Florence Chamber, FMU Kelley Center & Grand Strand SCORE Start Collaborative Venture

The Florence Chamber of Commerce (SC), the Grand Strand SCORE and Kelley Center for Economic Development at Francis Marion University entered into a collaborative venture to provide high quality education for small business owners.

There is a clear synergy between the three organizations based on their history of dedicated services for local small businesses. Kelley Center for Economic Development has been dedicated to the economic growth of the Pee Dee Region through small business support/incubation and various regional economic development initiatives since 2016. The Florence Chamber of Commerce is driven by the mission to “promote and enhance a favorable business climate and improve the quality of life to make Florence the best community in which to live and operate a business.”

The SCORE Grand Strand chapter, founded in 1984, provides education and mentoring to over 11,000 businesses with over 400 clients per year in the Myrtle Beach Area. Last year Grand Strand SCORE opened a branch office in Florence at the Chamber offices and expanded its services to nine counties in South Carolina. In 2022, the Grand Strand SCORE, Kelley Center for Economic Development and Florence Chamber of Commerce will offer a strong curriculum of business education for businesses in all stages of developmental growth.