Florence Chamber Welcomes Northwestern Mutual: Wayne Catoe

The Florence Chamber was proud to help officially welcome one of its newest members this week- Northwestern Mutual: Wayne Catoe. The business offers financial and insurance services through Northwestern Mutual, from their office at 319 S. Irby Street, Suite 100 in Florence.

Backed by the strength of Northwestern Mutual, Wayne and his team provide you with a balanced approach to achieving your goal of financial security, assuring that your intentions have been understood and your needs are being addressed. And when it comes to implementing solutions, the full capabilities of Northwestern Mutual are leveraged to provide you with exclusive access to a comprehensive variety of products and services.

For more information, give them a call at: 843-629-0370.

Fair Labor Standards Act: Lunch & Learn Opportunity

The new (Fair Labor Standards Act) overtime rule could impact you personally, or could impact your overall finances and employees if you’re a business owner. So what exactly will the new rule mean, who qualifies for the changes and how will it impact your business? Join the Florence Chamber and the Young Professionals of Florence for a Lunch & Learn Program that will provide you with some of the answers.

The program will take place on Wednesday, July 20th from 12-1:30 pm in the Stukes Meeting Room of the Florence County Library and will feature presentations and Q&A with a variety of speakers on the new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA.) Lunch will also be included.
The cost to attend is $15 for Chamber and YP members, $20 for non-members and $15 for non-profit employees.

To register or for more information, click on the link below or call the Chamber at (843) 665-0515.

https://florencesccoc.wliinc14.com/external/wcpages/wcevents/eventregistration.aspx?eventID=2A600V

More information on the FLSA:

The Overtime Rule
In 2014, President Obama directed the Secretary of Labor to update the overtime regulations to reflect the original intent of the Fair Labor Standards Act and to simplify and modernize the rules so they’re easier for workers and businesses to understand and apply. The department has issued a final rule that will put more money in the pockets of middle class workers – or give them more free time.
The final rule will:
Raise the salary threshold indicating eligibility from $455/week to $913 ($47,476 per year), ensuring protections to 4.2 million workers.
Automatically update the salary threshold every three years, based on wage growth over time, increasing predictability.
Strengthen overtime protections for salaried workers already entitled to overtime.
Provide greater clarity for workers and employers.
The final rule will become effective on December 1, 2016, giving employers more than six months to prepare. The final rule does not make any changes to the duties test for executive, administrative and professional employees.

Emerging Leaders Summer Institute Program Kicks Off

The Emerging Leaders Summer Institute program kicks off this evening with an orientation and reception for class members.
The program is designed to generate professional training and development, mentorship, community engagement and recruitment opportunities. The purpose is to identify, develop and empower “Emerging Leaders”, specifically minorities, small business owners and innovative professionals poised to move into the next level of community and business leadership.
 
Program Strategies:
– Visit with community leaders and businesses
– Professional and personal leadership development and civic engagement
– Extensive networking with a diverse group of peers
– Discovering your strengths and how to apply them
as a leader
Program Dates:
– Tuesday, June 14: Orientation & Reception –
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
– Wednesday, June 15: Session 1 – Retreat
– Wednesday, July 13: Session 2 – Technology, Innovation & Industry
– Wednesday, July 20: Session 3- Education & Leadership Development
– Wednesday, August 3rd: Session 4 – Government/Civic Engagement
– Graduation – TBA-6 pm – 8 pm
 
Program Sponsorship and Cost:
Cost includes lunch and materials. While many candidates are sponsored by their employer, a limited number of partial scholarships are available.
Non-profit $200
Small/Minority Business $250
Corporate $500
For more information, contact:
Les Echols, Director of Community & Minority Enterprise, Florence Chamber: (843) 665-0515 or visit:

Election Day 2016: Local Primary Coverage from SCnow.com

Tuesday is primary day across South Carolina.

In the Pee Dee, several contests will be decided today, while others will have candidates win a spot on a November ballot.

Make sure your voter registration is current by checking your registration information at scVOTES.org.

Make sure you have one of the following Photo IDs: SC Driver’s License, SC DMV ID Card, SC Voter Registration Card w/Photo, Federal Military ID or US Passport.

If you do not have one of the Photo IDs, make your voting experience as fast and easy as possible by getting a free one from DMV or your county elections office, available even on election day.

If you forget to bring your Photo ID to the polling place, you can vote a provisional ballot that will count only if you show your Photo ID to the county elections office prior to the certification of the election (on Thursday after the Statewide Primaries).

To view SCnow.com’s Election coverage, click below:

SCnow.com web article- 2016 Election Coverage

For a link to polling locations in Florence County, click below:

Florence County Polling Locations

Chamber, City Recognize VIP Magazine as Business of the Quarter

(image courtesy: VIP Magazine)

The Florence Chamber and Florence City Council were proud to recognize VIP Magazine as the Business of the Quarter during today’s City Council meeting.

The Business of the Quarter recognition is awarded to a business or organization that has a direct impact on economic development and growth within the  city, and especially in our area’s downtown.

Congratulations VIP and thanks for all that you do to help make our community great!

Election Offices Busy Ahead of Tuesday Primary

The Democratic and Republican primaries will take place on Tuesday, but election offices have already been busy with early voters. If you plan on voting, make sure you have one of the following Photo IDs:
• S.C. Driver’s License
• ID Card issued by S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles
• S.C. Voter Registration Card with Photo
• Federal Military ID
• U.S. Passport
If you have one of these IDs, you are ready to vote.
Polling locations will be open from 7 am to 7 pm on Tuesday.

According to WBTW News13, polling locations were already quite packed with people over the weekend, trying to cast their ballots ahead of Tuesday. Read the full article by clicking on the link below:

WBTW web article: Early Voting

Florence District One Board Approves Plans for Child Development Center

56c373d34452a.image

(image courtesy: scnow.com)

From the Morning News:

“The Florence School District One Board of Trustees gave approval Thursday night to the plans for a new Dr. R.N. Beck Child Development Center on Sumter Street. The plan was first discussed as part of the memorandum of understanding with the city of Florence and Francis Marion University in February.”
Read the full article by clicking on the link below:

SCnow.com web article- Beck Child Development Center

City Center Farmer’s Market Has Plenty to Offer this Saturday

From the City Center Farmer’s Market Facebook Page:

Don’t miss the City Center Farmers Market — every Saturday from 9am-1pm.

10am this Saturday: cooking demonstration!

Lots of healthy fresh produce and some incredible, but not so healthy treats likeFreckles & Giggles Homemade Ice Cream and sorbets, and pork rinds and boiled peanuts from Hickson’s Produce.

Don’t forget the Happy Cow chocolate milk that Ovis Hill Farm carries and Breads & Threads sweet rolls. P.S.- there’s more, come see for yourself!

For more information:

City Center Farmer’s Market Facebook Page

Haley Signs Roads Bill: News Article

From WMBFnews:

“Governor Nikki Haley signed S.1258 with little fanfare Wednesday.

The governor sent a letter to Senate President Pro Tempore Hugh Leatherman Wednesday announcing her signature of the bill.

Haley stated in her letter she believes the bill “accomplished incremental and incomplete reform, or put a different way, far less than the people of South Carolina both expect and deserve from us.”

The signing of the bill follows more than two years of back-and-forth among state Legislators.

The bill allows for $2.2 billion in borrowing over 10 years for infrastructure, funded with $200 million annually in existing fees and vehicle sales taxes.”

Read the full article by following this link below:

WMBF news article: Haley Signs Roads Bill

 

Inaugural Fellows in Education Class Completes 9-Month Program

A ceremony took place this week for the inaugural class of the Fellows in Education program. The local leaders who made up the effort received commemorative certificates and were recognized for their efforts in completing the 9-month, intensive program focused on a better understanding of issues facing area schools.

The Fellows program was designed to give local leaders a unique, behind-the-scenes look into several schools within Florence School District One.  Over the course of nine months, leaders saw firsthand some of the daily struggles and constraints educators face in the classroom. Leaders heard about seismic shifts in student needs and the additional state and federal requirements now placed on schools, teachers and administrators in Florence District One.

The program is a joint effort between Florence District One, the Florence Chamber and the School Foundation. This year’s class included:

Jill Bramblett, Dr. Fred Carter, Dr. Ben Dillard III, Nicole Echols, Asa Godbold, Rev. Merritt Graves, Joy Knight Higgs, Rev. Anthony Hodge, Joe King, Jean Leatherman, John Kleine, Diana Murphy, Dolly Om, Rev. Calvin Robinson, Jeff Stevens, Kim Turner, Richard Walker, Kyle Baxter, Octavia Williams-Blake, Laura Wukela, Debbie Hyler, Mindy Taylor and Michael Miller.

 Chamber President Michael Miller said of the inaugural class, “This was a very special group of people committed to learning more about our education system here in Florence School District One. Each of us found many new and impressive ways that our teachers and education leaders are working to bring our students to a higher level of learning. It was an exceptional experience.”

The Fellows program took place over the course of nine months. Each month’s program centered on a different educational experience that was unique to the classroom. The Fellows in Education program offered opportunities for community leaders to contribute to the development of better education policies in the communities in which they live and work.

For more information on the Fellows in Education program, please contact:

Debbie Hyler, Executive Director, The School Foundation (843) 662-9996 or dhyler@theschoolfoundation.org

Michael Miller, President, Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce (843) 665-0515 or mmiller@flochamber.com