Mortgage Broker in Florence, SC

FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — Ground was broken Wednesday morning in Florence County for a new, state-of-the-art electric vehicle battery factory that is expected to create nearly 1,200 jobs.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and other state and local leaders are attending the ceremony for the 1.5-million-square-foot plant, which is being built at the intersection of Estate Road and East Old Marion Highway across from Wilson High School.

“Our future, our success depends on three main pillars of our success,” McMaster said. “That’s an education strength, our economic strength and our environmental strength. And all three of those pillars are wrapped together like roots of a tree. If ones missing, the other two can’t hold it up.”

The plant, which is being built by AESC, a Japanese battery technology company, is expected to open in 2026 and created 1,170 jobs, officials said.

“Today, South Carolina is proud to celebrate AESC as the company embarks on a historic chapter in our state,” McMaster said. “Florence County has been ripe for an investment of this magnitude — one that will transform local communities and create generational wealth for South Carolinians. The groundbreaking for AESC’s battery cell gigafactory is a landmark moment in the evolution of South Carolina’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle industry.”

Jeff Deaton, AESC’s U.S. managing director, said the plant is another milestone for his company.

“AESC continues to be a global leader in developing next generation EV battery technology, and we’re proud to be further growing our capacity to build those products in U.S. facilities, accelerating the transition to clean energy transportation,” Deaton said.

Deaton also said the decision to invest in Florence County and in South Carolina was an easy one.

“SC is home to 500 automotive companies and is the number one exporter of passenger vehicles and also the number one producer of tires in the United States,” Deaton said. “So, our decision to invest in SC was an easy one.”

The plant will be a major boost for the region, Florence County Council Chairman Willard Dorriety said.

“AESC’s groundbreaking marks a historic day for Florence County and its residents, as it will bring an abundance of high paying jobs to our community,” he said. “We know AESC will be a vital and active partner in the County for decades to come.”

Florence Mayor Teresa Myers Ervin agreed.

“We are ecstatic about AESC’s decision to locate in Florence County and are honored to be celebrating this groundbreaking today alongside the community leaders whose collaboration made this project possible,” Myers Ervin said.

According to a news release, the 30 GWh battery plant builds on AESC’s existing battery manufacturing network that includes a plant in operation in Tennessee and another plant under construction in Kentucky.

“Collectively, AESC’s U.S. plants upon completion will provide up to 70 GWh capacity annually, powering the shift to electric vehicles with U.S.-made batteries and components,” the news release said.

The Florence location will support the company’s partnership with BMW Group, which was announced in October 2022. Under that agreement, AESC will provide battery cells for next- generation electric vehicles produced at BMW’s Spartanburg plant, the news release said.

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Aundrea Gibbons joined the News13 team in May 2023 after graduating from Clemson University with bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and communication. Aundrea is a Marion native and graduated as salutatorian in 2019. Follow Aundrea on Twitter and read more of her work here.

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Dennis Bright is a digital producer at News13. Dennis is a West Virginia native and graduate of Marshall University. He has won copyediting and journalism awards in West Virginia and Ohio. Follow Dennis on Twitter and read more of his work here.

FLORENCE — The city of Florence is set to adopt a comprehensive plan that prioritizes rapid but responsible growth and paves the way for an expanded downtown, reinvestment in local neighborhoods and a growing housing supply.

The comprehensive plan will serve as officials’ guiding document as they make decisions in the next 10 years.

“It’s our Bible. It’s our guide for all the work that we do,” Assistant City Manager Clint Moore said. “It is important for us to set out realistic goals and a timeline and a map on how to do that.”

The plan builds on the city’s previous successes, Moore said, and does not significantly depart from the strategies employed in the past decade, which saw significant growth in Florence’s downtown. Much of the comprehensive plan focuses on expanding the strategies that worked downtown into neighboring areas.

This year’s 173-page document is just Florence’s second-ever comprehensive plan. The city only formed a Planning Department in the late 2000s after it broke away from Florence County’s Planning Department.

Development of the master plan began in 2020 but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Moore said. It was developed by city staff and consultants who compiled information from previous plans, city officials and public meetings.

In May, City Council members voted to approve the plan when it was introduced, and the council will likely officially adopt it in June.

Helping Florence grow

One of the top priorities included in Florence’s comprehensive plan is growth, both in population and in land area, in order to continue the city’s economic development.

By 2040, the plan estimates Florence will have a population of between 45,000 and 50,000 people. That number could be greater, depending on the city’s success in attracting and retaining residents.

To encourage growth, the plan recommends officials continue annexing property on the outskirts of town while also annexing so-called “doughnut hole” properties that are within the city but not technically a part of it.

While annexation is a priority, the comprehensive plan also calls for the city to balance outward growth with targeted revitalization of core neighborhoods already in the city.

“We’ve made a major emphasis on our existing neighborhoods, how to revitalize them and how to do that appropriately so you’re not displacing or causing gentrification or anything like that,” Moore said.

Included in the plan are a range of policy options the city could use to encourage development of blighted areas, including some of the same strategies the city used to revitalize downtown.

Another focus is equitable growth. Officials have touted targeted investment in areas that have been historically neglected. At a recent panel to discuss downtown development, Mayor Teresa Myers Ervin said encouraging development “across the track” is a priority, both for quality of life and economic opportunity

“If you’re ashamed of any area of your city, that means you need to address that, because if you don’t want the businesses to come and look at a certain area, that’s saying that you’re not prepared for them,” Ervin said.

The plan recommends a comprehensive review of city policies and city zoning with an eye on creating more equitable outcomes for low-income areas.

Updating infrastructure

Florence’s infrastructure is another focus of the comprehensive plan. At the top of the list is the city’s stormwater systems, a common cause for concern among residents.

Frequent flooding led officials to pursue development of a new stormwater master plan in recent years, an update to the 1970s plan the city has been relying on. Public meetings to collect feedback on the plan finished up at the beginning of May.

The comprehensive plan recommends officials seriously pursue the suggestions included in the plan and invest in infrastructure improvements across the city’s stormwater management system.

The plan also identifies “exasperation” with the state of Florence’s main corridors, citing an “inability to control corridor quality just outside the city limits, along with the challenge of having so many older areas in need of revitalization along Florence’s main roads and highways.”

Corridors such as Palmetto Street and Irby Street act as gateways into Florence and can quickly shape first impressions of the city, potentially discouraging investment or visitors’ interest in the area if they aren’t addressed.

The plan recommends creating a comprehensive approach to develop the corridors, fund streetscape enhancements and install entrance features and public branding.

Regarding transportation, the plan highlights needed infrastructure improvements for non-vehicle transportation, such as bicycle and foot traffic. The plan recommends changes to roadways that will make travel safer and more accessible for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Investing in housing

Moore said that housing is often included in the growth or infrastructure sections of a comprehensive plan. In Florence’s plan, housing is its own section. That was intentional.

In the last decade, the city lost economic development opportunities because of disrepair downtown and in some of the surrounding neighborhoods. While downtown has seen revitalization, some neighborhoods are still in need of investment, Moore said.

The city is strapped for housing, according to the plan, and in order to accommodate a growing workforce, the city will need to develop a larger quantity and diversity of housing options for different incomes and circumstances — rental options, single-family homes, detached townhomes — all at different price points.

To develop the necessary housing, the city may need to construct housing, as it has already done, create incentives for development or work directly with developers, according to the plan.

While the plan calls for a wide variety of housing options, Moore said the city wants to encourage homeownership by incentivizing residents to buy homes and eliminating barriers to becoming a homeowner. The plan notes that homeownership can lead to a deeper and more long lasting investment in the neighborhood and the broader community.

Furthering its commitment to manufacturing next-generation batteries in the United States, accelerating the transformation to e-mobility.

FLORENCE, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AESC (the “Company”), a world-leading Japanese battery technology company, held a groundbreaking ceremony today on its new battery plant in Florence County, South Carolina. AESC U.S. Managing Director Jeff Deaton, along with local leaders including Governor Henry McMaster and Secretary of Commerce Harry Lightsey, attended the groundbreaking event on-site in Florence.

“Today, South Carolina is proud to celebrate AESC as the company embarks on a historic chapter in our state,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “Florence County has been ripe for an investment of this magnitude — one that will transform local communities and create generational wealth for South Carolinians. The groundbreaking for AESC’s battery cell gigafactory is a landmark moment in the evolution of South Carolina’s rapidly expanding electric vehicle industry.”

With construction of the 1.5 million square foot plant underway, commercial operations are expected to commence in 2026, creating 1,170 new jobs for the local community.

“This groundbreaking marks another major milestone in AESC’s commitment to investing in South Carolina and manufacturing electric vehicle batteries,” said AESC U.S. Managing Director Jeff Deaton. “AESC continues to be a global leader in developing next generation EV battery technology, and we’re proud to be further growing our capacity to build those products in U.S. facilities, accelerating the transition to clean energy transportation.”

The new 30 GWh battery plant builds on AESC’s existing battery manufacturing network that includes a plant in operation in Tennessee and another plant under construction in Kentucky. Collectively, AESC’s U.S. plants upon completion will provide up to 70 GWh capacity annually, powering the shift to electric vehicles with U.S.-made batteries and components.

The AESC Florence site supports the Company’s multi-year partnership with BMW Group, announced in October 2022. Under the agreement, AESC will supply technology-leading battery cells for next generation electric vehicle models produced at BMW’s Spartanburg plant. The advanced battery format will result in 20% higher energy density than the current generation, with reduced charging time and increased range and efficiency of 30%.

Aligning with the Company’s global commitment to sustainability, the new manufacturing plant will be 100% powered by clean energy. Leveraging the net-zero solutions of its partners, AESC will implement renewable energy generation, carbon management and reduction software, and a battery recycling system to accelerate carbon neutrality throughout the entire battery value chain. AESC is also committed to pursuing responsible sources for its critical battery materials, providing full transparency into extraction methods. The Company increasingly relies on recycled materials, leading to an overall reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from cell production at the new plant.

Individuals interested in joining the AESC team in Florence should visit readySC’s recruitment website to explore opportunities. Companies interested in becoming a supplier for AESC should complete S.C. Commerce’s online interest form.

ADDITIONAL QUOTES

“AESC’s groundbreaking marks a tremendous milestone for the future of South Carolina’s economy and, specifically, electric vehicle industry. The company’s new gigafactory brings the world’s leading EV battery technology to our state, and with it, the long-term career, and educational opportunities paramount for Florence County to develop, attract and retain top talent. We congratulate AESC and look forward to supporting the company’s continued success.”

- Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

“AESC’s groundbreaking marks a historic day for Florence County and its residents, as it will bring an abundance of high paying jobs to our community. We know AESC will be a vital and active partner in the County for decades to come.”

- Willard Dorriety, Chairman Florence County Council

“AESC’s significant investment in our community will offer unique career opportunities for our citizens and economic growth to our local community. We are honored to participate in today’s groundbreaking and look forward to working with our community members and stakeholders to ensure AESC’s success here in Florence.”

- Florence Mayor Teresa Myers Ervin

“We are ecstatic about AESC’s decision to locate in Florence County and are honored to be celebrating this groundbreaking today alongside the community leaders whose collaboration made this project possible.”

- Rocky Pearce, Chairman Florence County Economic Development Partnership

" What an exciting day for Florence County and all of the NESA region. We applaud the efforts of all those involved in securing this location for our area. We welcome AESC to our manufacturing community and look forward to the positive impact that they will make within our region."

- Yancey McGill, Chairman North Eastern Strategic Alliance

About AESC

AESC (formerly Envision AESC) is a Japan-headquartered global battery technology company dedicated to the research, development, design, manufacturing, and sale of power batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems. AESC has over 5,000 employees and 13 manufacturing sites across Japan, the U.S., the U.K., France, Spain, and China.

Over the past 13 years, AESC has produced power batteries for more than 800,000 EVs across 59 countries, achieving a flawless record of 'zero critical incidents.' AESC teams strive for continuous improvement and global leadership in product development, quality, and sustainability. In 2022, AESC was again named among 'Global Tier 1 Battery Companies' by Benchmark, a leading UK-based lithium-ion battery supply chain research organization.

About Florence County Economic Development

Since 1999, Florence County Economic Development Partnership has served as the public-private entity that works to recruit new business and industry to Florence County, South Carolina, while also helping existing industries grow and expand. Florence County Progress, the private sector arm of Florence County Economic Development Partnership works to promote, implement and support activities designed to improve economic development within Florence County. To learn more visit fcedp.com.

Contacts

For Florence County Economic Development: Debbie Jones Membership Relations Manager 843-676-8796 dsjones@florenceco.org

FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) — According to a news release, a $100 million behavioral health facility will be built in Florence.

The South Carolina Dept. of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS), South Carolina Dept. of Mental Health (SCDMH), McLeod Health, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC Health), Francis Marion University (FMU) and HopeHealth announced the facility on Thursday.

The new innovative facility will serve as a regional behavioral health hub and include a combination of triage, crisis stabilization, telehealth, outpatient and inpatient services that will expand much-needed behavioral health resources in the Pee Dee region.

The release said that once built, the hub will occupy the site of an MUSC-owned property currently known as the Cedar Tower Campus on East Cedar Street in Florence.

The project was coordinated through an advisory committee convened by SCDHHS Director Robby Kerr.

"This first-of-its-kind facility is an enormous step forward in addressing the current and future needs of South Carolina's behavioral health system," said Governor Henry McMaster. "Through the collaboration of our state's universities, hospital systems and state agencies, we connect the pipeline between our education system, workforce and public health needs, leading to improved behavioral health outcomes in our state."

"This type of collaborative effort is the only way to transform the delivery of behavioral health services into a continuum of care that improves efficiency and access to these vital services," Kerr said. "We appreciate the partnership exhibited through this effort, including the financial support provided by the South Carolina General Assembly, and hope to develop a model of care from this innovative new facility that can be used in the other regions of the state."

The state's investment in the project is through funds appropriated by the South Carolina General Assembly after years of work to foster collaboration and secure funding by South Carolina Senator Hugh K. Leatherman.

Officials said the new facility will be named after Senator Leatherman.

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As a first-of-its-kind hub, the collaborative pilot is poised to offer a new model for communities throughout the state to address the growing need for behavioral health services.

"Through historic investment and collaboration, the people of the Pee Dee region will soon have a first-of-its-kind, innovative facility to address the growing need for behavioral health services," said Speaker Murrell Smith. "This new facility will not only serve the people of the region, but also serve as an example to the rest of our state and beyond as an exceptional model of care. I'm appreciative of all the parties who came together to make this transformational aspiration a reality, especially the late Senator Leatherman, whose vision for this far preceded any of our plans."

"This historical collaboration will have a monumental impact on the mental health services which will be more readily available for the Pee Dee area and beyond," said Mayor Ervin. "This collaboration will help to create a more comprehensive healthcare hub of the Pee Dee."

"We are excited to partner with these public-private colleagues to make these services available as quickly as possible and have been supportive of finding innovative ways to serve some of our most vulnerable citizens in this way for some time," said David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, MUSC president. "Access to this kind of care is of paramount concern when we consider the economic and societal impact of mental illness, substance abuse and other behavioral health concerns.

"The need and investment are urgent for escalating behavioral health treatment needs and safety," said McLeod Health CEO Donna Isgett. "it will also help reduce over-utilization of the state's emergency rooms for psychiatric patients who need another level of care, as well as focus on bridging the gaps in mental health services for patients of all ages in the Pee Dee."

"Senator Hugh Leatherman had long envisioned a facility of this type in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina where our health providers and educational institutions would come together collaboratively," said FMU President Fred Carter. "At FMU, we're preparing Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners and Doctors of Psychology to provide practitioners needed in this crucial field."

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The new facility will include:

"As one of the state's largest community health centers, we have invested significant resources into the integration of a multi-disciplinary behavioral health program, including psychiatrists, psychologists and behavioral health counselors," said HopeHealth CEO Carl Humphries. "This investment proved to be a critical necessity during the pandemic, when issues like isolation and fear of the unknown lead to larger mental health concerns for our patients."

"Insufficient behavioral health resources are not a problem limited to the Pee Dee region," said SCDMH Acting Director Robert M. Bank, M.D. "This partnership between local healthcare systems and state agencies will create a true continuum of behavioral health services so that citizens of the Pee Dee in need receive the right treatment at the right time in their local community. This type of collaboration not only seeks to improve services but could also serve as a model that could be duplicated elsewhere in the state."

Construction will begin in 2024.

FLORENCE — Florence County officials aren’t ready to reveal the identity of the company associated with “Project Mimosa,” which will bring $20 million investment and 29 new jobs to the county.

The County Council passed on first reading an ordinance to expand Florence-Williamsburg County Industrial Park at its July 20 meeting. The park will be home to the “Project Mimosa” company.

Williamsburg County Council also has approved the industrial park’s expansion.

A fee-in-lieu of taxes agreement for Project Mimosa was approved on second reading at the meeting. The resolution guarantees the county will refund 35 percent of the property taxes to the company for 10 years.

The money can be used only for infrastructure improvements needed by the company, improvements to the site location and personal property used by the company, according to the resolution.

There is a claw-back provision in the resolution. If the company fails to meet specific goals, it will be required to repay a percentage of the county’s incentive plan.

The County Council unanimously approved the industrial park expansion and fee-in-lieu of taxes agreement without discussion.

Florence County approved a resolution for the fee-in-lieu of taxes agreement for Project Mimosa at its May meeting.

“This is another exciting economic development announcement,” County Administrator Kevin Yokim said at the May meeting.

Florence County is expected to consider the fee in lieu of taxes agreement for third and final reading at its Aug. 17 meeting.

Cheney Brothers construction begins

The construction of Cheney Brothers’ $66 million distribution center in Florence started in July.

The project will add approximately 280 jobs and consists of a 400,000-square-foot distribution facility at the Pee Dee Commerce East Industrial Park in Florence. The average salary for the distribution center’s employees will be approximately $17 an hour.

Florence County entered into a fee-in-lieu of taxes agreement with Cheney Brothers in March 2022.

FLORENCE — The Post and Courier Pee Dee opened its news operations in Florence on May 1, and officially joined the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting and open house Aug. 19 at its office, 201 W. Evans St., Florence.

The Post and Courier, the South’s oldest daily newspaper, traces its roots to The Courier, which was founded in 1803 and The Evening Post, founded in 1894. In 1926, the two newspapers were drawn closer together when The Courier, which was known as The News and Courier, was purchased by The Evening Post Industries Company.

The newspapers maintained separate news staffs until the 1980s.

The Charleston-based news organization has opened news operations throughout South Carolina.

Tim Matthews is publisher/digital sales director of the Post and Courier Pee Dee. Jasmine Jennings is a digital executive.

Chris Day is managing editor of the news operations. Seth Taylor, G.E. Hinson and Tyler Fedor are reporters.

The Post and Courier is collaborating with Francis Marion University. Every semester, the Post and Courier will have six interns from the university— two in marketing, two in advertising and two in reporting.

Its offices are located on the second floor of the the university’s Hugh and Jean Leatherman Medical Education Complex, 201 W. Evans St. in Florence. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The telephone number is 843-758-1641.

The Post and Courier also launched a print product on Aug. 19. The monthly newspaper is distributed by mail. Email: subserve@postandcourier.com with deliver or subscription questions. Visit postandcourier.com/subscribe to subscribe.

FLORENCE — Sheena Cantrell has worked in the insurance industry for nearly 20 years, and always wanted to open her own agency and help clients find insurance that fits their budget.

Gasque Insurance Group is Cantrell’s agency in Florence. It is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Visit its website at http://gasqueinsurancebroup.com or go to its Facebook page for more information.