Pee Dee Land Trust Hosts Dedication and Ribbon Cutting

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Pee Dee Land Trust held a building dedication/ribbon cutting for its new home on Cheves Street in Florence on Tuesday, June 7th.

The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce staff and ambassadors joined trust supporters, board members and local leaders for the occasion. Lunch was served on the grounds.

The building is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Margaret Eugene “Genie” Lee and her love for the Pee Dee Watershed. It was Lee’s estate gift to Pee Dee Land Trust that made the purchase possible. It is the organization’s first permanent home, after having rented space prior.

Members of the Lee family attended the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony.Located at 448 W. Cheves St., the Trust’s new office is a 1950s brick craftsman-style home that was transitioned in the late 1980’s to commercial office use.

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Caliber Home Loans Joins the Chamber

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Caliber Home Loans celebrated joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, May 25 with a ribbon cutting. Joining in the celebration were Chamber ambassadors. Caliber Home Loans is at 653 S. Coit St. in Florence.

Sales Manager Renee Broach opened her storefront location on Oct. 1, 2022. Caliber Home Loans is a mortgage lender for home loans.

Broach said plans are to grow and eventually to purchase her own building.

“I’ll have to grow a little more before having my own brick-and-mortar building,” Broach said. “We are trying to expand our local footprint.” The company has locations in Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Columbia.

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Adore Taxes Holds Ribbon Cutting

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Adore Taxes LLC held a ribbon cutting Monday, April 25th to celebrate joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

Cutting the ribbon was owner Tiffanie R. McLaughlin. She was joined by chamber ambassadors, staff, family and friends.

Adore Tax service is located at 604 S. Coit St. in Florence.

McLaughlin started doing taxes in December 2017. After managing a local tax service for several years, she decided to branch out on her own. She opened her tax service in July 2021.

In December, McLaughlin will complete her degree and add accounting and bookkeeping services.
“My plan is to open another office before next tax season,” McLaughlin said.

And her ultimate goal is to franchise her business.

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Housing Authority of Florence Holds Ribbon Cutting For New Location on Palmetto Street

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The Housing Authority of Florence held a ribbon cutting and tour of the facility on Wednesday, April 27th to celebrate the opening of its new location on West. Palmetto Street.

Ambassadors of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce assisted with the ribbon cutting.

In operation for the past 54 years, the Housing Authority moved from 400 E. Pine St. to its new location at 2640 W. Palmetto St., a property it purchased in January 2019. The agency serves people in upper Florence, Chesterfield, Dillon and Marlboro counties.

In the move in October, 2021, all administrative staff members, except for community managers, were brought under one roof.

Before the move, the administrative staff was housed in three or four different buildings. With the transformation of the former Food Lion purchase, the Housing Authority has turned about 15,000 square feet of the facility into office space. The majority of the staff members are now all in one location, which allows them to have meetings in-house, have more events for their residents and provide more resources for them.

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Vibez843 Joins the Chamber and Celebrates with Ribbon Cutting

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Vibez843 bar and lounge celebrated joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, April 21st. The lounge is at 104 Kansas Drive in Florence.

Owner Tameka Thomas was joined by her husband, Titus Thomas, and her three children, Tiana Thomas, Morgan Thomas and Jazzmyne Pipkins, in cutting the ribbon. Chamber ambassadors joined in the celebration.

The lounge, which serves a full menu, opened in October 2019 and has undergone a complete renovation.

Thomas said the location was original a nightclub, turned gentlemen’s lounge, and now lounge and bar for a mature clientele.

In the daytime, Thomas said, she serves a full menu that includes honey-glazed salmon, salmon bites, chicken quesadillas, chopped cheese glizzy bun, vegetables, wings and other food. Lamb chops are served on Wednesdays.

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LOV3 Celebrates Chamber Membership with Ribbon Cutting

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LOV 3, a digital marketing agency, celebrated joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, April 19th with a ribbon cutting in the James Allen Plaza behind the Chamber office.

Owner Adrian Pooler cut the ribbon and was joined by Chamber staff and ambassadors.

Pooler started working while in high school in an effort to help his family generate more income. After high school, he began focusing on improving his skills. He was hired by an Inc. 5000 Tech Company called Compliance Line, where he controlled a marketing budget of $15,000 a month.

Pooler is a young entrepreneur in his early 20s. He has been in business for six years, and in that time, he said he has generated more than “a million social media impressions.”
Some of his clients have been bakeries, hair salons, real estate agencies and other small businesses. He helps businesses with marketing campaigns and social media.

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Salvation Army Joins Chamber, Celebrates 135 years

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The Salvation Army in Florence celebrated its 135th anniversary this year by joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting on Monday, April 4th.

Cutting the ribbon were Capt. Tim Scott and Major Melissa Scott of The Salvation Army.

Scott, Command Officer serving the Pee Dee region, said The Salvation Army in Florence is older than the city itself. The actual beginning date of the Salvation Army’s in Florence was March 23. Scott said they waited to celebrate the anniversary and ribbon cutting on the same day.

“We just closed our West Palmetto Street location,” Scott said, consolidating those services at the 2111 S. Irby Street location.

Scott said they were renting the Palmetto Street location, and they own the Irby Street building. With the closing of the Palmetto Street location, the Salvation Army is taking a breather before making plans.

The clothing store and drop-off of donated goods is at the Irby Street location. The Salvation Army on Hoffmeyer Road houses the emergency shelter, social services, food pantry, administrative offices, the church and the women’s and men’s shelters.

 “A large portion of what is in the store is given away with vouchers.” Scott said. “As well as feeding and clothing people in need, we also help with drug and alcohol rehab services.”

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Sweet Feet Diabetic Foot Spa Celebrates Chamber Membership with a Ribbon Cutting

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Dr. Hillery Dolford specializes in the treatment of feet, especially those of diabetic patients.

“We take good care of your feet (at Sweet Feet Diabetic Foot Spa),” Dolford said.

For their one-year-anniversary, Sweet Feet Diabetic Foot Spa, joined the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and held a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, March 30th. Dolford was joined by staff, family and friends and chamber staff and ambassadors as she cut the ribbon.

Dolford has been at the 2724 W. Palmetto St. location since November.

“We provide medical pedicures that focus on diabetic foot care,” she said.

Sweet Feet Diabetic Foot Spa is a medical foot spa that focuses on the safe treatment of diabetic feet. The spa differs from the typical pedicure salon in that the patient receives a medical-grade pedicure. The spa was created for diabetics but is open to people with poor blood circulation, neuropathy, fungal infections, cracked heels, ingrown/overgrown toenails or those in need of a medically safe pedicure.

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First Lady Dispatch and Logistics Holds Ribbon Cutting

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First Lady Dispatch and Logistics in downtown Florence held a ribbon cutting on Thursday, March 17th celebrating joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Owner Regina C. Ford cut the ribbon and was joined by chamber staff and ambassadors, family, friends and clients.

First Lady Dispatch and Logistics is located at 392 W. Evans St.

As a dispatcher, Ford negotiates freight rates for truckers.

She has been in business since 2020, and recently received her freight broker license. Freight brokers work with shippers and carriers.

“My main goal is to be a service to others,” she said.

Ford said her door is always open. She said it has been a wonderful journey so far, and she looks forward to the journey ahead.

While the job can be 24/7, office hours at the downtown location are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ford said she does work remotely and is available any time that she is needed.

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Legacies & Credentials LLC Joins the Chamber

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Legacies & Credentials LLC held a ribbon cutting Monday, March 7th to celebrate joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce in the James Allen Plaza in downtown Florence.

Owner Jennifer Coker cut the ribbon and was joined by her husband, Christopher, Chamber staff and ambassadors.

In business for approximately two years, Coker offers business plan and grant writing services for both for profit and nonprofit entities.

“I love what I do,” she told those present for the ribbon cutting.

Coker said she is dedicated to helping for profit and nonprofit organizations develop and strategize successful business plans and help with grant writing. Additional services include customized graphics and images, logos and customized T-shirts to help businesses and organizations to promote themselves.

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