away when the pandemic is finished. 

If you are interested in learning more about healthcare or technology and connectivity, sign up for my newsletter here

Main Street Entrepreneurs

Last week, Sen. Coons, Rep. Crow, and I introduced the Next Generation Entrepreneur Corps Act. This bill will help to create new jobs in underserved areas by creating a competitive fellowship opportunity for local entrepreneurs. With hundreds of thousands of small businesses closing, this legislation is important for helping communities to grow and accelerating the ongoing economic recovery.  

This bill will provide mentorship and networking opportunities, health care and student loan support, and access to capital to spur business growth. Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and I will continue to look for ways to encourage small business creation in developing communities. 

Zooming Around South Carolina

Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to speak with C12, an international Christian CEO roundtable organization, about what it means to be a Christian in business and politics. I spoke about the importance of mentors, being a person of faith, and opportunities for growth in our great state. 

Friday, I chatted with Ten at the Top South Carolina about COVID-19, Opportunity Zones, and relief for small businesses. The Ten at the Top have been hard at work for the past 15 years to help the Upstate grow through entrepreneurial development, sustainable changes, and robust public-private partnerships. 

 Sincerely,