The Small Business of the Year Award highlights successful small businesses with no more than 50 staff members. The selected organization should display outstanding contributions to the Chamber and the business community. The nominee must be located within the greater Midlands region and be a Chamber Partner in good standing to qualify for this award.

Representatives from America’s Seed Fund are coming to the University of South Carolina on their 2024 national road tour. Participants will learn more about Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) funding.

South Carolina Innovation Awareness Month is a month-long celebration of the tech and innovation ecosystem in South Carolina. This month provides an opportunity for South Carolinians to highlight what we do best and showcase the cutting-edge ideas of the brightest minds in the state and our nationally recognized culture of innovation.

In 2024, our Innovation Week will be held from April 15 through 19. Please visit our events pages and learn more about South Carolina Innovation Awareness Month here. Additionally, join us in sharing your I-AM story by using the hashtag #IAM24 when sharing our events.

The City of Anderson South Carolina USA is proud to host the 4th Conference of the International Network of Michelin Cities (INMC) April 15 – 19, 2024. Member cities from around the world will join us for an informative, innovative experience around the thematics of the INMC. INMC cities have curated content relating to economic development in areas including mobility, incubators, sports health, and art. Here in South Carolina, April is also Innovation Awareness Month - and we look forward to celebrating great thinkers locally and globally all month long.

In addition to global experts, best practices, and exciting site visits, we will treat you to the best of southern culture with food and entertainment. From barbecue to banana pudding, from bluegrass music to college football, we invite INMC Members to experience our region in style.

VC Lab is hosting a panel of Limited Partners to discuss the current investing climate. What are their sentiments on investing? Are they excited about venture capital? What sectors, stages or geographies are most exciting now? How are they thinking of deploying capital? Listen to active LPs discuss these questions and more, and bring your own questions for the panel.

Learn what you need to do to get your NPO off the ground. This workshop is for anyone looking to start a non-profit and is committed to providing a community service.

If you’re a small business owner, chances are you’ve heard about QuickBooks. That’s because QuickBooks is the most popular accounting software on the market.

In this webinar, our expert presenter will walk you through the basic features of QuickBooks and explain how to use it to streamline your financial management. Whether you're new to QuickBooks or looking to enhance your existing skills, this webinar provided practical strategies to manage your business finances with QuickBooks effectively.

The Southeast's only event is led by manufacturers. Advance your business and career goals by listening to and networking with manufacturers and sharing case studies on how to:‍

• Empower people & manage tech-led change
• Manage OT data & turn AI vision into reality
• Prepare & plan for Industry 3.0 to 4.0 deployment
• Start & scale digital transformation as a small to midsize manufacturer
• Succeed with Digital Twins, Cobots vs. Robots, Mixed Reality
• Develop effective & innovative workforce solutions
• Lower costs & energy waste through data-driven sustainability practices across production & supply

Tech Beans is the weekly morning coffee / networking event for the Columbia Underground Startup Community. This meetup is for tech startups and their supporters. Each week, come for networking, coffee, and learn about our startup community!

• 7:50 - Grab some coffee from the bar and network with other attendees
• 8:10 - Welcome and Community Updates
• 8:15 - Topic of the Week
• 8:45 - Wrap-up

Confused about how to locate and answer state procurement requests? Join us in-person or online to learn more from Barrett J. Tolbert, CPP, CPPM, MBA. The purpose of this training is to increase opportunities for under-represented and minority business owners. Mr. Barrett is working to improve the knowledge of the procurement process with small businesses in South Carolina.

Join the Columbia Chamber and Main Street District for an evening of fun and networking at Market on Main!

Join us for our sixth consecutive conference - April 19, 2024, at the main campus of Trident Technical College. Our theme is Breaking Barriers. Leading Change and we welcome all to attend.

In case you missed it, Furman's Center for Innovative Leadership (CIL) has partnered with Dr. Rebecca Heiss, renowned stress physiologist and evolutionary biologist, to offer a brand-new leadership program, Furman Fear(less).

Dr. Rebecca Heiss is known nationally for deploying science-backed methods of working through stress and anxiety to make people more effective leaders. And now she is ready to help you find new energy and decrease stress, make a shift toward happiness and build lasting confidence.

The IET Industry Day at Fort Jackson aims to foster innovation, collaboration, and education by bringing together government and industry to address mission requirements and technology solutions. This event, open and free to all Fort Jackson personnel, offers a platform to explore cutting-edge technologies and engage with industry professionals.

This webinar is designed to help small business owners understand their Federal and South Carolina State tax responsibilities.

Learn the fundamentals of project management from an expert who has managed many projects to their successful implementation.

Tech Beans is the weekly morning coffee / networking event for the Columbia Underground Startup Community. This meetup is for tech startups and their supporters. Each week, come for networking, coffee, and learn about our startup community!

• 7:50 - Grab some coffee from the bar and network with other attendees
• 8:10 - Welcome and Community Updates
• 8:15 - Topic of the Week
• 8:45 - Wrap-up

The Columbia Chamber's Annual Golf Tournament is a can't miss event by Chamber Partners. Held each spring, this Captain's Choice event is a great opportunity for business leaders to network while enjoying some of the finest golf in the Midlands. Players can tee it up with the movers and shakers of Columbia's business community, all while enjoying the hospitality of top-notch sponsors. All proceeds will support the Chamber's ongoing mission of promoting a business-friendly environment.

Come one, come all! Join Leadership Columbia Class of 2024 for an unforgettable day of celebration as they launch Serve & Connect’s new headquarters and community center, dedicated to serving the Decker Boulevard community.

Hear from seasoned women leaders and professionals. Join us for a day of learning, empowerment and networking!

As a CEO, entrepreneur, or executive of a small to mid-sized company, tapping into the wealth of R&D resources and innovations created by the research enterprise at Clemson University could be the key to unlocking new opportunities for your business. Clemson University Research Foundation (CURF) focuses on increasing industry engagement and commercialization opportunities of Clemson's intellectual property portfolio. They can help you navigate the extensive research enterprise to address your specific R&D needs.

About DisruptHR:

Founded on the belief that traditional approaches to people and talent are ripe for disruption, DisruptHR encourages leaders across all fields to think differently and be more innovative in the global marketplace.

What to Expect:

• Dynamic Talks: Each speaker will have just 5 minutes to share their insights, with slides rotating every 15 seconds.
• Networking: Engage with fellow professionals and thought leaders.
• Recertification Credits: Attendees will receive 2 hours of SHRM/HRCI recertification credits.

Wow, I can't believe there are only 5 tickets remaining for Founders Weekend presented by Chase® Ink® next month! I am so excited for all the amazing connections and learning that will happen.

We have such an incredible lineup of panels, keynotes, and educational sessions planned, led by some of the most inspiring and successful women business owners out there.

The Columbia Chamber's Breakfast Briefing exists to provide a place where Columbia Chamber Partners can discuss and address local, regional, and federal issues facing the business community. Briefings are currently being held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 AM. Briefings include a hot breakfast and networking.

Fort Jackson is hosting an Education and Career Fair on Thursday, May 9. This event will feature approximately 60 education institutions and employers, providing in-person opportunities to support our community in achieving their education and employment goals.

The fair is free and open to soldiers, veterans, transitioning service members, military spouses, adult family members, and Department of Defense civilians. If you are an employer interested in participating, please fill out the form using the link below by April 23rd. Employers participating in the fair are required to have a minimum of two job openings available.

Join us at Bierkeller Brewing Company for an evening of fun and networking at our May Partner Engagement! We are celebrating Small Business Month with our friends from the Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber and the Lexington Chamber and Visitors Center.

Welcome to Power in Heels, an exciting women's event hosted by the Columbia Chamber! This event is designed to empower women in business by providing a platform to network, learn from successful leaders, and socialize in a fun and engaging environment.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development will be hosting multiple webinars with the S.C. Department of Revenue, providing Enterprise Program participants with in-depth information on program and reporting requirements.

Focus areas: Completing the Revitalization Agreement, submitting certification documents, completing Elections Forms, Quarterly and Annual Reports, as well as, Quarterly Tax Returns and Preparation for Annual Audits.

The Southern Economic Development Council, North America's oldest and largest regional economic development association, will convene in Savannah for #SEDC2024 on July 28 - 30. Join 500 of the world's leading economy builders for a capacity-building and fun experience. Ticket sales are open now!