Archive for year: 2026

Francis Marion University is offering a Certificate in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. This program offers practical skills for navigating complex interpersonal situations. Participants acquire effective communication and problem-solving methods, empowering them to handle conflicts and reach mutually beneficial resolutions. Sessions meet one day per month, August through December.

For more information, click here.

Duane Parrish, Director for the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT), will be the guest speaker at the Greater Florence Chamber’s Annual Membership Luncheon on Wednesday, September 23 at the Florence Center.

Parrish has dedicated more than 35 years of his professional career to the hospitality industry. He will be speaking to us about the critical role tourism plays in our great state of South Carolina and how the Pee Dee factors into the state tourism picture.

A graduate of the University of South Carolina in Business Administration, Parrish has served as an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston and Trident Technical College teaching hotel management and hospitality courses. He has also been an active member of the South Carolina Hospitality Association and once served as Chairman. Parrish has also served on several other boards for the Chamber of Commerce, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, various hotel associations, and two college advisory boards.

At the luncheon event the Chamber will also announce the Chamber’s Business Person of the Year recipient, presented by First Citizens Bank.

The Membership Luncheon doors will open at 11:30 for conversation and networking. The program will begin at 12 noon. Individual registration is $45 for members and $55 for non-members. Special reserved tables of 8 are available for $475. Seating will be limited so register early.

Late Wednesday evening, members of the budget conference committee struck a compromise agreement on the states over $15 billion spending plan for FY2026-27. For weeks, House and Senate conferees had been working diligently to iron out differences between their two versions of the budget, with main points of contention centering around how much to spend on community projects and how much property tax relief to offer seniors.

For more information, click here.

Naturally Outdoors in Florence wants to make everyone aware that you are invited to help shape the future of regional outdoor recreation. The proposed Fox & Spur Connector is now in its public engagement phase—and your input matters.

The project is transforming a former railroad corridor into a scenic recreation trail system for walking, biking, and community connection. The proposed Fox & Spur Connector, is a 32-mile regional greenway trail project connecting communities from Sumter to Florence.

The public meeting is being held Wednesday, August 5 6:00 – 8:00 PM at The Trailhead by Naturally Outdoors, 2519 W Palmetto St, Florence, SC

Make plans to stop by during the meeting to learn about the project and vision, view maps and proposed phases, meet the project team, ask questions, and offer feedback.