Coolest Thing Made in SC Voting Going On Now

Seven Florence & Darlington area industries were nominated for the 2026 South Carolinas Manufacturing Madness Competition called the Coolest Thing Made in SC.

Those nominations are:

“The Coolest Thing Made in South Carolina” is an annual statewide contest celebrating the products, people, and craftsmanship of South Carolina’s manufacturing industry.

You can vote up to five times per day from 2/23 – 2/26. The top 16 vote-getters will move on to the next round.

Help support these industries by voting at: https://scmanufacturingmadness.com/

Temple & Hogsette Law Group Welcomes Major Roger Edward Henderson Home from Deployment

Temple & Hogsette Law Group proudly announces the return of Major Roger Edward “Ed” Henderson from his recent military deployment, welcoming home not only a respected colleague, but a devoted public servant whose commitment to country and community reflects the very best of the firm’s values.

To read the full press release, click here.

Transworld Business Advisors Joins Florence Chamber

Ellen Love cuts her ribbon along with Chamber Ambassadors welcoming Transworld Business Advisors to the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

Transworld Business Advisors is the world’s largest and most trusted Business Brokerage with 40 years of expertise. As professional Business Advisors, we specialize in successfully selling small to mid-market businesses and franchise opportunities.

“Ellen brings years of executive leadership, hands on business management and sales experience to Transworld Business Advisors. She previously served over 20 years in executive management roles for national companies with a proven track record of successful negotiations, sales and exit strategies.

To read the full story, click here.

$20,000 GE HealthCare Donation to Help4Kids-Florence

GE HealthCare presented $20,000 to Help4Kids-Florence on February 12th in support of their incredible work in our community. In addition to the check presentation, 19 GEHC colleagues volunteered for 90 minutes packing meals and restocking the operation for the next group of volunteers.

This donation and volunteer effort reflects GE HealthCare’s ongoing commitment to supporting organizations that expand access to safe, affordable housing, healthy food, quality education, and a strong community environment—helping to reduce health disparities for families and individuals living with chronic disease.

We are thankful to have a strong partnership with Help4Kids and look forward to partnering with them in 2026.

Chamber Spring Golf Classic Set for May 7th

The Florence Chamber of Commerce’s Spring Golf Classic will be held at the Traces Golf Club on Thursday, May 7th, sponsored by Raldex Hospitality.

Lunch begins in the clubhouse at 11:00am and tee off it at 12:00pm.

Each registered golfer will be entered into a drawing to participate in a $25,000 cash shoot out! Expect plenty of different vendor hospitality holes with prizes, food and beverages located around the golf course.

Register early as teams will sell out quickly!

Young Professionals Lunch & Learn – Last Thursday

Thank to Kyle Hardee, co-owner of King Jefe and Tubb’s Shrimp & Fish Co., for taking the time to speak with the Young Professionals of Florence on Thursday at the Hyatt Place in Downtown Florence.

During the Lunch and Learn gathering Kyle talked about starting and then scaling small businesses.

There was a lot of fun with some new faces, great food, and wonderful conversation.

The Young Professionals of Florence (YPF) is associated with Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and is meant for working adults aged 21–40, focusing on networking, professional development, and community involvement.

Members meet monthly for socials and educational events, such as “Lunch and Learns”. Membership is designed to foster leadership and business growth.  Go here to find out more.

To see more photos from the event, click here.

AI Workshop: Leading Your Brand in the AI Era

Join the Kelley Center for Economic Development and the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce for a FREE workshop: Leading Your Brand in the AI Era. This is a comprehensive workshop for business leaders and professionals.

The workshop will be held on Thursday, March 12th from 1:00 pm-3:00 pm at the Kelley Center for Economic Development (142 N Dargan Street).

Attendees will:

  • Discover practical tools to safely expand your reach and lead strategically in the AI era.
  • Explore how business leaders can use AI to amplify their influence while protecting their reputation and credibility.

The workshop will be conducted by Tabitha D. James of SHEAM Strategic Consulting and Letia James of Heritage Digital.

For more information, click here.

SC Works Job Fair

The Spring SC Works Job Fair will be held March 3 in the SiMT. The doors open at 10 a.m. for Veterans and 10:30 a.m. for the general public. Dress sharply and bring your resume.

FMU Women’s Symposium

This symposium brings together leaders from the Pee Dee and across the state of South Carolina to focus on women’s care—from care of self to care of others. Panels and workshops aim to demystify various layers of care, unpack the beauties and burdens of caring, and offer strategies and resources in better managing the caring load while building community.

This event is free and open to all.

For more information, click here.

3rd Annual Pat Gibson Hye Moore Black History Month Parade Rescheduled for this Saturday

Due to forecast of inclement weather this past weekend, the 3rd Annual Pat Gibson Hye Moore Black History Month Parade is rescheduled for Saturday, February 28th in Florence, South Carolina.

This annual parade celebrates Black history, culture, and community while bringing together local organizations, schools, churches, businesses, and families. The parade will begin at the 1200 block of W. Evans Street, with setup beginning at 10:00 a.m. and step-off at 11:00 a.m.

Join us as we celebrate history, unity, and community pride. I have attached a picture of Peal Moore along with an even flyer.

For participation details or registration information, please contact 843-468-7489 or 843-616-1030.

For more information, click here.