Archive for category: Ribbon Cuttings

by Ardie Arvidson

Carolina Bank held the grand opening and ribbon cutting on Thursday for its new headquarters in downtown Florence. It was nearly two years in the making. The bank is at 185. W. Evans St.

A soft opening was held in December 2018 for the 19,200-square-foot building, which cost an estimated $4.5 million. It hosts the bank’s 15th branch location in addition to its new headquarters.

“We are very pleased with the results,” said Vera Herbert, vice president and a fourth-generation member of the Beasley family, founders of the family-owned bank more than 80 years ago in Lamar. “It was a lot of work to get to this point.”

Renovations were started in June 2017.

Adding a third story to the two-story building is what took so long in the renovation process, Herbert said.

Herbert said that in the early 1900s the building was three stories. She said it is believed that the third floor burned and was never replaced.

When Carolina Bank purchased the building it was only two stories and housed the Art Trail gallery.

“In order to house our operations, we needed a third floor,” Herbert said.

The bank tried to go back as much as possible to the original look from the turn of the century.

The first floor houses the new branch operations and the wealth management services. The second floor includes operations such as loan and deposit operations, as well as information technology. Located on the third floor are the executive offices and the audit department.

“A lot of our coming here had to do with the growth in Florence,” Herbert said.

She said the bank wanted to be a part of that growth and to be more accessible to many of its customers.

The bank has helped finance projects downtown and looks forward to being a part of the growth in the downtown district.

Bank President Rick Beasley said at the ribbon cutting that his grandfather had a vision in 1936 and opened a small bank in Lamar. His son opened one in Darlington and from there it has grown. And now they have moved their headquarters to Florence.

“This is just the start of what is going to happen in Florence,” Mayor Pro Tem Frank J. “Buddy” Brand II told Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce ambassadors, business leaders, bank personnel and friends gathered in front of the bank for the ribbon cutting. “Florence is on the move.”

He welcomed Carolina Bank to Florence’s downtown as part of the city’s growth.

For the full article on SC Now, click here.

by Ardie Arvidson

Carolina’s Electronic Repair service joined ambassadors from the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday to celebrate its new chamber membership with a ribbon cutting at the chamber office.

Brandon Summers and his sister, Mary Summers, opened the electronic repair service on the first day of January this year.

They repair laptops, tablets and cellphone, including cracked screens, water damage, and other technical problems.

“I learned the trade from working with others,” said Brandon.

He said they can fix most anything with a microchip.

Mary said she is certified in computer repair work and also works on software.

She has worked at several electronic repair shops.

“I can fix most anything,” she said. “I love to repair devices. It is interesting to me. When you love it you are good at it. It is not just a job, which is what separates us from other repair shops.”

Brandon said it is her passion.

Both said they thought joining the chamber was a great business opportunity and would help them build their brand.

They are originally from Florence.

Brandon recently moved back to his hometown from Irmo.

Their hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mary’s office is at 612 S. Irby St. Suite B. She can be reached at 843-472-6625.

To view the full article on SC Now, click here.

by Ardie Arvidson

by Ardie Arvidson

FLORENCE, S.C. – The United Way of Florence held a ribbon cutting on Tuesday celebrating its new membership with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

Interim United Way President Keven Russell said he felt it was important for the nonprofit organization to support the community that it serves.

“It is a great community of leaders, and we want to be a part of it,” he said.

The United Way of Florence partners with 17 agencies that receive funding through its annual campaign. Their goal is to raise $1.2 million. Russell said they are about 40 to 50 percent of their goal.
The funds go toward daily operations, and the United Way tries to get as much as possible into the hands of the agencies it partners with, said Rachel Baggett, director of marketing and initiatives. The United Way funds 24 programs, she said.

The 2018-19 United Way partnering agencies are American Red Cross, Eastern S.C. Chapter; Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area; CARE House of the Pee Dee; The Chrysalis Center of Circle Park; Civil Air Patrol; Florence Area Literacy Council; Florence County Disabilities & Special Needs; Florence Family YMCA; Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina; Lighthouse Ministries; Mercy Medicine Free Clinic; Pee Dee Area Council Boy Scouts of America; Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault; Pee Dee Speech & Hearing Center; The Salvation Army; Senior Citizens Association of Florence County; and Youth Mentors of the Pee Dee.

The United Way of Florence has a staff of four. They are Russell; Baggett; Wendy Bird, vice president of campaigns; and Farris Lupo, operations, finance and volunteer director.

Russell retired to South Carolina after 20 years with NASA and 20 years with GE. He joined the United Way Board of Directors as campaign leader before assuming the duties of president.

He said he works with great people and has the pleasure of helping people every day.

Read the full article here.

By: Staff Reports