The Masterworks Choir will present their Winter Concert on Sunday, March 13th at 4:00 pm at Central United Methodist Church. The concert will feature great works for choir and organ. There is no charge to attend, and all are welcome!
For more information, visit their website.
In response to SC Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler’s tax reform proposal, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Morgan released the following statement:
“Chairman Peeler’s tax reform proposal would offer much needed relief to businesses and residents across South Carolina. We are encouraged to see that lawmakers recognize the importance of reducing tax burdens on individuals and manufacturers to make our state more competitive, and we will continue to work with them to ensure a strong tax cut bill makes it across the finish line.”
VIP Bridal Showroom in Florence celebrated joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, February 15. Owner Ellen Visel and Store Manager Cara Dowling and staff were joined by Chamber staff and ambassadors for the ribbon cutting.
Visel said they were also celebrating a new phase and expansion for the business, VIP planning services. The business will now help brides not only find the perfect wedding dress but help them in the planning of their very special event.
Visel said she has been at the 1826 Sally Hill Farms Boulevard location for a year. Prior to opening VIP Bridal Showroom she owned Juliet’s Bridal and Formal Wear for about three years.
VIP Bridal Showroom has an extensive collection of wedding gowns, bridesmaids, mother-of-the-bride and flower girl dresses, as well as prom and pageant evening gowns and tuxedo rentals.
To read the full story, click here.
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The School Foundation seeks grant requests that align with the five areas of focus: Literacy, Mathematics, Early Childhood, Technology or Fine Arts. $130,000 is available for grants this cycle.
Grant applications for the 2022 – 2023 school year will be accepted from Florence 1 Schools Educators until April 28, 2022.
Grant Categories
There is one grant category this year, Major Grants, which should seek to have a broad impact across the entire school district and help prepare our students for success in a worldwide economy. The Foundation will not be able to fund all requests due to budgetary constraints. This does not mean that a rejected request is inappropriate or unsatisfactory.
To learn more, visit their website here.
Florence residents will soon have more choices to fill their vehicle tanks.
Three gas stations are under construction in Florence. An On The Go station is being constructed near the intersection of West Darlington and North Irby streets, a Fastrack is being constructed at the intersection of South Cashua Drive and Jefferson Drive and construction continues on the Buc-EEs off Interstate 95’s exit 170.
The Florence Design Review Board voted unanimously in December to approve a plan allowing for the construction of a gas station with seven pumps and a convenience store with access from both Darlington and Irby streets at 221 West Darlington St.
To read the full story, click here.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor released the December jobs report indicating continued strain on the labor market with a record level of 10.9 million job openings, up slightly from the previous month. Meanwhile, the number of times workers quit fell to 4.3 million in December, from a record 4.5 million. Hiring slowed to 6.3 million, down from 6.6 million.
Of the country’s four regions, the South – including South Carolina – has the highest number of job openings at over 4 million. Industries facing the highest open job rates are hospitality, healthcare, and transportation.
In South Carolina, 103,000 jobs are currently available, with Charleston, Richland, and Greenville counties advertising for the most jobs as reported by SC Works.
To learn more, click here.
Sandhills Bank will merge into The Citizens Bank, the banks’ holding companies announced Monday, January 31st.
Citizens Bancshares Corp. is the holding company for The Citizens Bank. Sandhills Holding Co. Inc. is the holding company for Sandhills Bank.
Sandhills Bank will merge into The Citizens Bank and Citizens Bancshares Corp. in an all-cash transaction. The combined company is expected to have more than $1 billion in total assets, including more than $500 million in total loans and nearly $900 million in total deposits as of Dec. 31. The transaction is expected to occur early in third quarter 2022. It is subject to regulatory approval and approval by Sandhills Holding Co. Inc. shareholders.
To read the full story, click here.
Construction on Florence-Darlington Technical College’s (FDTC) 5000 Building walkway will get underway on Monday, February 7.
The highly anticipated construction project is expected to be completed by August 15, just prior to the Fall 2022 semester; however, the speed of the project will be largely dependent upon weather and other unforeseen factors. The walkway that leads from the upper parking lots and into the 2nd and 3rd floors of the 5000 Building has been inaccessible due to structural damage.
All offices in the 5000 Building will stay in-place throughout the duration of the construction project. The Student Life Department will hold its events in other various buildings on campus. Due to the construction, parking and access points to the 5000 Building will be modified.
The featured speaker for the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce annual Outlook Luncheon on Wednesday, March 16th will be S.C. Secretary of Commerce, Harry M. Lightsey, III.
The luncheon will be held at the Florence Center with the program beginning at noon. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m.
The South Carolina Department of Commerce works with statewide partners, including our local economic development groups, to advance business services and create industry opportunities in the Pee Dee region and the state of South Carolina. Mr. Lightsey will talk about what the forecast is for our region and the state in the coming years.
The business luncheon will include the announcement of the Small Business Person of the Year, which is sponsored by Dedicated Community Bank, and the Public Servant of the Year, which is sponsored by Francis Marion University. The Chamber’s Ambassador of the Year will also be recognized.
Community and local business leaders are invited to attend. Make your reservations early since this program can sell out in advance of the event date. Tickets will not be sold the day of the program.
Tickets are $30 for chamber members, $40 for nonmembers and $450 for a reserved table of eight.
To register online, click here.
