Ribbon Cutting for PowerHouse Cycle and Fitness
2025-03-01 10:00 - 23:00 (America/New_York) | 2418 Devine Street, 2418 Devine Street, Columbia, SC, 29205, United States
WHO: City of Columbia Economic Development, Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and City Councilwoman Aditi Bussells
WHAT: PowerHouse Cycle and Fitness will be hosting their upcoming grand opening on Saturday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m. at their new location at 2418 Devine Street. They will be hosting a morning of fitness, fun, and community, with free classes, local vendors, food, drinks, and music. PowerHouse is founded by a woman who knows what it takes to overcome obstacles and build something meaningful, and the business reflects the values of resilience, empowerment, and inclusion.
At PowerHouse Cycle and HIIT, their story is rooted in a passion for fitness and community. Founded with the vision of creating a personal training studio that emphasizes both physical transformation and emotional connection, they cater to a diverse range of fitness enthusiasts. Their unique approach combines HIIT circuit training, strength training classes, and an energizing cycling studio to inspire their members.

SCORF Community Events
2025-03-01 11:00 - 14:00 | Bellfield Center, 2611 Grant St, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
The ONSE is partnering with A Second Chance Resource Center and other community partners to host a community resource fair to bring awareness to the opioid epidemic. The event will feature service providers, printed materials, Narcan and other opioid overdose reversing drugs, as well as an opportunity for referral as well as case management services. This event is free to the public and registration is not required.

FastTrac Growth Venture
2025-03-04 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-03-11 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-03-18 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-03-25 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-04-01 18:00 - 21:00 | Midlands Technical College Northeast Campus, 151 Powell Road, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
The Office of Business Opportunities is no longer accepting applications for the 2025 FastTrac Growth Venture course. If you have any questions, you can contact our office at (803)545-3950 or send an email to OBO@columbiasc.gov.
FastTrac Growth Venture is a course designed to support the entrepreneur seeking to take their existing business to a higher level. This program assists entrepreneurs in analyzing their current business condition to identify the best opportunities for growth. Budgeting, sales strategies, management team roles, operational systems and business plan implementation are key areas of emphasis. The course also facilitates networking between entrepreneurs and experienced professionals.
This training is designed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with more in-depth business skills to grow their business successfully. 2025 is the 22nd year of the collaborative partnership between the City of Columbia Office of Business Opportunities and Midlands Technical College in providing the FastTrac Growth Venture training to local business owners.
To be eligible to participate in the FastTrac Growth Venture course, participants must:

Have a small business located in Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, or Saluda counties.
Have a business plan or must be in operations for more than five (5) years.

Be one of the lucky few selected for this course and join the many who have successfully risen to the challenge.

Groundbreaking for Single-Family Home Development in Jones McDonald Neighborhood
2025-03-06 10:00 - 13:00 | 1725 Ogden Street, 1725 Ogden St, Columbia, SC, 29204, United States

NxLevel For Micro Entrepreneurs
2025-03-06 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-03-13 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-03-20 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-03-27 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-04-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Busby Community Center, 1735 Busby St, Columbia, 29203, United States
The Office of Business Opportunities is no longer accepting applications for the 2025 NxLevel For Micro Entrepreneurs course. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our office at (803) 545-3950 or send an email to OBO@columbiasc.gov.
NxLevel For Micro Entrepreneurs Course
The NxLevel For Micro Entrepreneurs course is training that prepares entrepreneurs to compete, win, and survive in the market place. It is designed for businesses with less than five employees. Participants learn how to choose a business idea, develop a business plan, develop a marketing plan, understand market analyses, explore financing options, assess risk management, develop a customer’s service philosophy, as well as other relevant entrepreneurial skills.
To be eligible to participate in the NxLevel For Micro Entrepreneurs course, participants:

Can reside or have their small business located in Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, or Saluda counties.
In the process of starting a small business or have been in operations for two (2) years or less.

Ribbon Cutting for Big Dave's Cheesesteaks
2025-03-08 12:00 - 13:30 | 942-B Harden Street, 942-B Harden Street, Columbia, SC, 29205, United States
WHO: City of Columbia Economic Development, Five Points Association, Councilman Ed McDowell and franchise owners Marc and Kiera Brown and Frank and Courtney Williams
WHAT: Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks will be hosting their upcoming grand opening of their Columbia location on Saturday, March 8 at 12:00 p.m. at 942-B Harden Street.
Franchise owner Marc Brown is a respected personal injury attorney and the proud owner of the Marc Brown Law Firm, one of South Carolina’s fastest-growing legal practices, recently ranked on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list for 2024. His wife, Dr. Kiera Brown, is a dedicated local pharmacist. Fellow franchise owner, Frank Williams III, also known as Shuler King, is a nationally recognized comedian and runs his family’s legacy business, Williams Funeral Home in Sumter, SC. His wife, Courtney, a former flight attendant, now serves as a life coach. Marc and Frank, both hailing from Sumter, South Carolina, and Kiera, a native of Philadelphia, all share a deep connection to the state, having graduated from the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
Their decision to franchise with Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks was driven first and foremost by the exceptional quality of the food—truly remarkable in every way. But it’s more than just great food. The brand resonates with their values, aligning perfectly with their commitment to giving back to the community, supporting entrepreneurship, and creating opportunities for others. As proud Columbia residents and USC alumni, the Five Points community holds a special place in their hearts. Opening their first location here is a true honor, as the area is both nostalgic and poised for exciting growth.

Small Business Workshop: Foundations for Success
2025-03-12 10:00 - 12:30 | Earlewood Park, 1113 Recreation Drive, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
Join the Office of Business Opportunities on March 12th for this informative and educational small business workshop during Women’s History Month!

The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities will be hosting Foundations For Success: Building and Growing Your Small Business on Wednesday, March 12th beginning at 10:00AM at the Earlewood Park Community Center!
Tosha Dash, CEO of S.H.E. Dreams Consulting will host a dynamic two-hour workshop designed to empower entrepreneurs with the essential tools to structure, launch, and grow their businesses. Through interactive sessions, you’ll gain clarity on your vision, learn key strategies for business structuring, and walk away with actionable tools – including a vision statement worksheet, a business plan template, and a 30-day goal-tracking journal. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your foundation, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge and resources to build a sustainable and successful business.
Click here to register!
For more information, contact Kalenna Ginyard, OBO Program Compliance Specialist at (803)545-3950 or email the office at OBO@columbiasc.gov!

Downtown Strategic Plan & Guidelines Public Open Houses
2025-03-12 11:00 - 13:00, 2025-03-12 16:00 - 18:00 | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln St, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
Mark your calendars – we’re hosting two public open houses on Wednesday, March 12! These drop-in format open houses are a chance to review the draft guidelines, which are a key deliverable of the planning process that have the potential to shape Downtown Columbia’s built environment for years to come.
Both the draft guidelines and draft plan document will be made available on the project website prior to the open house; we’ll be sending a reminder email once they’ve been posted to those of you signed up for our Downtown Columbia email list, so be sure to sign up for that sublist if you want to receive a reminder!
There are two options to engage with the team:
Wednesday, March 12
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
About the planning effort
The City of Columbia launched the Downtown Columbia Strategic Plan and Design Guidelines planning process in early 2024. Through this effort, the project team has worked with the Columbia community to discern a refreshed vision for the quality of the built environment Downtown. It has been 25 years since the adoption of the City Center Master Plan and more than 15 years since the adoption of the Innovista Master Plan. In the years since these plans were adopted, much has changed: major infrastructure projects have been completed or are underway, thousands of housing units have been built, the City adopted a new Unified Development Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan (Columbia Compass), the Covid-19 pandemic has shifted the way people use downtowns, and lastly, transportation trends have created new shared and electric alternatives.
This new Strategic Plan for Downtown Columbia will:

Create a community-driven vision for the public character of Downtown.
Establish priorities for public policy and public investment in the Downtown built environment.
Protect the unique character and assets of the historic urban core.
Form the basis for Downtown Design Guidelines to help shape great public spaces.

More information about the planning process is available on the project website: https://planninganddevelopment.columbiasc.gov/downtown/

Community Resource Fair
2025-03-12 11:00 - 14:00 | 5909 N. Main Street, 5909 N, Main Street, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
Looking for support with housing, mental & physical health, food assistance, and more? We’ve gathered local experts and resources to help you.
The ONSE is partnering with the Wiley Kennedy Center and other community partners to host a community resource fair that focuses on supportive services. The event will feature over 30 service providers, printed materials, and the opportunity for service referrals as well as case management. Services will cover the fields of mental health, workforce development, treatment and recovery services, housing, education, and other supportive services. This event is free to the public, registration is not required, and lunch will be provided.
For more info, contact:

Gwendolyn Singletaty at gsingletary@wileykennedy-foundation.org or (803) 704-4149
Keisha Washington at Keisha.Washington@columbiasc.gov or (803) 735-6914.

Ribbon Cutting for Copper Penny Boutique
2025-03-12 12:30 - 13:30 | 743 Saluda Ave, 743 Saluda Ave, Columbia, SC, 29205
Who: Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, Columbia Economic Development, the Five Points Association, and the owner of Copper Penny Boutique
What: Founded in 1987, Copper Penny has built a loyal following across the Southeast, with locations in Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Hilton Head and Greenville, SC as well as Savannah, GA. Each boutique is carefully designed to reflect the brand’s sophisticated yet approachable aesthetic, featuring an expertly curated selection of women’s apparel, shoes, and accessories from sought-after designers.
The Columbia boutique will offer an array of stylish pieces perfect for every occasion, from everyday essentials to statement-making ensembles. Customers can also look forward to exclusive trunk shows, styling events, and seasonal selections that reflect the latest trends in fashion.
For more information, visit www.shopcopperpenny.com and follow the boutique on social media @shopcopperpenny.

City Manager's Go Red Heart Walk!
2025-03-14 10:30 - 12:30 | City Hall, 1737 Main Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
The City of Columbia would like to invite the community to join City manager Teresa Wilson to this year’s City Manager Heart Walk to the State House to raise awareness for the City’s Go Red Campaign and heart health in our community. The public is asked to wear red for the walk.
The walk will go along Main Street from City Hall to the State House. Meet at City Hall: 1737 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201

Youth Service Providers Meet-up
2025-03-14 11:00 - 12:30 | SC Youth Challenge Academy, 5741 Leesburg Rd, Eastover, SC, 29044, United States
The ONSE will attend this event for youth service providers to hear more about their services and to capture which organizations are active.

Belmont Neighborhood Association Meeting
2025-03-17 18:30 - 20:00 | Gable Oaks Apartments, 901 Colleton Street, Columbia, SC, United States
The ONSE will attend the monthly community meeting to gain feedback from residents as well as provide an update.

Street Outreach
2025-03-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Richland County Public Library, 1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
The ONSE will attend this monthly event to assist with community outreach efforts.

Ribbon Cutting for IMAGE Studios
2025-03-21 12:00 - 13:00 | 2154 Boyce Street, 2154 Boyce Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States
IMAGE Studios® will be hosting their upcoming grand opening on Friday, March 21 at 12:00 p.m. at 2154 Boyce Street.
IMAGE Studios® is an exclusive salon suite that provides modern, high-end salon studios at affordable rates to salon professionals. Their core values of creativity, freedom and success are the driving forces that empower them collectively and embody all that they do as professionals in the industry. They strive to improve the communities they live in with the creation, support and growth of independent franchisees across the country.

Leadership Conference
2025-03-22 09:00 - 12:00 | Darla Moore School of Business, 1014 Greene Street, Columbia, SC, 29208, United States
The ONSE staff will present at the USC TRIO Spring Student Leadership Conference, which aims to enhance leadership skills, discuss civic engagement opportunities, professional development, and networking for TRIO students, their parents, as well as local professionals. The ONSE staff will present on Health and Safety, focusing on the relationship between the two factors.

Stuff the Storage: One-Day Donation Drive
2025-03-22 10:00 - 14:00 | 3800 North Main St, 3800 North Main St, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
The City of Columbia is proud to partner with The Brook for their annual Love Week outreach initiative, inspired by John 3:16. This year, The Brook is supporting Rapid Shelter-Columbia, recognizing its vital role in serving those experiencing homelessness.
Join us for a one-day donation drive to collect essential items like toiletries, furniture, bedding and household appliances to support our unhoused neighbors. Your generosity can make a lasting impact! Let’s come together and serve our city with love.

Fleet Services Hiring Fair
2025-03-26 09:00 - 13:00 | Earlewood Park, 1113 Recreation Drive, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
The City of Columbia will be hosting a career fair to promote openings within the Fleet Services department. As the backbone of the city’s operations, the Fleet Services department plays a vital role in maintaining and repairing our fleet of city vehicles to ensure the safety, efficiency and reliability of our many services to the community. This event is aimed at skilled technicians who are passionate about keeping our fleet running smoothly.
We are actively hiring for a variety of roles:

Light Vehicle Technician
Light Vehicle Technician, Second Shift
Heavy Vehicle Technician
Heavy Vehicle Technician, Second Shift
Heavy Vehicle Technician, Senior
Master Heavy Vehicle Technician

On the spot interviews will be held during the career fair and offers may be provided to qualified candidates. Here are a few great benefits to working with the City:

Competitive Benefits – Health, Retirement, etc
Professional Development
Various/multiple career opportunities

The Prevalent Universe Grand Opening
2025-04-04 11:30 - 12:30 | 228 Assembly Street, 228 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC, 29201, United States

Super Saturday Session
2025-04-05 08:30 - 13:00 | Ensor House, 801 Wildwood Avenue, Columbia, SC, 29203, United States
The ONSE is partnering with USC’s Upward Bound Program and Big Homie Lil Homie mentoring program to present a Super Saturday Session. The event will feature a parent workshop, a senior seminar, a session on social emotional learning, information on initiatives for males and females, as well as networking opportunities. The event is free and open to the public and lunch will be provided for attendees.
Event Components:

Parent Workshop
Social Emotional Learning
Teambuilding Activity
Senior Seminar
Male group initiative Session
Female initiative Session

Moms, Babies, & Families Marketplace
2025-04-05 11:00 - 15:00 | Charles Drew Wellness Center, 2101 Walker Solomon Way, Columbia, SC, 29204, United States
Come connect, learn, and be empowered at this FREE event!
Join us at the Marketplace for a wealth of information and resources supporting women, moms, babies, and families. Discover vendors specializing in every stage of women’s health and wellness!
Event Highlights:

Vendor Resources: Meet vendors ranging from all stages of women’s health, pregnancy support and postpartum care
Expert Panel Discussions: Immerse yourself in inspiring stories from provider experts, birth workers, dads and mothers with lived experiences.
Blood pressure screenings: Know Your Numbers! Get free health screenings with our community partners.
Kids Play: Bring the family and enjoy face painting, balloon making and much more!
