Florence

County Overview

Conveniently located at the intersections of I-95 and I-20, Florence County is the perfect place for any business to locate. A business-friendly environment, robust healthcare system, entertainment, and natural beauty have made the area a popular destination for visitors and industries alike. Florence County is home to many well-known companies including GE Healthcare, Honda of South Carolina, QVC, Clarios, Niagara Bottling, McCall Farms, Nan Ya Plastics Corp., OTIS Elevator, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and RUIZ Foods Inc.

With two major hospital systems, a rehabilitation hospital, and over 13,500 medical industry employees, healthcare is one of the county’s fastest growing industry sectors.

The county’s technical college, Florence-Darlington Technical College, is a 2-year technical college with an enrollment of over 4,500 students and home of the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology’s (SiMT). SiMT’s mission is to provide businesses with strategic training and manufacturing technology solutions that maximize workforce productivity in advanced and manufacturing environments. The facility’s learning-centered environment gives employees and students access to 3-D printing, rapid prototyping, CNC turning centers, vertical machining centers, speed milling centers, CNC manufacturing cells, and so much more. Also in Florence County, Francis Marion University, a 4-year university that supports the Pee Dee region by offering a broad range of over 60 undergraduate and graduate programs such as industrial engineering and business. Additionally, students can acquire credits toward high school diplomas, certificates, two-year degrees and four-year degrees at the Continuum, a one-of-a-kind educational facility in Lake City created through a partnership between the Darla Moore Foundation, FMU, and FDTC.

Quality of Life

Entertainment

Florence County is synonymous with arts and culture. From the annual internationally-renowned ArtFields juried art competition in Lake City, to touring musical and theatrical productions at the Francis Marion Performing Arts Center and Florence Civic Center, to Florence County Museum and exhibits featuring visiting pieces from the Smithsonian and much, much more, Florence is culture.

Location

If you somehow discover the seemingly infinite things to see and do in Florence County and want to explore other areas of the U.S. and the world, we’ve got you covered. Located at the intersection of Interstates 95 and 20, you can reach major destinations along the east coast. From Asheville to Atlanta, and DC to Disney, they’re all within just a few hours drive of Florence.

Healthcare

Florence County is the medical hub of the Pee Dee Region and offers world-class healthcare. McLeod Regional Medical Center, founded over 100 years ago, is home to nationally-ranked programs in critical care areas such as cancer treatment and cardiac services. The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and HopeHealth also operates large facilities in Florence.

Technical Education

Getting a world-class education in the manufacturing of tomorrow is possible in Florence County thanks to the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT). SiMT offers training, 3-D printing, and production (small batch and over-flow) for companies and students in North and South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama.