Richland County providing free training for small, local businesses
June 1, 2016
Small and local businesses have an opportunity to take part in free training that can help them expand their reach and increase their profitability.
The Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity (OSBO), in conjunction with the Transportation Penny Project Development Team (PDT), is providing free courses for small and local businesses that will allow them to be better qualified for procuring work with Richland County’s and other entities’ projects, including construction, architecture and engineering services and commodities.
Offering these courses reflect the purpose of the OSBO and its Small, Local Business Enterprise program: to ensure that all segments of the local business community have a reasonable and significant opportunity to participate in County contracts.
“The goal of this training is to equip Richland County’s small businesses with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete,” said Brenda Parnell, interim director of the OSBO. “Our job is to make sure they have access to capital, access to contracting opportunities and the help, advice and mentoring they need to be successful. These courses are just the first step.”
The training will be offered in two sessions, summer and fall, with classes meeting bi-weekly. Both sessions will include the following classes:
- PDT Procurement Procedures
- SC DOT Specifications
- Plan Reading
- Estimating
- Scheduling
- Richland County Procurement Procedures
Summer classes begin June 14 and will be held at 4 p.m. Fall classes begin Aug. 25 and will be held at 9 a.m. All classes will be at the PDT office located at 201 Arbor Lake Drive, Columbia. For a complete class schedule and to register, please click here.
“I hope every firm takes advantage of this opportunity,” Parnell said. “Whenever you can improve yourself, your business or your profit margin — it’s worth the time and effort.”
For more information about Richland County’s Small, Local Business Enterprise program, please click here.
