MARION -- Community involvement and economic recovery were the major issues Gov. Mark Sanford addressed as guest speaker at the Marion Chamber of Commerce's banquet Monday.

About 300 people attended the event at Marion Baptist Church's community hall.

Sanford used the forum to recognize city leaders, employees and residents for their restoration efforts during the recent ice storm and commend them on their recent decision to vie for All-America City status.

"You all have a remarkable degree of unity in this part of South Carolina. You're going for All-America City, and those things just don't happen," he said.

"You have to be unified ... You have a great starting point."

Marion, like much of the Pee Dee, has been hit hard by the economic downturn of the last three years. Sanford cautioned that the recovery will likely be slow.

"We need to put some context as to where we're going in this part of the state, because 3,600 small businesses have been lost since this time last year," he said.

The governor also said his recently publicized plan to stimulate small business growth by reducing the state income tax has nearly come to a halt on the floors of the S.C. General Assembly. If the plan passed, it would increase the cigarette tax by 68 cents per pack and extend the state sales tax to lottery ticket purchases.

"We still have a shot at reducing income tax," he said.

Sanford said his administration is calling for better accountability and structure in state government.

During his speech, Sanford commended the industries and individuals in Marion County that won local image awards.

ArvinMeritor Motion Control Systems received the 2003-04 Large Industry Award.

Precision Southeast Inc. was given the 2003-04 Small Industry Award. Jack Hulon, owner of Hulon Jeweler's, garnered the 2003 Small Businessperson of the Year Award and Mary Eaddy, education professional, received the Community Service Award.

During the event Marion Mayor Bobby Gerald thanked Sanford and Rep. Jim Battle, D-Nichols, for their aid in getting Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives to the city to assess storm damage for federal relief.