Kalenna Ginyard

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are highly competitive programs that encourage domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) with the potential for commercialization.  To read more on these programs, click the link to the SBIR webpage!

According to SCORE, it's been a few good years for African American owned businesses in the United States.  70 percent of African American small business owners are "very happy" or "somewhat happy" with the state of their small businesses.  To read more, go to the SCORE blog post!

On January 9, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration will begin accepting applications for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Veteran Small Business Certification program (VetCert).  SBA's new Veteran small business certification program is designed with the commitment to deliver exceptional support for skilled entrepreneurs from our military community.  To read more about this, and for more information on applying, click here to be redirected to SBA's press release page!

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will host three (3) public participation meetings to discuss and provide feedback on the establishment of the Federal Fiscal Years 2024-2026 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals for both Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration projects.  These meetings are held to obtain information that may affect SCDOT's DBE goal on federal contract awards between October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2026.  The public participation meeting for the Columbia,…

The gener8tor gALPHA program will provide product ideas, mentorship and coaching to teams of participants and then work with startups individually for one month to help them develop an innovative and marketable product or solution.  Applications are being accepted through November 28th!  To read the full article, click here to go to GrowCo's website!

The City of Columbia's Office of Business Opportunities would like to congratulate Karen R. Jenkins, President and CEO of KRJ Consulting being named as the Chair-Elect to the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.  Mrs. Jenkins will be the first African American woman to hold this position! To read more and watch her interview for A Seat At The Table, go to WLTX News 19's webpage!

  Macy's, the largest department store in the United States, announced its partnership with Momentus Capital to invest money into three funding channels that will support businesses in retail ran by underrepresented groups.  The total financing for these programs is estimated to be $200 million. To read more on this article, go to Black Enteprise's webpage!  

Philanthropist Steve Ballmer, owner of the National Basketball League's (NBA) Los Angeles Clippers, will invest $400 million to support Black owned businesses.  To read more on this story, click here to go to Fortune.com to read more!

According to the 2022 Women & Minority Business Owner Spotlight, a new report shows that 66% of business owners expect revenue to increase.  Also, 83% plan to obtain funding for their business (up from 70% this spring).  In addition, 77% of entrepreneurs say their business is equipped to survive a recession.  To read more, go to the Black Enterprise website.

Richland Library in partnership with the City of Columbia's Office of Business Opportunities announce this year's  Summer Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR) is Mrs. Lasenta Lewis-Ellis!  Lasenta is the president and CEO of LLE Construction Group, LLC and specializes in owner's representation in general construction and contracting, construction and project management, and facility support services.  During her residency as EiR, she will share her "Sidepreneurship" expertise with entrepreneurs and small business owners through an array of free programs…