7 Brew Cuts Ribbon on Florence Location

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7 Brew cuts their ribbon along with Chamber Ambassadors joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

7 Brew is a rapidly growing beverage brand revolutionizing how customers experience drive-thru service and think about their morning energy boost. Located at 141 Pamplico Highway in Florence, South Carolina, the stand is on a mission to cultivate kindness with every drink it delivers to customers and community members. Boasting more than 775 stands across the country, 7 Brew prides itself on speed, quality products, genuine connection and kindness, driven by employees who truly believe that kindness and joy are contagious.

To read the full story, click here.

You’re Invited – HopeHealth Town Hall-Florence

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Join HopeHealth for their 3rd town hall meeting for patients and community members, designed to build awareness and deepen understanding of HopeHealth’s mission, services, and unique role as a community health center. The event will take place on Monday, August 24 from 4:30 – 5:30 pm at the Streater Community Center, located at 301 N. Dargan Street, Florence, SC 29506.

Register here.

Connect with South Carolina’s Future Workforce This School Year

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As students across South Carolina head back to school, now is a great time to introduce them to the career opportunities available in our state. Through SC Future Makers’ partnership with Tallo, employers can connect with students and young professionals, promote internships and job openings, and build awareness of career paths within their companies. Click here for information. Or, contact Elisabeth Kovacs at Elisabeth.Kovacs@myscmc.org.

College PrepXcel SAT/ACT Prep Success Kickstart Workshop

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College PrepXcel will host this SAT/ACT Prep Success Kickstart Workshop via Zoom on Saturday, August 15 from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. ET

Back-to-School Special: $80 per student—a $300 value

This interactive workshop is designed for sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are deciding which test to take, beginning their test-preparation journey, or looking for practical ways to improve their scores.

During the workshop, students will learn:

• The key differences between the SAT and ACT
• Why test preparation still matters
• Different ways to prepare effectively
• Our 3 Steps to Test Mastery
• Practical SAT and ACT test-taking strategies
• Last-minute tips and test-day preparation
• We will work through practice problems

Many colleges are returning to requiring SAT or ACT scores. Even at test-optional institutions, a strong score may help a student stand out in the admissions process and qualify for additional merit scholarship opportunities.

Space is limited so that students can receive meaningful instruction and support. We hope your student will join us! Please feel free to share this invitation with another family. Test preparation is often more enjoyable—and less intimidating—when students participate with a friend. Let’s give our students the knowledge, strategies, and confidence they need to kick-start their SAT or ACT success!

To register, click here.

Chamber Has Senior Director Position Open

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The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce has an opening for the Senior Director of Operations & Finance position.

This is a full-time position with key responsibility for financial management, annual audits, HR & insurance, and operational infrastructure. The position acts as the primary steward of financial integrity, organizational compliance, and internal operations, and serves as the administrative officer in the absence of the President. The role also serves as the lead organizer for several key Chamber events and initiatives.

Helpful qualifications include experience with bookkeeping functions including AP/AR, reconciliations, state and federal tax filings, annual audits, payroll, and financial reporting systems such as QuickBooks. Previous event planning helpful.

Position benefits include paid vacation & holiday time, generous 401k contributions, paid health insurance, HSA contributions, weekday work hours and comfortable business/work environment.

Please forward resume to mmiller@flochamber.com or mail to The Chamber of Commerce, Attn: Mike Miller, 100 West Evans St., Florence SC, 29501.

Past Kickin’ Chicken Cookers Featured on ChamberLink Radio

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Adam Crosson, Brandon McInville and Landis Lane were the Florence Chamber’s guests this past weekend, sharing stories about competing for the top wing and chili cooking honors. Each year, local chefs and area companies sign up to compete to win the coveted People’s Choice Award.

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/

Women In Commerce – Tickets Available

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Due to the overwhelming response, we moved the event to a bigger room, and more tickets are now available!

The Greater Florence Chamber will again host the Women in Commerce Luncheon on Thursday, August 27th at the Florence Center.

The luncheon program will focus on celebrating successes and promoting opportunities for women’s career growth. The program agenda will offer networking ideas helping to create friendships and business relationships that can support growing your career and reaching personal goals.

The keynote speaker for the 2026 Women in Commerce Luncheon will be Elizabeth Bostian, Chief Financial Officer at First Bank.

The event will begin at 11:30 am with a mingle and mocktails. The lunch and program will be starting at noon. A special thanks to this year’s sponsor First Bank and to McLeod Health and MUSC of Florence for their continued support of the program.

Registration is required to attend. Special tables of 8 are $425 and single tickets are $50 each.

Legislative Update Notables in Budget Deal

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Last Wednesday evening, members of the budget conference committee struck a compromise agreement on the state’s over $15 billion spending plan for FY2026-27.

The compromise agreement increases the homestead exemption for homeowners aged 65 years or older from $50,000 to $75,000 and sets aside roughly $380 million in one-time money for community projects. A separate legislative panel will be established to review all the community projects included in the House and Senate versions (roughly $430 million) and produce recommendations for a separate bill to be voted on by the General Assembly later this year.

Notable items in the budget include:

  • $309 million to reduce the state income tax from 6% to 5.21%, as prescribed by the Income Tax Reform bill (H.4216/Act 110) that was signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster.
  • $190 million to the Department of Transportation (DOT) for bridge repairs.
  • $175 million to the County Transportation Committees (CTCs) for road work.
  • $112 million to increase teacher pay and raise the minimum starting salary to $50,500.
  • $95 million in technical college scholarships for critical-needs jobs via SCWINS.
  • $75 million to the Department of Education (DOE) for construction projects for rural K-12 public schools.
  • $60 million for statewide airport infrastructure improvements.
  • $15 million for readySC.
  • $12.5 million to DOT for a road buyback program to transfer state roads to county control.
  • $11 million for statewide water and sewer projects.

West Florence High School Grad to Be Honored at The School Foundation Gala

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Dr. Sarah Leatherman Allen will be honored as The School Foundation’s Distinguished Graduate at the 26th annual School Foundation gala to be held on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

Dr. Allen is a visionary physician and category creator in healthcare – the Founder of Skin Clique, the nation’s first in-home, on-demand medical aesthetic practice, serving more than 80,000 patients across 42 states.  She is a board-certified internist, celebrated national speaker, and educator with a passion for aesthetic medicine, women’s health, and healthspan optimization.

Sarah is a 2000 graduate of West Florence High School, a graduate of Wofford College, and earned her medical degree at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she served as Chief Resident.  The youngest daughter of Senator Hugh and Jean Leatherman’s six children, she and her husband, Keels, are raising four daughters in Pawleys Island.

The event will be held at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT).  It begins at 5:30pm and will end promptly at 9:00pm.  A meal will be served, and the attire is business attire. Tickets start at $100 for F1S educators and $125 for individuals.  Reserved tables of eight begin at $1,000.

Tickets can be purchased by calling Hyler at (843) 662-9996 or by e-mailing dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org.  You can also purchase tickets on the foundation’s website by clicking here.

Community Broadcasters, LLC, 99.3 The Cat and Southern Hops Brewing Co. Present Concert for the Kids

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Community Broadcasters, LLC, 99.3 The Cat & Southern Hops Brewing Co. are proud to announce Concert for the Kids, a free community concert benefiting McLeod Children’s Hospital through Children’s Miracle Network. The event will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. at Southern Hops Brewing Co. Admission is free and open to the public, with donations encouraged throughout the event to support the life-changing care provided to local children and families at McLeod Children’s Hospital. Guests are encouraged to come out early to enjoy everything Southern Hops Brewing Co. has to offer. Grab some of their outstanding food and beverages, catch your favorite college football team on one of the brewery’s many big-screen televisions, challenge friends to a game of cornhole outside, and settle in for an unforgettable afternoon and evening of live entertainment—all while supporting an incredible cause.

For more information, click here.