This web site is provided for information and education purposes only. The content on this web site is also provided on a strictly "as is" basis, without warranty of any kind.

The Columbia Chamber takes no responsibility for web sites hyper-linked to this site and such hyperlinking does not imply any relationships or endorsements of the linked sites.

Our Commitment to Privacy

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce is committed to respecting and protecting your privacy as a visitor to our web site at www.columbiachamber.com or other domains registered to, or controlled by, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and its affiliates. We take the issue of privacy very seriously and value the trust you place in us each time you use our services and access this Web site. This privacy statement describes the practices and policies we have put into place to safeguard your personal information that may be gathered and used as you visit our web site.

These provisions may be changed from time to time and without notice at the sole discretion of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and as provided by applicable law. Your continued access or use of the site shall constitute acceptance of the practices and policies described herein as modified from time to time. If you have any questions about our privacy policies, we encourage you to contact us using any of the methods outlined at the end of our privacy statement.

Who is Collecting the Information?

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce is collecting information on this web site as outlined in this privacy statement.

What Information Do We Collect?

Automatic Collection of Information:

If you do nothing during your visit but browse through the web site or download information, our system will automatically gather and store certain information about your visit. This information does not identify you personally and is used in an aggregate way to help us improve our web site and tell us the number of visitors to our site each day. Our web server automatically collects and records the following information:

  • The visitor’s ISP domain name, but not the e-mail address.
  • The visitor’s Internet Service Provider’s IP address.
  • Aggregate information on what pages are accessed.
  • The name and release number of Web browser software used.
  • The operating system used.
  • The date and time you access our site.
  • The address of the Web site that linked to us (referral URL).

Permission-based Collection of Information:

At different places on our site, depending upon the feature you use, you may be asked to volunteer personal information such as your name, e-mail address, mailing address and telephone number. We also collect the e-mail addresses of those who communicate with us via e-mail.

How Do We Use the Information We Collect?

The information we gather automatically and with your permission during your visit to our web site is used in the following ways:

  • Monitor, review, measure, and analyze web site utilization.
  • Modify and enhance the web site.
  • Improve the content and design of our web site.
  • Respond to your requests.
  • Distribute news and other information requested by web visitors.
  • Verify your identity.

With Whom Will the Information be Shared?

We will notify you at the time of data collection or transfer if your data will be shared with a third party and you will always have the option of not permitting the transfer. If you do not wish to allow your data to be shared, you can choose not to use a particular service.

Visitors to our site may provide information in conjunction with a request for information on, or access to, products and services provided by third parties with whom the Columbia Chamber of Commerce has a relationship. Visitors supplying information in such situations will be deemed to have given their implied consent to share this information with that service provider.

The personal identifiable information gathered during your visit to this web site is not shared with any organizations who are not affiliated with the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. We do not rent, sell, exchange, or in any way provide personal identifiable information to any third-party organization.

We may disclose information when legally compelled to do so.

Individuals may notify us that they wish to opt-out and prevent the transfer of their personally identifiable information to organizations affiliated with the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, or correct such information by writing to us at the contact address at the end of this privacy statement.

Review of Personal Information

Site visitors may not access information we have collected and maintain about them.

Our Use of Cookies

Many web sites now use "cookies" to provide useful features to their visitors by providing customizable and personalized services.

A cookie is a small amount of data that is sent to your browser from a Web server and stored on your computer's hard drive. For example, a Web site may use cookies to store and sometimes track information about you, your preferences, or the pages you last visited.

Your browser software can be set to reject all cookies, or to ask you if you would like to accept or decline a cookie from a particular site before it is set. Most browsers offer instructions on how to reset the browser to reject cookies in the Help section of the toolbar. You should know, however, that if you reject a cookie, certain functions and conveniences of a site may not work properly.

The Columbia Chamber web site might create "cookies" on systems belonging to Columbia Chamber web site visitors. Information stored in cookies is handled in the same way as other personally identifiable information. No user information will be gathered through the use of cookies except that which is required to run the specific application(s) being accessed by the user and to provide information that is used to improve the Columbia Chamber's web site. 

Registration for Access

Some Web sites require you to provide some personal information through a registration process in order to take advantage of certain Web site features and to access content areas. For example, a registration form might request your name, telephone number and e-mail address.

Access to some of the features on this Web site in the future may require registration and the disclosure of some personal information, which may include a specialized registration process for certain programs, events and classes.

Links to Other Sites

Web sites often provide a number of links that offer direct access to other useful or interesting Web sites holding potential value to site visitors. Inclusion of the other sites by links does not imply any endorsement of the material or information on the other sites. Users are encouraged to review the privacy policy of each linked site before sharing personal information.

This site includes links to non-affiliated external Web sites. We encourage users to review the privacy policy of each linked site, as we cannot be responsible for the privacy practices of other sites.

Interactive Services and Tools

Interactive services, tools and other technology-based features provide Web site users with a richer and more valuable experience. The tools can provide you with information that is customized according to your background and needs.

Some interactive tools may request identifying personal information in order to function. It is important for you to know how your information will be used when it is requested, for what purposes it may also be used, and if it will be shared with any other party.

Security of Communications

We recognize that many people are concerned about the privacy and protection of information as it is transmitted over the Internet. You should keep in mind that the possibility exists for unauthorized individuals to intercept any e-mail message you send over the Internet. In some cases, information can be encrypted (scrambled or encoded) to make it very difficult to read if it is intercepted during communication. Certain technology and practices allow Web sites to provide an increased level of security for your personal information when appropriate.

To enhance the level of security for communication and the transmission of personal information, we have security measures in place in our physical facilities designed to minimize the risk of loss, misuse or alteration of information that we have collected from you at our site.

Advertising Servers

At this time, we do not partner with or have special relationships with any advertising server.

Changes in Our Privacy Policy

From time to time, we may use customer information for new, unanticipated uses not previously disclosed in our privacy notice. If our information practices change at some time in the future, we will post the policy changes to our Web site to notify you of these changes.

If you are concerned about how your information is used, you should check back at our Web site periodically.

Conditions of Use

Your access and use of the site is subject to this Privacy Statement, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce disclaimer, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Notice of Privacy Practices, and other Web site conditions including, but not limited to, limitations on damages and all applicable laws, including the law of the State of South Carolina.

Web site Contact Information

If you have questions about our privacy policy, or feel that this site is not following its stated information policy, please contact us.

Columbia Chamber of Commerce, 1225 Lady Street, Suite 100

Columbia, SC 29201

Modification Date

This privacy statement was last modified on February 29, 2024.