S.C. Ranks No. 1 In the Country for Vehicle, Tire Exports

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South Carolina’s export sales grew 1.5% in 2025, reaching $38.5 billion – the highest total in seven years.

The state once again ranked No. 1 in the country for exports of completed passenger vehicles and tires and No. 2 for ball and roller bearings.

Motor vehicles and parts, aircraft and parts, and machinery remained the state’s top export categories. Aircraft and parts exports rose 31% over 2024, while completed passenger vehicles generated the largest share of export revenue at $11.8 billion.

To read the full story, click here.

O’Malley Receives Governor’s Award for the Arts in Education

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Florence 1 Schools Superintendent Richard O’Malley has received South Carolina’s highest honor in the arts. Last Tuesday afternoon, the South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) announced him as the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Governor’s Award for the Arts in Education.

To read the full story, click here.

11th Annual Flotown 5K Walk Run Scheduled For April 25

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The City of Florence Employee Wellness Program and Florence Track Club have partnered to bring you the 11th Annual Flo-Town 5K Run/Walk.

The certified course will begin at the City’s Waste Water Management Facility quickly accessing the Florence Trail System’s Freedom Florence Connections.

These trails, located in East Florence, make up approximately 8 miles of the City’s Trail system. The course is comprised of natural beauty and history adjacent to the tranquil Jeffries Creek and the Florence Stockade.

This Race is part of the 2026 Pee Dee Grand Prix Race Series.

For more information, click here.

You Can Help Report Trash in Florence County

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Zero Tolerance for Litter is a joint initiative brought to you by Palmetto Pride and the South Carolina Litter Control Association to heighten public awareness of South Carolina’s litter laws. June starts a month-long campaign that unites law enforcement officers from municipalities to state agencies in a two-part mission: to increase enforcement of state litter laws and to educate the public on these laws and the importance of litter prevention.

We urge area residents to use the KFB Trash Tracker as a digital tool to report litter in real time across Florence County. This initiative is supported by Keep Florence Beautiful (KFB) in partnership with Florence County and with strong support from the City of Florence, the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and Florence County Economic Development Partnership.

This initiative represents a united commitment to environmental stewardship and community pride. Get the tracker here.

For more information on Keep Florence Beautiful, click here.

Numbers Not Your Thing? Then this SCORE Series Is For You

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Numbers not your thing? This class will explain the basics of the primary financial documents needed to operate a small business. No accounting needed. Attendees will learn about the Profit and Loss Statement, the Balance Sheet and the Cash Flow Projections and gain a basic understanding of their purpose, how to read them and how to use them in decision making.

For more information, click here.

Applications Now Open 2026-2027 Junior Leadership Florence County

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Applications are now being accepted for the 2026-2027 Junior Leadership Florence County Program. Current public, private, charter, and home-schooled students who live in and/or attend school in Florence County and will be classified as a high school sophomore or junior next school year, are eligible to apply. The deadline is March 30th. Please use the online applications at the bottom of this post.

Eligible schools include – South Florence High School, West Florence High School, Wilson High School, Florence Christian School, The King’s Academy, Trinity Collegiate School, J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts & Science Magnet School, Lake City Early College High School, The Carolina Academy, Johnsonville High School, Hannah-Pamplico High School, Virtus Academy of South Carolina, Florence 1 Schools, Florence County School District Two, Florence County School District Three and Florence County School District Five.

For application, please click here.

Advanced Practice Mental Health and Wellness Cuts Ribbon on Chamber Membership

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The team at Advanced Practice Mental Health and Wellness, along with Chamber Ambassadors cut their ribbon joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

The team at Advanced Practice Mental Health and Wellness is proud to celebrate the expansion of its services and space in Florence, marking an exciting milestone in its continued mission to make compassionate, high-quality mental health care more accessible to the community. What began as a vision to create a practice where people feel genuinely welcomed and supported has grown into a trusted local resource for individuals and families seeking thoughtful, relationship-centered care. This expansion reflects both the needs of the community and the practice’s commitment to growing alongside it.

Advanced Practice Mental Health and Wellness provide comprehensive psychiatric and behavioral health services for children, teens, and adults, including diagnostic evaluations, medication management, individualized treatment planning, and telehealth visits. The practice also offers specialized services such as domestic violence counseling, alcohol and drug counseling, anger management services, and parenting assessments. In addition to direct clinical care, the team works closely with several county agencies — including Veteran Services and the Department of Social Services — helping provide evaluations, counseling, and coordinated support for individuals and families navigating complex life situations. Known for taking time with patients and focusing on meaningful relationships rather than rushed visits, the team’s work is guided by strong core values: treating others with respect, caring for patients like family, meeting people exactly where they are without judgment, and choosing kindness in every interaction.

To read the full story, click here.

Lucky Shamrock Festival – Friday

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First, a compliment to YOU, our community. Thank you for supporting, sponsoring, sharing, and showing up for the Lucky Shamrock Festival year after year. This event moves because you move.

Now the countdown is real…

Let the luck roll in. Tell a friend. Secure your plans. Get ready for a little shamrock magic. We cannot wait to see you soon!

For more information, click here.

Young Professionals of Florence Support Pee Dee Ice Cats

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Come join the hockey fun and bring a friend as we support the Ice Cats at Florence Center on March 13th at 7:30pm.

Just use this link to RSVP for this event. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to have a fun evening.

Athletic Cheer Force Featured On ChamberLink Radio

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Alex Devlin, owner of Athletic Cheer Force was the Florence Chamber’s guest this past weekend talking about the ACF mission to create a positive, high-energy environment where athletes of all ages and skill levels can thrive.

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, MUSC Health Florence Medical Center and LIVE 95.3FM.

Looking for past ChamberLink Radio Show interviews? Click here:

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