The City of Florence received statewide recognition Friday at the Municipal Association of South Carolina annual meeting. The city of Florence was selected in the economic development category for the food, artisan, and warehouse district with the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Award for Economic Development on behalf of the city.. The city partnered with a private investor to establish Sav A Lot, downtown Florence’s first grocery store. The Redbone Alley Sauce plant opened anchoring the east end of the corridor.

The city of Florence constructed a permanent public space to cultivate food entrepreneurs with the creation of the City Center Farmers Market and Commercial Kitchen to spur entrepreneurial growth.

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The first South Carolina Soul Fest Food Truck Festival will take place on Saturday, September 10th from 11am until 6pm at SiMT, on the campus of Florence-Darlington Technical College (1951 Pisgah Rd). For more information, contact (843) 468-7489.

According to a study compiled by the Tax Foundation, thirteen states joined South Carolina this year in passing tax reform/relief during their respective legislative sessions. Ten states joined South Carolina in passing income tax reductions, with a handful of those states joining South Carolina in modernizing their income tax systems through the collapsing of brackets. As previously noted, S.1087 modernized and simplified South Carolina’s income tax system by collapsing our six existing individual income tax brackets down to three and reduced the top marginal individual income tax rate from 7% to 6.5% effective immediately with a further reduction to 6% over the next five years with triggers to prevent the automatic annual decrease if the state’s general fund revenue does not increase. South Carolina’s legislation also effectively reduced the industrial property tax rate from 9% to 6% by increasing the manufacturing property tax exemption. Due to this reduction, some manufacturers will see annual property tax savings of over $100,000.

Eight states passed corporate income tax reductions this year, although none were located in the Southeast. Ten states joined South Carolina in returning money to taxpayers by passing income tax rebates this session. It is evident that record revenue collections allowed many states to enact tax reform and relief.

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The Florence Chamber of Commerce will host its Annual Chamber Membership Luncheon on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at Florence Center.

Florence County Economic Partnership CEO, C. Gregory “Gregg” Robinson will be the keynote speaker at the Luncheon and will share what’s ahead for regional economic growth and development. Gregg is a South Carolina Certified Economic Developer. His 30-year career encompasses all areas of economic development, including global business recruitment, infrastructure development, marketing, research, and operations.

The Chamber Luncheon is open to Chamber members and all community leaders. It will be held at the Florence Center. Doors will open at 11:30 am and the program will begin at 12:00 noon.

The Business Person of the Year award will be presented at the close of the luncheon program. The Business Person of the Year is sponsored by Wells Fargo.

This program is made possible by our area financial institutions.  Reserved tables of 8 are $450 and individual Chamber member tickets are $30 and $40 non-members.

To register, click here.