The City Manager’s Spotlight – March 2, 2016

The City Manager’s Spotlight provides details about what is happening in the City of Columbia in an effort to keep citizens informed about City operations. The City Manager’s Spotlight on March 2016 reflects important initiatives that will highlight major projects in the City of Columbia. Here is a snapshot of the March Spotlight.

 

Start Fresh! Financial Education Workshop Series

The City’s Community Development department will hold three FREE financial education workshops. During the workshops participants will learn and understand the importance of banking, budgeting, saving, building credit and homeownership.

The workshops will be held on March 19, March 26 & April 2nd from 10 AM to 3 PM. Location is TBA. Gift cards will be awarded to participants upon completion and lunch will be provided.

For more information or to register, please call (803) 545-0280 or email [email protected].

 

The City of Columbia’s Second Annual Go Red Columbia Fashion Show

The City of Columbia’s Second Annual Go Red Columbia Fashion Show is set to hit the stage on Friday, March 11, 2016 from 6-8 p.m. at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center (1101 Lincoln Street).

Help honor and support the women affected by heart disease, the #1 killer of women, at the Go Red Columbia Fashion Show. All proceeds from the Go Red Columbia Fashion Show will be donated to the American Heart Association.

Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine is the host for this event. The fashion show will also feature celebrity models, a “City Kids” segment and attire from local retail sponsors.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the following locations:

• City Hall, 1737 Main Street
• Eventbrite.com: search Go Red Columbia Fashion Show

For more information, please visit www.columbiasc.net/gored  or contact the Public and Media Relations Department at 803-545-3020.

Save the Date: City of Columbia Small Business Week

The 4^th Annual Small Business Week Conference will be held on May 5, 2016 from 8 a.m. to 5p.m. at Spirit Communications Park. For more information contact OBO at 803-545-3950.

 

City of Columbia Accepting Applications for Hospitality and Accommodations Tax Grants

The City of Columbia is now accepting applications for Hospitality and Accommodations Tax Grants. At this time, there is no funding available for Community Promotions Grants. Application details are listed below:

• Accommodations Tax Grants provide financial support to non-profit organizations and their projects/events whose mission is to attract tourists by promoting overnight accommodations in the City of
• Columbia.  To be eligible, your organization must be a nonprofit with documentation from the South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, with activities in the City of Columbia.  It is the intent of this committee to fund the Columbia Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau and Capital City Lake Murray for fiscal year 2016-2017.

Applications due by March 18, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. | Download 2016-2017 A-Tax Guidelines/Application

• Hospitality Tax Grants provide financial support to non-profit organizations and their projects/events whose mission is to attract tourists by promoting dining in the City of Columbia.  To be eligible, your organization must be a nonprofit with documentation from the South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, with activities in the City of Columbia.

Applications due by March 25, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. | Download H-Tax Guidelines/Application

The City will hold a Hospitality Tax Grant workshop on Friday, February 12 at the Lourie Center, 1650 Park Cir., Columbia, SC 29201.

For information on guidelines, applications, workshops and more, please visit Columbiasc.net/grants/offered.

OBO Reopens Small Business Disaster Recovery Loan Program

The City’s Office of Business Opportunities (OBO) has reopened the Small Business Disaster Recovery Loan Program. The Small Business Disaster Recovery Loan Program is designed to assist small businesses in the City of Columbia that have been impacted by the historic flood due to physical damage, lost revenue/ significantly reduced revenue or customers being unable to reach the business location.

Eligible applicants must:

• Be located in the City of Columbia
• Have been in business for a minimum of two years
• Have suffered losses from the flooding not covered by any other insurance
• Have applied to FEMA for assistance

Borrowers are eligible for loans of up to $10,000 which can be used for inventory, equipment, clean-up and repair, payroll, and working capital. The loans will have a 3-month deferment followed by a 24-month repayment at 0% interest.

The deadline to apply for funding is March 18, 2016. Funding decisions will be made in March and funds will be disbursed in April, 2016.

For more information, please contact Paul Featheringill at (803) 545-3259 or [email protected]. The application can be found here.

 

 

City to Host Upcoming Mentor-Protégé Training Series

WHAT:  The City will host a Mentor-Protégé Training Series on Thursday, March 3, 2016 from 9-5 pm at the Columbia Empowerment Zone, Inc. The March 3^rd training topics will include:

• Confined Space Entry Hazards: This program will provide instructions on how to recognize hazardous conditions in confined space entry within your workplace.
  • Employee training in oxygen deficiency
  • Conditions involving immediate danger to life and health
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Safety Procedures
• Excavation and Trenching: This program provides the attendees with basic hazard recognition, knowledge of the standard, protective systems, sloping of trenches and safe use of equipment around excavations.
  • Recognize need for protection from falling materials
  • Recognize requirements addressing stability of adjacent structures
  • Identify interim fall protection requirements
  • Understand rescue requirements standard

 

WHO:    City of Columbia, SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation: SC Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

WHERE:  Columbia Empowerment Zone, Inc., 1509 Lady Street, Columbia, SC 29201

WHEN: Thursday, March 3, 2016

TIME: 9-5 PM

To register, please contact Pamela Jones at (803) 743-1181 or email [email protected].

 

March Meetings

March 7 at 5:15 p.m. – Planning Commission (PC) Meeting, City Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, 1737 Main Street

http://www.columbiasc.net/calendar

 

March 8 at 10 a.m. – Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting, City Council Chambers, City Hall

http://www.columbiasc.net/calendar/1569  

 

 

March 10 at 4:00 p.m. – Design/Development Review Commission Meeting, City Council Chamber, City Hall

http://www.columbiasc.net/calendar/1600

 

March 16 at 12:00 p.m. – CEZ, Inc. Board of Directors Monthly Meeting,  1509 Lady Street

Columbia, SC 29201

http://www.columbiasc.net/calendar/1388

 

March 22 at 12:00 p.m. – ECDC, Inc. Board of Directors Monthly Meeting, 3905 Ensor Avenue

Columbia, SC 29203

 

About Teresa Wilson

Teresa Wilson is the City Manager for the City of Columbia, SC. For more details on the City Manager, visit ColumbiaSC.net/city-manager. City Manager Wilson can be reached at [email protected] or 803-545-3026. For more information about the City of Columbia, visit ColumbiaSC.net.