Four months into economic recovery from the start of the pandemic, and the leisure and hospitality industry in The Palmetto State to include hotels and restaurants remains the hardest hit among the various sectors. Federal Reserve Bank of … more

Voting is now open for the first contest in The Sumter Item's Teacher of the Month, presented by Carolina Grove. At least 15 teachers from Sumter's public and private schools were nominated in this first go-round, and four have been selected as … more

After once owning a salon and Thai restaurant, a 15-year Sumter resident moved on to her next business, providing an abundance of sweet tooth cravings from her home in Thailand right in the City of Sumter. Thai Tea Sumter, 655 Bultman Drive, … more

NEW YORK (AP) - Apple is the first U.S. company to boast a market value of $2 trillion, just two years after it became the first to reach $1 trillion. Apple shares have gained nearly 60% this year as the company overcame the shutdown of factories … more

MANNING - Businesses both large and small that have been affected by COVID-19 may be able to receive assistance through the South Carolina Business Load Fund. "If your business has been impacted by COVID-19, you can apply for assistance," said Ed … more

SUBMITTED Catherine Kelley has joined Bynum AssuredPartners as an agent. She is a 2020 graduate of Clemson University with a degree in marketing and an emphasis in sales. Kelley interned with AssuredPartners for two years. At Clemson, she was an … more

By JOSEPH PISANI AP Retail Writer NEW YORK - Zappos is trying out new ways to sell shoes: allow shoppers to buy a single shoe at a time or purchase a pair in two different sizes. The tests, which started Tuesday, are aimed at amputees, … more

Longstanding Legacies Bar & Grill isn't gone; it's just in the process of moving. The sports bar and grill's owner and managers spoke Friday on the establishment's move to behind Sumter Mall and that it won't be long before patrons can again … more

SUBMITTED A $3.7 million total contract investment in new banking technology is complete at SAFE Federal Credit Union, following the replacement of the organization's core banking software. Provided by the Symitar division of Jack Henry & … more