MINGLE Of The Pee Dee Hosts Culture Con & Comic Expo

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Please join sponsors MINGLE of the Pee Dee and the Florence County Library as they celebrate Black History Month with the first ever Culture Con and Comic Expo on Saturday, February 25th from 9:30 am- 12:30 pm. The event will take place at the Florence Public Library (509 S Dargan Street, Florence SC). The event is free to the public. I have attached a flyer for the event.

The event will highlight comic creator and publisher Wilson Lee. Lee is a writer/creator and the founder of Crump-N-Sons LLC which publishes as CnS Comics (cnscomics.com).

Florence’s own Anime Attic will also be on hand, along with other local vendors. CnS comics will talk a little about how they got into the comic creation and publishing business. Culture Con is meant to foster an inclusive environment for all comic and cosplay enthusiasts.

Cosplay is encouraged for photos and networking, and attendees can come out dressed as their favorite comic, anime or pop culture characters.

For more information, click here.

Piedmont Forklift Handling Cuts Ribbon, Joins Greater Florence Chamber

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Piedmont Forklift Handling Inc. is a second-generation, family-owned and -operated business that specializes in the servicing, selling and buying of forklifts.

In addition to lift trucks, of which it is an exclusive dealer of Hangcha, Unicarrier and Komatsu, the company has industrial sweeper/scrubber offerings and scissor lifts available, as well as telehandlers.

“We have close relationships with racking manufacturers and have the ability to accommodate your racking needs from conception to installation,” the company said in a media advisory through the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. “Recently, our owner, Dane Campbell, invested substantially within the Florence market to expand our servicing availability to more partners. As our footprint grows, we anticipate larger investments to continue to provide the level of service that makes Piedmont Forklift Handling stand out. We look forward to having the opportunity of getting to know you as a partner, not a customer.”

To read the full story, click here.

South Carolina’s Employment Situation Ending December 2022

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The seasonally adjusted, monthly survey of households estimated the number of South Carolinians working decreased to 2,300,110 in December 2022. The estimate of unemployed people decreased to 77,361. Florence County finished at 2.9% unemployment and the Florence MSA unemployment was 3.0%. For more details, click here.

Raldex Hospitality Joins Florence 1 Project Search Program

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Just as the fourth class of Florence 1’s Project Search program is set to graduate; a second partner site is being added. Raldex Hospitality will join McLeod Regional Medical Center as a host site for this award-winning Transition-to-Work program for Exceptional Education students. School districts across the country participate with local partners to offer Project Search. Florence 1 is the first district in South Carolina to have two partner sites.

Florence 1’s Project Search program began in 2019, as an expansion of the employability program already in place in the district. Non-diploma track students learn job skills in areas such as housekeeping, food service and surgery prep that will help them gain employment after high school. With the addition of Raldex Hospitality, more students will be able to take advantage of the program.

To read the full story, click here.

St. Anthony Catholic To Host The Best Fish Fry In Florence

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Join St. Anthony Parish on Friday, February 24th from 4:30 – 7:00 PM at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church for the Best Fish Fry in Florence.  Plates are available drive thru only!  $12/adults and $6/ children.  Plate includes flounder, french fries, slaw and hushpuppies.  Desserts will also be for sale.   This benefit will take place each Friday thru March 31st. All proceeds benefit St. Anthony Parish Organizations (St. Anthony School, Women’s Guild, Knight of Columbus, and Men’s Club)

The New Bike & Run Park in Florence

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Have you visited the High Hill Creek Mountain Bike & Run Park located at 2502 Prosperity Way in Florence SC? You might put this park on your visit list today. It has more than four miles to bike and run and is alongside Interstate 95. Very scenic and fun trail to enjoy. Check it out.

For more information, click here.

Shine A Light On Child Abuse By Hosting A Pinwheel Garden

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Paint the town blue with pinwheels during Child Abuse Prevention Month and shine a light on the realities of child abuse & neglect within your community!

Pinwheels symbolize child abuse prevention as they conjure up the idea of a happy and carefree childhood. A safe childhood is something that every child deserves.

Displays are $100 and include 75 pinwheels along with a sign communicating your commitment to child abuse victims in our community. For more information or to place an order, visit www.thecarehouse.com/pinwheel-garden.

Order Deadline: Friday, March 3rd…or while supplies last!

Contact CARE House Outreach Coordinator, Alice Curry Gallego at agallego@thecarehouse.com with questions.

Small Business Tax Questions – Ask the CPA

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Tax season will be here sooner than you think! If you have tax questions, we have tax answers. This live Q&A session with certified CPA and small business tax expert Micah Fraim will take place on Wednesday, February 9th at 1:00 PM.  Get your tax-related questions and concerns answered and receive tax advice you can implement throughout the year. Live online event.

For more information, click here.

Social Media Marketing Strategies for Your Small Business

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Join Marketing expert Patty Ross on Thursday, February 2nd at 1:00 PM for a free online webinar.  She will teach the basics every business owner should know about social media marketing and the latest trends you should follow. Live online event.

For more information, click here.

Nationally Small Businesses Keep Hiring as Federal Reserve Tries to Slow Economy

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As the Federal Reserve increases its effort to cool inflation and the economy, American small businesses have seen a surge in hiring. Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, small companies (those with fewer than 250 employees) have been responsible for all the net job growth in the United States and currently account for nearly four out of five available job openings. Starting February 2020, these small establishments have hired over 3.6 million more people than have been laid off or who quit, while larger companies have cut a net 800,000 jobs during that same time.

Small businesses accounted for 78 percent of the U.S. job listings in November 2022, and 91 percent of the post pandemic increase in job openings. While many big companies have laid off workers and/or ordered hiring freezes in recent weeks, small businesses have continued to hire workers at a rapid rate, although many are unable to fill open positions.

However, central bankers have pointed to the labor market as a primary driver of high inflation. The Federal Reserve hiked interest rates seven times last year, bringing U.S. interest rates to their highest level since the global financial crisis, and has plans to continue to increase rates this year to slow the economy. These rate increases are making it harder for small businesses to find outside funding, including personal and small-business loans.

To read the full story, click here.