Pepsi Carolina Classic is Back

The 35th Pepsi Carolina Classic is back. The basketball tournament annually held during the winter break is scheduled for December 28th through the December 30th at South Florence High School. The classic was cancelled last year due to the pandemic.

For the first time, the event will also add a four-team girls’ bracket (Dillon, Lake View, North Augusta, West Florence) to go with its eight-team boys’ setup (Dillon, Hartsville, Lake City, Lower Richland, Marlboro County, North Augusta, South Florence, West Florence).

Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Pee Dee Area Boys & Girls Clubs, which uses this basketball event as one of its annual fundraisers.

Aroha Afro Latin Dance Named Business of the Quarter

Congratulations to the Greater Florence Chamber and City of Florence’s Business of the Quarter, Aroha Afro Latin Dance, located in Downtown Florence.

The Chamber, along with the City of Florence, were honored to recognize Aroha owner Adalia Ellis during the December 13th meeting of Florence City Council.

Business of the Quarter is a unique partnership of the City of Florence and the Chamber to recognize local businesses for contributions to community development, growth and civic engagement.

We look forward to Aroha’s continued efforts to help promote the arts and inclusion in Florence and beyond.

$35.6 Million Investment Will Create 179 New Jobs

Innovative Construction Group (ICG), a subsidiary of PulteGroup, Inc., announced plans to establish operations in Florence County. The $35.6 million investment will create 179 new jobs and is part of PulteGroup, Inc.’s ongoing expansion of its ICG platform.

ICG is an off-site construction company that offers framing solutions, design services, wall panels and other products with on-site installation to provide a full-frame shell construction process.

Located at 2570 Florence Harllee Blvd. in Florence, ICG’s new facility will increase the company’s production and distribution capabilities to meet growing demand.

The new facility is expected to be operational in the first half of 2022.

To read the full article, click here.

LFB Plasma Opens in Florence on Second Loop Road

FB Plasma center in Florence held its grand opening at 1933 Second Loop Road on Tuesday, December 7th and also celebrated joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting. Chamber staff and ambassadors joined in the celebration.

LFB is a global bio-pharmaceutical group that “develops, manufactures and markets plasma derived products and recombinant proteins for the treatment of patients with serious and often rare diseases,” according to its website, https://lfbplasma.com/

To read the full story, click here.

MUSC Florence Earns ‘A’ Grade for Hospital Safety

MUSC Health Florence Medical Center received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for Fall 2021.

This national distinction recognizes achievements in protecting patients from harm and error in the hospital. It is also the ninth consecutive time MUSC Health Florence Medical Center has received an “A” rating from Leapfrog.

To read the full article, click here.

South Carolina’s Employment Situation, October 2021 Data

The seasonally adjusted, monthly survey of households estimated the number of South Carolinians working increased to 2,313,476.

  • That is an increase of 4,156 people over the September 2021 estimate
  • That is an increase of 7,218 people over the October 2020 estimate.

Unemployment estimates decreased to 94,322 people.

  • That is a significant decrease of 4,738 people from the September 2021 estimate and a significant
    decrease of 36,535 over the October 2020 estimate.
  • The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased significantly to 3.9 percent in October from 4.1 percent in September.

U.S. Chamber Poll Reveals the Worker Shortage Crisis is Unlikely to Ease

The US Chamber of Commerce polled Americans who lost their job during the pandemic and remain unemployed and found that many are not actively looking for work and may not return to the workforce for six months or more.

America is grappling with a workforce crisis that is slowing the nation’s economic recovery. There were 2.3 million fewer people in the workforce in October than there were in October 2019 before the pandemic.

According to the poll:

  • Less than half (47%) are actively and consistently looking for work, with one-in-five not looking for work at all.
  • 56% believe they can get by for more than six months before it becomes essential to return to full time work.
  • More than one-in-ten (13%) have left multiple jobs during the pandemic
  • Nearly a third (32%) of unemployed workers said they would prefer to work in a different industry for their next job

McLeod Honors Hospice Volunteers at Annual Tree Lighting

The 36th annual Light for Someone You Love tree-lighting ceremony at McLeod Regional Medical Center was filled with stories about family members who were treated by McLeod Hospice, words of praise for Hospice staff and volunteers who provide service to those at the end of their life and praise for Joan Harrison-Pavy, administrator of McLeod Hospice, who is stepping down from that position.

The ceremony was held Thursday, December 3rd on the ground of McLeod Regional Medical Center and is sponsored by the McLeod Health Foundation.

To read the full story, click here.

Duke Energy Caps Off Monthlong Grants Effort to SC Community Agencies

Duke Energy has closed out a monthlong initiative to support organizations that address food insecurities and inequities across South Carolina with nearly $150,000 in surprise microgrants to community organizations across the state. The November focus provided a total of $250,000 to about 50 feeding programs leading up to Thanksgiving Day.

The microgrants were unannounced and not solicited by the receiving organizations. These “surcee” grants recognize the important gaps these typically smaller agencies fill in the neighborhoods they serve.

To read the full story, click here.

Santa Claus is Coming to the Florence Regional Airport

Florence Regional Airport is pleased to announce that Santa is on his way, and he ditched his sleigh! Santa arrives at the Florence Regional Airport (2100 Terminal Drive) via Airplane on Saturday, December 11th at 2:00 pm.  Santa will also have a small gift for all of the good girls and boys.