City of Columbia's Planning & Development Services: Development Deep Dive
2024-02-29 09:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York) | 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!

Bridging the Generational Gap in the Workplace: The Acquisition and Retention of Generation Z
2024-03-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Earlewood Park Community Center, 1113 Recreation Drive, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities will be hosting the Bridging The Generational Gap in the Workplace Series: The Acquisition and Retention of Generation Z on Wednesday, March 27th virtually and in person at the Earlewood Park Community Center!
Tyson K. Brown, Executive Director of Project OneWay will discuss how small business owners can use different tools to help acquire and keep Generation Z employees!
For more information and to register, click here to go to OBO’s Eventbrite page or contact the Office of Business Opportunities at (803)545-3950.

City of Columbia and U.S. Small Business Administration Small Business Town Hall
2024-03-28 09:00 - 11:00 | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, 29201
The City of Columbia and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be hosting a Small Business Town Hall on Thursday, March 28th at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center!
Join the City of Columbia and the U.S. Small Business Administration for this informative event to provide information and resources for small business owners and entrepreneurs! For more information and to register, click here to go to the Office of Business Opportunities Eventbrite page!

Deeper Than Dentistry Presents Healthcare Career Summit
2024-04-13 09:30 - 13:00 | Pastides Alumni Center, 900 Senate Street, Columbia, SC, United States
The Deeper Than Dentistry’s Healthcare Career Summit: Empowering the Next Generation will take place on Saturday, April 13th at the USC Alumni Center, 900 Senate Street, Columbia, SC 29201.
This event aims to expose bright minds to the dynamic world of healthcare and ignite a passion to serve others through medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, and more. For more information or to register, click here to go to the Deeper Than Dentistry’s Eventbrite page!

Columbia Lender Matchmaker Event
2024-04-30 10:00 - 14:00 | Richland Library Main – Auditorium, 1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
The Office of Business Opportunities along with Midlands SCORE, Benedict College Women’s Business Center, SBA Veterans Business Outreach Center, and Richland Library will be participating in the Columbia Lender Matchmaker Event hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration!
Join us for this event to meet one-on-one with SBA lenders and community resource partners on Tuesday, April 30th at the Richland Library Main Auditorium! For more information, click here to go to the Richland Library Events page!

City of Columbia's 11th Annual Small Business Week Conference
2024-05-01 09:00 - 15:30 | Embassy Suites by Hilton Columbia Greystone, 200 Stoneridge Drive, Columbia, SC, 29210, United States
The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities will be hosting the City of Columbia’s 11th Annual Small Business Week Conference on Wednesday, May 1st at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Columbia Greystone!
This year’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Stephanie Kirkland, CEO and Founder of Identity Dynamics, LLC. Also, social media expert Ken Walker will serve as our Master of Ceremony! During the conference, there will be breakout sessions with community resource partners and local business owners on topics relating to small business owners and entrepreneurs. Also, the U.S. Small Business Administration will have their awards ceremony and matchmaking session beginning at 11:30AM!
For more information and to purchase a ticket, click here to go to OBO’s Eventbrite page!

Food Trucks & Friends
2024-05-03 11:00 - 15:00 | 2300 Bull Street, 2300 Bull Street, Columbia, SC, United States
The City of Columbia will host Food Trucks & Friends on Friday, May 3rd from 11:00AM to 3:00PM at 2300 Bull Street (REI Co-op Parking Lot)!
In addition to food trucks, Toms Creek Mobile Market and Columbia Animal Services will be participating. Shop for groceries, check out a local food truck, or adopt a new best friend!
For more information, contact the Office of Business Opportunities at (803)545-3950.

Boost Your Business: Apprenticeships and Workforce Resources for Small Businesses
2024-05-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Colleton County School District, 500 Forest Circle, Walterboro, SC, 29488, United States
Are you a small business owner ready to grow your team’s talent? Are you trying to grow your business instead of juggling endless roles? Apprenticeship Carolina will be hosting information sessions across the state in May! Participants will have the opportunity to network with small business owners and applicable resources to enhance their ability to grow and upskill your organization’s talent through registered apprenticeship!
The sessions will be held at the following locations and dates:
May 7, 2024 – Colleton County School District, Walterboro, SC
May 29, 2024 – Brookland Baptist Banquet & Conference Center, West Columbia, SC
June 4, 2024 – Student Success Center, Greenville Technical College, Greenville, SC
Click on one of the links above to register for the session near you!
For any questions or more information, contact Kirsten Pratt, Associate VP, Division of Apprenticeship Carolina, SC Technical College System at (803)545-4938!

Bookkeeping 101
2024-05-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Columbia Empowerment Zone Building, 1509 Lady Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities and Made With Cola Love will host the Bookkeeping 101 workshop on Tuesday, May 7th beginning at 10:00AM at the Columbia Empowerment Zone building, 1509 Lady Street!
Join Dr. Shelia Tutwieler-Dawkins on this informative workshop on bookkeeping for small businesses and entrepreneurs! For more information and to register, you can go to the Bookkeeping 101 Eventbrite page!

Columbia Chamber Small Business Breakout
2024-05-21 08:30 - 09:30 | Segra Park – Columbia Fireflies Stadium, 1640 Freed Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
The Columbia Chamber of Commerce will have its May Small Business Breakout on Tuesday, May 21st beginning at 8:30AM at Segra Park!
In the spirit of Small Business Month, the Chamber will recognize our local small businesses and their impact through the Championship program. Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union will sponsor five (5) businesses with Columbia Chamber partnership dues for a year and the signing ceremony for those businesses!
For more information, click here to register on the Columbia Chamber website!

Boost Your Business: Apprenticeships and Workforce Resources for Small Businesses
2024-05-29 10:00 - 13:00 | Brookland Banquet and Conference Center, 1066 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC, 29169, United States

Boost Your Business: Apprenticeships and Workforce Resources for Small Businesses
2024-06-04 08:30 - 11:30 | Student Success Center, Greenville Technical College, 506 S Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC, 29607, United States

Small Business Development Summer Session
2024-06-04 09:00 - 12:00 | Midlands Technical College Fairfield Campus, 1674 U.S. 321 Bypass, Winnsboro, SC, 29180, United States
Join the SC Department of Commerce in collaboration with the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, June 4th for their Small Business Development Summer Session! Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SC District Office), SC Department of Employment and Workforce (SC DEW), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for this informative session on marketing your business, insuring your business, and providing information on income tax filings!
For more information, contact the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce at info@chamberfc.com or call their office at (803)635-4242. You can also go to the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce website!

Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity presents SizeUP SC!
2024-06-06 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
Join the Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity on June 5th for their virtual workshop entitled SizeUp SC! During this informative virtual workshop, you will hear from Armando Morales from SizeUp SC on how to develop tools to discover customers, suppliers, and competitors for business growth!
For more information and to register, click here to go to the workshop webpage!

How To Pitch With Confidence
2024-06-13 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
The Benedict College Women’s Business Center will host How to Pitch With Confidence on Thursday, June 13th!
Join the Benedict College Women’s Business Center for an empowering webinar designed specifically for entrepreneurs and business owners eager to elevate their business narratives. This is an essential workshop for anyone looking to refine their business pitch and gain the confidence needed to engage investors, clients, and partners.
For more information and to register, click on the link to go to Benedict College WBC’s Eventbrite page!

How to Start a Business That Last - 3 Important Business Lessons
2024-06-13 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
Midlands SCORE will host How to Start a Business That Last – 3 Important Business Lessons on Thursday, June 13th beginning at 1:00PM!
Get ready to be inspired as Christina Moffatt, a former successful cupcake and dessert bar owner, shares her top three lessons for growing a thriving business! Join SCORE and learn how to find your business niche, a fresh perspective on savings and investments, and where to find the support you need to grow.
For more information and to register, click on the following link to Midlands SCORE webpage!

Juneteenth Entrepreneur, Film, and Television Extravaganza
2024-06-18 10:00 - 17:00 | 1208 Washington Place, 1208 Washington Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
In the heart of downtown Columbia, South Carolina, the inaugural 2024 Juneteenth Entrepreneur, Film, and Television Extravaganza (JEFTE) is set to dazzle attendees from South Carolina and surrounding states on June 18 – 19, 2024. This transformative two-day event promises to celebrate, educate, and inspire by honoring the rich legacy of Black entrepreneurship, culture, and art through film and television. Don’t miss the JEFTE Entrepreneurial and Entertainment Summit on Day One, in partnership with the City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities, at 1208 Washington Place (1208 Washington Street, Columbia, SC 29201) from 10:00AM – 5:00PM, lunch provided. On Day Two, see the premiere of the compelling documentary film, “Columbia’s Black Wall Street” also known as the Historic Black Business District.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click on the following link to go to the Juneteenth Extravaganza website!

Juneteenth Entrepreneur, Film, and Television Extravaganza
2024-06-19 11:00 - 21:00 | Nickelodeon Theatre, 1607 Main Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
In the heart of downtown Columbia, South Carolina, the inaugural 2024 Juneteenth Entrepreneur, Film, and Television Extravaganza (JEFTE) is set to dazzle attendees from South Carolina and surrounding states on June 18 – 19, 2024. This transformative two-day event promises to celebrate, educate, and inspire by honoring the rich legacy of Black entrepreneurship, culture, and art through film and television. Don’t miss the JEFTE Entrepreneurial and Entertainment Summit on Day One, in partnership with the City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities, at 1208 Washington Place (1208 Washington Street, Columbia, SC 29201) from 10:00AM – 5:00PM, lunch provided. On Day Two, see the premiere of the compelling documentary film, “Columbia’s Black Wall Street” also known as the Historic Black Business District.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click on the following link to go to the Juneteenth Extravaganza webpage!
Also, click on the link to watch the trailer for the Did You Know? Columbia’s Black Wall Street! to premiere on Wednesday night!

How to Scale Your Business - 5 Steps to Business Growth
2024-07-09 13:00 - 14:30 | Online Webinar
Join Midlands SCORE on July 9th to learn more about scaling your business!
Growing a business requires time, planning, and focus which are often lacking for business owners. You don’t have to do it on your own! Join this webinar and discover the five essential steps to scale your business!
For more information and to register, click on the link to Midlands SCORE webpage!

CAP Carolinas Summer Webinar Series
2024-07-10 09:30 - 11:00 | Online Webinar
The SC Council of Competitiveness will be hosting the CAP Carolinas Summer Webinar Series from July 10 – August 15, 2024! The purpose of this three part series is to provide a comprehensive overview of various financing options for tech start-ups and small businesses at different stages of growth in South Carolina! Topics include early-stage private financing options, state and federal funds, venture capital resources, and more!
For more information and to register for a session, click here to go to the CAP Carolinas Summer Webinar Series webpage!

Starting Your Business with Data Protection
2024-07-10 12:00 - 13:00 | Online Webinar
The South Carolina Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will host the Starting Your Business with Data Protection workshop on Wednesday, July 10th beginning at 12:00PM!
This online webinar will provide small business owners important information on protecting their business! Participants will learn information on self-audit, malice protection, email protection and more!
For more information and to register, click here to go to SC SBDC Events webpage!

Minority & Veteran Small Business Expo
2024-07-12 10:00 - 13:00 | The Continuum, 208 West Main Street, Lake City, SC, United States
The U.S. Small Business Administration along with Congressman James E. Clyburn will be hosting the Minority & Veteran Small Business Expo on Friday, July 12th!
This is a free event, but registration is required.
For more information and to register, click here to go to the Minority & Small Business Expo registration page!

Virtual DBE Outreach Carolina Crossroads Project Phase 3B
2024-07-16 16:00 - 17:30 | Online Webinar
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is inviting DBE firms to attend a virtual outreach event for Phase 3B of the Carolina Crossroads project. Participants will receive details about the various phases of the Carolina Crossroads Program and the scope of work for Phase 3B. The scope opportunities include construction services and potential supply and support services!
This phase will not require design or professional services. Registration is required to attend.
To register for this event, click here to go to SC MBDA’s Zoom page!

2nd Annual South Carolina Business Summit
2024-08-15 09:00 - 15:30 | Richland Two Institute Of Innovation (R2i2), 763 Fashion Drive, Columbia, SC, 29229, United States
The Benedict College Women’s Business Center will host the 2nd Annual South Carolina Business Summit on Thursday, August 15th beginning at 9:00AM at the Richland Two Institute of Innovation (R2i2). During the summit there will be a keynote presentation by Mimi Striblin, owner of The Tiny Tassel, presentations, a pitch competition and more!
Registration for this event is $60.00. To register now, click here to go to the South Carolina Business Summit webpage! For more information, contact the Benedict College Women’s Business Center at (803)705-4641 or email them at info@bcwbc.org!

The Impact of AI on Small Businesses
2024-08-21 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual Event
The Office of Business Opportunities will be hosting The Impact of AI on Small Businesses webinar on Thursday, August 21st beginning at 10:00AM!
Join us and our featured presenter, Donna Davis of DW Davis Consulting, LLC as we dive into the discussion of artificial intelligence (AI) and how it will impact small businesses!
For more information and to register, go to The Impact of AI on Small Businesses Eventbrite page!
