SBA South Carolina District Seeks Nominations for Small Business Week 2022

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Do you or someone you know have what it takes to become America’s “Small Business Person of the Year” for 2022?  If so, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) wants to hear from you. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration is ready to accept nominations for its 2022 National and South Carolina Small Business Week Awards, including the annual Small Business Person of the Year award.

Winners will be recognized during our Annual Salute to Small Business Event, South Carolina’s major Small Business kick-off event that is held in the beginning of May. Winners for national awards may continue to be recognized at the regional and national levels.

Visit SBA’s dedicated website www.sba.gov/nsbw to download forms, criteria, and guidelines for submitting a nomination.

Submit your Hospitality Stars of The Hospitality Industry Nominations by December 15

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The Stars of South Carolina Hospitality Industry Awards honor the best and the brightest in the hospitality industry. These individuals go above and beyond to contribute to the positive image of the hospitality industry while also being confronted with supply and labor shortages.

The awards program offers hotel and restaurant operators, the opportunity to nominate outstanding employees, offering not only recognition within the company, but for their contribution to your business. The awards ceremony will be held in early 2022.

For more information, click here.

Young Professionals to Host Ugly Christmas Sweater Social

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Grab a friend and a sweater and celebrate the Holiday Season with us on Thursday, December 16th beginning at 5:30 pm at Local Motive Brewing.  The first 50 in the door will receive a free drink ticket. Come enjoy games, prizes, apps, beer & tacos.

For more information, click here.

Second Annual 2021 Gift Market at the Florence City Center Farmers Market a Success

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The Second Annual 2021 Gift Market at the Florence City Center Farmers Market was a success, at least if you measure it by marshmallow consumption and wreath sales.

In 90 minutes attendees at the market — and there were many — roasted, toasted and sacrificed 400 marshmallows over two fire pits.

Pam Glass sold out of her home-made Christmas wreaths, left to make some more, brought them back and was on pace to sell out again before the event ended.

The Christmas market follows the normal farmers market on Small Business Saturday, said Merritt Dowdell, project coordinator for City of Florence.

“We open our Christmas Gift Market on Small Business Saturday every year to celebrate our local artisans,” Dowdell said. “We run a farmers market in the morning like usual from 9-1, then we close and open our gift market.”

Several artisans sold during both markets.

“This year we have more than 50 vendors participating from all over South Carolina who have traveled in to sell today,” Dowdell said.

To read the full story, click here.

Congressman Tom Rice Appears At The Chambers Legislative Drop-in

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The Greater Florence Chamber held a legislative drop-in with Congressman Tom Rice, U.S. House Representative for South Carolina’s 7th congressional district on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.

Congressman Rice covered several legislative issues going on in Washington DC., including the “slimmed-down” version of the infrastructure package and workforce concerns. He also touched on inflation worries and the reemerging COVID-19 anxieties.

The hour-long session was attended by 45 community leaders as part of the Chambers on-going programming effort to have our current Federal Legislators available in a small informal setting to answer questions.

 

Florence Christmas Parade Scheduled for Dec. 18

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Applications are now open for people who want to participate in the 2021 Florence Christmas Parade.

The theme of this year’s parade is “Joy to the World.”

Joy to the World is a the most published Christmas hymn in North America. It is a Christmas carol written in the 1700s. The song is based on an interpretation of Psalm 98, Psalm 96:11 and 12, and Genesis 3:17-18.

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday Dec. 18. The parade usually heads down West Evans Street toward downtown and ends at the intersection of East Evans and N.B. Baroody Street.

To read the full story, click here.

Second Location of Cook Out Coming to Florence

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Residents of Florence will soon have another place to get milkshakes, burgers and hot dogs. No completion date available.

Cook Out’s website indicates that a second Florence restaurant will be constructed at 2112 W. Lucas St.
The restaurant will be in front of the Hampton Inn and between the Comfort Inn and the plaza with Starbucks, The Lost Cajun and Julia Belles and the Comfort Suites.
The present Florence Cook Out is the company’s 100 restaurant.

To read the full story, click here.

Executive Management Certificate Program

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The FMU School of Business’ Certificate in Executive Management is the ideal option for business professionals seeking to enhance their management and leadership skills and become better leaders in the business world. The program focuses on five core leadership competencies: communication, organizational culture, strategic thinking, leadership, and decision making with analytics. Tuition is $800. Meals will be provided at all courses. For more information, visit www.fmarion.edu/business/executive

South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo Recap

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Returning to the in-person format this year, the South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo celebrated the state’s robust manufacturing footprint and looked to the future of this critical sector. The conference, which took place in Greenville on November 10-12, is one of the largest manufacturing events in the Southeast each year.

The conference featured the latest industry trends and practices, Industry 4.0 technologies, economic forecasts, supply chain best practices, training sessions and much more. Additionally, the expo’s anchor event – the 25th annual Salute to Manufacturing Awards Luncheon – honored former S.C. Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

To read the full story, click here.

Ladies on a Mission Joins Chamber

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Ladies on a Mission joined the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and celebrated with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, November 17th. The ribbon cutting was held in the James Allen Plaza behind the Chamber office. Robin Sanders, Executive Director of Ladies on a Mission, and her group of volunteers were joined by Chamber staff and ambassadors. Sanders started the organization a year ago this week. Her mission is to feed the homeless from her hometown of Mullins to Florence, where she now lives. “By next year this time I hope to have a shelter open in Florence for the homeless,” Sanders said. “I have to thank my ladies. I could not do this without them,” she said. “I see a lot of homeless people,” She said a lot of them need food. Sanders said she started with a Big Wheel. People could spin the wheel and receive groceries such as canned goods, she said. Sanders said she is trying to get funding for her project but it has been slow going. A lot of the money to purchase food for the homeless comes out of their own pockets, Sanders said. She has 13 volunteers helping her.

To read the full story, click here.