Second Location of Cook Out Coming to Florence

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Residents of Florence will soon have another place to get milkshakes, burgers and hot dogs. No completion date available.

Cook Out’s website indicates that a second Florence restaurant will be constructed at 2112 W. Lucas St.
The restaurant will be in front of the Hampton Inn and between the Comfort Inn and the plaza with Starbucks, The Lost Cajun and Julia Belles and the Comfort Suites.
The present Florence Cook Out is the company’s 100 restaurant.

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Executive Management Certificate Program

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The FMU School of Business’ Certificate in Executive Management is the ideal option for business professionals seeking to enhance their management and leadership skills and become better leaders in the business world. The program focuses on five core leadership competencies: communication, organizational culture, strategic thinking, leadership, and decision making with analytics. Tuition is $800. Meals will be provided at all courses. For more information, visit www.fmarion.edu/business/executive

South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo Recap

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Returning to the in-person format this year, the South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo celebrated the state’s robust manufacturing footprint and looked to the future of this critical sector. The conference, which took place in Greenville on November 10-12, is one of the largest manufacturing events in the Southeast each year.

The conference featured the latest industry trends and practices, Industry 4.0 technologies, economic forecasts, supply chain best practices, training sessions and much more. Additionally, the expo’s anchor event – the 25th annual Salute to Manufacturing Awards Luncheon – honored former S.C. Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Ladies on a Mission Joins Chamber

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Ladies on a Mission joined the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and celebrated with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, November 17th. The ribbon cutting was held in the James Allen Plaza behind the Chamber office. Robin Sanders, Executive Director of Ladies on a Mission, and her group of volunteers were joined by Chamber staff and ambassadors. Sanders started the organization a year ago this week. Her mission is to feed the homeless from her hometown of Mullins to Florence, where she now lives. “By next year this time I hope to have a shelter open in Florence for the homeless,” Sanders said. “I have to thank my ladies. I could not do this without them,” she said. “I see a lot of homeless people,” She said a lot of them need food. Sanders said she started with a Big Wheel. People could spin the wheel and receive groceries such as canned goods, she said. Sanders said she is trying to get funding for her project but it has been slow going. A lot of the money to purchase food for the homeless comes out of their own pockets, Sanders said. She has 13 volunteers helping her.

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Winning America Joins Florence Chamber

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Winning America held a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, November 16th in the James Allen Plaza on Dargan Street, hosted by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, to celebrate its membership in the Chamber. Chamber staff and ambassadors joined Bob Skelton in the celebration. Skelton cut the ribbon with his wife, Sue, by his side. The mission statement of the Winning America project is “to create a pathway for change as to how we see, treat and value others.” Skelton said this is accomplished by encouragement, building up and uniting. Skelton is based out of his home in Florence. For this project, Skelton sets up video screens with positive messages of encouragement and encouraging others to be encouragers. He said the screens are placed in gyms and other places where people will see them. Skelton said he would like to see them placed in city buildings and has spoken with the mayor.  There were 10,000 more people dying on purpose than by accident in 2020,” Skelton said.  Skelton said he decided to be an encourager, because at one time he was on the brink of suicide. He said he had checked into a hotel in Columbia for the purpose of committing suicide. Skelton said it was his wife’s encouragement that kept him from doing it. That is when he learned the power of encouragement, he said.

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The Studio & Co. Salon and Boutique Celebrates Expansion with Ribbon Cutting

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The Studio, A Salon, located at 1381 Celebration Blvd. in Florence, has rebranded and expanded to a new location. To celebrate the move to 2515 S. Cashua Drive in the Shoppes at Celebration shopping center and the change to The Studio & Co. Salon and Boutique, a ribbon cutting was held with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Monday, November 15th. Owners Doug and Tara Smith were joined by Chamber staff and ambassadors for the celebration. “This is something that makes sense to our business model,” Doug Smith said. “One of our core values is ‘own the guest experience,’ and providing a full women’s boutique complements what we do on a daily basis – making our guests feel great.” He added, “We outgrew the space we were in.” The Studio and Co. Salon and Boutique has five full-time stylists, four associates in a training program and four front-desk employees. Tara Smith said the associates are receiving training that would go along with a master’s course.

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Leadership Florence Participates in Healthcare Day

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The Florence Chamber Leadership Florence class of 2021-2022 held its November session on Tuesday, November 9th celebrating Healthcare Day.   The 34-member class heard from several local healthcare organizations, which included visits to McLeod Regional Medical Center, MUSC Health Florence Medical Center and HopeHealth. Each organization had a very informative presentation for the group.  The Chamber wants to thank MUSC Health for sponsoring breakfast, McLeod for sponsoring lunch and HopeHealth for providing group treats and special gifts for the participants.

To view photos from the day, click here.

Fellows In Education – November Session

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The Fellows in Education Class of 2021-2022 held their monthly gathering on Tuesday, November 9th  at Briggs Elementary School. Participants were greeted by students playing violins in concert outside while lunch was served. Later, principal Tara Newton and her staff shared many of the school’s classroom activities and future student enrichment plans.  Florence 1 Schools Farm to School Coordinator Jeff Murrie explained the goals of the farm program which are to increase SC grown fruits and vegetables in all schools, promote healthy eating habits while providing nutrition and agriculture education.  The class also helped celebrate Briggs Elementary School recently being chosen as a 2021 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, Lighthouse Schools.  The Fellows program is designed to give local leaders a unique, behind-the-scenes look into several schools within Florence 1 School system. It is partnership program managed by Florence 1 Schools, The School Foundation and the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

To see the photos from the day, click here.

Montessori School Joins the Florence Chamber

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The Montessori School of Florence held a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, November 9th celebrating joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Joining in the celebration were members of the school board, Chamber staff and ambassadors.  The Montessori School of Florence was established in 1976. It moved into its present location at 510 W. Palmetto St. in 1999, said Elizabeth Kahn, Director.  Kahn said it is the only totally Montessori school in Florence.  About 140 students attend the school in grades 2K through six. There are 17 teachers and assistants at the school. Kahn has been director since July.

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Crawford Capital Investments Joins the Florence Chamber

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Crawford Capital Investments, investing in homes, families and communities, held a ribbon cutting in the James Allen Plaza behind the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, November 4th celebrating its membership in the Chamber.  Cutting the ribbon was owner Gia Crawford. She was surrounded by her husband, Kendric Crawford, Co-Owner; their two children; his father, Daryl Crowner of Marion; Brooke Laughridge, Team Member; and Chamber staff and ambassadors.  Crawford Capital Investments primarily invests in real estate, said Gia Crawford. She said they invest in homes and neighborhood revitalization.  The Crawfords have been in business about a year and work out of their home. They are both graduates of Francis Marion University. Gia is a native of Charleston, and Kendric is a native of Marion. They moved back to the area from Virginia to transition into the Florence market with a goal of making a difference in the community.

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