Member News is a monthly blog post dedicated to sharing Chamber members’ upcoming events or major news. If you have something to share, email the Chamber’s Director of Communications and Marketing, Caitlin Ferguson, at [email protected].
The Show-Me State Games are looking for volunteers for this summer’s games! The Show-Me State Games are the largest state games in the nation. One key reason to our success is outstanding volunteers who dedicate their time and energy in making the games run smoothly!
Sign up to volunteer and enjoy the many activities that will take place during the games (June 9-12, July 22-24, and July 29-31).
If you have 12 or more volunteers from your business or group (can also include family and friends), then be sure to take advantage of our Corporate Volunteer Program. This is a unique program that gives local businesses and organizations an opportunity to get involved in the Show-Me State Games. With 12 or more volunteers, we will print your corporate/group logo on the back of your group’s t-shirts. We invite you to share with us in the fun and competitive environment only the games can provide!
Visit smsg.org/volunteer to sign up!
If you have have any questions regarding individual volunteering or group volunteering, please reach out to Show-Me State Games Volunteer Coordinator Jessica Sida at 573-884-2946 or [email protected].
Starting May 25, the Columbia Farmers Market will open a new market, on Wednesdays from 3-7 pm. The market will offer expanded hours, open for four hours during the week. With around 20 vendors signed up to sell, the market will offer fresh produce, meat, farm-fresh eggs, cheeses, honey, cut flowers, plants, artisan items, and more. Additionally, in partnership with Columbia Parks and Recreation, a Food Truck Roundup will be held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, alongside the market. The market, and its food truck vendors, will be there every Wednesday, May 25-September 14. Live music and free children’s activities will also be held at each market.
Columbia Farmers Market, a not-for-profit, is a year-round producer-only farmers market in Columbia, Missouri. As a producer-only market, everything sold is grown or made by the farmers and artisans who help sustain our mid-Missouri region. Open since 1980, the market is the largest in mid-Missouri with over 80 vendors who provide a diverse offering of locally grown agricultural and artisan products from within 50 miles of Columbia. In 2021, the market saw its best year in its 41 years of being open, breaking all records. It was voted as the #1 Farmers Market in the Nation, Midwest, and Missouri, by American Farmland Trust. It had the highest number of customers ever visiting the market, with 132,895 shoppers in 2021 (95% increase from 2020, and 22% increase from 2019). The vendors sold $3,314,850 in locally grown and produced items in 2021, a 50% increase from 2020 and 2019. CFM dispensed $49,358 in SNAP matching funds, and another $48,878 in SNAP funds. For more information about the success of CFM in 2021, view their annual report.
The market offers a unique gathering space for the mid-Missouri community, where people come together to shop with their local producers, connect with their neighbors, learn about local agriculture, and eat delicious, nutritious food! As one customer stated, “I always appreciate the amazing produce, friendly faces, and great conversations I have with the community at the Columbia Farmers Market. I end up spending most of my time talking and laughing with amazing people, getting recipes or cooking tips, and listening to wonderful live music. Doesn’t matter what season, there is always something exciting happening at CFM.”
GQT Movies (Forum 8) has partnered with sponsor Healthy Blue to bring Summer Family Flicks to Columbia and Jefferson City. The Family Flicks series offers no-cost movies to the community on Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. from June 1 to August 4.
The series features a number of family-friendly films such as Boss Baby 2, Peter Rabbit 2, Tom and Jerry, Croods 2, and more. Visit gqtmovies.com for the full schedule.
“We are very excited to offer such a great program to the movie-goers of the Columbia and Jefferson City area and welcome Healthy Blue as our title sponsor,” stated GQT Movies COO Matt McSparin. “This program would not be possible without their generous support. Our company is focused on value, cleanliness and customer service and we can’t wait to host everyone so they can see that first hand.”
Although the films are offered at no cost, seating is limited to one auditorium so guests are encouraged to come early. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. showing. There are no pre-reservations and guests will be treated on a first come, first issue a ticket basis. No large groups will be permitted. Guests need to visit the box office to get their free ticket before entry. Concessions will be available for purchase at our everyday low price.
Compass Health Network is excited to announce the new location of our Pediatric Dental Clinic! While we anxiously await the completion of our Comprehensive Children’s Center, set to be completed in the Spring of 2023, our Pediatric Dental Clinic will be located at 303 N. Keene Suite 202 in Columbia, MO!
Our Pediatric Dental Clinic offers the latest and most innovative dental treatments in a child-friendly space, providing oral health care from infancy through adolescence. Our professionals have an additional two to three years of training and education, including behavioral management and child psychology to help with all aspects of a child’s dental health care. We provide new patient exams, preventive care, SDF, Oral sedation, emergency dental care, and dental rehabilitation under general anesthesia. We accept most major commercial dental insurances, Medicaid, and offer a sliding scale for those without coverage.
Our Pediatric Dental team is led by two Board Certified Pediatric Dentists, Dr. Sujatha Sivaraman, and Dr. Kristal Raya. Dr. Sivaraman has been a familiar face at Compass Health and has been with us since she started at Family Health Center in 2012. When she started, there were only two dental chairs in the clinic, and now, at our new clinic we have 21 chairs! Dr. Raya joined the team in 2020 after graduating from NYU Langone Hospital earlier that year. In her second year of residency Dr. Raya was selected as Chief Resident! Both Dr. Raya and Dr. Sivaraman are passionate about disease prevention and access to care in underserved communities, which are reasons they both chose to specialize in pediatric dentistry.
Compass Health will be hosting an Open House for our Pediatric Clinic and General Dentistry Clinic (located across the hall from the pediatric clinic) on Tuesday, June 21, from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Please stop by for a tour of our kid-approved, colorful new space and an opportunity to meet your local dentists!
The Missouri Job Center – Columbia is excited to announce that the Central Region Job Centers have joined forces with The Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development and Coursera, to offer over 4,000 cutting-edge courses free to Missourians.
Coursera, the world’s learning platform, is providing Missourians with a transformative learning experience that empowers citizens to gain skills and help them with career development.
Coursera can help Missourians: learn in-demand skills in subjects like technology and business that prepare you for today’s job opportunities; enjoy interactive learning experiences and be a part of Coursera’s global learning community. Course videos, readings, and assignments are multi-language; work at your own pace with Coursera’s bite-sized sessions and self-paced learning model. You can download the Coursera mobile app to learn new skills anytime, anywhere; and earn university-accredited certifications from leading global institutions that can help boost your resume.
Applicants will fill out a short inquiry form and a Central Region Job Center team member will then contact them to determine eligibility and begin enrollment. Once enrolled, Coursera will send an email within 2 business days, then participants can register for free online courses and complete courses at their own pace. Applicants can apply at cwdregion.com/coursera.
The Central Workforce Development Region exists to strengthen communities through workforce development efforts, which includes providing employers a skilled workforce and helping job seekers access jobs and increase their skills.
The work done to assist the communities of mid-Missouri is a collective effort of the Central Ozarks Private Industry Council (COPIC), the Office of Workforce Development (OWD), and the Central Workforce Development Board (CWDB), along with numerous community partners. Services are provided through four comprehensive Job Centers, including Rolla, four satellite locations and an administrative office.
Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center is pleased to invite all members of the Chamber of Commerce to its Client Appreciation Event on June 16 from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
We know you work hard to create memorable experiences for your staff and business partners, and we want to thank you for letting us be a part of that journey. To celebrate, we want to take advantage of the great summer weather and good company! Join us for great food and specialty crafted drinks, along with music and fun summer games! This is a free event, bring your colleagues!