Small Business Council, presented by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
According to the Small Business Administration, nearly 96.9% of all South Carolina businesses are small businesses. Within the Columbia Chamber, many of our Partners are small businesses with less than 100 employees. The Chamber is focused on creating and promoting an environment where businesses can flourish. The Small Business Council of the Columbia Chamber serves as an advocate for small business issues in our community and provides a forum for education, networking, and motivation.
The Chamber's Small Business Council provides opportunities to convene with fellow small business owners who may face the same or similar challenges of running and growing a business.
Small Business Breakouts provide a forum for education, networking, and motivation. These monthly meetings also provide an opportunity for Chamber Partners and those interested in becoming a Chamber Partner to interact with the small businesses in the region.
For more information about the Small Business Council or resources, please contact Naomi Walton by email or at (803) 733-1113.
Resources
The Chamber believes that access to resources can mean the difference between success and failure for a small business. Below are links to a variety of resources that may be helpful.
- The City of Columbia's Office of Business Opportunities is a resource for small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses, providing creative business opportunities to address many of the obstacles small business owners face. Information can be found on their website.
- Richland County's Office of Small Business Opportunity certifies Richland County firms and assists in developing small local businesses to compete in county contracts. More information can be found here.
- SCORE is a free mentorship program, with an office in the Midlands consisting of over 50 volunteers and semi-retired business professionals. Learn more about the Midlands Chapter of SCORE here.
- The SC Small Business Development Center wants to advance our economic development by helping entrepreneurs grow successful businesses through free consulting, low-cost seminars, and linking businesses to resources. They can be found online here.
- The Small Business Administration is an independent agency of the federal government that helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Find out about their local office here.
