Area Chambers Grassroots Program Contributes to SC Chamber 2025 Competitiveness Agenda

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Last week, the SC Chamber released their annual Competitiveness Agenda outlining the business community’s top policy priorities for the 2025 legislative session. The Competitiveness Agenda was developed after the SC Chamber engaged with nearly 800 local business leaders from over 30 local chambers, including the Greater Florene Chamber, during their 22-stop Grassroots Tour throughout South Carolina.

The Competitiveness Agenda, developed annually, consists of policy solutions to challenges impacting job creators and businesses across industries and throughout the state. The SC Chamber board approved the 2025 Competitiveness Agenda after conducting extensive grassroots outreach to hear directly from business leaders across S.C. about their most pressing issues.

The seven areas indicated by business leaders that they would like the General Assembly to focus on during the 2025 legislative session are:

  1. Reducing Business Tax Burdens & Modernizing the Tax Code
  2. Bringing Fairness to an Unfair Tort System
  3. Addressing South Carolina’s Future Energy Needs
  4. Addressing Barriers to Workforce Participation
  5. Ensuring Continued Economic Growth & Prosperity
  6. Establishing a Flourishing & Resilient Talent Pipeline
  7. Letting Businesses Do Business

 

SC Governor Releases FY2025-26 Budget Proposal

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Last week, Governor Henry McMaster unveiled his proposed budget for FY2025-26, which includes his recommendations and the priority items he would like to see the General Assembly include in the final version of the budget released later this year. Thanks to the continued strong performance of the state’s economy, lawmakers will once again have a significant budget surplus (somewhere between $1.6 and $1.8 billion) in one-time and recurring dollars to appropriate.

Notable items included in the Governor’s proposal are:

  • $240 million in disaster relief to cover recovery costs that are not eligible for FEMA reimbursements.
  • $200 million to raise teacher salaries and increase starting teacher pay from $47,000 to $50,000.
  • $193.5 million to reduce the state’s individual income tax rate from 6.2% to 6.0%. Tax relief will be a top item of discussion in this year’s legislative session.
  • $100 million to the Department of Transportation (SCDOT) for the acceleration of bridge infrastructure improvements throughout the state.
  • $95 million for technical college scholarships for critical needs jobs through the SC Workforce Industry Needs Scholarship Program (SCWINS).
  • $20 million to continue the SC BOOST program, which provides wage supplements directly to qualified individuals employed in childcare facilities in South Carolina to retain these caregivers and reduce turnover rates in childcare centers.
  • $13.7 million to the Department of Environmental Services (DES) to reduce the backlog of existing permit applications and shorten the timeline for permitting decisions to no more than 90 days.
  • $10 million to create Electric Vehicle (EV) training institutes.
  • $1 million to launch a tri-share pilot program that would assist qualifying employees, who work with participating employers, with childcare costs. Through this innovative new approach, childcare expenses are shared by the employer, the employee, and the State of South Carolina with each contributing one-third of the cost.

To read the full story, click here.

South Carolina Legislative Update

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Last week, members of the South Carolina House of Representatives and Senate returned to Columbia to begin the 1st regular session of the 126th South Carolina General Assembly. There were 32 new faces amongst the 170 members of the House and Senate, as lawmakers in both bodies hit the ground running talking about various issues.

Notable actions taken this week include:

  • Comprehensive Tort Reform Act of 2025 (S.244)
  • Reduce the “Tort Tax” and Cost of Living:
  • Strengthen Personal Responsibility:
  • Balance Liability in Alcohol-Related Cases:
  • Education Scholarships (S.62)
  • South Carolina Energy Security Act (H.3309)

Fellows In Education Visit Delmae Elementary School

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Participants of the 2024-2025 Fellows in Education group enjoyed a great visit to Delmae Elementary School last week.

Principal Mrs. Roy Ann Jolley, who has been at the school since 2000, shared the schools’ academic offerings along with many clubs including Delmae Dads and the Spanish language immersion programs.

The group was provided with musical entertainment by students during lunch and were provided tours of the facilities and witnessed classroom interaction.

Delmae Elementary has the largest number of students in any Florence 1 elementary school with more than 900 students.

The class of 30 local civic and business leaders will visit 8 different Florence 1 Schools over an 8 period month to showcase what is being done at Florence 1 Schools each day in educating our children.

Fellows In Education is a joint community project between Florence 1 Schools, the School Foundation and the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

To see more photos from the day, click here.

Florence After 5 Announces 2025 Dates and Lineup

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Downtown Florence‘s favorite award-winning block party is excited to kick off their 15th season in 2025!

They’re thrilled to announce the return of our APRIL concert added to their lineup this year, for a total of SIX downtown block parties in 2025.

They’ve also got another big announcement thanks to ideas from fans of this iconic community event coming up as we get closer to their first event, but in the meantime, check out the incredible lineup of old favorites and newcomers to the Florence After 5 stage. They can’t wait to see you on Friday, April 25!

For more information, click here.

Leadership Florence Fundraiser: Kickball For A Cause

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The Third Annual Leadership Florence’s Kickball For A Cause is a kickball tournament held at Carolina Bank Field. This year Leadership Florence is partnering with House of Hope and Lighthouse Ministries to raise money for these great local non-profits. Last Kickball For A Cause event, Leadership Florence was able to raise over $30,000. Bring the whole family to support this great event. There will be bounce houses, games, and concessions available so it will be a great time for all ages.

For more information, click here.

Johnson’s Fighters For Freedom Set For Florence Exhibit

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The Florence County Museum has partnered with the Smithsonian American Art Museum to bring Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice to the Florence County Museum starting Feb. 4 through Aug. 10.

This exhibition marks the first national tour of the magnum opus by Florence’s William Henry Johnson entitled Fighters for Freedom.

Johnson painted the series in the mid-1940s, creating a pantheon of historic and contemporary leaders who fought for the freedom of individuals worldwide. The exhibition of 25 works showcasing Johnson’s later iconographic style is on loan from the Smithsonian American Art Museum and features works rarely exhibited outside Washington, D.C.

To read the full story, click here.

Open Enrollment Happening Now At Butler Academy

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BA is the place to be! Our enrollment for grades K – 9 for the 2024-25 school year is open. Apply today!

GSSM Senior Rachel Graham Named Region 2A Runner Of The Year And National YoungArts Award Winner

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The South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) proudly celebrates senior Rachel Graham of Lancaster, S.C., for being named the Region 2A Runner of the Year and a 2025 National YoungArts award winner in Writing/Nonfiction. These accolades showcase Rachel’s remarkable dedication to both athletics and academics, embodying the well-rounded excellence GSSM encourages in its students.

As captain of the girls’ cross-country team, Rachel led by example, inspiring teammates to push their limits. Under the guidance of Coach Randell Ewing, who was also honored as the Girls Cross-Country Region 2A Coach of the Year, Rachel played a pivotal role in securing the team’s third consecutive regional championship. “Rachel is one of the toughest runners I have ever been associated with,” said Coach Ewing. “She is a take-charge kind of student.”

Reflecting on her cross-country journey, Rachel shared, “I always did other sports, but when I started running, I realized this is what I was meant to do. Running is so mental, and with Coach Ewing’s guidance, I find ways to push past my limits.”

Rachel balances her athletic achievements with a strong passion for research and writing. She was named a 2025 National YoungArts award winner in Writing/Nonfiction, an honor accompanied by a cash prize and opportunities for professional development. Rachel has excelled in GSSM’s advanced research programs, focusing on plant science, including work in the school’s hydroponic research lab and a summer research project at Winthrop University.

To read the full press release, click here.

Save The Date: Chamber Spring Golf Classic

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Join the Greater Florence Chamber for our annual Spring Golf Classic on Thursday, May 1st at Traces Golf Club. Lunch will be served at 11:00am and golfers hit the tees at 12:00pm. Come join your friends and business partners for great food, favorite beverages and a fun day on a great golf course. Enjoy a course full of food and hospitality sponsors. The Spring event is sponsored by Raldex Hospitality.

To register online, click here.