Leatherman Terminal in Charleston Named One of Top U.S. Engineering Projects

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South Carolina Ports’ Leatherman Terminal was recently recognized as one of the top engineering projects in the country.

The American Council of Engineering Companies recognized Leatherman Terminal as a 2023 Grand Award Winner and as a finalist for the 2023 Grand Conceptor Award, which signifies the year’s best overall engineering achievement, according to a news release.

“The SC Ports’ engineering team is proud to receive this prestigious recognition,” said Walter Lagarenne, SC Ports’ vice president of engineering and facilities, in the release.  “Hundreds of people from engineering discipline worked together on the site every day to build this container terminal. It was the best project coordination I’ve seen in my nearly 40-year career.”

To read the full story, click here.

Chamber’s Emerging Leaders Participate In Technology, Innovation and Industry Session

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The Chamber’s Emerging Leaders Class of 2023 held their Technology, Innovation and Industry session on Wednesday, July 19th.

The group heard presentations, did informative tours and visited several sites, including: HillSouth, SiMT, Nucor Vulcraft, Florence County Economic Development and The Manor Senior Living Community.

To see more photos from the day, click here.

Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation Opens Office In Florence And Celebrates With Ribbon Cutting

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Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation® Opens an Office in Florence, SC with ribbon cutting by Dr. Jennie L. Stephens her staff and Chamber Ambassadors as they join the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

An open house event was held on Monday, July 17, 2023, at 1831 W. Evans Street, Suite 312, Florence, SC 29501. The public was invited to attend the event and met the Center staff while learning more about the organization’s mission.

The Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation® is a non-profit organization that protects heirs’ property and promotes the sustainable use of land to provide increased income to historically under-served landowners. The Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation® has been protecting heirs’ property through legal education and direct legal services since 2005. In 2013, the Center began promoting the sustainable use of land through forestry education and services to provide increased economic benefit to low-wealth family landowners.

To read the full story, click here.

Kerry Tharp Of Darlington Raceway Featured On ChamberLink Radio

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Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp was the Florence Chamber’s guest on this weekend’s ChamberLink Radio to talk about his career, NASCAR racing and the upcoming Labor Day Cook Out Southern 500 on September 3.

You can catch future conversations on ChamberLink Radio each Sunday from 12:00-12:30pm on LIVE 95.3FM in Florence, SC.

ChamberLink Radio is brought to you by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and the UPS Stores of Florence.

South Carolina High School League State Basketball Semifinals And Finals Coming To Florence Center

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The South Carolina High School League state basketball semifinals and finals are officially coming to Florence Center.

In a joint release issued by both parties, the announcement was made that Florence Center will be the host site for all upper and lower state title games this February as well as the state championship games in March.

“We are looking forward to hosting all three tournaments at the Florence Center,” Assistant General Manager Lisa Holmes said in the release. “This is a huge win for the Florence community. We have a great relationship with the SCHSL and are excited about the opportunity to showcase our facility and ensure that the teams and fans have a great experience.”

The tournaments will begin Feb. 23, 2024, and will end with the state title games to be played March 1-2.

To read the full story, click here.

Fiber Industries Rebrands As Darling Fibers

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Fiber Industries, the largest domestic producer of high-quality polyester staple fiber, on Tuesday announced the establishment of Darlington Green, a sustainability hub for textiles and packaging manufacturing and related research, development, and innovation.

The company also announced that it has rebranded as Darling Fibers, reflecting its industry leadership in sustainability efforts and support for the local community. Darling Fibers will anchor the Darlington Green hub.

To read the full story, click here.

Ground Officially Broken On Cheney Brothers’ New $66 Million Distribution Center

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The Cheney Brothers’ new $66 million distribution center in Florence County is under way. The project will be creating about 280 new jobs in the are and will be located at the Pee Dee Commerce City East Industrial Park!

The expansion will consist of a 400,000 square-foot distribution facility with major distribution access to our interstates and state roadways.

This large facility will be a welcome expansion to an already growing business community here in Florence County.

Food Lion Plans To Open Store At Florence Mall In 2024

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Food Lion plans to open a store in Florence Mall in 2024, Food Lion Public Relations team member Katherine Kirby said in an email.

Piggly Wiggly closed its Florence Mall store on May 21, 2022. Piggly Wiggly had been an anchor store at Florence Mall for more than 50 years.

Florence Mall’s landlord exercised their option to end the Piggly Wiggly’s lease to put a larger grocery store chain into the location. Food Lion is the larger chain.

Renovation of the Florence Mall location should begin soon.

Piggly Wiggly continues to have a presence in Florence with its Cherokee Road location.

To read the full story, click here.

Jingle Bell Market Returns To Florence Center

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It’s the most wonderful time of year! Mark your calendars and get ready to join them for their Annual Jingle Bell Christmas Market on November 17 -19, 2023 at the Florence Center. It’s sure to be filled with festive cheer, delicious treats, and of course, lots of unique gifts to choose from! Share with your friends – it’s gonna be a blast! Purchase your tickets at jinglebellmarket.com

FMU Nursing Receives $2.2 Million Federal Grant

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Francis Marion University’s School of Health Sciences is the recipient of a $2.2 million grant from the federal government’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This grant will provide tuition support for current and future students in FMU’s Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programs over the next four years.

The Advancing Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) grant will provide assistance for tuition and books as well as a small stipend for living expenses for graduate nursing students. Fifteen awards will be given to current and incoming students each year.

“We are excited to have received this HRSA grant,” said Dr. Karen Gittings, dean of the School of Health Sciences. “This recent grant will help us provide tuition support for students as they seek to become family or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners and enhance the quality of the healthcare offerings in our region upon graduation.”

To read the full story, click here.