Leadership Florence Holds Graduation Ceremony

/in , , /by

The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Florence 37 cohort Class of 2025 held a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 14th at Floyd Conference Center at MUSC Health Florence Medical Center. The commencement speaker was Dr. Jermaine Ford, President of Florence-Darlington Technical College.

Dr. Ford gave the Leadership Florence class tips and quotes for leading in in the community.

Mitchell Lister of the Florence Flamingos and Ryan White of the Florence County Solicitors office were voted Most Outstanding Participants by the class. 2024 Outstanding Participant Patrice Williams was on hand to present the awards.

To see more photos from the event, click here.

Upcoming Blood Drive At Florence County Sheriff’s Office

/in , , /by

Save a Life – Donate Blood! Join the Blood Connection for their upcoming Blood Drive at the Florence County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, May 27th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Every donation can help save up to three lives. Whether you’re a regular donor or it’s your first time, your contribution makes a real difference. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged to ensure a smooth experience.

Give blood. Give hope. Be a hero. Mark your calendar and help us make an impact!

For more information, click here.

Lucky Dog Opens Re-Tail Thrift Store In Downtown Florence

/in , , , /by

Lucky Dog Re-Tail Thrift along with Chamber Ambassadors cut their ribbon, joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

“We are so excited to have Lucky Dog’s Re-Tail Thrift join the downtown Florence community,” said Mirah Horowitz, Founder and CEO of Lucky Dog Animal Rescue. “The money raised at the store will support our lifesaving work.  Lucky Dog is committed to not only saving the lives of at-risk dogs and cats by partnering with the city and county shelters of the Pee Dee, but also to providing low cost spay/neuter services, free vaccine & microchip clinics, and hopefully soon, pet pantry services. Lucky Dog Re-Tail isn’t just a store—it’s a symbol of Lucky Dog’s profound investment in the Florence community. By creating sustainable funding sources, we’re ensuring we can always be counted on to respond to emergencies, support the community and save more lives.”

To read the full story, click here.

Florence Downtown Development Corp. Awarded $100,000 Small Business Accelerator Grant

/in , , /by

The Post & Courier Pee Dee reported that Florence Downtown Development Corp. has been awarded a $100,000 Small Business Accelerator Grant. The grant is from The Hartford in partnership with Main Street America. The money will help build a storefront downtown to offer additional retail spaces.

The property is located at 349 and 351 W. Evans St in downtown Florence. The space will revitalize about 1,900 square feet.

For more information, click here.

FSO Rock Concert – Thursday

/in , , /by

The Florence Symphony Orchestra Rocks is just around the corner. This electrifying concert stars Joel Hoekstra, renowned guitarist for Cher, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Whitesnake. Joining him are powerhouse vocalists Fran Coleman, Elena Flores, Cole Davis, and Eric Thompson. Expect to hear songs from Steely Dan, Spencer Davis Group, The Who, Moody Blues, The Eagles, ELO, Toto and many more.

Want the ultimate rock-star experience? VIP tickets include an exclusive pre-concert party at the Waters Building, 135 S. Dargan St., includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks provided by Victors. The FSO Rocks Concert is presented by McLeod Health with support from Synergi Partners, Pepsi of Florence, Ensemble Wealth Planning & Carolina Bank.

For more information, click here.

Leadership Florence Class of 2025 Holds Final Session

/in , , /by

Last week the Florence Chamber’s Leadership Florence Class of 2025 held their last session of the year as Business and Industry Day.

The 40 person group started with breakfast and a full tour of GE HealthCare operations. Later, the class visited Niagara Water for a tour of the highly automated facility.

The day concluded with lunch and ATV rides courtesy of Honda of South Carolina Manufacturing.

Leadership graduation ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 14th.

To see more phots from the day, click here.

Apple Annie’s & Birds Nest Featured On ChamberLink Radio

/in , , /by

Shane Brannon, owner of Apple Annie’s and Birds Nest, was the Florence Chamber’s guest this past weekend talking about his popular restaurants and delicious menu offerings

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.

Looking for past ChamberLink Radio Show interviews? Click here:

https://www.flochamber.com/events-programs/podcasts/

Truist To Host Home Ownership Workshop

/in , , /by

Is home ownership one of your financial goals? Join Truist for this informative session! Learn key steps to homeownership and the mortgage process, finding the right home for your budget, and the advantages of buying a home.  They’ll also provide valuable takeaway resources to help you on your journey to homeownership.

For more information, click here.

Fellows In Education Program Closes 2024-2025 Sessions

/in , , /by

Participants of the 2024-2025 Fellows in Education Class held the programs FIE season review and graduation last week at the McClenaghan Adult Education Building on South Dargan Street in Florence.

The nine-month program covered nine visits to different Florence 1 Schools this year. It is designed to give local leaders a unique, behind-the-scenes look into Florence 1 Schools and seeks to create community ambassadors that share firsthand knowledge and help collaborate with policymakers and the community on the educational concerns of the future.

Fellows In Education is a partnership program between Florence 1 Schools, the School Foundation and the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

To see more photos from the event, click here.

SPC CU Helps Darlington Business Owner Become A Homeowner

/in , , /by

After searching high and low for a place to call home for herself, her horses, and her dog grooming studio, Darlington native and first-time homebuyer Courtney Osmundson finally found the perfect piece of property: “I was working one day and my mom sent this house to me; when I saw it, I was like, ‘It’s perfect! I want it!’” With the help of SPC Credit Union’s Down Payment Assistance Program and First-Time Homebuyers Education certificate, it wasn’t long before Courtney was sealing the deal on this milestone purchase.

Courtney says of her homebuying experience, “Banking with SPC and then the opportunities they had, I wanted to stick with them. I just felt like I’d have a better chance, you know, having some help.” Her help came by way of SPC’s all-star Mortgage Lending Team. Since having launched the Down Payment Assistance forgivable loan program in early 2025, this team has committed themselves to helping eligible first time homebuyers save up to $5,000 on down payment and/or closing costs. Courtney worked closely with Carmen Jackson, SPC’s Residential Lending Manager, and Phyllis Mark, Senior Loan Officer, who worked diligently to make the process as smooth and affordable as possible.

To read the full press release, click here.