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HopeHealth Partners with TogetherSC in Lake City

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Through an initiative made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act, HopeHealth, and TogetherSC recently launched a series of conversations with community leaders to address partnership needs and identify the critical social determinants of health conditions impacting the people they serve.

After several Zoom gatherings, more than 50 nonprofit representatives recently gathered at the Bean Market in Lake City for meaningful conversations about how we can best serve the citizens of Lower Florence and Williamsburg Counties.

To read the full story, click here.

SC Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Penalize Russia

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Both bodies of the South Carolina General Assembly introduced legislation this week that penalizes Russia following last week’s invasion of Ukraine and continued military operations against the Ukrainian people. Members of both the House and Senate filed legislation that would divest the state’s public retirement funds from any assets owned or controlled by Russia and prevents the SC Retirement System from investing in any assets that are owned or controlled by Russia. Sen. Minority Leader Brad Hutto (D-Orangeburg), who also introduced a bill condemning the invasion, was quoted as saying “We can’t stand by and watch this take place without speaking up.”

The House bill also prevents the South Carolina Department of Commerce from offering or rewarding economic development incentives to any company that is at least 50% owned by an entity that is a subsidiary of the Russian Government. Members of the House also introduced legislation that would prevent retailers from selling any liquor that was manufactured or produced in Russia.

South Carolina joins a growing list of states that have taken action to divest their pension funds from Russian assets, to ban Russian alcohol and other Russian goods, and to assess other financial penalties.

Lighthouse Ministries BBQ Fundraiser Set for Week of March 21st

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Lighthouse Ministries 22nd Annual BBQ Fundraiser will be held the week of March 21st through March 25th from 11:00 am – 8:00 pm at Holt Bros BBQ in Florence. BBQ plates can be enjoyed by picking up, dining in, or driving thru at Holt Bros BBQ in Florence.

This week long event helps to raise funds to help families in Florence County who are struggling to meet their basic needs. Tickets are $10 and include BBQ, sweet potatoes, green beans, slaw, and hushpuppies.  

Tickets can be purchased on our website at lighthouseflorence.org/events or at Holt Bros BBQ in Florence the week of the event.

Chamber’s Building Bridges Summit Shares New Date

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The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Building Bridges Leadership and Diversity Summit will take place from 9:00 a.m – 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 14 at the SiMT on the campus of Florence-Darlington Technical College. Event sponsors include Assurant, Duke Energy, Florence-Darlington Technical College and Spherion Staffing.  This year’s featured speaker is Kelvin Waites, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for the City of Myrtle Beach.  The cost is $30 per person or $25 per person for groups of 5 or more, which includes continental breakfast and lunch. To attend, register here.

Junior Leadership Florence County Now Accepting Applications

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Applications for the 2022-2023 Junior Leadership of Florence County are available on our website at https://www.jrleadershipflorencecounty.com/. Current 9th and 10th grade public, private and home-schooled students who live in, or attend school in Florence County, are eligible to apply. The deadline is March 31st.

Downtown Florence Recognized as 2022 Great American Main Street Award Semifinalist

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Downtown Florence was selected by a national group of Main Street professionals as one of eight semifinalists for the 2022 Great American Main Street Award, according to city officials.

The eight finalists have brought in more than half-a-billion dollars of investments, created more than 3,000 jobs and opened nearly 850 new businesses since their programs began, city officials said in a press release.

Florence is the first accredited Main Street community in South Carolina to be designated as a semifinalist for the award, according to Jenny Boulware, South Carolina’s Main Street coordinator.

“As the first Accredited Main Street community in South Carolina to achieve Great American Main Street Award semi-finalist designation, Florence’s remarkable 10-year downtown transformation is now celebrated on a national platform,” Boulware said in a press release. “With one of the most cooperative leadership teams in the state, this recognition reinforces Florence’s intentional and thoughtful downtown development accomplishments.”

Criteria for winning the award include strength of the Main Street program in spurring community transformation; commitment to historic preservation; innovative programming; implementation of cross-sector partnerships; community outreach and stakeholder engagement; and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, the city’s news release said.

Winners will be announced on May 16 at the Main Street Now conference in Richmond, Va.

Every SC Taxpayer Could Get At Least $100 Rebate in Senate Bill

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Everybody who files an income tax return in South Carolina — even the more than 1 million people who pay no state income tax — would get a rebate check of at least $100 in a bill being considered by the state Senate.

A subcommittee sent the rebates to the full Senate Finance Committee on Thursday. They make up about half of a $2 billion package that would also cut the top income tax rate from 7% to 5.7%.

The Senate proposal doubles the money put into tax cuts by the House, which unanimously passed its own tax package without a rebate last week.

To read the full story, click here.

Legacies & Credentials LLC Joins the Chamber

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Legacies & Credentials LLC held a ribbon cutting Monday, March 7th to celebrate joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce in the James Allen Plaza in downtown Florence.

Owner Jennifer Coker cut the ribbon and was joined by her husband, Christopher, Chamber staff and ambassadors.

In business for approximately two years, Coker offers business plan and grant writing services for both for profit and nonprofit entities.

“I love what I do,” she told those present for the ribbon cutting.

Coker said she is dedicated to helping for profit and nonprofit organizations develop and strategize successful business plans and help with grant writing. Additional services include customized graphics and images, logos and customized T-shirts to help businesses and organizations to promote themselves.

To read the full story, click here.

Kooper Leadership Academy Joins Florence Chamber and Celebrates with Ribbon Cutting

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Kooper Leadership Academy held a ribbon cutting in the James Allen Plaza on Monday, February 28th celebrating joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

Joining owner Gary Kooper and family were Chamber staff and ambassadors. Kooper said he started the consulting business because of his passion for people.

“I have always had a passion for people,” he said.

He said the mission of Kooper Leadership Academy is to “engage the hearts and minds of individuals, empowering them to consider the value they bring to themselves and others on a daily basis.”

He said “every person has the power to lead through their thoughts, words and actions.”Kooper said leadership begins from within.

Through his part-time consulting business, Kooper conducts workshops for companies, schools, organizations and private individuals. After the initial meeting, he customizes the training to the client’s needs.

He said we all have the ability to make a difference through “time, focus and effort.”

It is just how you decide to give back, he said.

“I do a lot of mentoring and coaching,” Kooper said.

He works with Francis Marion University’s Leadership Series, which is open to all students; Coker University’s leadership group, which is by application; the Coker basketball team and Cypress Adventures and others.

His wife, Teri, said it is not about benefiting the employer but the employee. She said it is all about wanting more for yourself, streamlining and making the most of your time.

Kooper helps people to be the best version of themselves. He focuses on leadership, starting with themselves and how you do this is with behavior, emotion and drive, he said.

Kooper said if you have the ability to motivate people you can work with people in all walks of life from business to industry to education. He said you just need to understand what motivates people.

Kooper is employed full time with Sonoco Products Company in Hartsville as director of operations in the Supply Thermoforming Food Division.

The couple has lived in Florence for approximately 20 years. They have four children, Mary and Anna, who attended the ribbon cutting; Rose, who is at Clemson, and Eric and his wife, Katie, in Florence, Alabama.

For additional information, contact KooperLeadership Academy@gmail.com

MassMutual Representative Joins Chamber

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Cory Stemshorn, Financial Services Representative with MassMutual, celebrated joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, March 3rd with a ribbon cutting in James Allen Plaza. Chamber staff and ambassadors joined in the celebration.

MassMutual’s home office in South Carolina is in Greenville. It is a full-service financial service, including life, disability, long-term care, annuities, retirement and other services.

Stemshorn is a new Florence representative. He works from a home office.

Stemshorn said he had been in Florence for four years. He was born and raised in Greenville and graduated from Clemson University with a major in hospitality management.

Stemshorn said he is passionate about helping people make important life decisions. He is caring and wants to build a relationship in Florence County.

Joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce is way to network with the community, Stemshorn said.

“I want to connect with other local businesses and to get our face out in the community,” he said.

Stemshorn said he hopes to become involved in chamber activities and programs.

Stemshorn said he has no set hours. He is available any time by cell phone 864-593-2423 or email at www.SouthCarolina.MassMutual.com

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