City of Florence Wins Municipal Achievement Award for Fourth Consecutive Year

/in , , , /by

     

(all images courtesy: City of Florence FB)

For an unprecedented fourth consecutive year, the City of Florence is the winner of the SC Municipal Association Achievement Award for superior and innovative efforts in local government.

Each spring, the SC Municipal Association accepts award entries from member municipalities.

Winners were honored at the Association’s Annual Meeting.

2016 Achievement Awards

Started in 1987, the program provides local government officials and employees the opportunity to receive deserved recognition for superior and innovative efforts in local government.

The program also provides a forum for sharing the best public service ideas in South Carolina.

Friday Event & Concert List for Florence Area

/in , , , /by

Looking for something fun to do this evening in and around Florence?

Here’s a list of all the various events, concerts and experiences taking place today, courtesy of FloTown Flow:

 

Friday, 15 July 2016

03:30 PM Fine Arts Friday at Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library in Florence

04:00 PM – 07:00 PM “Friday Night Flights” at Wholly Smokin’ Downtown – $2 off beer & wine flights

04:00 PM – 08:00 PM Happy Hour Mon- Sat 4-8pm at J Michael’s

05:00 PM – 07:00 PM Happy Hour at Rebel Pie

05:00 PM -07:30 PM Happy Hour at Victor’s Bistro (Mon-Fri)

06:00 PM – 10:00 PM VIC’s Outback Live Music Fridays at Victors

06:00 PM – 10:00 PM Live Music at Red Bone Alley-Big Bam Boom (Saturday-Shirleys)

06:30 PM – 08:30 PM BBQ & Bluegrass at Cain’s BBQ

06:30 PM – 09:00 PM Seminar Brewing Tasting Room, Florence

07:00 PM Paint “Just Relax” at Addie’s Baby Studio in Florence

07:00pm – 09:00pm Songwriters Show with Joe Cat and Johnny Tanner at The Clay Pot

07:30pm Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, Jr at the Florence Little Theatre

07:30 PM Live Music at Southern Hops-Live Music with Kenny Powell and Ed Clements (Saturday- Live Music with Matt Weldon)

10:00 PM – 02:00 AM Karaoke at The Swamp in Florence

10:00 Jah Creation at Apple Annie’s

Check Out New Additions at the City Center Farmers Market

/in , , , /by

(image courtesy: City Center Farmers Market FB Page)

From our friends in Downtown Florence: Don’t miss the City Center Farmers Market this week!

The Clay Pot Coffee Shop will be there with fig smoothies made on site, iced chai, and tomato pies!

Don’t forget to pick up the freshest produce for your weekend meal plans and head over to the market’s Facebook page for a complete list of vendors.

For more information, visit:

City Center Farmer’s Market Facebook Page

Florence Area Humane Society Offering Special Deal this Weekend

/in , , , /by

Check out this great offer from the Florence Area Humane Society- THIS Saturday, they’re waiving all adoption fees between noon and 5 pm!

See the picture above for complete details on how you can take advantage of this special deal , help out one of our community’s best assets and find your new best friend!

Area Businesses Welcome Chamber’s Emerging Leaders Group

/in , , , /by

The Florence Chamber held our second Emerging Leaders Summer Institute session, with Business, Industry and Innovation as the theme. The group will be visiting local businesses and meeting community leaders throughout the summer.

Thank you to Otis Elevator, Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT), Gould Business Incubator and Morning News for taking time out to host and present to the group this week.

Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting leadership program!

Downtown Florence Weekly Newsletter

/in , , , /by

(image courtesy: Florence Downtown)

Want to get the latest details on what’s on tap for this week in Downtown Florence?

Click on the link below to see when Willy Wonka takes center stage at the Florence Little Theatre, get details on food and entertainment options, see what the latest exhibits are at the Florence County Museum and learn how to make the most of you and your family’s time at the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library!

Click below:

Florence Downtown Newsletter

August Ribbon Cutting Scheduled for FMU Center for Health Sciences Downtown

/in , , , /by

fountain

From Francis Marion University:

The waters are dancing at FMU’s Carter Center for the Health Sciences in downtown Florence where installation of the fountain out front is now complete.

Faculty from the School of Health Sciences is beginning move-in this week.

A ribbon-cutting is set for Aug. 4 at 10 a.m.

The building will house the university’s Nurse Practitioner Program, a proposed physician assistant program and classroom and administrative space for the University of South Carolina’s third and fourth year medical students and instructors.

The USC Medical Student Clinic will begin by the fall of 2016.

More information on the facility and its opening can be found in this story below from WPDE Abc15News:

WPDE news article: FMU Center for Health Sciences

New Hyatt Place Hotel Coming to Downtown Florence

/in , , , /by

Hyatt Place

(image courtesy: SCnow.com)

From the Morning News:

FLORENCE – A $15 million Hyatt Place hotel will soon take shape in downtown Florence.

Raines Hospitality president Grey Raines officially unveiled the project this morning alongside Florence Mayor Stephen Wukela.

In partnership with SpringBridge Development, the 103-room hotel on East Evans and Dargan Street will be a “a modern hub for all business and leisure guests,” Raines said, “and we’re excited about the next phase of what the hospitality world can bring to downtown Florence.”

The grand opening is expected in the first quarter of 2018.

To read more about the opening and the Morning News article in its entirety, click on the link below:

Hyatt Place Hotel Planned for Downtown Florence

Florence City Council Discusses Proposed Changes to Sign Ordinance

/in , , , /by

Florence City Council members recently discussed the potential for big changes in the city’s sign ordinance.

Under the measure, one major change would occur surrounding the Grove at Ebenezer, which will be a 240 acre development off of Pine Needles Road.

If approved, the ordinance changes would mean that the first 100 feet south of Pine Needles Road all the way to I-95 could have a sign that’s 160 square feet, whereas what is currently allowed is 4 feet by 8 feet, or 32 square feet, according to the Morning News article.

Find out exactly what that would mean for some residential roads by clicking the link below to the story from the Morning News:

SCnow.com web article- Florence Sign Ordinance

 

SC First in Nation to Become Fully Certified ‘Work Ready’ State

/in , , , /by
       
South Carolina is the first state in the country to become fully certified under the “work ready” program! This is definitely big news for the business community, as all 46 counties have met the specified workforce and education goals.
 
Under the program, the state gives a test to potential workers and then attempts to match available jobs to those skill sets.
 
You can read more about the important milestone by clicking on the link below:
News Article: SC First in Nation to Become Fully Certified ‘Work Ready’ State