Justin Mack Sr. started his home health care business, 1st Palmetto Medical Services, in March 2021. He did so while also serving as assistant fire chief at Palmetto Rural Fire Department.
Some of the spaces that suited his needs in Florence would have cost him around $2,500 in rent each month. That didn’t include utilities.
A friend of his, who had grown a business in the Gould Manufacturing and Business Incubator, had a solution to his problem. Mack was put in touch with Tressa Gardner, associate vice president at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology, a part of the Florence-Darlington Technical College in Florence, which houses the Gould Incubator.
Now, he runs 1st Palmetto and an ambulance service he purchased, Med Atlantic, out of the building.
“I owe it all to the incubator,” Mack said.
Gould has office spaces, conference rooms and loading bays. It had signed its 104th lease as of Sept. 12. Gardner said there are 15 companies on a waiting list for the incubator as of Sept. 12.
To read the full story, click here.
Pee Dee State Farmer’s Market Featured On ChamberLink Radio
/in Frontpage Article, Images, News /by Mandy HowleBob Sager, Market Manager for the Pee Dee State Farmers Market, was on ChamberLink Radio this weekend to talk about their year-round market showcasing some of the state’s freshest and finest produce along with its prime location for the ornamental horticulture and floriculture industry.
You can catch the conversations on ChamberLink Radio each Sunday from 12:00-12:30pm on LIVE 95.3FM in Florence, SC.
ChamberLink Radio is brought to you by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and The UPS Stores.
SBA Meet and Greet
/in Frontpage Article, Images, News /by Mandy HowleJoin the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce for an informative Meet and Greet with the US Small Business Administration. The event will be held at the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce (100 West Evans Street) from 2-4pm. SBA representatives will be on hand to discuss:
To register, click here.
WilGrow Celebrates Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
/in Frontpage Article, Images, News, Ribbon Cuttings /by Mandy HowleTamara Kirven of WilGrow along with family, staff, friends, and Chamber Ambassadors celebrates ribbon cutting ceremony joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.
WilGrow offers affordable full circle marketing solutions. WilGrow specializes in digital marketing, community relations & events, and customer relationship management. WilGrow is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its new office located at 101 Kuker Street, Florence. The company celebrated this milestone with a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 18th.
What sets WilGrow apart is their commitment to delivering personalized solutions tailored to each client’s specific goals and budget. Their mission is to provide local businesses with access to high-quality marketing services that generate tangible results.
To read the full story, click here.
Junior Leadership Florence Participate In Agribusiness Session
/in Frontpage Article, Images, News /by Mandy HowleOn Friday, October 13th, the Jr. Leadership Florence County Class participated in their Agribusiness Session! Thank you to Mrs. Tracy with Covered In Cotton, BRH FARMS LLC, Mrs. Faith L. Truesdale, Pee Dee District Director for South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation and the Clemson University Pee Dee Research Education Center for hosting our students! During this day, students learned about the importance of agribusiness to South Carolina. It is the state’s #1 industry, and there are many opportunities within the world of agribusiness.
The JLFC program is made possible through the partnership of Clemson Extension Florence County SC 4-H, The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and Francis Marion University.
Special thanks to Florence County Farm Bureau for sponsoring our lunch, Ms. Bethany Funkhouser, Clemson Extension Pee Dee Region Agribusiness Agent; Mr. Lee Van Vlake, Pee Dee Region Livestock & Forages Agent; Mr. Kyle Smith, Darlington County Agronomy Agent, and to Florence School District Two for providing transportation.
To see more photos from the session, click here.
Southeast Hospitality Group LLC Joins Chamber of Commerce
/in Frontpage Article, Images, News, Ribbon Cuttings /by Mandy HowleSanjay Sonavane, owner, family, staff, and Chamber Ambassadors welcomed Southeast Hospitality Group LLC to the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.
Southeast Hospitality Group LLC, a Hotel Accommodation based in Florence, announced the reopening of Days Inn hotel at 140 Dunbarton Dr, Florence, SC 29501.
After undergoing 6 months of extensive renovation, Days Inn celebrated their grand reopening with a ribbon cutting.
To read the full story, click here.
Pee Dee Hearing Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
/in Frontpage Article, Images, News, Ribbon Cuttings /by Mandy HowleCelest Kahn Executive Director along with her staff, the mayor, board members and Chamber Ambassadors cut their ribbon upon becoming a member of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.
Pee Dee Hearing Center celebrates the Grand Reopening as one of the area’s oldest nonprofits. The City of Florence passed a resolution assigning October 12 as Pee Dee Hearing Center Day!
Formerly Pee Dee Speech & Hearing Center, the practice’s mission is to empower the lives of people who struggle with all degrees of hearing challenges. Hearing loss is a prevalent condition throughout the community and is becoming even more common in younger generations as our environment grows noisier.
To read the full story, click here.
Michaels Crafts Store To Open At Magnolia Mall Early 2024
/in Frontpage Article, Images, News /by Mandy HowleThe Magnolia Mall will see a Michaels arts and craft store open by late January or early February.
The store, located at 2853 David McLeod Blvd., will hire “dozens of temporary, full-and part-time roles” and hold a soft and grand opening for the community.
It will join the 15 other locations in South Carolina, including stores in Columbia, Charleston and Sumter. It’ll be the first location in Florence.
The company opened a third-party online marketplace this year, now having their own alongside Target and Walmart. The marketplace will make more than 1 million items available to shoppers, according to a company press release.
To read the full story, click here.
Organization Plans Thanksgiving Meal For All Of Florence
/in Frontpage Article, Images, News /by Mandy HowleJulia and Bryan Ransom have a vision: hundreds of people gathered around a Thanksgiving table in the middle of Florence — friends, families, neighbors and even strangers enjoying a meal together, striking up conversations and building community.
The Ransoms are the driving force behind a Thanksgiving community meal dubbed One Table Florence. The idea, taken from a similar event in Aiken, is to bring together people from across the city for a day of gratitude.
Julia Ransom described the goal of the event as “bringing the community together to strengthen our bonds, and restoring a sense of gratitude to Thanksgiving.”
The event is set to be held this Thanksgiving Day in Timrod Park. It will be free to all, and all are encouraged to attend, the Ransoms said.
To read the full story, click here.
Gould, Kelley Centers Support Small Business In Florence Area
/in Frontpage Article, Images, News /by Mandy HowleJustin Mack Sr. started his home health care business, 1st Palmetto Medical Services, in March 2021. He did so while also serving as assistant fire chief at Palmetto Rural Fire Department.
Some of the spaces that suited his needs in Florence would have cost him around $2,500 in rent each month. That didn’t include utilities.
A friend of his, who had grown a business in the Gould Manufacturing and Business Incubator, had a solution to his problem. Mack was put in touch with Tressa Gardner, associate vice president at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology, a part of the Florence-Darlington Technical College in Florence, which houses the Gould Incubator.
Now, he runs 1st Palmetto and an ambulance service he purchased, Med Atlantic, out of the building.
“I owe it all to the incubator,” Mack said.
Gould has office spaces, conference rooms and loading bays. It had signed its 104th lease as of Sept. 12. Gardner said there are 15 companies on a waiting list for the incubator as of Sept. 12.
To read the full story, click here.
SCORE Of The Pee Dee Featured On ChamberLink Radio
/in Frontpage Article, Images, News /by Mandy HowleRich Spivey, Mentor with SCORE of the Pee Dee, was on ChamberLink Radio this weekend to talk about being a volunteer and sharing his experience and knowledge helping small business professionals start, develop, and grow businesses.
You can catch the conversations on ChamberLink Radio each Sunday from 12:00-12:30pm on LIVE 95.3FM in Florence, SC.
ChamberLink Radio is brought to you by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and The UPS Stores.