Walmart Opens its doors in Darlington

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The City of Darlington got a big boost Wednesday morning as the new Walmart location officially opened its doors to the public.

The 122,000 square-foot supercenter will initially employ more than 200 people and is a project that’s many years in the making.

The store is located near the intersection of U.S. 52 (South Main Street) and South Governor Williams Highway (52 Bypass.)

Besides the Walmart, the center was expected to have up to 20,000 square feet of new retail shops and six outparcels available at the same intersection, according to previous reports.

Read the full article on Wednesday’s grand opening celebration by clicking on the link below:

SCnow.com web article- Darlington Walmart opens its doors

 

Florence Regional Airport to Become Site of New Fuel Farm

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From the Morning News: “Ground has been broken for a new fuel farm at Florence Regional Airport as fixed-base operator Precision Air looks to make its imprint with renovations and construction.Central to (the involved) changes are the new 40,000-gallon fuel farm that will include self-serve pumps for after-hours service of smaller planes.”

You can read more about the fuel farm and view the article on the exciting developments by clicking on the link below:

SCnow.com web article- Ground Broken for Fuel Farm at Florence Regional Airport

‘Play Me I’m Yours’ Celebrates, Awards Artists

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Play Me I’m Your Florence 2016 announced that Janis Hobbs and Ellen Walker were the recipients of the Most Creative Piano award and that Charlotte Driggers and her East Clarendon Middle School art students were the recipients of the People’s Choice award at the Florence Regional Arts Alliance’s arts awards ceremony Tuesday night. The Willcox, Buyck & Williams Foundation presented Play Me I’m Yours for the second year in April as part of its history and culture participation program. 27 street pianos decorated by local arts were located in parks, squares, and other public spaces for anyone to play and enjoy. Touring internationally since 2008, Play Me I’m Yours is an artwork by British artist Luke Jerram more than 1500 pianos have now been installed in over 50 cities across the globe, reaching more than 8 million people around the world.
The award for the Most Creative Piano was determined by an artist of international repute who noted that Hobbs and Walker “reached a bit farther, taking a risk in how they extended the work itself beyond the piano.” The judge found the piano’s “use of color sensitive and expressive. That piano was transformed, not merely decorated.” In presenting the People’s Choice award, Reynolds Williams noted that Driggers and her students expressed whimsy in their “free flowing, relaxed depiction that invited all to play… (he) particularly enjoyed the captured creature inside the keyboard cover, inviting his rescue by song.”
Williams emphasized the contributions of all the artists, musicians, sponsors, and volunteers for Florence’s signature outdoor art event. He reported that “This year’s participation almost doubled from last year’s, to over 75,000 residents, visitors, and virtual visitors. It is achieving our goal of creating and binding the whole community through talented, creative, people.”
The Founding Sponsors for this project are The Willcox, Buyck & Williams Foundation, King Cadillac Buick GMC, Hotel Florence and Victor’s, Duke Energy Progress, and Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation. This project is made possible through funding from the Florence Regional Arts Alliance’s Quarterly Grants Program, which is funded in part by a generous award from Honda of South Carolina, the South Carolina Arts Commission and the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC.
 
(Information and pictures courtesy: Roger Malfatti/ Project Manager, Play Me I’m Yours Florence, SC)

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Vivid Network Solutions

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The Florence Chamber officially welcomed Vivid Network Solutions with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, May 10th in the James Allen Courtyard downtown.

Vivid is a professional firm specializing in LAN/WAN integration with focus areas in Networking, Security, Managed Services and PC/Laptop Repair. The company also specializes in the Healthcare Vertical and the SMB space.

To find out more about Vivid, give them a call at: (843) 601-2026, shoot them an email at bholt@vividnetworksolutions.com or check out their website at:

Vivid Network Solutions Website

To see the entire Facebook album of the ribbon cutting visit:

Vivid Network Solutions Ribbon Cutting Album

 

City OK’s agreement for Major Development on Florence’s West Side

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From the Morning News: The City of Florence has approved an initial agreement for “The Grove at Ebenezer,” a 240-acre development that will bring with it 55 single residential lots and commercial developments and will potentially tie into the planned soccer complex and the rail trail. The development will go up near the intersection of Ebenezer and Pine Needle Roads in Florence. Full details can be found in the link below:

SCnow.com web article- Grove at Ebenezer Development

Congratulations to the Winners of the Chamber’s 2016 Spring Golf Classic!

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The Florence Chamber would like to congratulate our winners from the 2016 Spring Golf Classic and thanks again to everyone who took part!
First Place:
Monster Worldwide Team
Players: Drake Hoffman, Eric McLamb, Travis Gantt & Bradley Hamilton
Second Place:
Safelite Auto Glass Team
Players: Billy Hoyle, Michael Cox, Matt Ethridge & Mark Hanna
Other winners:
Closest to the Pin – Meadows #4 – Tommy Bryant, SPC Credit Union
Closest to the Pin – Meadows #7 – Garrett Spivey, Efird Chrysler Jeep Dodge
Closest to the Pin – Creekside #2 – Tim Bell, Dilmar Oil
Closest to the Pin – Creekside #6 – Will Willis, WBTW TV-13
Longest Drive – Meadows #2 – Roger Allen, Raldex Hospitality Group

Greek Festival Set to Return to Florence for 34th Year

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One of the area’s favorite festivals is set to return to the Pee Dee with all of the food, fun and Greek culture a person could want!

The festival kicks off on Thursday at 11 am and runs until 8 pm, continues on Friday from 11 am to 9 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 pm at the Transfiguration of Our Savior Greek Orthodox Church on N. Cashua Drive in Florence.

Among the more popular attractions during the festival, will be traditional Greek food and pastries, children’s entertainment and rides and a car show.

You can get even more details about the Festival by clicking below and reading the story from the Morning News:

SCnow.com web article- 34th Annual Greek Festival

Victors Hosts PRISM & Minority Business Spotlight

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BUSINESS SPOT

To celebrate Small Business Week, Victor’s hosted the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce Wednesday evening for an open house.

The business spotlight showcased the PRISM committee and their efforts to help small and minority business owners. Thanks to everyone who came out!

You can find out more about the Chamber’s Small Business and Minority Business efforts by clicking on the link below:

Florence Chamber Small & Minority Business Initiatives

Chamber Spring Golf Classic Set for Friday at Traces Golf Club

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Please join the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce for a fantastic day on the links! The 2016 Spring Golf Classic presented by Safelite, will be bigger and better than ever with one flight, lots of vendors and networking opportunities and of course, plenty of golf! Join us on Friday, May 6th beginning at 11 am for lunch and tee off with other area business professionals at noon.

Spots are very limited so be sure to sign your team up today! There are also tee, birdie and hospitality hole sponsorships available. Contact the Chamber for more information at (843) 665-0515 or visit flochamber.com.

Register to take part by clicking here.

 

Morning News Coverage of Small Business Week Press Conference

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Thank you to the Morning News for their coverage of the Chamber’s Small Business Week press conference on Tuesday.

Several small business owners were on hand to talk about their experiences setting up shop in the community and Florence Mayor Stephen Wukela issued a proclamation officially declaring the week of May 1-7 as National Business Week.

In addition, Chamber President Mike Miller and Director of Community & Minority Enterprise, Les Echols, both delivered remarks about the impact that small businesses make on the economy in the Pee Dee.

Read the full story and view video by clicking the link below:

SCnow.com web article- Florence Marks National Small Business Week