DHEC announces ‘Champions of the Environment’ funding will support training program for K-12 environmental educators
July 18, 2021The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced that “Champions of the Environment” grant funding is helping sponsor the Palmetto Environmental Education Certification program (PEEC), which trains and informs school…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: education, environmental, government, health-care, on-the-move
Wartime U.S. flag becomes part of S.C. State Guard history
July 15, 2021Flag flew in combat during World War II By W. Thomas Smith Jr. A 76-year-old battle-worn United States flag was presented to the S.C. State Guard during ceremonies at the…
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Rural infrastructure broadband grants awarded
July 13, 2021The South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) has issued Notices to Proceed to 18 internet service providers in 22 counties for almost $30 million in projects to expand broadband…
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Memorial service to honor those lost to COVID-19
July 12, 2021A public memorial service will pay tribute to Richland County residents lost as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The service will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 15 outside…
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Last Step Recycling, LLC establishing operations in Chester County
July 12, 2021$46.4 million investment will create 50 new jobs Last Step Recycling, LLC, an automotive shredder residue (ASR) company, today announced plans to establish operations in Chester County. The $46.4 million…
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Better to give than to receive? YES
July 12, 2021Reflections on a friend receiving South Carolina’s highest award By W. Thomas Smith Jr. I love singing the praises of great men and women achieving great things, especially when those…
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DHEC data show more than 90 percent of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations in 14 days were unvaccinated individuals
July 8, 2021DHEC’s Dr. Jane Kelly: “The overwhelming majority of people who are getting hospitalized and dying from COVID-19 are those who are not fully vaccinated” The South Carolina Department of Health…
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Gov. Henry McMaster appeals preliminary injunction of Fetal Heartbeat Bill
July 7, 2021Governor Henry McMaster – joined by other defendants – has appealed the federal district court’s preliminary injunction of the South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act (Fetal Heartbeat…
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Gov. Henry McMaster, SCEMD urge storm preparation for Tropical Storm Elsa
July 6, 2021Residents should finalize their storm preparations ahead of Tropical Storm Elsa. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center predict portions of South Carolina’s coast will experience tropical storm conditions beginning Wednesday…
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State Treasurer Curtis Loftis welcomes new members to S.C. Board of Financial Institutions
July 6, 2021State Treasurer Curtis Loftis welcomes two new appointees to the State Board of Financial Institutions. Thomas Bouchette and Jenny Michaels were confirmed by the Senate in May to serve four-year…
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Community Focus: Mark Smyers, talks about the Lower Saluda Greenway Feasibility Study
July 6, 2021In March 2021, the Central Midlands Council of Governments (CMCOG) in cooperation with the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission (ICRC) released the Lower Saluda Greenway Feasibility Study. The purpose of the…
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Congressman Clyburn secures $20 million in the House-passed INVEST in America Act for Sixth District infrastructure projects
July 1, 2021Today, Congressman James E. Clyburn announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has approved $20 million to fund several highway and transit projects in the Sixth Congressional District. This funding…
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County Utilities director elected to serve on Global Water Delegation
June 30, 2021Bill Davis, director of Richland County Utilities, was recently selected to represent South Carolina within a worldwide organization of water industry professionals. Davis will serve as a junior delegate on…
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Nestlé USA expanding operations in Cherokee County
June 30, 2021$100 million investment will create approximately 160 new jobs Nestlé USA, a leading food and beverage company, today unveiled plans to expand operations in Cherokee County. The $100 million investment will…
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S.C. Department of Education and S.C. Arts Commission announce $20 million partnership to expand arts learning initiatives
June 29, 2021A $20 million partnership announced today by the South Carolina Department of Education and South Carolina Arts Commission will help public schools throughout the state address pandemic related learning loss…
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City of Columbia Municipal Election Tuesday, November 2, 2021
June 29, 2021The Municipal Election Commission of the City of Columbia announces the general election for the City of Columbia to be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. The filing period opens…
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Councilwoman Barron to discuss Northeast rezoning request at Town Hall
June 28, 2021County Councilwoman Gretchen Barron will hold an in-person town hall meeting Wednesday, July 7 to discuss a planned development on Hardscrabble Road in Northeast Richland. Barron, who represents District 7,…
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Gov. Henry McMaster signs S. 147, protecting South Carolina businesses
June 25, 2021Governor Henry McMaster was joined by members of the General Assembly and business leaders from around the state for a ceremonial bill signing of S.147, the South Carolina COVID-19 Liability…
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Gov. Henry McMaster announces line item vetoes of FY 2021-2022 state budget
June 25, 2021Governor Vetoes 226 Earmarks Totaling $152.25 million Governor Henry McMaster announced his line item vetoes of the FY 2021-2022 state budget at a statehouse news conference. Totaling $152.5 million, the…
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Avoid these common mistakes on alcohol beverage license applications
June 24, 2021Each year, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) handles thousands of applications for various types of alcohol beverage licenses (ABL) and permits. Mistakes or omissions can cause applications to…
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COMET Chat with LeRoy DesChamps – June 2021
June 23, 2021Greetings! It is my pleasure to welcome you to the June 2021 version of COMET Chat. This is our first “chat” since assuming my new role as Interim Executive Director…
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County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program fulfills $5M in requests
June 22, 2021Funding for those impacted by COVID-19 remains available; call toll-free 855-216-9198 to apply Richland County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) reached a milestone this week, approving more than $5 million in…
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New members join South Carolina First Steps leadership team
June 22, 2021South Carolina First Steps has two new members of its leadership team. Karen Oliver joined the agency in February as the Early Childhood Advisory Council’s (ECAC) Program Manager, and Derek…
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Congressman Clyburn announces families will start receiving expanded Child Tax Credit checks in July
June 22, 2021U.S. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn is reminding all South Carolinians that the major expansion of the Child Tax Credit for 2021 included in the American Rescue Plan will…
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New 20-acre public park opens at Bull Street
June 22, 2021Yesterday, Mayor Steve Benjamin, City Council members, and the Parks & Recreation Department celebrated the opening of the newly developed Page Ellington Park, a 20-acre public park at Bull Street.…
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Councilwoman Cheryl English to hold pair of meet-and-greets
June 21, 2021Richland County Councilwoman Cheryl English, District 10, will partner with state Sen. Darrell Jackson to host two in-person meet-and-greet sessions this week. Both officials will be available for one-on-one conversations…
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S.C. Treasurer’s Office aids University of South Carolina with bond issue for Campus Village
June 21, 2021State Treasurer Curtis Loftis announced that on June 15, 2021, his office assisted the University of South Carolina with the issuance of $180,045,000 (par) in Higher Education Revenue Bonds, Series 2021A and…
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Engage in one-on-one meetings with Richland County Councilmembers
June 17, 2021Richland Library is offering a chance for local residents to be civically engaged and meet with members of Richland County Council. Take part in one-on-one conversations, ask questions and share…
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The City of Columbia invites YOU to participate in Columbia’s 6th Annual Park(ing) Day!
June 17, 2021PARK(ing) Day is an annual open-source global event where citizens, artists and activists collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into “PARK(ing)” spaces: temporary public places. The mission of PARK(ing) Day…
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Mayor Steve Benjamin announces launch of Columbia’s Guaranteed Income project pilot program CLIMB
June 17, 2021In partnership with national organization Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, the one-year CLIMB pilot project seeks to determine effectiveness of monthly baseline payments to overcome economic instability in designated Columbia households and…
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Lexington County enhances 9-1-1 services and emergency notification with Smart911
June 17, 2021Emergency Service Officials Encourage Residents to Sign Up For the Free Service That Provides Emergency Responders With More Information in the Event of an Emergency Emergency Service officials in Lexington…
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USDA launches grant program to help expand regional economies and create high-wage jobs in distressed rural communities
June 17, 2021United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Rural Business-Cooperative Service Administrator Karama Neal today unveiled a new grant program to help rural communities create good-paying jobs and support new…
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City’s Parks and Recreation Department announces grand opening of Page Ellington Park
June 17, 2021What: Please join Mayor Steve Benjamin, City Council members, and the Parks & Recreation Department as they announce and celebrate the newly developed Page Ellington Park, a 20-acre public park at…
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Gov. Henry McMaster nominates Harry M. Lightsey III to be the next secretary of S.C. Department of Commerce
June 17, 2021Governor Henry McMaster today announced that he has nominated longtime South Carolina business executive Harry M. Lightsey III to serve as the next secretary of the South Carolina Department of…
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Councilwoman Jesica Mackey to hold in-person meet and greet June 26
June 17, 2021Richland County Councilwoman Jesica Mackey, District 9, will hold her first in-person meet and greet Saturday, June 26. “The past year has been incredibly challenging for families across the County…
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‘Soft opening’ held for the Saluda River Greenway.
June 15, 2021The City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department finalized a “soft opening” of the Saluda River Greenway. On Saturday, June 12, at 6am, the department opened two parking lots for…
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Meetings to Focus on Land Development in Lower Richland
June 14, 2021County Councilwoman Chakisse Newton is holding a series of in-person public meetings in June to highlight land development regulations, as well as answer residents’ questions about current zoning rules for…
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USDA launches resource guide to help America’s rural workforce build back better
June 14, 2021United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson today unveiled a resource guide to help rural community leaders start and expand employment opportunities and…
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Zoning Made Easy: County launches educational effort
June 14, 2021Richland County’s newest educational effort aims to simplify zoning and land use, a process that directly impacts residents and landowners but can easily be misunderstood. With its “Zoning Made Easy”…
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Gov. Henry McMaster, S.C. DEW, S.C. Technical College System announce workforce retraining initiative
June 8, 2021Governor Henry McMaster was joined today by state officials to announce a new workforce training initiative between the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce and the S.C. Technical College System.…
Read MorePosted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc, laurenscountybuzz Category: employment, government, on-the-move
State Treasurer’s Office launches new Matchelor Promotion for Unclaimed Property
June 7, 2021State Treasurer Curtis Loftis is committed to reconnecting South Carolinians with their missing money, and today his office launched The Matchelor, a new social media promotion aimed at helping people…
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Central S.C. Realtors donate fans for elderly and others during luncheon
June 6, 2021Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott addresses attendees By W. Thomas Smith Jr. The Central Carolina Realtors Association (CCRA) presented more than 200 box fans to the Richland County Sheriff’s Dept.…
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Art Contest Plants Seeds of Appreciation for Healthy Forests
May 27, 2021Twenty-two students will receive awards in this year’s Youth Conservation Poster Contest sponsored by the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). By illustrating the topic “Healthy Forests = Healthy…
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Statement from Gov. Henry McMaster on S.C. Board of Economic Advisors’ updated revenues and estimates
May 20, 2021Governor Henry McMaster released the following statement in response to the S.C. Board of Economic Advisors’ (BEA) updated revenues and estimates, which were announced at a meeting of the Board…
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State lawmakers praise smart river technologies
May 19, 2021S.C. Floodwater Commission concept developed by Coastal Carolina University By Alex Junes-Ward HORRY COUNTY, S.C. – The S.C. Floodwater Commission’s SMART RIVER TASK FORCE and Coastal Carolina University (CCU) have…
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County’s Rental Assistance Program making critical difference for residents
May 18, 2021Richland County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) has approved more than $1.5 million in assistance requests since launching April 5. Even after reaching this milestone, however, the County still has funding available…
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Contractors’ staff shortages cause delays in curbside trash pickup
May 18, 2021Because of staff shortages for contracted trash haulers, Richland County residents might see delays in curbside pickup of garbage and yard waste. The County contracts with several businesses to provide…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, life, on-the-move
City of Columbia issues statement regarding mask ordinance
May 18, 2021The following is a statement issued by the City of Columbia: On May 11, 2021, City Council voted to extend the mask ordinance until June 5, 2021. In light of…
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Contractors’ staff shortages cause delays in curbside trash pickup
May 18, 2021Because of staff shortages for contracted trash haulers, Richland County residents might see delays in curbside pickup of garbage and yard waste. The County contracts with several businesses to provide…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz Category: government, on-the-move
South Carolina public health officials release statement on new CDC mask guidelines
May 17, 2021Dr. Simmer: “The science tells us that vaccines are working. Fully vaccinated South Carolinians can now go without masks in most situations.” The Director of the South Carolina Department of…
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