Harnessing AI for Sales and Marketing: Practical Tools to Drive Efficiency & Effectiveness
2025-04-02 08:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Heyward Career Center, 3560 Lynhaven Drive, Columbia, SC, 29204, United States
The Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s Gather and Grow presents Harnessing AI for Sales and Marketing: Practical Tools to Drive Efficiency & Effectiveness on Wednesday, April 2nd beginning at 8:00AM at the Heyward Career Center.
The guest speaker is Alex Moore, Senior Partner of Stratagon will provide tools and resources to attendees on artificial intelligence (AI). For more information and to register, click HERE to go to the Chamber’s events page!

Benedict College Women's Business Center Offering Free Webinars in April
2025-04-03 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-04-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom
The Benedict College Women’s Business Center will be offering free webinars for the month of April. these webinars will be held beginning at 2:00PM via Zoom. For more information and to register, click on one of the webinar titles. Here are the webinars for April:
April 1 – Basic Financial Literacy for Business Owners
April 3 – Defining Your Ideal Customer
April 17 – How to Avoid Underpricing When Starting Out
For more information, feel free to contact the Benedict College Women’s Business Center at (803)705-4641 or visit their website benedictcollegewbc.com!

South Carolina SBDC Presents Business Finance Basics
2025-04-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
The South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SC SBDC) will host the Business Finance Basics webinar on Wednesday, April 8th beginning at 12:00PM!
In this course, you will learn key elements of business finance basics to manage your cash flow, explore ways to expand your business, and understand insurance for your business.
Miranda Teague and Cheryl Meeks from Truist Bank will facilitate the session and will provide valuable take-away resources to help you and your business.
For more information and to register, click HERE to go to SC SDBC’s events page!

Columbia Chamber Procurement Small Business Month
2025-05-07 08:00 - 09:00 | Segra Park – Columbia Fireflies Stadium, 1640 Freed Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
The Columbia Chamber of Commerce will be hosting two Procurement events during the month of May! On May 7th, there will be a Gather and Grow event which focuses on how small businesses can take advantage of procurement opportunities with federal, city, county, state, and private sector entities! On May 22nd the Chamber will host a Procurement Matchmaker Event sponsored by Goodwill which will help connect vendors with procurement needs with small businesses seeking opportunities!
To sign up to be a vendor at the May 22nd event, click HERE for more information.
To register for Part 1 of this series, click HERE!

Scout Motors Indirect Supplier Day
2025-05-08 08:30 - 16:00
The South Carolina Department of Commerce and Richland County Economic Development will be hosting the Scout Motors Indirect Supplier Day on Thursday, May 8th beginning at 8:30AM.
Small business owners will have an opportunity to meet with Scout Motors procurement representatives and learn more about their current supplier needs. For more information, click HERE to go to the SC Department of Commerce Eventbrite page!

City of Columbia's 12th Annual Small Business Week Conference
2025-05-09 09:00 - 15:30 | Marriott Columbia, 1200 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities will be hosting the City of Columbia’s 12th Annual Small Business Week Conference on Friday, May 9, 2025 at the Marriott Columbia, 1200 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC 29201. During this conference, we will have breakout sessions, keynote speakers, and more.
The U.S. Small Business Administration will also host their annual statewide awards ceremony and matchmaking event in the afternoon!
Early bird tickets start at $25.00 until April 24th. After, the price will be $35.00 For more information and to register, go to our Small Business Week Conference Eventbrite page!
If you have questions on the Small Business Week Conference, contact Kalenna Ginyard, OBO Program Compliance Specialist at (803)545-3950.
For any questions on SBA’s matchmaking event, contact Angela Brewer, SBA Business Opportunity Specialist at (803)765-5907.

Isuzu Supplier Day Event
2025-05-13 08:00 - 16:00 | Greenville, SC
The South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Greenville Area Development Corporation are partnering with Isuzu North America Corporation to host a two-day supplier day event.
This event will be held May 13 & 14, 2025 in Greenville starting at 8:00 A.M. For more information and to register, click HERE to go to the Eventbrite page!

Build Smart: Get Bonded & Grow
2025-05-13 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
DESA, Inc. and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be hosting the Build Smart: Get Bonded & Grow virtual workshop on Tuesday, May 13th beginning at 4:00PM.
Peter C. Gibbs will be the featured speaker for this event. This workshop offers the tools, knowledge, and expert guidance you need to navigate the bonding process and open doors to greater opportunities. For more information and to register, click here to go to DESA’s Zoom registration page!

Woodforest Bank Presents Conquering Credit: Understanding Credit & Financial Empowerment
2025-05-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Virtual Event
Woodforest Bank will be presenting a virtual class on Tuesday, May 20th entitled Conquering Credit: Understanding Credit & Financial Empowerment. This course will provide tips, resources and best practices to help you understand credit and create a pathway to financial empowerment.
For more information and to register, click HERE to go to Woodforest’s registration page!

Timmons Group and Richland County OSBO Community Breakfast
2025-06-03 08:00 - 10:00 | Truist Capital Center, 1201 Main Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
The Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity (OSBO) and Timmons Group will be hosting a community breakfast on Tuesday, June 3rd beginning at 8:00AM at the Truist Capital Center, 1201 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201.
During this event, participants will meet with representatives from Timmons Group, OSBO staff, and have the opportunity to connect with other like-minded small business leaders in the Columbia area!
For more information and to register, click HERE to go to OSBO’s Eventbrite page! You can also contact Niki Bayne at (704)498-8502 or Cliff Lawson at (803)636-2964

Supplier Readiness Roundtable
2025-06-12 10:00 - 12:30 | Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Streeet, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
Queen City Women In Business (QCWIB) will be hosting the Supplier Readiness Roundtable on Thursday, June 12th at the Busby Street Community Center!
Participants at this event will hear from representatives from Self-Help Credit Union, QC WIB, U.S. Small Business Administration, and the City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities. During this informative workshop, participants will:

Discover how QCWIB/ProcuraFind is partnering with Self Help Credit Union to reach more small businesses!
Learn how to get started with these companies!
Discover what companies look for in suppliers!

For more information and to register, click here to go to the QCWIB webpage!

Juneteenth Small Business Workshop
2025-06-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Streeet, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities and the SC Juneteenth Freedom Fest will be hosting the Juneteenth Small Business Workshop on Wednesday, June 18th beginning at 6:00PM at the Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Street, Columbia, SC.
Representatives from Woodforest Bank, Palmetto Citizens FCU, Wells Fargo, SC Community Loan Fund and others will provide informative information and resources to the small business community! For more information and to register, click here to go to the SC Juneteenth Freedom Fest website!

Beyond the Bid: Strategies for Success with Richland County
2025-06-26 10:00 - 12:30 | Richland County Council Chambers, 2020 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC, 29204, United States
The Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity (OSBO) will be hosting Beyond the Bid: Strategies for Success with Richland County on Thursday, June 26th beginning at 10:00AM.
Jennifer Wladischikin, Director of Procurement for Richland County will be the facilitator for this event. Participants will learn more about Richland County’s procurement opportunities and will have a live demonstration of the new E-Procurement portal! Lunch is included!
For more information and to register, click HERE to go to Richland County OSBO’s registration page. Participants must register by Wednesday, June 25th at 12:00PM.

Brand Up-Market Out: Session 2 - Market Out
2025-07-09 17:45 - 19:00 | Online Webinar
The South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SC SBDC) will be hosting the Brand Up-Market Out: Session 2 – Market Out virtual webinar on Wednesday, July 9th beginning at 5:45PM.
During this webinar, participants who are facing issues with defining their brand will learn from facilitator Stacey Mullins actionable strategies to boost your online presence, attract your ideal audience, and turn followers into customers! For more information and to register, click HERE to go to the SC SBDC events page!

Columbia Empowerment Zone Open House
2025-07-10 11:00 - 14:00 | David Dunn Suites, 712 Richland Street, Columbia, SC, United States
The Columbia Empowerment Zone will be hosting a open house at 712 Richland Street. Door prizes and light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Mattrina Raeford at (803)553-6175.

1 Million Cups with Ron Harvey
2025-07-23 09:00 - 10:00 | USC Technology Incubator, 1225 Laurel Street, 4th Floor, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
1 Million Cups will be hosting another event on Wednesday, July 23rd beginning at 9:00AM at the USC Tech Incubator, 1225 Laurel Street, 4th Floor in Columbia!
This week’s presenter is Mr. Ron Harvey, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of GlobalCore Strategies and Consulting. Ron is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others through his leadership development initiatives and participants will receive a wealth of knowledge from a successful entrepreneur!
For more information on 1 Million Cups and their upcoming events, click HERE!

Richland Library EiR Presents: The Complete Entrepreneur, Part 2
2025-07-23 18:00 - 19:00 | Richland Library Main – Auditorium, 1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
Richland Library’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR), Tom Ledbetter will lead an interactive session exploring the physical, emotional, psychological, and relational impacts of undertaking a small business venture. For more information and to register, click HERE to go to Richland Library’s webpage!

SBA Loan Opportunities for Small Businesses - Programs, Eligibility and How to Apply
2025-07-31 13:00 - 14:00 | Online Webinar
The U.S. Small Business Administration will be hosting a webinar titled SBA Loan Opportunities for Small Businesses – Programs, Eligibility and How to Apply on Thursday, July 31st at 1:00 P.M. During this webinar, participants will learn about the three SBA loan programs, eligibility requirements, and how to navigate the application process. For more information and to register, click HERE to go to Midlands SCORE’s webpage!

Mastering Social Media for Business Growth
2025-08-14 08:00 - 17:00 | Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Streeet, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities will be hosting the Mastering Social Media for Business Growth workshop on Thursday, August 14th at the Busby Street Community Center beginning at 10:00AM!
Our featured presenter for this workshop is social media expert, Mr. Ken Walker! Ken is very popular with his social media posts promoting local businesses and things to do in the Columbia area. This workshop is designed for small and medium sized businesses that want to strengthen their online presence, create impactful content, and understand how to use data to drive results!
For more information and to register, click HERE to go to the OBO Eventbrite page! For more information, contact Kalenna Ginyard, OBO Program Compliance Specialist at (803)545-3950 or email our office at OBO@columbiasc.gov!

How to Prepare Your Business for Funding Opportunities
2025-08-14 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
The South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SC SBDC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be hosting the How to Prepare Your Business for Funding Opportunities webinar on Thursday, August 14th beginning at 11:00AM!
Donna Davis, Certified AI and Business Consultant, will guide participants through the foundational steps every small business should take before applying for grants, loans, or pitching to investors. For more information and to register for this event, click HERE to go to SC SBDC’s registration page!

Richland Library EiR Presents: The Idea Forge - From Spark to Blueprint
2025-08-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Richland Library Main – Auditorium, 1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
Join Richland Library on Wednesday, August 20th for The Idea Forge – From Spark to Blueprint at the Richland Library!
Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR) Allen Brown will provide information to participants on how to transform your business idea into a foundational blueprint! For more information and to register, click HERE to go to Richland Library’s webpage!

Start-Up Business Models (In-Person Event)
2025-08-21 15:00 - 16:30 | Richland Library Southeast, 7421 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC, 29209, United States
Join the South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SC SBDC) on August 21st for the Start-Up Business Models event!
This engaging and insightful workshop is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to gain the knowledge and tools necessary to build a successful business in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace! For more information and to register, click HERE!

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions Small Business Opportunity Day
2025-09-11 12:00 - 16:00 | DoubleTree by Hilton Augusta, 2651 Perimeter Parkway, Augusta, GA, 30909, United States
Join Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) for their Small Business Opportunity Day on Thursday, September 11th from 12:00pm – 4:00pm at the DoubleTree by Hilton Augusta, Augusta, GA!
This one-day event will spotlight upcoming procurement opportunities, strategic partnerships, and capacity-building resources available to businesses eager to work with SRNS!
For more information, contact the Savannah River Nuclear Solutions Supplier Outreach group at supplier-outreach@srs.gov or click HERE to go to the event registration page!

Columbia Metropolitan Airport Launches Community Engagement Initative, SOAR WITH US
2025-09-17 08:30 - 10:30 | Brookland Banquet and Conference Center, 1066 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC, 29169, United States
The Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) will be hosting a two-part community engagement series: SOAR WITH US. The purpose of these series is to deepen ties within the community, increase transparency, support small businesses and continue CAE’s annual effort to meet and exceed its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals.
The first community engagement event will take place on Wednesday, September 17th at 8:30AM at the Brookland Baptist Church Banquet and Conference Center.
The deadline to register is Monday, September 15th at 12:00PM. For more information and to register, click here to go to the SOAR WITH US Eventbrite page!

Blueprint for Business: Crafting Your Plan
2025-09-18 15:00 - 16:30 | Richland Library Southeast, 7421 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC, 29209, United States
The South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SC SBDC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be hosting workshops on September 18th beginning at 3:00PM at the Richland Library Southeast. Small business owners and entrepreneurs can participate for FREE and learn more on creating a business plan and market analysis! For more information and to register, click HERE!

7Sunday and the Office of Business Opportunities Presents BizArts
2025-09-21 16:00 - 19:00 | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
Deon Generette’s 7Sunday in partnership with the Office of Business Opportunities will be hosting the new series, BizArts on Sunday, September 21st beginning at 4:00PM at the Columbia Museum of Art. For more information and to purchase tickets, click HERE to read more!

Columbia Chamber: Midlands Business Accelerator Information Session
2025-09-22 15:00 - 16:30 | South State Bank, 520 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
The Columbia Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the Midlands Business Accelerator Information Session on Monday, September 22nd at 3:00PM at South State Bank, 520 Gervais Street.
This session will focus on the upcoming Midlands Business Accelerator program. Learn more on how this program can accelerate your business growth through mentorship, training, and access to resources. For more information and to register, click HERE to go to the Chamber webpage!

Starting & Growing a Home Based Food Business
2025-09-25 15:00 - 16:30 | Online Webinar
The South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SC SBDC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be hosting a webinar for entrepreneurs who would like to start a home based food business! During this webinar, participants will learn more about starting a home based business and hear from food business owners on their experiences! For more information and to register, click HERE to go to SBDC’s webpage!

Good 2 Great: Taking the Next Steps with OSBO
2025-09-26 10:30 - 12:00 | USC Technology Incubator, 1225 Laurel Street, 4th Floor, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
The Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity (OSBO) will be hosting the Good 2 Great: Taking the Next Step with OSBO workshop on Friday, September 26th beginning at 10:30 AM at the USC Technology Incubator.
Charles Charlestin, OSBO Business Development & Outreach Coordinator will be facilitating this event and participants will learn more about how SLBE/ESLBE certification can benefit your business strategies and boost your opportunities for growth!
For more information, contact the Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity at (803)576-1540 or send an email to osbo@richlandcountysc.gov. Click HERE to register!
