Fatz Cafe Cuts Ribbon to Celebrate Joining The Chamber

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Fatz Café held a ribbon cutting on Thursday, October 20th to celebrate joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Chamber staff and ambassadors participated in the event. General Manager Ashley Morrison cut the ribbon.

The Fatz restaurant serves lunch and dinner and caters. It is located at 2007 W. Lucas St. in Florence and has been serving the community for about 20 years. Fatz is headquartered in Greenville. There are 21 restaurants in the group.

The restaurant specializes in Southern cuisine that includes ribs, steak, chicken and seafood.

Morrison has been the general manager for about two years. She works with a staff of about 25.

To read the full story, click here.

2022 Kickin’ Chicken Wing & Chili Festival A Success

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The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce held their 8th annual Kick’in Chicken Wing and Chili Festival Friday evening in Downtown Florence.

Thousands tasted the variety of wings and chili recipes of area cooks and enjoyed the cool October evening with music by the Inland Band.

Jay Lavrinc and Les Echols from the Chamber present the winners plaques.

Winners of the wings cooking:

First place – Mac’s BBQ

Second place – Back Porch BBQ

Third place – Wholly Smokin’

Winners of the chili cooking:

First place – Rollin’ Smoke

Second place – Mac’s BBQ

The main event sponsors for the festival include Raines Hospitality, Synergi Partners and Wilcox, Buyck and Williams with additional support from South Carolina Federal Credit Union, MPD Electric Cooperative, Florence Regional Arts Alliance and Victors Downtown.

Thanks to all of our cookers as well as the wing and chili judges.

To see more photos, click here.

Out Standing Deep Cleaning Service Joins The Chamber

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Outstanding Deep Cleaning Service LLC held a ribbon cutting on Tuesday at the James Allen Plaza on Dargan Street celebrating its membership in the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Owner George Anthony Brunson cut the ribbon. He was joined by chamber staff and ambassadors.

Brunson has been in business for two years. He said said his dad had a cleaning company. Brunson is originally from Syracuse. New York. He moved south in 1996 to be near family.

“My first job was in law enforcement,” he said.

Brunson was a corrections officer for about six years. He also worked for a cleaning service in this area.

Brunson said friends kept telling him to start his own business.

He observed that a lot of cleaning companies did really do more than empty trash and vacuum. He decided to go into business for himself and provide deep-cleaning services. Brunson said his staff of five cleans around the windows and baseboards, buffs and waxes floors, cleans carpets and bathrooms and takes out the trash. He said he does commercial cleaning but hopes to branch out into the residential market soon.

To read the full story, click here.

Junior Leadership Florence County Participates In Their Agribusiness Session

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On Friday, September 9th, the Jr. Leadership Florence County Class participated in their Agribusiness Session! Thank you to BRH FARMS LLC, the Pee Dee State Farmers Market, Ms. Maddy Cutts with Clemson University’s College of Agriculture, Forestry & Life Sciences, and the Clemson University Pee Dee Research Education Center for hosting our students! During this day, students learned about the importance of agribusiness to South Carolina. It is the state’s #1 industry, and there are many opportunities within the world of agribusiness. Charlotte Watson, Watson Homeschool Student, reported, “Agriculture being the backbone of our day-to-day lives, those in agricultural fields provide us with food, clothes, materials, and much more.” All of us are grateful for the partnership between Clemson Extension, Francis Marion University and the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, which manages this nine-month, high school development program each year.

For more information on the JLFC program, contact the Chamber at 843-665-0515

To see photos from the day, click here.

Briggs Elementary’s Newton is Principal of the Year

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Dr. Richard O’Malley, Superintendent of Florence 1 Schools announced today that Tara Newton, Principal of Briggs Elementary School, has been named the Florence 1 Schools 2022-2023 Principal of the Year.

Nominated for this recognition by a group of her peers, including fellow principals and school administrators in Florence 1 Schools, Principal Newton has served at Briggs since 2014. In recent years, Briggs Elementary has garnered local, state, and national recognition.

Under Newton’s leadership, Briggs Elementary is the only school in Florence 1 participating in the whole-school improvement process known as Leader in Me.

To read the full story, click here.

Purvis Motors Celebrates Membership at the Florence Chamber With A Ribbon Cutting

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Purvis Motors LLC held a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, Sept. 14 celebrating joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Owner Garry Purvis cut the ribbon. He was joined by Chamber staff and ambassadors.

Purvis Motors LLC, 1404 N. Cashua Dr. in Florence, offers pre-owned cars for sale.

Purvis said when a potential customer comes on his lot his aim and that of his sales staff is to not only find them the car of their dreams but help the customer find the best financing possible.

Purvis started out working for Pee Dee Auto Sales before branching out on his own. He has been in the car business since 2009. He has been an owner since 2015.

A native of Bennettsville, Purvis moved to Florence in 2008. He and his wife, Chiquita, have been married almost 10 years. Between them, they have five boys and two grandsons.

To read the full story, click here.

Chamber & SCORE Partnership

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The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce works in partnership with Grand Strand SCORE organization to support the Pee Dee Branch for the SCORE mentorship program. The partnership is meant to develop additional resources for small businesses in our Pee Dee communities through mentoring and education programs.

SCORE is a nonprofit resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration dedicated to the formation and growth of small businesses in the United States. It provides free business advice and mentoring, offering low or no-cost business training and sharing free business templates and resources. Whether you’re just starting out, in business, or ready to sell, you can get FREE, confidential business advice from expert advisors committed to helping you succeed. Mentors are available to participate in remote mentoring sessions via phone, email, & video. If you have any questions, please call the Florence Chamber at 843-665-0515. Or click this link to go directly to the SCORE Pee Dee Branch page Grandstrand.score.org/peedee.

FedEx Making $64M Investment At Former Hard Rock Park Site in Horry County

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FedEx is planning to make a nearly $64 million investment on property once part of Horry County’s Hard Rock Park. In return, the company will get a deduction in its property tax rate, paying on 6% of its assessed value rather than 10.5% for the next 20 years, according to an agreement made public Oct. 4 by county officials. Code-named “Project Crestfield,” it’s the shipping and distribution giant’s latest expansion into South Carolina. FedEx broke ground on a $45 million logistics facility in the Upstate city of Anderson over the summer.

To read the full story, click here.

ABB Offers Plant Tour to the Chamber

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The Florence Chamber took an informative tour of the ABB plant in Florence on Manufacturers Day (October 7th). The Chamber group included community business leaders, economic development representatives and small business owners.

ABB is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future.

14th Annual Florence Veterans Day Ceremony Announced

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The Florence Veterans Committee will host the 14th Annual Florence Veterans Day Ceremony at Veterans Park located on 601 Woody Jones Blvd.

The event is on Veterans Day, November 11, 2022, beginning at 11:00 AM. This year’s distinguished speaker is a native of Georgetown, SC, graduate of the University of SC, and a retired Marine, Lt Gen Stacy Clardy. Gen Clardy is a highly decorated veteran with 37 years as a Marine. During this year’s ceremony, 29 names of Veterans with Pee Dee connections will be added to the Wall of Honor. Also, a spectacular monument to the men and women of World War II will become the park’s newest monument, joining internationally acclaimed, award winning monuments.

The event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, so portable chairs are encouraged for those who may not want to stand.