New York Life Hosts Ribbon Cutting with the Florence Chamber

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New York Life insurance agent Julie Cord celebrated with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce at a ribbon cutting in the James Allen Plaza on Dargan Street on Wednesday, June 22nd.

“My goal is to help families and businesses protect their most important assets, themselves,” Cord said. “I do this via developing customized strategies with a variety of products such as permanent life insurance, term life insurance, disability insurance, long term care insurance, and fixed annuities.”

As a mutual insurance company with the highest ratings given by the major financial rating organizations, the company has been helping people for over 177 years and has remained strong through wars, influenza outbreaks and natural disasters, she said.

“I’m incredibly proud to be associated with New York Life,” Cord said. “I pleased to be able to help people alleviate their concerns about money and protect the people they love.”

To read the full story, click here.

High Caliber Guns and Optics Opens in Florence

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High Caliber Guns and Optics celebrated its opening at 3320 W. Palmetto St. in Florence and joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting on Monday, June 20th.

Owners Robert Guffey, Cassius Smith and Teresa Norman were joined by Chamber staff and ambassadors. Norman cut the ribbon.

The store opened Friday.

High Caliber Guns and Optics sells firearms, new and used; ammunition, thermal imagery scopes, night vision, suppressors and more. They buy, sell and trade.

“We are a Class 3 dealer,” Guffey said. “That means we can sell suppressors.”

Guffey said they saw a need in the Florence area that no one was offering — custom firearms, night vision and thermal.

He said business has been great, and everyone has been very complimentary thus far.

To read the full story, click here.

McDonald’s on Irby Street Joins the Florence Chamber to Get More Involved in the Community

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Superior QSR Inc. /McDonald’s in Florence on Irby Street held a ribbon cutting on Thursday, June 16th to celebrate joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Chamber ambassadors joined in the celebration.

Rick Hoff, Owner/President at Superior QSR, has four stores in the area – the Irby Street location in Florence and one in Bennettsville, Dillon and Cheraw. He has been an owner for seven and half years and in the business for 29 years. He is a second-generation McDonald’s franchise owner.

“We are changing the culture of the restaurant,” said Luisbel Burgos, area supervisor, who has been a supervisor for 12 years. In November of last year he moved to Florence. He said the restaurant is making changes in how it does business, including having an employee outside to move the line along faster. He said the restaurant is trying to improve customer service and kitchen operation with lots of training.

“It takes a team to succeed,” Burgos said.

To read the full story, click here.

Lawmakers Give Final Approval to the State’s Historic $14 Billion Budget

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In a brief wrap-up session Wednesday, South Carolina lawmakers gave final approval to the state’s historic $14 billion budget, which is centered around tax cuts and $1 billion in tax rebates.

The spending plan, which takes effect July 1, immediately cuts the top income tax rate from 7% to 6.5% and gradually lowers it to 6% over five years.

The $1 billion income tax rebate means taxpayers could get a rebate up to $800 by the end of 2022.

To read the full story, click here.

Florence Chamber Thanks Outgoing Board Members at Board Appreciation Luncheon

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The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce held its’ Board Appreciation Luncheon last week to honor those individuals that have served their 3-year terms with the Chamber.

Those members fulfilling their terms include Tyron Jones – Florence Darlington Technical College, Jill Lewis – Signature Wealth, Linda Mitchell Johnson – Senior Citizens Association, Kevin Gause – The Citizens Bank and Mark Buyck III – Willcox, Buyck & Williams.

Also pictured here are current Chamber Chairman, Brian Fast – First Citizens Bank and Chamber President, Michael Miller – The Florence Chamber.

Brian Fast will move to Past Chairman and Paul Seward will become Chamber Chairman on July 1, 2022.

New Wave Tax Solutions Hosts Ribbon Cutting

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A ribbon cutting was held on Wednesday, June 15th at New Wave Tax Solutions LLC celebrating its membership in the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Joining owner Kandace Washington were family and friends, staff and Chamber ambassadors. The tax service is at 1801, Suite D, W. Evans St. in Florence.

New Wave Tax Solutions LLC is minority owned and operated, Washington said.  “We specialize in individual and small-business taxes,” Washington said. “We provide tax assistance to our clients throughout nine states. We believe in keeping our clients informed and educated throughout the year on recent updates or changes to tax laws. Our services are rendered with integrity and at an affordable rate to all. We pride ourselves in providing the best tax solutions to meet the needs of our clients.”
Washington has assisted people throughout the United States for seven years with tax preparation. She has been employed in the finance industry since 2015 in South Carolina.

To read the full story, click here.

Federal Government Contracting 101 Workshop

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Join the Florence Chamber, Small Business Administration, and Kelley
Center for Entrepreneurship, for this training program designed to help
small businesses understand and take advantage of government contracting programs. This free workshop will take place on Thursday, June 30th from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the Florence Chamber.  Registration is required.

For more information or to register, click here.

Wren Creek Estates to Hold a Chicken Bog Plate Sale to Fight Alzheimers – Tomorrow

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The Longest Day is the day with the most light — the summer solstice. Tomorrow, June 21, people from across the world will come together to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s. Together we raise funds and awareness for the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.  Wren Creek Estates will hold a $8 chicken bog plate sale at 3006 Hoffmeyer Rd from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.

For more information, click here.

Chamber Holds Legislative Drop-In with Senator Mike Reichenbach

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Last week, the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce held a legislative drop-in with SC Senator, Mike Reichenbach. Approximately 60 local business and community leaders attended the information event.

Senator Reichenbach covered many of the issues that the SC Senate has been addressing over his recent two months of serving as our state Senator for District 31. He also took time to answer many legislative questions from those attending.

The event was held at the Chamber office in Downtown Florence.

Florence One School Students Graduate from Health Sciences Work-Based Honors Class

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Florence One Schools Seniors in the Health Sciences Work-Based Honors class took part in a graduation program on May 27 at the McLeod Medical Plaza.

During the spring semester, 23 students spent the semester observing and learning about the medical field at McLeod Regional Medical Center and conducting a research project to help the hospital. The class was created by a partnership of the Pee Dee Area Health Education Center, McLeod Health and the Florence Career Center. The program focuses on giving students a firsthand experience with health care careers. Students interacted with professionals in different areas of the hospital, and then completed rotations in various departments, ranging from occupational therapy to pediatrics.
All 23 students created a presentation to showcase what they learned and how the program affected their career goals. In addition to briefing parents and health care professionals about their time in rotations, the students also presented projects they worked on during the semester. Students were required to conduct research and serve a population in the hospital — health care professionals or patients. Projects varied from developing a diabetes support group for pediatric patients with diabetes to meet others and learn from the pediatric endocrinologist to creating a QR code and website navigation tool in nine different languages to help patients and visitors get information.