Archive for year: 2022

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Movement Mortgage Looks to Make a Difference in the Community

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Movement Mortgage celebrated joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, March 2nd. Movement Mortgage opened at its 1222 S. Cashua Drive location in Florence in October.

“We are a national mortgage company,” said Nathan Ballantine from the corporate headquarters in Indian Land.

Movement Mortgage deals with residential mortgages and has locations all over South Carolina and the United States. This is the second office in Florence.

Ballantine said the company is dedicated to building better communities.

One way it does this is by building charter schools in the United States and outreach centers in other countries. The company also does mission work and partners with nonprofit groups and others.

Sandra King, one of two loan officers at the Florence office, said Movement Mortgage was started by Casey Crawford and Toby Harris in 2008 after one of the biggest financial meltdowns in American history.

According to its website, the company set forth on a mission to create a change in the “industry, in corporate cultures and in communities.” It set out to make a long-term positive impact in communities both close to home and around the globe.

“We want to be more involved in the community,” King said.

That is one reason for joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. She said the company looks forward to becoming involved with the Chamber and its projects.

Loan Officer Jamie Huggins said, “We are very happy to be back with the company we began our career with.”

The staff of three includes Lee Brockington, Loan Officer Assistant.

Smoothie King Owner Says Focus Is On Fitness

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Smoothie King held a ribbon cutting Wednesday, February 16th to celebrate its opening at 960 Pamplico Highway in Florence on Jan. 9 and joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

Joining in the ribbon cutting were Chamber ambassadors and staff.

This new Smoothie King is owned and operated by VetVen LLP, an investment group of Army veterans and local Marion/Mullins graduates Christopher Shelvin, Letrone White and Keith Fore.

Shelvin, who owns other Smoothie King locations, said this one in Florence is special because he opened it with his longtime friends, all from the Marion area, and it is a chance for them to give back to the area where they grew up.

White is the general manager of the Florence location. He works with a 17-member team that is trained in making smoothies that support a healthier lifestyle for their guests. Shelvin said they refer to their employees as team members, who are all part of the Smoothie King family, and their customers as guests.

To read the full story, click here.

SC Economists Estimate Increase in State Revenue

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Last week, the South Carolina Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) increased the state’s revenue estimates by an additional $4.628 billion in forecasted recurring and nonrecurring revenues for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 fiscal years.

The increase is due to three major tax categories being above normal ranges: Sales, Individual Income, and Corporate Income Tax. The BEA’s announcement gives the Legislature more flexibility in crafting the government’s budget.

Frank Rainwater, executive director of the state Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, said the state is going through unusual growth rates and expects the economy to level off at some point.

This better-than-anticipated economic news encouraged Governor McMaster and other Republican leaders to propose further tax cuts. 

Invitations to SC Tech & CyberSecure SC at the SiMT

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SiMT is co-hosting a SC Tech and CyberSecureSC event with the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness on March 29th from 1-3 at the SiMT. It’s a “listening tour.” They are meeting around the state to brainstorm with business and industry and get a grasp on where the state stands with respect to cybersecurity, talent, and other issues; as well as how to improve security.

We want to make the Pee Dee Region’s needs evident. Please reach out to Tressa Gardner at SiMT for more information and your hopeful participation – Tressa.Gardner@simt.com

Chamber’s Spring Golf Classic Set For May 5

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Join us for a day of golf at the Florence Chamber of Commerce’s Spring Golf Classic at the Traces Golf Club on Thursday, May 5th. This year’s Spring Golf Classic is being sponsored by Raldex Hospitality.  Lunch begins at 11:00 a.m. and tee off at noon.  Each registered golfer will be entered into a drawing to participate in a $25,000 cash shoot out!

Click here to download a registration form.

1st Tee Thursdays

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Join RedSilk Media on Thursday, March 3rd from 5:00 – 9:00 PM at the 19th Green Indoor Golf Center for Business Networking Over Golf. Cost is $10 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members.  This is a recurring event that takes place the first Thursday of each month.

To view the full flyer, click here.

Chamber’s Administrative Professionals Day Luncheon Set

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The Greater Florence Chamber will again host its’ popular Administrative Professionals Day Luncheon on Wednesday, April 27th at the Florence Center. The festivities will begin at 11:00 am with many fun vendor exhibits sharing small gifts. The lunch will be served starting at 12:00 noon. The event is full of great door prizes and giveaways. Businesses can reward staff with a great lunch, while they hear an amusing message from this year’s speaker, Ron Glancy. His topic will be, Funny Things That Came My Way.

The Administrative Day Luncheon has been a favorite with area businesses and office managers to honor administrative professionals by treating them to a fun extended lunch event and an entertaining program in recognition of their contributions throughout the year.  There are more than 4.1 million administrative assistants in the United States making it one of the largest workplace observances outside of employee birthdays and major holidays.

More than a dozen business vendors will be at the event sharing giveaways and displaying their products and services.  Tickets are $30 for Chamber members and $40 for non-members. Reserved tables are also available.

To register online, click here.

State Tax Relief Talks Get Serious

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Dueling proposals to address South Carolina’s tax climate were released last week as lawmakers learned that the state has a more significant amount of surplus revenue than initially forecasted. On Tuesday, Governor Henry McMaster and members of House Republican leadership, including Speaker Jay Lucas (R-Darlington), Ways and Means Committee Chairman Murrell Smith (R-Sumter), and Majority Leader Gary Simrill (R-York), released a proposal that would simplify the state’s tax code and reduce the top marginal individual income tax rate.

The proposal would collapse the current six income tax brackets into two, with earners of $16,040 or less paying a rate of 3% immediately and earners of $16,040 or more paying a rate of 6.5%. Additionally, the 6.5% rate would be reduced to 6% over five years. Currently, South Carolina has the highest marginal individual income tax rate (7%) in the southeast.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) introduced his comprehensive tax relief bill (S.1087) on Thursday with many Republican and Democratic co-sponsors. Items in his proposal include:

  • An immediate reduction of the top marginal individual income tax rate from 7% to 5.7%
  • An immediate deduction of all military retirement income from South Carolina taxable income
  • A lowering of the industrial property tax rate from 10.5% to 6% while keeping the current fee in lieu system in place
  • A Taxpayer Rebate Fund and an allocation of $1 billion to the fund for a one-time rebate to taxpayers.

Leadership Florence Class Visits Columbia

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Leadership Florence had the opportunity to join a tour of the SC State House and meet with Governor Henry McMaster and Representatives Phillip Lowe, Roger Kirby and Robert Williams.

The class heard from Madeline McGee of Together SC and Cynthia Bennett of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.

The day ended with an informational tour of Williams-Brice Stadium.

The School Foundation Gala Set For March 24

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The 21st annual School Foundation gala will be held on March 24, 2022. Francis S. (Bo) Godbold, a 1961 graduate of McClenaghan High School, is this year’s honoree. He is the Vice-Chairman of the board at Raymond James Financial, Inc., and a trustee-emeritus of Georgia Tech Foundation, Incorporated. Make your reservation today.

For more information, click here.

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