Boys & Girls Clubs Of The Pee Dee Area – Champions For Youth

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Each year, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area recognize a Champion for Youth, and this year we are excited to recognize longtime supporter and board member Erik Marechal.

“As a pillar of the community, we are proud to honor Erik as our 2025 Champion for Youth,” says Neal Zimmerman, executive director of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area.

Erik serves as the President and majority owner of Accountable Insurance Partners. Erik finds great joy in helping his clients with their insurance and risk management strategies and leading his 24 team members to do the same for the agency’s clients.

This year’s event will be held on Tuesday, September 16, in the lobby of the SiMT – Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology​ at Florence-Darlington Technical College, 1951 Pisgah Road, Florence.

The Tribute event supports programs that help thousands of children throughout the Pee Dee grow into productive adults. Attendance and financial contributions will help brighten the lives of some of our community’s most promising children. The Boys & Girls Clubs serve youth every day after school and all day on non-school days and during the summer. Clubs provide a safe place where young people can learn and grow while helping them become productive citizens.

For more information, click here.

Emerging Leaders Summer Institute Participate In Arts, Education and Leadership Development

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The Chamber’s Emerging Leaders Summer Institute class learned more about Arts, Education and Leadership Development last Wednesday.

The class day included a presentation from Francis Marion University, along with tours of the FMU Performing Arts Center, Florence Museum, and Florence County Library.

The group also heard informative presentations from Florence County Economic Development and Florence Downtown Development.

To see more photos from the day, click here.

MPZ Holdings Holds Ribbon Cutting At Dave’s Hot Chicken

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MPZ Holdings representatives announce the grand opening of Dave’s Hot Chicken, along with Chamber Ambassadors cut their ribbon welcoming them to the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

MPZ Holdings is proud to announce the grand opening of its fourth Dave’s Hot Chicken location in the Pee Dee, a celebration took place on Friday, July 18 from 11 AM to 2 PM at 1931 W. Palmetto Street. A ribbon-cutting ceremony kicked off the event at 11 AM, welcoming local officials, a community check presentation, and remote broadcast from iHeartRadio’s 103x, hosted by longtime Darlington Raceway announcer Dan E. Lockemy.

Dave’s Hot Chicken, known for its crave-worthy hot chicken tenders and sliders served with a variety of heat levels from “No Spice” to “Reaper,” brings a bold flavor and cult-following energy to each new market. Guests can expect hand-breaded, halal-certified chicken, signature Dave’s Sauce, and loaded crinkle-cut fries—all served in a fast-casual setting with high-energy vibes and street-art-inspired décor.

To read the full story, click here.

Florence Regional Airport Featured On ChamberLink Radio

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Brad Beadles, Executive Director of the Florence Regional Airport, was the Florence Chamber’s guest this past weekend talking about the importance of the airport to our future economic development in the Pee Dee Region along with all the new customer experience improvements made to the terminals at the FLO.

We encourage you to tune-in every Sunday from 12:00-12:30pm on LIVE 95.3FM in Florence, SC.

This program is brought to you by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

Looking for past ChamberLink Radio Show interviews? Click here:

https://www.flochamber.com/events-programs/podcasts/

Steps to Starting a Non-Profit

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Thinking about starting a non-profit? This free workshop will cover the required steps and best practices for developing a 501(c)3 non-profit in the State of South Carolina. Attendees will learn the differences between for-profits and non-profits along with tips to create a sustainable organization.

Held in-person at the Continuum in Lake City on 7/25 at 11:00am.

For more information, click here.

Free Truist Small Business Workshop – Wednesday

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Are you an established owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or have a side hustle? Join us for this exciting two part series for Small Businesses!

-Successfully manage personal and business finances

-Improve cash flow

-Continue to build and expand

-Protect your business

For more information, click here.

Opening Of Newly Planned Baskin-Robbins Set For September

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According to SCNOW.COM, Baskin-Robbins will be opening a new store in Florence sometime in September.

The national ice cream and cake chain is planning a 1,300-square foot store to be located at 505 Pamplico Highway.

The property is being developed by Peter Patel, owner of Shreeji Properties of Florence LLC.

The Baskin-Robbins will employ between 25 and 30 people and will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

According to the company’s website, there are 19 Baskin-Robbins in the state including Hartsville, Lake City, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Columbia and Rock Hill.

To read the full story, click here.

FMU School of Business – Conflict & Negotiations

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This immersive certificate program is designed to help professionals navigate complex negotiations and resolve workplace conflict with confidence and clarity. Through hands-on learning and expert-led sessions, you’ll gain the tools to:

• Revisit foundational negotiation concepts • Strengthen strategic thinking and decision-making • Build effective bargaining skills • Navigate cross-cultural negotiations • Improve workplace communication and conflict resolution • Sharpen listening skills for deeper understanding • Practice group negotiation and facilitation

Who should attend? Leaders, managers, HR professionals, team leads, and anyone looking to enhance their communication and negotiation capabilities.

For more information, click here.

Thermo Fisher Again Part of Fortune 500 Group

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Thermo Fisher Scientific is included in the Fortune 500 list, ranking 225. The Fortune 500 list ranks the largest companies in the United States by total revenue. Thermo Fisher Scientific is a global provider of scientific instrumentation, reagents and consumables, and software and services. Their mission is to enable their customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer.

S.C. Ranks 18th In CNBC’s Best States For Business Rankings

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South Carolina improved its ranking in the 2025 version of CNBC’s annual America’s Top States for Business Rankings by one spot to 18th overall, which were released this week. Since being ranked 39th overall in 2021, South Carolina has improved its ranking by 21 spots with a 36th overall ranking in 2022, a 27th overall ranking in 2023, a 19th overall ranking in 2024, and this year’s 18th overall ranking. The rankings measure each state on 135 metrics in 10 key categories of competitiveness like infrastructure, workforce, economy, cost of doing business, quality of life, etc.