LFB Plasma Opens in Florence on Second Loop Road

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FB Plasma center in Florence held its grand opening at 1933 Second Loop Road on Tuesday, December 7th and also celebrated joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting. Chamber staff and ambassadors joined in the celebration.

LFB is a global bio-pharmaceutical group that “develops, manufactures and markets plasma derived products and recombinant proteins for the treatment of patients with serious and often rare diseases,” according to its website, https://lfbplasma.com/

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Ladies on a Mission Joins Chamber

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Ladies on a Mission joined the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and celebrated with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, November 17th. The ribbon cutting was held in the James Allen Plaza behind the Chamber office. Robin Sanders, Executive Director of Ladies on a Mission, and her group of volunteers were joined by Chamber staff and ambassadors. Sanders started the organization a year ago this week. Her mission is to feed the homeless from her hometown of Mullins to Florence, where she now lives. “By next year this time I hope to have a shelter open in Florence for the homeless,” Sanders said. “I have to thank my ladies. I could not do this without them,” she said. “I see a lot of homeless people,” She said a lot of them need food. Sanders said she started with a Big Wheel. People could spin the wheel and receive groceries such as canned goods, she said. Sanders said she is trying to get funding for her project but it has been slow going. A lot of the money to purchase food for the homeless comes out of their own pockets, Sanders said. She has 13 volunteers helping her.

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Winning America Joins Florence Chamber

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Winning America held a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, November 16th in the James Allen Plaza on Dargan Street, hosted by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, to celebrate its membership in the Chamber. Chamber staff and ambassadors joined Bob Skelton in the celebration. Skelton cut the ribbon with his wife, Sue, by his side. The mission statement of the Winning America project is “to create a pathway for change as to how we see, treat and value others.” Skelton said this is accomplished by encouragement, building up and uniting. Skelton is based out of his home in Florence. For this project, Skelton sets up video screens with positive messages of encouragement and encouraging others to be encouragers. He said the screens are placed in gyms and other places where people will see them. Skelton said he would like to see them placed in city buildings and has spoken with the mayor.  There were 10,000 more people dying on purpose than by accident in 2020,” Skelton said.  Skelton said he decided to be an encourager, because at one time he was on the brink of suicide. He said he had checked into a hotel in Columbia for the purpose of committing suicide. Skelton said it was his wife’s encouragement that kept him from doing it. That is when he learned the power of encouragement, he said.

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The Studio & Co. Salon and Boutique Celebrates Expansion with Ribbon Cutting

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The Studio, A Salon, located at 1381 Celebration Blvd. in Florence, has rebranded and expanded to a new location. To celebrate the move to 2515 S. Cashua Drive in the Shoppes at Celebration shopping center and the change to The Studio & Co. Salon and Boutique, a ribbon cutting was held with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Monday, November 15th. Owners Doug and Tara Smith were joined by Chamber staff and ambassadors for the celebration. “This is something that makes sense to our business model,” Doug Smith said. “One of our core values is ‘own the guest experience,’ and providing a full women’s boutique complements what we do on a daily basis – making our guests feel great.” He added, “We outgrew the space we were in.” The Studio and Co. Salon and Boutique has five full-time stylists, four associates in a training program and four front-desk employees. Tara Smith said the associates are receiving training that would go along with a master’s course.

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Montessori School Joins the Florence Chamber

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The Montessori School of Florence held a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, November 9th celebrating joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Joining in the celebration were members of the school board, Chamber staff and ambassadors.  The Montessori School of Florence was established in 1976. It moved into its present location at 510 W. Palmetto St. in 1999, said Elizabeth Kahn, Director.  Kahn said it is the only totally Montessori school in Florence.  About 140 students attend the school in grades 2K through six. There are 17 teachers and assistants at the school. Kahn has been director since July.

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Crawford Capital Investments Joins the Florence Chamber

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Crawford Capital Investments, investing in homes, families and communities, held a ribbon cutting in the James Allen Plaza behind the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, November 4th celebrating its membership in the Chamber.  Cutting the ribbon was owner Gia Crawford. She was surrounded by her husband, Kendric Crawford, Co-Owner; their two children; his father, Daryl Crowner of Marion; Brooke Laughridge, Team Member; and Chamber staff and ambassadors.  Crawford Capital Investments primarily invests in real estate, said Gia Crawford. She said they invest in homes and neighborhood revitalization.  The Crawfords have been in business about a year and work out of their home. They are both graduates of Francis Marion University. Gia is a native of Charleston, and Kendric is a native of Marion. They moved back to the area from Virginia to transition into the Florence market with a goal of making a difference in the community.

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Florence Rotary Club Joins Chamber and Celebrates with Ribbon Cutting

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The Florence Rotary Club cut the ribbon and joined the Chamber at the beginning of its meeting Monday, November 8th at Victors. Club members were joined by Chamber staff and ambassadors at the event.  The club, established in February 1920, and celebrated its centennial February 2020, said Ashley Christenbury, Club President.  Major projects undertaken by the club include the Beauty Trail in Florence, Christmas Shopping project, Christmas bell ringing for the Salvation Army, Forget Me Not 5K, Dictionary Project, RIDDE, and the donation of $10,000 plus to local community non-profits each year.  The club has 129 active and honorary members.

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Anderson Brothers Bank on Hoffmeyer Road Joins the Chamber

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Anderson Brothers Bank held a ribbon cutting at its Hoffmeyer Road location in Florence on Thursday, November 4th celebrating its membership in the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.  This branch opened in November 2020, said Jamie Carsten, commercial loan officer and vice president at Anderson Brothers Bank.  “This is our third location in Florence,” he said.  The branch is at 2001 Hoffmeyer Road. Carsten said the Hoffmeyer location is temporary. Plans are to build on Evans Street between Popeye’s and Burger King.

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Kimberly Patrick Photography Opens Studio in Lamar

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A ribbon cutting was held Wednesday, November 3rd in Lamar at Kimberly Patrick Photography studio. Owner Kimberly Patrick celebrated joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and opening her new studio. Chamber staff and ambassadors joined in the celebration. The studio is at 179 Lorans Drive in Lamar.  Patrick is a family photographer who specializes in newborn, baby, children and family portraiture.  “I have been taking pictures all of my life,” Patrick said.  She said it gives her great joy celebrating and capturing special moments of growing families and the people they love through the art of photography. She has been a professional photographer since 2014.

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Goldman Site Services Celebrates Joining the Chamber with Ribbon Cutting

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Florence Chamber of Commerce on Monday, November 1st with a ribbon cutting at the business on the Olanta Highway outside Scranton. Joining co-owners Ben Goldman and his father, Don Goldman, for the ribbon cutting were Chamber staff and ambassadors, family and employees.  Owner/operator Ben Goldman cut the ribbon. Goldman said they offer grading, excavation, demolition, land and brush clearing, forestry mulching and other services. He said they do commercial and residential work. Goldman said he has been in business for about three years. “We started out doing lawn care and shifted gears to do this,” Goldman said. “I learned from past experience and getting out and doing the work,” he said. “I know a lot from other jobs I have had.” Goldman said he enjoys working outdoors and the fact that everyday isn’t the same. The business is at 2865 Olanta Highway in Scranton. Goldman said they have three employees and a variety of heavy equipment to get the job done.

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