The City of Columbia would like to extend congratulatory wishes to Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and District IV Councilman Joe Taylor for being among Columbia’s most influential list for Post and Courier Columbia’s Power List.
From The Post & Courier:
4. Joe Taylor
This former state secretary of commerce has brought his eye for business to the Columbia City Council. Since Taylor was elected in November to represent District 4, he has continued pushing his campaign promises: more business, clean streets and less crime. Taylor, who has raised questions about the cost of doing business in the city for years, helped spearhead new business-friendly permitting initiatives for the city, including reducing or getting rid of some fees for new local businesses and hiring a recruiter to bring in large, national chains. Taylor continues to invest in small businesses in West Columbia while calling for more commerce in the Capital City, which lags behind similarly sized cities in economic growth. He’s no stranger to bringing in business: As commerce secretary, he helped recruit industry to the state through the Great Recession. Taylor is a partner at pizzeria Il Bucato, where owner Steve Cook has said Taylor is known for the same sort of dedication he puts into everything else. And he worked before his council days to help revamp shopping and nightlife area Five Points. Beyond business, Taylor has called for a local gun court to address violent gun crime.
14. Daniel Rickenmann
Rickenmann was elected Columbia’s mayor last year emphasizing economics. And in his first months in office, he has promoted a series of business-friendly initiatives to bring more development to the city. He has ambitious goals of making the city more walkable and attracting more development. He’s attempted to push Five Points away from its reputation as a college student-fueled bar scene. After a study found the city lags behind others in economic development, Rickenmann is trying to bring Columbia up to par.
Read the full Power List here!