The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce held a Business Over Breakfast networking event at The King’s Academy Tuesday, November 19.
We were joined by nearly 40 community leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs. A big thank you goes to TKA for hosting and all who attended.
On Tuesday, November 12, we had Health Issues Day for the Leadership Florence class of 2020. The day was filled with scenarios, information and tours of some of our local healthcare facilities.
The class visited and learned about McLeod Health, Florence Family YMCA, HopeHealth, MUSC Health – Florence Medical Center, Senior Citizens Association in Florence County, and The Manor.
The Junior Leadership Class had Business and Industry Day on Friday, November 12. We visited GE Healthcare, Honda of SC, Mfg., and McCall Farms. We are so thankful for the great hospitality that these businesses showed us today. Florence is full of some great businesses and we are so grateful that we were able to view some of them today.
Thank you to the great hosts for taking time out of their day to teach the students about their businesses and all that they offer to the community.
Without the partnerships from the community, we would not have such a successful program!
More than 30 people were in attendance as The Florence Chamber held an Economic Equity and Inclusion Roundtable event at the MUSC Floyd Cconference Center in Florence on Tuesday, October 29.
Keynote speaker, Rhonda Midgette presented “Diversity and Inclusion in the Right Doses – Choosing the Appropriate Measures and Strategies for Your Company”. A panel of business leaders included Dwayne Brockington, Scotty Davis, Tryon Jones and Candace Shiver.
Attendees learned about progress, shared opportunities for making a difference in their organizations and networked with others who share a common interest in promoting inclusive practices across all sectors of business and community.
Thank you to MUSC and all speakers and panelists that made this program possible.
The Junior Leadership of Florence County enjoyed a beautiful day in Lake City for their annual Art & History Day! Thanks to Sharon Brown with Lake City Creative Alliance, Kelli Meeker at Moore Farms Botanical Gardens, and all of the other Lake City businesses and organizations for the experience!
The Leadership Florence journey continues, as the class had their session on Tuesday, October 8 highlighting Visual Arts and Media.
The class of 2020 visited Adam’s Outdoor, iHeart Media, Morning News, Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center, Florence Museum and Florence Little Theatre.
The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce kicked off the Leadership Florence Class of 2020 Retreat on Monday, September 9, at the Avista Resort in North Myrtle Beach, SC.
Gina Trimarco of Pivot 10 Results facilitated a wide-ranging discussion of leadership principles and strategies on Monday, followed by a dinner and reception.
Tuesday, September 10, the class participated in a scavenger hunt/team building exercise at Wonderworks in Myrtle Beach, SC.
by Ardie Arvidson
The annual South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Grassroots Tour came Monday to Florence, bringing community leaders together to provide an overview of 2019’s state legislative accomplishments and to seek feedback on issues local businesses and manufactures think are important and need addressing in the coming legislative session.
The Greater Florence and Greater Hartsville chambers of commerce partnered to bring the event to the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology Center on the Florence-Darlington Technical College campus.
“I’m here to get your feedback,” said Ted Pitts, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive.
Each year, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and regional chambers of commerce in South Carolina come together for the Grassroots meeting. Pitts said they will be conducting 23 meetings around the state. The tour gives businesses from all areas of the state, large and small, the opportunity to weigh in on issues they are facing and would like addressed in the upcoming legislative session.
The feedback received collectively from those attending the meetings will help shape the state chamber’s 2020 Competitiveness Agenda and set chamber priorities for the next legislative session.
Pitts said the Competitiveness Agenda is the “South Carolina business community’s top legislative priorities that address issues generally affecting all types of business in all parts of the state.”
“This is a perfect opportunity for our area industry and manufacturing leaders, along with regional and local business representatives, to offer valuable input for our state representatives to hear and our state chamber to incorporate in their 2020 agenda,” Mike Miller, the president of the Greater Florence Chamber, said in a news release prior to the meeting.
Looking back at the Competitiveness Agenda, Pitts said comprehensive tax reform and workforce development were two top priorities.
Pitts said South Carolina is facing an aging population. He said 23 percent of the South Carolina workforce is 55 years old or older, and the number was only 11 percent in 1998. He said the average age in South Carolina is 40 years old.
Pitts said tax reform is a complicated issue.
“We need to change the tax code,” he said.
Pitt said it is not an easy task but is something that needs to be done for the state.
The South Carolina property tax system is one of extremes – very low homestead rates and very high industrial rates, he said. South Carolina ranks 13th highest for industrial property taxes, Pitts said.
Pitts said the Business License Tax Reform (H.4431) provides uniformity, changes tax base from gross revenue to net income, does not stop a local government’s ability to raise revenue and does not remove any local agreements.
On the issue of business license tax reform, Florence Mayor Stephen Wukela had concerns and spoke up during the question and answers session. He said Florence runs a tight ship, and services would have to be cut if that revenue couldn’t be counted on.
Pitts said in many areas of the state, housing for working people is an issue of concern. In the interactive polling, the group agreed there is not enough “workforce housing” in this area also.
Another topic Pitts said that is concerning people in South Carolina is the lack of internet access in rural areas of the state.
He said more than half a million South Carolinians lack access to reliable broadband internet. He said H3780 would create a state fund for rural internet projects.
Pitts said the education omnibus bill addresses many of the key concerns of education reform in South Carolina, including teacher pay, school consolidation and strong measures to improve chronically underperforming school districts and providing K-4 reading programs.
One question asked of the group during interactive polling was if they support strong measures to hold chronically underperforming schools accountable. Ninety-two percent of those polled said yes. Six percent said no, and 1% was not sure.
Approximately 140 people attended the breakfast made possible by SiMT and Sonoco.
“I came as part of the chamber,” said Sherry Grant, the Florence Work Training Center manager for S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation. “I represent the South Carolina Vocational Rehab department. We like to connect with our employers in the area and find out what their needs are in this area. It is also a networking opportunity.”
Roger Schrum, the corporate vice president of investor relations and corporate affairs with Sonoco Products Company, introduced the program’s priorities. Bobby McGee gave the invocation. Miller welcomed guess, and Murphy Monk, the president of the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce, adjourned the meeting.
To read the full article on SC Now, click here.
The Florence Chamber held our second Emerging Leaders Summer Institute session, with Technology, Industry and Innovation as the theme. The group visited local businesses and meeting community leaders throughout the day.
Thank you to HillSouth, ACS Technologies, SIMT – Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing & Technology , Gould Business Incubator, The Manor and ADP for taking time out to host and present to the group on July 17th.
Tuesday, May 14th, the Chambers Leadership Florence class had their last session of the year, Business and Industry Day.
The class visited and toured Honda, McCall Farms and GE, and had a great breakfast and lunch, courtesy of Honda and GE respectively.
The Leadership Florence class of 2019 is set to graduate May 22nd at Honda.
