All Access Columbia
2023-09-26 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Earlewood Park Community Center, 1113 Recreation Drive, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
The City of Columbia’s Community Development Department will be hosting All Access Columbia: Business Funding & Development Workshop on Tuesday, September 26th from 6:00 – 8:00PM at the Earlewood Park Community Center, 1113 Recreation Drive, Columbia, SC 29203.
The City of Columbia Community Development, Office of Business Opportunities (OBO), and the Columbia Empowerment Zone, Inc. will be participating in this event to provide information and resources on business funding and exploration of business needs.
For more information and to register, click HERE to register on the City’s registration page!

Minding Your Own Business (Mindset Matters)
2023-09-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Streeet, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
Join the Office of Business Opportunities on Thursday, September 28th for Minding Your Own Business (Mindset Matters) workshop!
Our featured speaker, Mr. Paul D. Smith, Jr. will be providing informative information to participants on how to fully leverage your unique business ideas, strengths, and talents in a way that enhances profits and cash flows! This is a FREE workshop, but registration is required.
For more information and to register, click here to go to OBO’s Eventbrite page!

Bridging the Generational Gap in the Workplace
2023-10-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Streeet, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
Join the Office of Business Opportunities on Thursday, October 5th at the Busby Street Community Center for this informative workshop on Bridging the Generational Gap in the Workplace!
Tyson K. Brown of Project OneWay will be discussing the generational gap with employees in the workplace and will cover topics on understanding the importance of healthy and complete communication between older and younger generations and how to engage a younger demographic in the workplace in spite of lack of relatability between age groups.
For more information and to register, click here to go to OBO’s Eventbrite page!

Mayor's Town Hall Tour
2023-10-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, 29201
Mayor Daniel J. Rickenmann will be leading a town hall tour across all four districts to share the state of the City. City Council members and City staff will join Mayor Rickenmann to discuss updates for each district.
The Mayor’s Town Hall Tour for the Columbia Business Community will be on October 16th beginning at 10:00AM at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The Office of Business Opportunities will be in attendance to answer questions regarding your small business! For more information, click here to go to the Mayor’s Town Hall webpage!

Make That Dough 23: Small Business Non-Profit Collaborations in Food Access
2023-10-19 08:30 - 10:15 | Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Streeet, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
The City of Columbia Food Policy Committee and the City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities will be hosting the Make That Dough workshop on Thursday, October 19th beginning at 8:30AM.
The purpose of this workshop is for food service/food industry small business owners to meet and network with other small businesses and non-profit organizations who are engaged in the work of expanding food access for our communitites.
For more information and to register, click here to go to the City of Columbia’s Food Policy Committee Eventbrite page!

Branding For Success
2023-10-19 11:00 - 12:00 | Online Webinar
The Benedict College Women’s Business Center will be hosting the Branding For Success webinar on Thursday, October 19th beginning at 11:00AM!
Presenter Ebony Looney of Make Me Over, Eb!will assist participants in embarking on a journey to unlock the secrets of effective branding. Also, she will provide information about strategies and techniques that set your business apart and help it thrive in today’s competitive landscape.
To register for this event, click here to go to the Benedict College Women’s Business Center Eventbrite page!

Richland Library EiR Presents: Marketing Your Business
2023-10-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Richland Library Main – Auditorium, 1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
Want to freshen up on your marketing skills? Richland Library’s Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR) will be hosting Marketing Your Business on Tuesday, October 24th beginning at 6:00PM. Entrepreneur in Residence Noelle Jones will go over a guide to marketing your business and the steps to create your own personal marketing plan. For more information and to register, click here to go to Richland Library’s Events page!

Richland County Disparity Study
2023-11-07 12:00 - 13:00, 2023-11-09 18:00 - 19:00 | Zoom
Richland County has contracted with Griffin & Strong, P.C. to determine whether a disparity exists between the percentage of available minority and women-owned firms in Richland County. To attend one of the information webinars, click on the one of the links below to register!
Tuesday, November 7th at 12:00PM
Thursday, November 9th at 6:00PM

The Power of Capital: Positioned to Thrive, Preparing for Windows of Opportunity
2023-11-08 09:00 - 11:30 | Fairfield County Administration Office, 250 North Walnut Street, Winnsboro, SC, 29180, United States
Are you looking for strategic funding partners to help in your efforts to participate in the growth of the state’s supply chain with major industry leaders? The South Carolina Department of Commerce and the South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SC SBDC) will be hosting The Power of Capital: Positioned to Thrive, Preparing for Windows of Opportunity on Wednesday, November 8th beginning at 9:00AM in Winnsboro, SC.
Join SC SBDC and the SC Department of Commerce for this exciting event that will empower you to seize every opportunity that comes your way. Don’t miss out on this incredible chance to unlock your potential and thrive in today’s competitive world!
For more information and to register, click here to go to SC SBDC’s Eventbrite page!

HUBZone Certification Webinar
2023-11-15 11:30 - 12:30 | Online Webinar
SC APEX Accelerator is hosting a HUBZone Certification Webinar on Wednesday, November 15th! The purpose of this event is to show how HUBZone Certifications benefit businesses that qualify for the program. For more information and to register, click here to go to SC APEX’s registration page!

All Access Columbia Resource Fair
2023-11-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Streeet, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
The City of Columbia’s Community Development and Richland County Community Development will be hosting a resource fair and home buying tips workshop sessions on Thursday, November 16th beginning at 6:00PM at the Busby Street Community Center.
For more information and to register, click here to go to the All Access Columbia webpage!

Small Business Resource Fair
2023-11-29 09:00 - 12:00 | Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Streeet, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
The U.S. Small Business Administration (South Carolina District Office), the City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities and our local small business resource partners will be hosting a Small Business Resource Fair on Wednesday, November 29th at the Busby Street Community Center beginning at 9:00AM.
Come and hear from SBA representatives along with representatives from the following agencies:

City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities
South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
SCORE Midlands
Benedict College Women’s Business Center
Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity (OSBO)
South Carolina Office of Small and Minority Business Contracting and Certification (SMBCC)
Columbia Chamber of Commerce
South Carolina Chamber of Commerce

For questions or additional information, contact Angela Brewer, U.S. SBA Business Opportunity Specialist at (803)765-5907!

South Carolina Export Workshop
2023-12-05 09:00 - 13:00 | Tower at 1301 Gervais, 1301 Gervais Street, Suite 1100, Columbia, SC, 29201-3375, United States
The South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will be hosting the South Carolina Export Workshop on Tuesday, December 5th beginning at 9:00AM!
Hear from representatives from SC SBDC, U.S. Small Business Administration and more regarding information and resources on business financing and international trade! For more information click here to go to the SC SBDC webpage!

Starting A Business: Let's Make A Plan (Virtual)
2023-12-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
The South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will be hosting the Starting A Business: Let’s Make A Plan virtual workshop on Wednesday, December 6th beginning at 12:00PM. Hear from SBDC consultant Brent Hoover along with representatives from the USCA Pacer Center as he discusses the benefits of creating a business plan and leveraging it to get loans, understanding your market, focusing your business strategy, checking financial numbers and more!
For more information and to register, click here to go to SC SBDC’s Events page!

Tenants and Landlords Rights & Responsibilities Workshop
2024-01-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, 29201
The City of Columbia’s Community Development Department presents the Tenants and Landlords Rights & Responsibilities Workshop on Thursday, January 18, 2024 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center beginning at 6:00PM.
Topics that will be discussed during this workshop include:

Reporting issues in subsidized housing/tenant based Section 8
Code Enforcement
Housing Discrimination
Evictions & Housing Legal Information
Uniform Relocation Act

For more information and to register, click here to go to the event registration page!

How To Write An Effective Business Plan
2024-01-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Online Webinar
Join the South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SC SBDC) on Thursday, January 25th for the How To Write An Effective Business Plan webinar! This free webinar will discus information on writing an executive summary, the purpose of a business plan, and more!
For more information, contact Bobby Carolyn Strange at (843)740-6160. The deadline to register is Wednesday, January 24th! This is a Zoom online event, the Zoom link will be emailed after registration closes.

Scout Motors Supplier Outreach Event
2024-01-31 09:00 - 16:00 | DoubleTree By Hilton Columbia, 2100 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC, 29210, United States
The South Carolina Department of Commerce and Richland County are partnering with Scout Motors to provide an in-person supplier event. This is a FREE event and open to all South Carolina companies, however registration is required. For more information and to register, click here to go to Scout Motors Eventbrite page!

City of Columbia Contractor Workshop
2024-01-31 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom
Join the City of Columbia on Wednesday, January 31st beginning at 10:00AM to discuss recent contractor updates! The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities and Procurement and Contracts Office will be providing information for contractors who are interested in opportunities with the City of Columbia!
For more information and questions, please contact Gary Porth, Construction Procurement Manager at (803)545-3241 or send an email to Gary.Porth@columbiasc.gov! To register for this event, click here!

Richland Library EiR Presents: How to Design a Business That You Love
2024-02-21 18:00 - 19:00 | Richland Library Main – Auditorium, 1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
Richland Library’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR) Michele Dugar will present How to Design a Business That You Love on Wednesday, February 21st at 6:00PM!
During this presentation, Michele will teach participants on how to align your passion and purpose with profit and address ways to avoid feeling overwhelmed in the process!
For more information and to register, click here to go to Richland Library’s EiR webpage!

Toms Creek Family Farms Mobile Market Press Conference
2024-02-22 11:00 - 12:00 | City of Columbia Hyatt Park, 950 Jackson Avenue, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
The City of Columbia is pleased to announce the launch of the Toms Creek Family Farms Mobile Food Market!
A press conference will be held on Thursday, February 22nd at 11:00AM at the City of Columbia’s Hyatt Park, 950 Jackson Avenue, Columbia, SC 29203.
To read more, click here to the City of Columbia’s Press Release!

Understanding Your Bonding Capacity: How to Open Doors to Contracting Opportunities
2024-02-26 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
The Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity (OSBO) is beginning their 2024 Business Workshop Academy Build-Grow-Scale will host a virtual lunch and learn workshop on Monday, February 26, 2024 beginning at 12:00PM called Understanding Your Bonding Capacity: How to Open Doors to Contracting Opportunities.
Presenter Peter C. Gibbs will provide participants information and resources on what you need to know as a contractor. To register for this event, click here to go to Richland County OSBO’s Zoom registration page!

Catalyst B2B Matchmaking Event for the Defense Sector
2024-02-27 09:00 - 13:00 | Pastides Alumni Center, 900 Senate Street, Columbia, SC, United States
The South Carolina Department of Commerce (SC Commerce), South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), and the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SC MEP) are pleased to host the Catalyst Advanced Manufacturing Assistance Program Matchmaker.
South Carolina’s small and medium-sized suppliers will have the opportunity to connect with the state’s primes, OEMs, and Tier-1 suppliers to increase the amount of DoD-related business opportunities available to them. For more information and to register, click here!

ERTC and City of Columbia Information Session
2024-02-27 10:00 - 10:30 | Online Webinar
The City of Columbia is partnering with the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) on Tuesday, February 27th to host a webinar on learning more information on the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC). For more information and to register, click here to go to the ERTC website or contact ERTC at (855)648-2955!

City of Columbia's Planning & Development Services: Development Deep Dive
2024-02-29 09:30 - 10:30 | Richland Library Main – Auditorium, 1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
Join the City of Columbia’s Planning & Development Services and Engineering for a Development Deep Dive on Thursday, February 29th beginning at 9:30AM.
During this session, participants will meet Planning and Development staff and learn about topics of interest to professional working in development and construction in the City of Columbia.
To RSVP for this event, send an email to City of Columbia’s Planning & Development department or if you have any questions or want more information contact them at (803)545-3426!

4th Annual International Women in Business Day
2024-03-08 11:00 - 13:00 | Mota Crosslinking Business Academy, 633 12th Street, West Columbia, SC, 29169, United States
Mota Crosslinking Business Academy will host the 4th Annual SC International Women In Business Day luncheon on Friday, March 8th beginning at 11:00AM. For more information or tickets contact Mota Crosslinking Business Academy at (803)834-3448 or (803)220-6372. You can also click on the link indicated in blue to send an email.

Backing Small Businesses Grant Program
2024-03-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
In partnership with American Express, the Backing Small Business Grant Program supports economically vulnerable and under-resourced small businesses with community reach. This year, eligible small business owners can apply for $10,000 grants for projects that grow or improve their businesses by building community, supporting their economic viability, or bolstering meaningful change.
Applications will be accepted from 9:00AM CST (10:00AM EST) on March 14th through April 7, 2024 at 11:59PM CST (12:59AM EST).
To learn more about this program, click here to register for the informational webinar that will be held on Wednesday, March 13th beginning at 11:00AM CST (12:00PM EST).

Federal Tax Updates For Your Small Business
2024-03-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities will be hosting the Federal Tax Updates For Your Small Business webinar on Thursday, March 14th. Senior Stakeholder Liaison, Evette Davis from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be providing important information and resources to small business owners on preparing for the 2024 tax season!
For more information and to register, click here to go to our Eventbrite page!

Show Me The Money: How to Finance Your Business
2024-03-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
The Richland County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is hosting the Show Me The Money: How To Finance Your Business webinar on Saturday, March 23rd beginning at 10:00AM via Zoom.
Mr. Allen Brown of the SC Community Loan Fund and OBO Director, Ayesha Driggers will be participating in this event. For more information and to register, click here to go to the event registration page!

Richland School District 2 Small and Minority Businesses Reverse Trade Show
2024-03-26 09:30 - 12:00 | Richland Two Institute Of Innovation (R2i2), 763 Fashion Drive, Columbia, SC, 29229, United States
Richland School District 2 will be hosting its inaugural Small and Minority Businesses Reverse Trade Show on Tuesday, March 26th at Richland 2 Institute of Innovation (R2i2), 763 Fashion Drive, Columbia, SC. For more information and to register, click here to go to the Richland 2 Small and Minority Businesses Reverse Trade show webpage!
