Florence County Economic Development Partnership

Congratulations to City of Lake City Mayor Yamekia Robinson on being elected to the Association of South Carolina Mayors Board of Directors! Checkout the press release below. ⬇ LAKE CITY MAYOR ELECTED TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS LAKE CITY, S.C. (July 23, 2024) – During the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) annual meeting last week, Lake City Mayor Yamekia Robinson was elected to the Association of South Carolina Mayors Board of Directors. Mayor Robinson was nominated and elected to serve again on the Association of South Carolina Mayors after the completion of a one-year unexpired term that ended at this year's annual meeting. She will now serve a three-year term. The Association of South Carolina Mayors provides South Carolina mayors to engage in advocating for issues that affect cities and towns; to network, share ideas and best practices with other mayors; and to take part in educational activities. “It is a great honor to connect with other mayors in South Carolina in this role,” said Mayor Yamekia Robinson. “Working with mayors from both larger and smaller municipalities will be a great opportunity to see what strategies they are using in their own municipalities and be supportive of each other. You never know where having a simple conversation with one of these mayors will lead Lake City in the future. Mayors are the Chief Executive Officers and leaders of their cities and towns. Working together makes stronger municipalities and a stronger state." For more details about the upcoming events, visit the City of Lake City Facebook page. Lake City is a community of 6,000-plus residents who invite you live – work – play – and visit in the southern part of Florence County.

New Education & Events Pavilion to be Unveiled at Moore Farms Botanical Garden Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 10:00am Moore Farms Botanical Garden (MFBG) is pleased to invite the public to a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at 10:00am as they unveil their new Education & Events Pavilion. The covered 4,800 square foot open-air Pavilion, outfitted with concrete flooring and electrical, is situated directly behind their Fire Tower Welcome/Events Center. After several years of elaborating about the structure, MFBG is excited to finally exercise the Pavilion’s versatility to further their mission in education and public engagement. Outgrowing their Fire Tower Center, erected shortly after the garden was established in 2002, construction on the Pavilion began last year in response to an increase in field trip and rental inquiries received by MFBG post-COVID. “We chose to leave the Pavilion open to allow us the opportunity to use the space in several ways,” said Roslyn Walker, MFBG’s Education and Events Director. “This new Pavilion will allow us the ability to accept larger and more field trips, group tours, and will be an additional rental offering we are thrilled to introduce,” Walker added. While the garden will remain closed for exploration, the public is invited to join MFBG for this grand unveiling at 10:00am on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. Guests are asked to enter from Gate #2, located at 1642 Pine Bay Road, Lake City, SC 29560. Light refreshments will be provided after a brief ribbon cutting. Moore Farms Botanical Garden was established in 2002 under the Darla Moore Foundation with a mission to “Promote research and education in horticulture, agriculture, and forestry for the benefit of the people of South Carolina and beyond.” Today, the garden has evolved into over 1,000 total acres, comprised of horticulture and public art collections, water features, and research components. While MFBG is open to the public for visitation Monday – Friday, visitation must be coordinated in advance.

8 Great Places for Snowbirds to Land If you’re not ready to move in retirement but are weary of shoveling snow in the winter, renting or buying a home in a warm-weather state could offer the best of both worlds. You can keep your longtime home near family and friends and spend the cold-weather months in a sunny destination that offers year-round pickleball. More than 1 million people spend part of the year in Florida, and many of them are retirees. The Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama have also become popular destinations for snowbirds. As millions of baby boomers retire, southbound traffic on I-95 is likely to get even more intense. We’ve selected eight cities that offer appealing options for snowbirds, including quality hospitals and physicians, plenty of short-term rentals, retiree-friendly amenities, and low taxes. Because not all snowbirds want to flock to Florida, we’ve provided destinations in seven other warm-weather states across the U.S. Florence, SC Population: 40,609 Cost of living: 95.0 Average temperature during snowbird season: 58 degrees Number of hospitals within 25 miles: 6 Closest airport: Florence Regional Airport Local vibe: Growing community with a rich history Florence was a major railroad hub in the 19th century. For decades after its railroad heyday, the area was better known for empty storefronts and the demolition of culturally significant buildings in favor of new construction. However, in 2011, the city and a group of dedicated volunteers embarked on a revitalization plan that has attracted more than 90 new businesses to the community, along with more than 100 new housing units. In 2023, Downtown Florence Main Street was one of three winners of the Great American Main Street Award, which recognizes communities for comprehensive, preservation-based commercial district revitalization. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eMqSfkiy

🚀 Did You Know? 🚀 Honda has been crafting top-notch powersports products right here in Florence South Carolina for over 25 years! 🏍️ This facility is one of the 12 major Honda production sites across the U.S., contributing to innovation and quality in every ride. 🌟 #Honda #Powersports #MadeInSC #Innovation #QualityCraftsmanship #LocalProduction #FlorenceSC

By Scott Olsen Executive Plant Manager at GE HealthCare The MR systems we manufacture utilize superconducting magnets, enabling physicians to peer inside patients without radiation exposure. New developments have also led to improved experiences during medical testing. From combatting claustrophobia to shortening the test’s duration, our plant is at the forefront of patient comfort and care globally. We are not just working to improve patient experience and care in South Carolina; annually, our plant ships approximately 1,000 magnets and MR systems to 85 countries, facilitating the delivery of advanced healthcare solutions across the globe. In Florence County, we are a cornerstone of economic prosperity, providing jobs to highly skilled professionals like welders, advanced technicians, assemblers, and engineers. Nearly 750 employees and third-party contractors across SC – many of whom reside here in Florence – are the backbone of our production facility and they collectively generate about $1 billion in economic activity annually, a testament to our significant economic impact on the region. One of the values of the Florence plant I am particularly proud of is our commitment to safety. We hold the Palmetto Star Voluntary Protection Program certification for safety performance from the State of South Carolina. Ensuring the well-being of our workforce isn't just a checkbox for us – it's a value that echoes GE HealthCare's global commitment to transforming healthcare delivery through innovation, partnerships, and sustainability. Located in Florence since 1971, our commitment to SC doesn't stop at the factory gates. Our team contributes an impressive 3,600 volunteer hours annually to local charities and organizations. We also foster partnerships with educational institutions like Florence-Darlington Technical College and Francis Marion University, where we directly hire graduates and contribute to the development of future leaders. We are proud of our footprint and commitment to SC, most recently bringing new products such as the SIGNA Hero 3T MRI system to our portfolio, which was developed and manufactured by South Carolinians. We are also working collaboratively with mild traumatic brain injury experts to develop new technology designed to explore advancements in neuroscience, which have been restricted by the performance limitations of conventional whole-body MR systems. Our local story is one of shared success, and I am privileged to lead a team that embodies the spirit of community, progress, and innovation. From our plant in Florence, we are truly creating a world where healthcare has no limits. https://lnkd.in/eBkQTuA8

The Florence County Museum is proud to present the 2025 Eastern Carolina Contemporary Biennial, sponsored by Chick-fil-A of Florence. The objective of this project is to elevate the standard of regional contemporary art exhibitions by offering a professionally juried competition composed of the most competitive contemporary art and artists representing Eastern South Carolina. The competition will occur every two years beginning in 2025, and will culminate in an exhibition to be presented in the FCM Special Exhibits Gallery. Online submissions are open now through Friday, September 27, 2024. Any person who is a native or resident of the following Eastern SC counties is eligible to enter: Chesterfield, Marlboro, Dillon, Darlington, Lee, Florence, Marion, Horry, Sumter, Clarendon, Williamsburg, Georgetown, Calhoun, Orangeburg, Dorchester, Berkeley, Aiken, Barnwell, Allendale, Hampton, Bamberg, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper, Beaufort, and Charleston. The 1st place award receives $2,500. The 2nd place award receives $1,750. The 3rd place award receives $1,000. Honorable Mention receives $500. https://lnkd.in/e4yBa-FQ

🌟📲 Ready to explore Florence like never before? Download the NEW Visit Flo app! 🤳 Get the latest scoop on dining, shopping, outdoor fun, and events, all in one place. Don't miss out on the Pecan Trail challenge—complete it to win exciting prizes! 🥳 With navigation assistance and Google Reviews, your Florence adventure just got a whole lot easier. Don't wait, download the app today and start exploring! 🌟 #VisitFlo #TravelApp #ExploreFlorence #PecanTrailChallenge

🌟 Staycation Vibes in Florence, SC! 🌟 Who says you need to travel far to have a great time? Enjoy a fantastic staycation right here in Florence! 🏡✨ ✅ Exploring the beautiful parks and trails 🌳🚶♂️ ✅ Tasting the local flavors at amazing restaurants 🍔🍷 ✅ Discovering hidden gems and local shops 🛍️💎 ✅ Relaxing with some much-needed downtime at home 🛋️☕ ✅ Supporting our wonderful community and small businesses ❤️🙌 Check out this article on How to Plan the Ultimate Staycation in Florence, South Carolina! https://lnkd.in/eAbtM5zr #Staycation #FlorenceSC #LocalAdventures #SupportLocal #HomeSweetHome 🏡💖

O’Laire Named VP of HR Operations for McLeod Health McLeod Health is pleased to announce that Beth O’Laire has been named Vice President of Human Resources Operations for McLeod Health. O’Laire comes to McLeod from Ascension in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she served as Market Chief HR Executive. In her new role, O’Laire will be responsible for day-to-day leadership for Human Resources Operations including Compensation and Benefits Administration, Employee Relations and Retention, Human Resources Information Systems, the McLeod Child Development Center and Records Management. O’Laire received a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a Bachelor of Science from Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin. At the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, she also served as an adjunct instructor teaching training, development and benefits courses to undergraduate students in the College of Business HR Management program. O’Laire is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management and earned certification as a Strategic HR Business Partner from the Human Capital Institute. “It is an honor to join the McLeod Health family. I was drawn to McLeod by the culture and commitment to patient care and how the organization takes care of its staff,” said O’Laire. “I look forward to working with our leaders and employees across the organization to ensure we retain and engage the right talent to meet the changing and growing needs of McLeod Health.” A native of Wisconsin, O’Laire is married to her high school sweetheart, Wes, and they have two sons, Liam and Flynn. She is an avid Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers fan. McLeod Health welcomes O’Laire to its team of professionals caring for patients and staff in the 18 counties the organization serves in northeastern South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina.

Thrilled to have ICE Recycling, LLC as a part of Florence County!