Events

  Please join the City of Columbia's Office of Business Opportunities on November 1st at 10:00 A.M. to learn more about the Columbia Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (CDBE) program and how it's designed to build the capacity of minority, women-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.  Recent changes have been made to the CDBE policy to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in meeting the procurement needs of the City of Columbia and small minority-owned enterprises in the water and...

Tax prep can be time consuming, but your business could face penalties if you fall out of compliance with the U.S. tax code.  Join the City of Columbia's Office of Business Opportunities on Thursday, November 11th to learn more about common end-of-year practices prior to tax season!  Guest speaker Shelia K. Tutwieler-Dawkins will discuss topics that are important when filing taxes for small businesses such as organizational structure, business income and expenses, and timely filing. ...

In the second part of this series that began in August, Dr. Kasie Whitener will further explore critical issues for creative entrepreneurs: How to "Be like the Chefs" when building your audience? How to quantify your inventory? How to calculate cost of goods per unit? How to monetize digital platforms (like YouTube)? This session is a deeper "how-to" that builds on general concepts discussed earlier.  Attendees will leave with applicable tasks and skills for growing...

The SC Commission for Minority Affairs, U.S. Small Business Administration and the City of Columbia's Office of Business Opportunities present How to Prepare for a Small Business Loan: Necessary Paperwork webinar on Tuesday, November 16th at 10:00AM.  In this small business webinar, Bret Whiting, Commercial Loan Officer for the City of Columbia's Office of Business Opportunities, will discuss the documents needed to receive a small business loan.  Participants will learn not only about the necessary...

Do you have more shopping to do for the holidays?  If so, join the City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities for their 2021 Winter Wonderland Virtual Holiday Market on Tuesday, December 14th at 7:00 pm.  Celebrate the holiday season, shop safely with local vendors, and enjoy holiday performances by local artists.  All are invited to participate in this virtually holiday shopping experience on December 14th at 7:00 P.M.! To register for the 2021 Winter...

The City of Columbia's Office of Business Opportunities is inviting you to our 2022 City of Columbia's Virtual Minority Business Opportunity Conference on Wednesday, February 23rd beginning at 10:00AM.  Our keynote speaker for this year's event is Dr. Nika White, President and CEO of Nika White Consulting.  Additional guests speakers are Mrs. Dominique Milton (Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council), Mr. Lance Brown (Rhino Medical Supply), and Ms. Christi Jordan (AT&T Services, Inc.). The purpose of...

  Calling all creative entrepreneurs! Join us to learn the tools you need to move your creative talents forward!  The City of Columbia's Office of Business Opportunities in partnership with Benedict College Women's Business Center is excited to announce the Creative Entrepreneur 101 Workshop: Understanding the Basics to Monetize Your Talents!  Participants will receive tools and resources to get started on their path to becoming a creative entrepreneur!  Guest speakers include: Naida Rutherford, Katera, Rod...

    The City of Columbia's Office of Business Opportunities will be participating in a Women in Contracting Conference on Tuesday, March 22nd beginning at 9:00AM!  This virtual conference will provide tips, best practices, and upcoming opportunities from featured panelists who are women who own successful contracting businesses, procurement office managers, technical assistance providers and more!  To register for this event, click here to go to the Women in Contracting Conference webpage! Women in Contracting...

  Did you know tax credits can directly reduce your tax bill?  Join the City of Columbia's Office of Business Opportunities on Wednesday, March 30th to learn how your small business can take advantage of those credits!  Presenter Shelia K. Tutwieler-Dawkins will provides tools and resources for small business owners on topics such as employee retention credit, general business tax credit, work opportunity tax credit, and investment tax credit.  For more information and to register,...

The City of Columbia's Office of Business Opportunities in collaboration with the Benedict College Women's Business Center, U.S. Small Business Administration, USC Columbia Technology Incubator, SC Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), and TutwielerDawkins, LLC is giving a Business Plan Boot Camp workshop!  This four-part series will assist small business owners in refining your ideas and strategies, and structuring them into a viable business.  We will also help you fill the gaps in your plan and discuss the...