School Foundation Awards $130,000 to F1S

The School Foundation recently announced it will distribute a total of $130,000 in grants to Florence 1 Schools for the 2022-23 school year. The announcement was made at a reception for the grant writers at the Floyd Conference Center on Monday, May 16. The grants committee funded six grants submitted by F1S educators.

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SC Economists Update Revenue Estimates

Last week, the South Carolina Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) held its quarterly meeting where they announced that they had raised the General Fund Revenue forecast for FY2021-22 by an additional $952 million in one-time revenue. The BEA also raised its estimated General Fund Revenue forecast for FY2022-23 by an additional $335 million and revised its estimates to note that lawmakers will have an additional $1.92 billion in recurring revenue and $4.06 billion in one-time surplus, non-recurring revenue at their disposal for the FY2022-23 budget process. The main economic drivers of the revised forecasts include record sales tax collections, and higher than expected income and corporate income tax collections.

The announcement by the BEA was timely, as lawmakers began the first of many conference deliberations on the FY2022-23 budget. The additional $952 million in one-time revenue could be used to resolve some of the outstanding differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget. House Speaker Murrell Smith (R-Sumter), one of the House members of the conference committee, cautioned negotiators on how they spend the additional revenue noting that the BEA’s estimated General Fund Revenue forecast for FY2022-23 is 7% lower than the estimate for FY2021-22.

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SCSU Harry Carson Invitational Golf Tournament to be Held at Traces Golf Club

This year’s event will be held Monday, June 20th, at the well-manicured Traces Golf Course in Florence, SC. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. with tee-off at 11 a.m. The cost for this event is only $100.00. This price includes entry into all events, 18 holes of golf, riding cart, snacks, dinner and various awards.

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Chamber Now Accepting Applications for 2022 – 2023 Leadership Florence Class

Leadership Florence is a comprehensive nine-month program designed to identify, cultivate and motivate new leadership for the Greater Florence Area.  Participants will increase their knowledge of the Greater Florence area and enhance their involvement in community activities while further developing their leadership skills.

The program begins with a Meet & Greet in August and ends with graduation in June 2023.  Sessions are one full day per month.

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Registration is Open for the 2022 Emerging Leaders Summer Institute

The Emerging Leaders Summer Institute is a program designed to generate professional training and development, mentorship, community engagement and recruitment opportunities.

The purpose is to identify, develop and empower “Emerging Leaders”, specifically minorities, small business owners and innovative professionals poised to move into the next level of community and business leadership.

Program Strategies:

  • Communicate with community leaders and businesses
  • Professional and personal leadership development and civic engagement
  • Extensive networking with a diverse group of peers
  • Discovering your strengths and how to apply them as a leader

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Caliber Home Loans Joins the Chamber

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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