Volume 1 Number 17 | pdb2b.com
The city of Florence will use $1.5 million in grant funding to rehabilitate sewer line in this area along the south side of David H. McLeod Boulevard. (PDB2B photo by Don Fujiwara)
The city of Florence will use a $1.5 million in grant funding from the SC Rural Infrastructure Authority to rehabilitate sewer infrastructure along a stretch of David H. McLeod Boulevard.
The Rural Infrastructure Authority announced in May that it had made available about $29 million for capital improvement projects in 16 SC counties, including the $1.5 million grant to Florence and funding for three other projects in the Pee Dee. These grants are to go toward improving water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, benefiting more than 50,000 households and businesses and bolstering services that support economic growth, the statement said.
Michael Hemingway, utility planning and economic development director for the city of Florence, said in an email, “The grant funding is specifically for the construction and installation of new larger gravity sewer infrastructure along David McLeod Boulevard.”
A map provided by Hemingway shows construction will take place on the south side of the street between Crossroads Center, 2670 David H. McLeod Blvd., and Woody Jones Boulevard.
This map provided by Michael Hemingway, utility planning and economic development director for the city of Florence, shows construction will take place on the south side of David H. McLeod Boulevard between Crossroads Center and Woody Jones Boulevard. (PDB2P image by city of Florence)
The larger diameter will increase “carrying capacity (volume) of the pipe,” Hemingway said. “The material will be a combination of both ductile iron and PVC.”
Hemingway shared the expected timeline for the project:
Final design completion, winter 2027
Regulatory permits, spring 2027
Bid advertisement, summer 2027
Start construction, fall 2027
Project completion, spring 2028.
B2B bulletin
QVC emerges from financial, leadership restructuring; stock resumes trading
QVC Group Inc., owner of cable television shopping channels QVC and HSN, said it has completed its financial restructuring and emerged from the Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection process it had begun in April. Additionally, President and CEO David Rawlinson has stepped down, to be replaced by Mike George, who fills in as interim CEO and chairman of the company’s board of directors.
The company — with its headquarters in West Chester, PA — said in an Aug. 6 statement that it had reduced its total debt by more than $5 billion and has access to a new $600 million asset-based lending facility led by funds managed by Strategic Value Partner LLC and affiliates, as well as Oaktree Capital. According to the statement, the company is “well positioned to accelerate growth under a new leadership team and expand its position in live social shopping across social platforms, streaming apps, ecommerce sites, retail stores and television networks.”
QVC Group operates a warehouse at 2200 TV Road in Florence.
According to the statement, George brings retail, ecommerce and consumer engagement experience, “including almost 16 years as president and CEO of QVC Group.” He sits on the boards of AutoZone and Ralph Lauren, serves on the executive committee of the National Retail Federation, and is chairman of the board of the National Constitution Center. George has held leadership roles at Dell Inc. and McKinsey & Co.
QVC also announced the appointment of a new board of directors, comprising eight directors.
McLeod, MUSC make ‘Forbes’ best SC employers list
New Jersey-based business news outlet Forbes published its list of America’s Best Employers by State for 2026, the eighth year it has done so.
Some 55 companies made the list of best employers for South Carolina, nine of which have their headquarters in the state.
Coming in at No. 20, Florence-based McLeod Health was the only company with headquarters in the Pee Dee to make the SC list. Charleston-based MUSC Health came in 31st.
Charlotte-based Honeywell topped the list of SC employers.
McLeod Health is among the 20 largest employers in Chesterfield, Dillon, Florence and Marion counties according to 2025 data from the SC Department of Employment and Workforce Labor Market Information Division. MUSC Health ranks among the top 20 largest employers in Florence and Marion counties. Charlotte-based Duke Energy came in at No. 4 on the SC list. Duke Energy Progress is a top-20 employer in Darlington and Florence counties.
Commerce calendar
11 a.m., online
Presented by the SC Small Business Development Center, this free webinar introduces basic lean methodologies and techniques. Originally developed by Toyota, lean methodologies are now used across manufacturing and service industries to improve performance, quality and customer value.
8:30 a.m.
Coker University Library boardroom
300 E. College Ave.
Hartsville
Darlington County Economic Development Partnership works to recruit new business and industry, and it also helps existing industries expand and engage. This meeting is open to the public.
Noon-1
Florence Center
3300 W. Radio Dr.
Guest speaker Duane Parrish — director of SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism — will talk about the role tourism plays in the state and how the Pee Dee factors into that role. Seating is limited.