HOW TO BECOME A VENDOR
To learn more about becoming a vendor with the City of Columbia, click on the button below!
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Financial assistance to start-up and existing businesses for growth, expansion, retention and the creation of new jobs, and assistance in the redevelopment of commercial corridors that have become significantly deteriorated within the City.
Education & Advocacy
Business development assistance and courses for start-ups and existing businesses looking to grow and expand covering topics including: marketing, use of social media, business plan development, finances, legal issues, and more.
Contractor & Supplier Engagement
Training and support for City initiatives designed to increase local contractors’ capacity to compete for government contracts and other procurement opportunities. We are also responsible for the implementation of the City’s Disparity Study Goals and Objectives.
Title VI Program
Prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity that receives federal funds or other federal financial assistance which includes coordinating with City of Columbia departments to ensure compliance and reviewing procedures and policies for any potential discrimination.
Need an Opportunity to Start or Grow your Small Business?
Small businesses drive the U.S. economy by providing jobs for over half of the nation’s private workforce. Yet small businesses also face many obstacles that stall or prevent their growth and development, including access to capital, effective marketing strategies, adequate accounting systems, and comprehensive business plans.
An opportunity is a chance for advancement and progress. The Office of Business “Opportunities” uses several economic development tools to provide creative business opportunities to address many of the obstacles that face small businesses.
Learn MoreCity of Columbia's Small Business Opportunities Directory
The City of Columbia’s Small Business Opportunities Directory consists of information from our City of Columbia departments along with our community partners on different goods and services to procure. Click below for more information!
OBO Events and Webinars
The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities provides webinars and events to inform, educate, and empower our small business community. If you missed one of these events, click on the button to go to our OBO Events & Webinars page!
OBO Recent News
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the South Carolina District Office has opened nominations for its 2027 National Small Business Week Awards, which recognize exceptional small business owners from South Carolina. National Small Business Week will take place May 2 - 8, 2027. Nominations must be submitted by 3:00 P.M. on December 7, 2026. “National Small Business Week gives us an opportunity to recognize the entrepreneurs whose innovation, determination, and leadership strengthen communities and…
Food Truck Vendors, The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities (OBO) has recently become aware of an email circulating among food truck vendors promoting a “Food Truck Fridays – Delicious Eats in December” event allegedly scheduled for Friday, December 18, 2026, at Finlay Park. Please be advised that this event is not affiliated with or organized by the City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities or Finlay Park. No such event is scheduled to…
The South Carolina Department of Commerce's Innovation & Entrepreneurship team is partnering with the Federal Reserve System on the 2026 Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS)! The SBCS is a national survey that collects valuable data on the experiences and financing needs of small businesses. The findings help policymakers, lenders, resource partners, and researchers better understand the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses and inform how they can be better supported. By sharing the survey with business…