Events

  The Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity (OSBO) will be hosting the 2023 Business Academy: Growing Outside of Your Comfort Zone on Thursday, February 23rd beginning at 10:00AM.  Guest speaker, John Gethers, SC State University Regional Director for SBDC and creator of Business for Breakfast will discuss how business owners can assess what is GOOD about their business, probe for what can be done BETTER, and pivot to what can be done DIFFERENTLY.  To register...

    Join the U.S. Small Business Administration on Tuesday, March 7th to learn about the Five Core Elements of a Strong Capabilities Statement!  This is a virtual event and to register, click on the link to SBA's website!

Join the South Carolina District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration on Wednesday, March 8th to hear answers to commonly asked questions about business start-up, federal contracting, SBA loans and more!  To register, click here to go to SBA's Events webpage!

Join South Carolina SBDC on Thursday, March 16th on Applying Specific Intellectual Property to Your Invention!  This webinar will review some of the typical intellectual property questions raised by entrepreneurs and small businesses.  For more information and to register, click on the following link to SBDC's events page!

A sustainable business can support itself and offer a profit to both its owners and shareholders. For a company to develop real sustainability, it must meet its consumers' demands while at the same time balance the needs of its employees. Unsustainable businesses tend to be a drain on resources and sustainability is crucial to longevity in any business. Join Allen Brown, Midlands Coordinator & Business Consultant, SC SBDC, and John Gether, Region Director, SC State...

Join the SC Small Business Resource Partners on Wednesday, March 29th as they discuss becoming a certified woman-owned business in South Carolina.  Participants will hear from speakers who are in the process or already have gone through the process of being a certified woman-owned business.  For more information and to register, click here to go to SBA's Events page!

  The City of Columbia's Office of Business Opportunities and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will be hosting the Understanding Labor & FMLA Requirements workshop on Thursday, March 30th.  Participants will learn about the rules of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the rules of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).  This will be an in-person event held at the Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Street, Columbia, SC 29203.  For more information...

  The SC SBDC contracted with Dr. Joey Van Nessen to conduct a statewide survey of small businesses to identify the ongoing impact of COVID-19 including current and emerging challenges they face. Not only long-term impact of shutdowns and loss of clients, but also supply chain disruptions, difficulties in hiring and retaining employees, inflation and other factors that are hurting their revenues and resiliency to stay afloat. The study explains the largest concerns of business...

Are you interested in learning more about grants, loans, mentoring, and business planning?  Local support agencies will share information on resources available to assist small businesses and startups with growth opportunities. Panelists include: Allen Brown - South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Ayesha Driggers - City of Columbia's Office of Business Opportunities (OBO) Mel Flaming - SCORE Midlands Pam Green - Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity (OSBO) For more information and to...

The Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity will host its 2023 Business Workshop Academy - Growing Outside of Your Comfort Zone on Saturday, April 29th beginning at 10:00AM.  The Profit vs. Cash Flow: What's The Difference? course will evaluate the decisions that can affect the growth and expansion of YOUR business. Space is limited and this course is intended for business owners that have been in business at least three (3) years. To register,...