Stories from our February Columbia Chamber of Commerce newsletter.
Workforce Development Division of the Chamber Approved
In January, the Chamber Board approved a recommendation from the Workforce Development Action Committee to develop a new division of the Columbia Chamber: the Workforce Development Division. The recommendation follows several months of study by an action committee comprised of nine members representing local industries, the Chamber and the State. In approving the division, the first step will be the formation of a Steering Committee to build the division’s structure. The Steering Committee will initially focus on determining: workforce numbers by industry and why potential employees leave Columbia; how to collaborate with existing workforce development programs in the region; future programs; and sustained funding of the division.
Getaway to Greece
Join the Chamber on February 26 for an informational meeting on how you can experience the culture and history of Greece this year!
On this cultural journey, trace 5,000 years of Greek history while exploring the country’s archaeological treasures. Walk in the footsteps of Socrates on the Acropolis and examine artifacts of Athens’ Golden Age at the outstanding Acropolis Museum, sail through the scenic Corinth canal, and enjoy the insights of the local guest speaker on the contemporary Greek economic and social scene.
Check out the event page for more information.
Don’t sleep on the Early Bird Specials – $100 saving ($3,099) and Free Delphi Tour ($159) if reserved by March 16, 2020. After this date, the price increases by $100 per person ($3,199) plus the cost of the Delphi Tour.
Leadership Visit Headed to Athens this October
The location of Leadership Visit 2020 was recently announced to the Chamber membership at the January Quarterly Membership Breakfast. From October 26-28, seventy business and community leaders will visit Athens, Georgia to glean ideas. As home to the University of Georgia and with a unified city-county population of 125,000, Athens has been on the short-list under consideration for several years. Recent work and outcomes from the first few years of a long-term community project called Envision Athens made it a top choice for this Fall’s visit. Envision Athens is broken up into 14 focus areas within the categories of people, place, and prosperity. Additionally, Athens made its first-ever Leadership Visit to Columbia in August 2019 and the community is excited to share the several initiatives they have implemented already as a result of what they learned in Columbia.
Are you Showcase ready?
Discover all things COMO at The Crossing on April 2, 2020, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m
As the leading business showcase in the area, Showcase CoMo, highlights the best of Columbia, from products and services to resources and involvement opportunities. Attendees will be able to experience all that Columbia has to offer while growing their network, their business and themselves.
Booth, table and walk-around spots are still available.
Coffee and Conversation: EPIC hosts January Morning Buzz
EPIC members networked over breakfast and listened to a presentation about the Inclusive Impact Institute from their Committee Member Secily Devese. Secily spoke about the mission and importance of the organization, their goals for 2020 and the 2020 Journey Toward Inclusive Excellence that takes place between January and August.
EPIC lends a helping hand
The Boys and Girls Service Project created awareness for the organization while volunteers learned the essential role it plays in our community. Volunteers organized storage spaces and sanitized areas used often by the kids. Afterward, volunteers received a tour of the building and an in-depth description of the services and opportunities Boys and Girls Club offers.
Small Business of the Year nominations are open!
Small Business of the Year nominations are open!
To qualify for a nomination, businesses must have 25 or fewer employees and must have been in business since January 1, 2018. Email all completed forms to Chad Massman at [email protected]. Nominations close on Monday, February 17, 2020. Check the nomination form for more details. Mark your calendar for our Small Business Week celebration on Thursday, May 7, 2020.
Good luck to all our small businesses!
Nominate Today
Affordable Housing Summit
The upcoming Affordable Housing Summit will be held on February 27th from 6-8 pm at the Atrium, 22 N. 10th Street.
The event is free and open to the public and will feature national housing expert, Tony Perez, who will be discussing how communities can remove barriers and work with the private sector to foster the development of affordable entry-level housing.
This collaborative event marks the start of an important conversation of how we grow Columbia’s entry-level housing supply for our current and future workforce in order to expand economic growth and opportunity in our community.