SC Senator Mia McLeod Spoke At Last Week’s Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Event

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The Greater Florence Chamber and Francis Marion University’s 25th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration took place on the campus of Francis Marion University. The event was sponsored by McLeod Health along with Spherion, Clean World USA, Starlee Alexander State Farm and iHeart Media.

The program featured several musical performances by Francis Marion students. The keynote speaker, South Carolina Senator Mia McLeod , gave a dynamic speech on the legacy of Martin Luther King and his legacy of equality and social justice.

SC Achieves Near Record Level of Capital Investment in 2023

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Last week, the South Carolina Department of Commerce released its 2023 industry recruitment results which shows that the Palmetto State continues to experience record economic development success. Throughout 2023, the state announced $9.22 billion in total capital investment, which is the second-highest amount in our history. 81 new projects were announced, creating 14,120 new jobs for South Carolinians.

The state’s two leading industry sectors, the automotive industry which includes electric vehicles (EV) and EV batteries, along with the alternative energy and fuels industry, made up the majority of the $9.2 billion investment with each sector receiving $4.3 billion and $1.6 billion in investment respectively. Florence County and the AESC project are part of this investment milestone.

PDRTA To Celebrate 50 Years

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PDRTA is thrilled to announce that they are marking their 50th anniversary this year! Since their establishment in June 1974, they’ve been dedicated to connecting communities and enhancing mobility across six counties in the Pee Dee Region.

Over the past five decades, we’ve adapted, grown, and continue to innovate, striving to better serve our communities.

Throughout the year they are planning a series of celebratory events and initiatives, including: Historical exhibits showcasing growth and achievements and community events to commemorate this significant milestone.

Here’s to 50 years of progress, community, and shared memories!

To learn more, click here.

Young Professionals of Florence Announce January Event

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What better way to start off the new year, than with a new headshot by Gracelyn Rast Photography? The Young Professionals hope to see you on January 18th at the first event of the new year! The event will be held at SPC Credit Union (1312 Celebration Blvd) from 5:30 – 7:30 PM.

It is also time to renew memberships for 2024, for anyone who wants to go ahead and renew or become a member before our January event, please do so by clicking here!

Women In Commerce Coffee Social Scheduled For February 6

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The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce will host its first Women in Commerce Coffee Social on Tuesday, February 6th at the Residence Inn, 2660 Hospitality Blvd in Florence, from 8:00 – 9:30 AM. We will be serving up a variety of fresh brews courtesy of Lincoln’s Brew mobile coffee truck.  Come and join your friends and business peers at this free morning social event. You MUST RSVP to attend!

Francis Marion University Announces Evening College & Executive Management Programs

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FMU’s Evening College program offers a variety of courses to inform, enlighten, and entertain. These for-credit, non-degree courses are taught once a week by university faculty. Courses begin the week of January 22 and run for eleven weeks. For more information or to register, go to https://www.fmarion.edu/eveningcollege/.

FMU’s Certificate in Executive Management program is for business professional seeking to enhance their management and leadership skills. The program focuses on five core leadership competencies: communication, organizational culture, leadership, decision-making using analytics, and strategic thinking.

For more information or to register, call 843-661-1420 or go to https://www.fmarion.edu/business/executive/.

2024 SC Choral Directors Association Conference Scheduled For January 19 & 20

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On January 19th and 20th the FMU Performing Arts Center, Central United Methodist Church, and First Baptist Church will be home to the 2024 SC Choral Directors Association Conference. This conference will bring together 850 elementary to high school students from all over SC to perform at various times on Saturday afternoon at the PAC. Central UMC and First Baptist Church will be utilized as rehearsal spaces Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. During the conference students are encouraged to support downtown restaurants and businesses over the two days.

We expect to see an additional 1,000+ people downtown that weekend!

FMU’s Kelley Center Presents Entrepreneur & Small Business Networking Event

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Join the FMU Kelley Center for an exciting evening of networking and collaboration at the first Entrepreneur & Small Business Networking Event of the year! This free, in-person event will take place on Thursday, January 18th at 5:30 to 7:00pm in the University Place Building (142 N Dargan St) in Downtown Florence.

Whether you’re a seasoned small business owner or just starting out, this event is the perfect opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurs, exchange ideas, and build valuable relationships in a casual and friendly environment.

Attendees will also be able to learn about the services and programs offered by local organizations such as the FMU Kelley Center, SCORE, the SBDC, and the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce as well as tour the available office spaces offered through the Kelley Center’s Business Incubation program.

Expand your network, gain insights from experienced professionals, and discover new opportunities to grow your business. From startups to established ventures, everyone is welcome to attend and share their stories, challenges, and successes.

For more information, click here.

MUSC of Florence’s Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Department Featured On ChamberLink Radio

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Jennifer Altman and Julie Powell, RN’s with MUSC of Florence Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Department, was the Chambers’ guest on ChamberLink Radio this past weekend.

You can catch the conversation this Sunday from 12:00-12:30pm on LIVE 95.3FM in Florence, SC.

This program is brought to you by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and The UPS Stores.

Kickin’ Chicken Wing & Chili Fest People’s Choice Award Presented

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Damon Kight  of Back Porch BBQ, was honored by Jay Lavrinc of the Greater Florence Chamber and Wayne Mullings of Community Broadcasters, as this year’s recipient of the People’s Choice Award for the Greater Florence Chamber’s Annual Kickin’ Chicken & Chili Fest Event.

The People’s Choice award was sponsored by Community Broadcasters in participation with the Chamber to honor the wings cooker who was chosen by the general public to have the best wings. This is Damon’s 3rd time winning the People’s Choice Award.

Congratulations to Back Porch BBQ and Damon Kight for the win.