Events

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 Richland Library will be hosting a FREE legal series in partnership with the South Carolina Bar.  Law Talks will take place every third Thursday at Richland Library Wheatley.  During these sessions, a licensed attorney or judge will give a 30 - 45 minute presentation and a brief Q&A session to discuss the legal aspects of starting a business!  For more information, click on the following link to Richland Library's webpage!

Join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on February 22nd for their Equality In Action: Black Innovation and Entrepreneurship as they reflect on the historical contributions of Black entrepreneurs and discuss the challenges and opportunities they face today.  For more information and to register, click on the following registration link to the U.S. Chamber's webpage!

  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...