FedEx Making $64M Investment At Former Hard Rock Park Site in Horry County

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FedEx is planning to make a nearly $64 million investment on property once part of Horry County’s Hard Rock Park. In return, the company will get a deduction in its property tax rate, paying on 6% of its assessed value rather than 10.5% for the next 20 years, according to an agreement made public Oct. 4 by county officials. Code-named “Project Crestfield,” it’s the shipping and distribution giant’s latest expansion into South Carolina. FedEx broke ground on a $45 million logistics facility in the Upstate city of Anderson over the summer.

To read the full story, click here.

ABB Offers Plant Tour to the Chamber

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The Florence Chamber took an informative tour of the ABB plant in Florence on Manufacturers Day (October 7th). The Chamber group included community business leaders, economic development representatives and small business owners.

ABB is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future.

14th Annual Florence Veterans Day Ceremony Announced

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The Florence Veterans Committee will host the 14th Annual Florence Veterans Day Ceremony at Veterans Park located on 601 Woody Jones Blvd.

The event is on Veterans Day, November 11, 2022, beginning at 11:00 AM. This year’s distinguished speaker is a native of Georgetown, SC, graduate of the University of SC, and a retired Marine, Lt Gen Stacy Clardy. Gen Clardy is a highly decorated veteran with 37 years as a Marine. During this year’s ceremony, 29 names of Veterans with Pee Dee connections will be added to the Wall of Honor. Also, a spectacular monument to the men and women of World War II will become the park’s newest monument, joining internationally acclaimed, award winning monuments.

The event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, so portable chairs are encouraged for those who may not want to stand.

Chamber Holds Annual Fall Golf Classic on Thursday, October 6th

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The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce held its’ 2022 Fall Golf Classic on Thursday at Traces Golf Club with 108 area golfers participating. The day started with a great buffet lunch followed by a shotgun start at 12:00 noon for the captain’s choice event. The fall golf outing was presented by First Bank.

Twelve area businesses presented hospitality holes that provided a variety of beverage, hot food, snacks, prizes and gifts along the course.

The Chambers Fall Golf Classic’s first place team was HopeHealth including players Clay Oliver, Carl Humphries, Grant Sellers & Kent McDaniel. Placing second in the event was Truist Bank with players Robbie Timms, Daniel Timmons, Mathew Langston & Tom Finklea.

To view photos from the day, click here.

MFBG To Host Picnic & Story Time

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Grab a blanket, pack a picnic lunch, and join us as we sit under the shade of the willows and have an afternoon of storytelling. Families are invited to the garden to enjoy the sights and sounds of Fall while listening to picture books and stories being read aloud by Education Coordinator, Melanie Glover. This program has three elements:

Bring a book – to donate to the Community Resource Center to help improve community-wide literacy

Share a book – bring a book to trade with other families that attend

Make a book – make an adventure journal or start your very own story through crafting your own book

Come dressed for the outdoors! Program will be rescheduled in the case of inclement weather.

For more info, click here.

The Care House’s Toss ‘N’ Taste Rescheduled for Saturday, November 5th

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Due to heavy rainfall and extreme wind gusts from Hurricane Ian, Toss ‘N’ Taste has been rescheduled for Saturday, November 5th! Dust off your cornhole bags, fire up your crock pot and join us at Toss ‘N’ Taste, the family-friendly Cornhole Tournament & Chili Cook-Off! This annual event features children’s activities (including inflatables and face painting) and chances to win big with a 50/50 raffle, silent auction and enticing prizes! Enjoy spirited competition and delicious chili all while supporting quality services at the CARE House of the Pee Dee for children and families impacted by abuse.

Registration is now open at www.thecarehouse.com/toss-n-taste. Contact CARE House Outreach Coordinator, Alice Curry Gallego at agallego@thecarehouse.com for more details.

For more info, click here.

Fall Legislative Breakfast Announced

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As always, the Chamber works hard to keep the area business community informed on events, projects and programs that can affect business and lifestyle in the region. In keeping with that focus, the Chamber will again host its’ Fall Legislative/Community Breakfast on Friday, November 4, 2022.

Speakers for this community update will be Jason Springs of Florence County Council with an update on what is happening with Florence County. City Councilman, Chaquez McCall will provide an update on Florence City happenings.

The South Carolina Secretary of Transportation, Christy Hall will be updating everyone on the status of the roads throughout South Carolina and what new projects to expect here in the Pee Dee Region.

The program will be held at Florence Center with the doors opening at 7:30am. The program will begin at 7:50am. The program is made possible by First Reliance Bank and Signature Wealth Strategies.

HDPT Family Medical Center Host Ribbon Cutting

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HDPT Family Medical Center, 514 Second Loop Road in Florence, held a ribbon cutting to celebrate joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, September 22nd.

Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board Evelyn R. Coe and her son, Vincent Coe, were joined by Chamber staff and ambassadors as she cut the ribbon.

HDPT was started in 2015. The company provides primary medical care to patients, ages 10 and up. It provides additional services such as Department of Transportation physicals, sports physicals and diabetic foot care.

HDPT operates with a staff of four.

Coe said what sets HDPT apart is the understanding of the “what” and “why.”

“Some patients don’t understand the ‘what’ and ‘why,’” she said. “Here can be a disconnect between what is being said and what is being heard. For example, a patient may have previously been diagnosed with diabetes and prescribed certain medication. They could believe it is to manage diabetes alone (the what) but don’t understand the underlying reason (the why) for the medicine. The prescribed medication could be to protect the kidneys, but if the patient isn’t informed or knows about the seriousness of failing to take the medicine, they may decide to stop taking it completely. That decision then puts the kidney function at risk. Our motto is ‘take charge of your health.’ That starts with understanding the ‘what’ and the ‘why’. That’s our starting point.”

To read the full story, click here.

Gregg Robinson Speaks on the Economic Growth of Florence County At The Chamber’s Annual Membership Luncheon

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Florence County is well-positioned to attract new industries and higher-paying jobs, according to Gregg Robinson. Robinson, CEO of Florence County Economic Partnership, spoke Wednesday, September 21st at the Annual Membership Luncheon of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and reflected on his first 70 days on the job. He noted qualities about Florence County that would attract manufacturers, and communicated ways to recruit new businesses and shared the master plan for five new industrial parks.

Robinson spoke to about 500 people.

Robinson, who has nearly 30 years of experience in economic development, started off his speech highlighting the growth Florence County has experienced and credited its growth to the visionaries who saw a vision for Florence County and worked toward it.

“Florence is standing on the back of a lot of visionaries,” Robinson said. “It is about cathedral thinking and building blocks for the future generation to stand on. Even knowing that we will never see the chapel finished. It is always about creating that foundation of success.”

To read the full story, click here.

James Marvin Owen named Florence Chamber Business Person of the Year

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The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce 2022 Business Person of the Year is James Marvin Owen.
Owen is one of the owners of ACS. He is president emeritus and chairman of the ACS Board of Directors. Owen has worked for 39 years in service not only to the clients of ACS but also to its employees.
Owen said he has not earned this honor alone. He said this award is a reflection on all of ACS’s nearly 400 employees.

As he came to the podium to accept the award, Owen said, “Wow. Wow … I am humbled and honored by this. This is totally unexpected.”

In making the presentation, Amber Sellers, commercial relationship manager of Wells Fargo, said Owen’s first job was with the Computer Consulting Division of Arthur Anderson in Charlotte. Those four years would provide valuable experience as he made the move in 1983 to a new start-up – Computer Dimensions – in Florence.

To read the full story, click here.