Archive for month: March, 2025

A popular grocery store chain is set to make its long-awaited Pee Dee debut.

Publix announced Wednesday that it has executed a lease for a new store on the northeast corner of Palmetto Street and Ebenezer Road in Florence.

The company said the nearly 47,000-square-foot store will bring 140 jobs to the area.

“We are excited to continue our growth across the Pee Dee with our first location in Florence,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement. “We look forward to our new customers experiencing the Publix difference soon.”

No opening timeframe has been determined.

The Palmetto Partnership of All 4 Autism will host the 2nd annual Under The Palms on May 1st. This event will help fund the second phase of the renovations for their new Community Resource Center.

Proceeds from last year’s event helped cover the costs of the first phase of refurbishments. These updates included painting, clearing the lot for additional parking, plumbing and electrical updates, as well as the installation of new windows and meeting space.

“For this year’s event, we have set a goal of raising $75,000 to cover the expenses for phase two of updates and improvements to our new building. In addition to installing fencing and other security measures, a large portion of our budget will go toward making the center accessible and user-friendly to the families we serve.” Jessica Brown, Executive Director.

The evening will begin with a cocktail reception, where guests will enjoy a signature drink, open bar, and music by David Whatley with Black Tie DJ Services. There will be a delicious selection of heavy hors d’oeuvres and pasta stations.

Cocktails and desserts will be served during the evening program, which will include a live auction and video presentation. This year’s video will feature the Branton Family and their story of hope and faith.

Click here to read the full press release.

The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) proudly announces that its Concert Choir performed at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall in New York City on Saturday, March 22. The choir joined Clemson University’s choral ensembles and other distinguished groups from across the country for this unforgettable event, presented by MidAmerica Productions.

This opportunity marks a milestone for GSSM’s growing music program, which has seen remarkable success since its expansion in 2019 to include Honors Concert Choir, Honors Orchestra and AP Music Theory. GSSM’s student musicians have consistently earned high honors in divisions of the South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA), paving the way for prestigious invitations such as this.

“This experience provided our students with the opportunity to collaborate with full-time musicians from Clemson, choral students from across South Carolina and California, and perform on one of the most iconic stages in the world,” said Miranda Averill, GSSM music instructor. “It was an enriching educational and performance experience that we will always remember. Our students put their whole hearts into preparing for this moment, and it was so rewarding to see them have the time of their lives—it was well-deserved.”

To read the full press release, click here.

The FMU Kelley Center for Entrepreneurship partnered with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce to host a Women In Small Business Seminar. The seminar included panels and Q&A with local women business owners as well as information from local resource partners like SBA, SCORE and CMA, who provide assistance to help start or grow small businesses.

Attendees included current business owners, start-ups, and future entrepreneurs.

To see more photos from the event, click here.

Dasher board advertising spots are available and will be shown during the arena football games at the Florence Center. The normal price is $3,500 for the season. We’re offering a $1,000 discount to all businesses in the Chamber. Deadline for this promotion is Friday April 5. For more information, contact Andre Duncan at (843) 642-4855 or at cravensfb@gmail.com.

To see the full promotion, click here.