Kalenna Ginyard

  The U.S. Department of Labor published a final rule to provide guidance on whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act.  To read more, click here!

The City of Columbia and Made with Cola Love are coming together to launch the Made with Cola Love organization to support small businesses and bring new life to vacant properties in Columbia, SC! The pop-up shops will feature a diverse range of retail, food and beverage, and lifestyle businesses.  Each business will operate a one-month pilot popup, creating a dynamic environment. Made with Cola Love will host a launch party from 6:00 - 9:00PM on Tuesday,…

The City of Anderson, SC is hosting the Statewide Startup Business Pitch Competition beginning March 7, 2024!  Interested applicant who would like to learn more to contact Brittney Gamble at bgamble@cityofandersonsc.com!  

The South Carolina Department of Commerce and Richland County are partnering with Scout Motors to provide an in-person supplier event.  This event is FREE and open to all South Carolina companies, however registration is required.  For more information, click here to go to the Scout Motors Eventbrite page!

The Booker Washington Heights Cultural Arts Center is now open! This new resource center offers free space for local small businesses and non-profits to conduct and grow their organizations.  The space is equipped with printers, conference rooms, Wi-Fi, and office cubicle space to support a rotation of about ten (10) local entrepreneurs! For more information, contact Timothy McDowell, Community Affairs Coordinator, at (803)255-8166.  

Congratulations to Karen R. Jenkins, President and CEO of KRJ Consulting as the new Board Chair of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce!  Mrs. Jenkins makes history as the first Black female to hold this position in the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.  To read more, click here to go to the Midlands Biz website!

The Midlands Minority Business Accelerator (MMBA) is a program of the Columbia Chamber in partnership with the South Carolina Minority Business Accelerator. Funded with a seed grant from Bank of America, MMBA is an initiative designed to advance economic inclusion across the state of South Carolina by helping to reduce the economic disparities experienced by minority-owned businesses. The initiative provides opportunities for economic growth and prosperity for high-potential minority-owned firms. MMBA is a major economic…

  Food Truck Fridays are held every Friday from 11:00AM - 3:00PM at 2300 Bull Street (in the REI Co-op parking lot).  You will find in the flyer the list of all food truck vendors participating this month! If you would like to participate in Food Truck Fridays as a vendor, please contact the Office of Business Opportunities at (803)545-3950 or email us at OBO@columbiasc.gov!

Mayor Daniel J. Rickenmann will be leading a town hall tour across all four districts to share the state of the City. City Council members and City staff will join Mayor Rickenmann to discuss updates for each district.  There will be a town hall for the Columbia Business Community on Monday, October 16th at 10:00AM at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center!  To learn more, click here to go to the Mayor's Town Hall webpage!

The Benedict College Women's Business Center is receiving $2,000,000 from the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to help empower entrepreneurs from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.  To read more and watch, click here to go to WLTX News 19 website!