Palmetto Business Barometer – January 2024

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The Florence Chamber invites area business leaders to participate in an important, ongoing survey of business conditions in the state – the Palmetto Business Barometer. The survey measures business conditions and attitudes over time with an emphasis on behaviors to better understand the conditions South Carolina employers are facing and to inform the public about the state’s economy and workforce.

The Palmetto Business Barometer survey is a product of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. The SC Chamber manages the Palmetto Business Barometer survey and DEW analyzes the data to identify how business conditions, needs and expectations are changing.

You can check out previous data results here: https://www.scchamber.net/index.php?src=gendocs&srctype=detail&id=57

Click here to get started sharing your business information.

Junior Leadership Florence County Participates In Business and Industry Day

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Last week, the Junior Leadership Florence County Class of 2023-2024 enjoyed Business and Industry Day as they learned more about what Florence has to offer. The day started at QVC Fulfillment Center, where the students received a facility tour and gained insight on what it is like to work in inventory management. The day continued at Honda of South Carolina where the group toured the manufacturing plant, heard from engineers, and enjoyed lunch. After a quick stop at Buc-ee’s, the day ended with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Florence Center, where students learned of entertainment and event planning opportunities.

During their Business and Industry Session, the Junior Leadership Florence County Class of 2023-2024 was presented with funding from Duke Energy, one of the sponsors who makes this program possible. A huge thank you to Duke Energy for your continued support of this prestigious program that encourages growth in Florence County.

Harvest Hope Food Bank Featured On ChamberLink Radio

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Erinn Rowe, Executive Director of Harvest Hope Food Bank was the Chambers’ radio guest on ChamberLink Radio this past weekend.

You can catch the conversation with each Sunday from 12:00-12:30pm on LIVE 95.3FM in Florence, SC.

This radio program is brought to you by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

Carolina Career Fair Being Held This Week

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The Carolina Career Fair is coming up this Thursday, January 25th from 11:00 am – 3:00pm at Staybridge Suites (150 Westpark Drive, Florence)! This is your chance to meet face to face with Pee Dee region residents who are looking and ready to work!

To view the full flyer, click here.

Speakers Announced For Chamber’s  Winter Legislative & Community Breakfast

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The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce has announced that Interim Florence City Manager, Scotty Davis and Florence County Administrator, Kevin Yokim will be the speakers at the Chambers 2024 Winter Legislative & Community Breakfast on February 23rd.

This breakfast is an informational community gathering held twice each year. Topics range from state and local representatives providing legislative updates to local concerns centered on community safety, healthcare, and education.

The 2024 February breakfast will be a Florence City and County Update. Kevin Yokim and Scotty Davis will provide reviews and updates on what is happening now and what to expect in the out years that will impact our way of life here in Florence and other communities in Florence County.

The doors will open at 7:30am and the program begins at 7:50am. Tickets are $225 for a reserved table or $25 for individual registration. There will be no tickets or registration available at the door.

To register, click here.

S.C. Technical Colleges and Universities Sign Statewide Transfer Agreement

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Last Thursday, Governor Henry McMaster joined Speaker of the House Murrell Smith (R-Sumter), Senate President Thomas Alexander (R-Oconee), and leaders from the South Carolina Technical College System, Clemson University, and the University of South Carolina (USC) to sign a statewide transfer agreement between the state’s sixteen technical colleges and the two Public Research Universities that attempts to refine the transfer process and strengthen the seamless transfer of credits from technical colleges to Clemson and USC.

Specific details of the agreement include:

  • 30 or more credit hours of guaranteed acceptance and applicability to a student’s major to reduce credit loss at the time of transfer.
  • The acceptance of a minimum of 60 credit hours for students completing the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science.
  • A reverse transfer credit option enabling credits earned at Clemson or USC to be transferred back to a technical college for the completion of an associate degree.
  • The establishment of annual data sharing between the technical colleges and the public research universities.
  • A commitment to ongoing, regular collaboration through the facilitation of faculty and staff convenings.

    To read more, click here.

SC Chamber Releases 2024 Competitiveness Agenda

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Earlier this week before the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s annual legislative session kickoff event, Business Speaks, the SC Chamber released its annual Competitiveness Agenda which details the business community’s top legislative priorities as the 2024 session begins.

The Competitiveness Agenda, developed annually, consists of policies impacting job creators and businesses from varying industries and regions across the state. The South Carolina Chamber board approved the 2024 Competitiveness Agenda after conducting extensive grassroots outreach to hear directly from business leaders throughout S.C. about what their top challenges are in the current business climate. The SC Chamber team engaged with nearly 900 local business leaders from over 40 local chambers during the organization’s 26-stop Grassroots Tour, which helped formulate the 2024 Competitiveness Agenda.

The five areas indicated by business leaders that they would like the General Assembly to focus on during the 2024 legislative session are:

  1. Establishing a Flourishing & Resilient Talent Pipeline
  2. Bringing Fairness to an Unfair Tort System
  3. Ensuring Continued Economic Growth & Prosperity
  4. Modernizing the Tax Code
  5. Letting Businesses Do Business

The full details of the SC Chamber’s 2024 Competitiveness Agenda can be viewed here.

K2 Capital Holds Ribbon Cutting

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K2 Capital CEO, Chris Peebles, along with his wife Jennifer, and Chamber Ambassadors is welcomed as a member to the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce during his ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, January 10.

K2 Capital provides funding for entrepreneurs and business owners by providing them with essential capital for commercial real estate, business acquisitions, expansion, and working capital. With funding capabilities that rival even the largest financial institutions, combined with a team of seasoned business professionals, they are in the unique position to handle any size transaction while providing unmatched support. K2 Capital works with businesses of all sizes and industries, including start-ups, restaurants, well-established businesses, medical professionals, and nonprofit organizations. K2 Capital caters to clients who may not fit the traditional banking mold, employing a practical, case-by-case approach to lending.

K2 Capital also serves real estate investors, developers, and builders with access to commercial real estate loans that need faster processing or more flexible structuring. From CRE bridge loans that can close in as little as 2 weeks, Fix and Flip loans that fund up to up to 85% of the purchase price + 100% of renovation cost, Construction, and Investor Portfolio loans, K2 Capital offers generous loan sizes, an expedited process, certainty of close, and assistance in growth opportunities.

To see the full story, click here.

New $4 Million Development Coming To Historic Downtown Florence

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Downtown Florence is continuing its transformation with the announcement of a $4 million development to provide residential and commercial space in the historic district.

It’s the latest in a series of projects designed to spark downtown revitalization.

The new development, “The Sarah,” will be located on East NB Baroody Street and will include 18 luxury townhomes and a strip of commercial storefront, according to developer Wesley Martin.

The city of Florence approved a $500,000 grant for the project at the City Council’s Jan. 9 meeting.

“This is a good project that represents a lot of what we are striving to do in the new downtown master plan,” Assistant City Manager Clint Moore said.

To read more, click here.

Annual “Evening Of Hope” Scheduled For March 11

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Who is ready for a night of laughter for a good cause??

Join House of Hope and the Florence Center on March 11 when Jeff Foxworthy hits the stage for an evening of laughter to benefit the House of Hope. Proceeds go to those facing homelessness.

Tickets are going fast so get yours now!