Gibson-Hye Moore to Represent District 2 on Florence City Council

(Image courtesy: Morning News/ Joshua Lloyd)

Congratulations to Florence’s newest City Council member- Pat Gibson-Hye Moore! Moore will now represent District 2.

According to the Morning News, “Moore said a swearing-in ceremony is in the works and has been tentatively been planned for 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Florence City Center.

Moore will relinquish her spot on the board of Florence School District One, which was up for re-election this year. Election officials said that seat will be on the ballot in the November general election.”

Read the full article by clicking on the link below:

SCnow.com web article- Moore Wins District 2 Seat

Profection Physical Therapy Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

      
(Images courtesy: Joe Perry/MORNING NEWS)
The Florence Chamber was happy to help officially welcome one of its newest members, Profection Physical Therapy, with a ribbon cutting ceremony late Tuesday afternoon.
 
Special thanks to Joe Perry and the Morning News for their continued coverage of the opening of new businesses in our community.
 
Profection Physical Therapy is committed to providing a high quality, easy access, and cost efficient outpatient physical therapy experience and is located at 315 N. Beltline Drive, Suite D in Florence. They are open the following hours:
Mon:
7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tue:
9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Wed:
7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thu:
9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Fri:
7:00 am – 5:00 pm
 
You can reach Profection Physical Therapy at (843) 407-7010 or find them on Facebook at:
To view more images from the ribbon cutting ceremony, click on the link below:

Business Week Teaches Leadership Skills to SC High School Students

             
(images courtesy: SC Chamber) 
Did you know that this week is the SC Chamber’s Business Week? South Carolina Business Week’s mission is to contribute to the preparation of young adults for the business environment by introducing them to the principles of leadership, teamwork and the American free enterprise system while promoting self-reliance, individual responsibility and entrepreneurship.
 
South Carolina Business Week is available to the state’s rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. Throughout the week, more than 30 prominent business executives teach current business topics and leadership skills. Starting with the basics and adding topics throughout the week, students collaborate with executives in an intensive program designed to develop a thorough understanding of private enterprise. Along with an emphasis on teamwork and leadership skills, some issues included in the program include:
Basic Business Finance
Ethics in business
Leadership profiling
The significance of diversity in business
Entrepreneurship
 
You can find out more about Business Week and how to take part by visiting:

Gary Lowder & Smoking Hot Band to Headline Florence After Five Concert this Friday

Don’t miss this exciting Florence After Five concert coming up THIS Friday in the heart of downtown!

The fun starts at 5:30 pm on S. Dargan St. between Evans and Cheves, with the Gary Lowder & Smoking Hot band taking the stage at 6 pm.

The event is free and open to the public and will even feature a free kids’ zone! Don’t miss it.

You can find out more about the concert by clicking on the link below:
Facebook Event Page

FDTC to Host Back 2 School Bash on July 30

florence-darlington-technical-college-1

(image courtesy: College Times)

Chamber member, Florence-Darlington Technical College is set to host a Back 2 School Bash! Find the details below from the Morning News:

Morning News article:

“Florence-Darlington Technical College will play host to the annual Back 2 School Bash, along with the inaugural Full Throttle for Education Car Show on July 30 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission to the event is free.

The Back 2 School Bash will encompass the front of the main campus with the mission to collect donated school supplies for students in the community. A limited number of school supplies will be given away at the event; however, the college will raise more donated items during the Back 2 School Bash that will be given away at a later date.”

Read the complete article by clicking on the link below:

SCnow.com web article- FDTC Back 2 School Bash

City Center Farmer’s Market This Saturday

From the City Center Farmer’s Market:

We have a very full market this week, with several new vendors we hope you’ll check out! This week we’ll enjoy the goods of:

A&B Farm – garlic, potatoes, eggs, and more from Gamil Ibrahim.
Breads & Threads – sweet potato bread, sourdough bread, breakfast rolls, etc.
Brooklyn South Deli – marinara sauces, handmade pasta, take and heat lasagna, cookies and baklava.
Fisher Road Oils & Honey – beeswax items: candles, melts, balms, honey soaps, and more.
Florence County Master Gardeners – covered by a Master Gardener. Varies each month.
*Five Loves Handmade Baskets – rope baskets, totes, and plant hangers.
Freckles & Giggles Homemade Ice Cream – packaged to take home or eat right away.
Hobby Farmers of America – covered by an HFA member. varies each market day.
Hickson’s Produce – locally grown and other fruits and vegetables, boiled peanuts, and pork rinds.
Lulu’s Barkery – homemade dog treats.
Ovis Hill Farm – certified organic veggies, eggs, non-gmo and pasture-raised chicken, beef, pork, sausage, as well as Happy Cow Creamery milk, butter from grass fed cows, cheese, and local wild caught fish.
Paul & Sophia – exquisite illustrations, homemade soap, and other nice surprises.
Tracks Cafe – making breakfast and lunch using items right from the market!
Watson’s Woodworks – Handmade chairs and other wood items.
Wild Earth Herbals – herbal wellness products: tincutres, teas, bath products, salves, aromatherapy.
And a 7 year old named Whit selling figs!

We’ll see you at the market!

Morning News Coverage of YP and Chamber Lunch & Learn: Fair Labor Standards Act

(image courtesy: Joe Perry/ Morning News)

Special thanks to the Morning News for their coverage of the YP and Chamber Lunch & Learn that brought participants information on upcoming changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
You can see more of the coverage by clicking on the link below:

SCnow.com web article- Lunch & Learn: Fair Labor Standards Act

State Credit Union Recognized in Top 200 Rankings from DepositAccounts.com

scu logo     deposit accounts
Congratulations to Chamber member, State Credit Union, on its recognition for the third straight year as one of the Top 200 Healthiest Credit Unions in America! The recognition was given by DepositAccounts.com, which evaluates the financial health of
every federally insured credit union in the United States – more than 6,000 total.
 
Each institution is graded on a number of factors, including capitalization, deposit growth, and loan to reserve ratios, in
order to determine a comprehensive health score.
From the list of 6,003 credit unions, DepositAccounts.com recognizes those who have shown exceptional fiduciary responsibility in its 2016 edition of the Top 200 Healthiest Credit Unions in America.

Fair Labor Standards Act Seminar Highlights Upcoming Overtime Changes

               
A large crowd was on hand Wednesday for the YP and Chamber Lunch & Learn on the Fair Labor Standards Act! The presentation is taking place at the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library.
 
Reynolds Williams, Mark W. Buyck III, Chamber President Mike Miller and Young Professionals President Meggie Baker are working together to present the program on the new overtime rule that could impact business owners, overall business finances and employees.
 
Thank you to everyone taking part and please feel free to tag yourself if you are featured in the photos and to share the album as well.
 
More information on the FLSA:
 
The Overtime Rule
In 2014, President Obama directed the Secretary of Labor to update the overtime regulations to reflect the original intent of the Fair Labor Standards Act and to simplify and modernize the rules so they’re easier for workers and businesses to understand and apply. The department has issued a final rule that will put more money in the pockets of middle class workers – or give them more free time.
The final rule will:
Raise the salary threshold indicating eligibility from $455/week to $913 ($47,476 per year), ensuring protections to 4.2 million workers.
Automatically update the salary threshold every three years, based on wage growth over time, increasing predictability.
Strengthen overtime protections for salaried workers already entitled to overtime.
Provide greater clarity for workers and employers.
The final rule will become effective on December 1, 2016, giving employers more than six months to prepare. The final rule does not make any changes to the duties test for executive, administrative and professional employees.
To view the entire gallery of images click on the link below:

YP Lunch & Learn : Fair Labor Standards Act Takes Place Today at Drs. Bruce and Lee Library

Don’t forget to join us today at noon at the Drs. Bruce and Lee Library for the YP Lunch and Learn: Fair Labor Standards Act program.

The session promises to be an informative update on pending changes to the “overtime rule.”

You must have pre-registered for the event to attend. We’ll see you there!

 

For more information on the event, click below:

Facebook Event Page: YP Lunch & Learn/ Fair Labor Standards Act