Last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted to approve a final rule that effectively bans employers’ use of noncompete clauses, both prospectively and retroactively. Once the rule goes into effect, most existing noncompete agreements between employers and workers will no longer be enforceable and federal law will supersede any state law surrounding noncompete agreements. Existing noncompete agreements between employers and senior executives are exempt from the retroactivity of the rule, but future agreements are prohibited. The rule broadens the definition of noncompete to capture any contractual provision that “has the effect of prohibiting the worker from seeking or accepting employment.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business associations immediately filed suit against the FTC over the final rule in a Texas federal court, arguing that the FTC lacks the authority to implement such a rule. In a statement, the U.S. Chamber said, “The Federal Trade Commission’s decision to ban employer noncompete agreements across the economy is not only unlawful but also a blatant power grab that will undermine American businesses’ ability to remain competitive.

The rule is set to go into effect 120 days after it is published in the Federal Register, although implementation will be delayed as a result of lawsuits.

For more information, click here.

For decades, the corridor from McLeod Health to Francis Marion University has been peppered with weedy motels, crumbling businesses and vacant lots hemmed in by barbed wire.

“This side of Florence has always been the last on everybody’s list,” said Brandon Rawlinson, a business owner who has lived and worked in the area for years. A recent report described the corridor as a “pass-through rather than a place.”

That’s about to change — or at least officials hope it is.

With the introduction of major developments like Buc-ee’s and the electric vehicle battery plant, economic development and planning officials expect to see East Palmetto Street take off.

Now, Florence County is embarking on an ambitious project to reshape the eastern gateway into Florence and control the projected development.

To read the full story, click here.

Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly once danced across the screen of the Carolina Theater. Moviegoers lined up beneath a brightly lit marquee to see them. Tickets were 50 cents.

That was before the theater fell into disrepair, becoming a vacant storefront in downtown Florence for decades.

The city is now trying to breathe new life into the historic theater, returning it to its 1940s-era glory days.

The yearslong project is officially underway after the first phase of construction began in April. When finished, the theater will be a multipurpose venue in the heart of downtown, capable of hosting everything from concerts to weddings.

But the final product will depend on how much funding the city can find to finish renovations. Pandemic-era cost increases have shrunk the budget.

To read the full story, click here.

The Florence Chamber held its 2024 Building Bridges Diversity and Leadership Summit. Community participants were welcomed by Florence
City Mayor Teresa Myers-Ervin, Les Echols from the Florence Chamber.

Several speakers addressed the day-long gathering, including Rhonda Midgette of InsightfulHR, Dr. Louis Venters from Francis Marion University and opening keynote speaker Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President of Benedict College.

The program featured a women in leadership panel moderated by Nicole Echols of HopeHealth and an Executive Roundtable on diversity featuring representatives from iHeart Media, Francis Marion University and Assurant.

The mission of Building Bridges is to enable our community to address diverse issues through a process of changing attitudes & hearts through education and issue awareness.

To see photos from the day, click here.