Welcome to Community Corner !
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Community Corner provides residents with information about upcoming events, City recognitions, City meetings and the Columbia City Council Vision Statement.
In case you missed any City events in the past month, Community Corner gives a little insight on past events to give you an opportunity to stay connected with the City of Columbia.
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City to Host All Access Columbia
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The City of Columbia’s Community Development Department is proud to announce the All Access Columbia workshop. These workshops are held on a quarterly basis and offer topics that engage, enhance and empower our citizens and communities.
During this quarter, sessions will include Community Grant Writing and Capacity Building.
The All Access Columbia workshop will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2020, at Busby Street Community Center, 1737 Busby Street Columbia, SC 29209 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
This workshop is free, but registration is encouraged. To register for the All Access Columbia workshop, please contact the Community Development Department at 803-545-3373.
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Get Lucky!
St. Patrick's Day Animal Adoption Special
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Rain Barrel & Compost Bin Sale
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March At-Large Open House | March 11
th
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WHO:
Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine and Councilman Howard Duvall, Jr.
WHAT:
Citizens are encouraged to make an appointment to meet with Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine and Councilman Howard Duvall, who both represent the at-large seats on City Council.
WHEN:
Wednesday, March 11, 2020; 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE:
City Hall, 1737 Main St., Columbia, SC 29201
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2020 ‘Fill the Boot’ Campaign Kick-Off to Benefit MDA
When:
Tuesday March 17, 2020
What:
Press Conference at CRFD Headquarters- 1800 Laurel Street Columbia at
2:30 PM
What:
Campaign Kick-Off at Columbia City Council Meeting, Columbia City Hall, Council Chambers - 3rd Floor at
6:00 PM
Firefighters Ready to Fill Boots to Benefit MDA
More than $3 Million Raised by CRFD for Muscular Dystrophy Association
The fire department has once again set three days in March to raise funds for patients and their families impacted by muscular dystrophy. The
2020 CRFD ‘Fill The Boot’ Campaign presented by CPI Security
will be kicking off Tuesday evening March 17, 2020 when the Columbia City Council convenes for its meeting.
Columbia-Richland firefighters will then once again be out at city and county intersections asking drivers to help ‘Fill the Boot’ in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association Greater Carolinas.
The drive will be in full swing from Wednesday March 18 through Friday March 20
. During all three days CRFD crews will be out near the following intersections collecting donations from approximately 7:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Assembly & Gervais Two Notch & Decker
Huger & Blossom Sparkleberry & Two Notch
Devine & Harden Hwy 21 & Blythewood
Bull & Elmwood Pineview & Garners Ferry
Main & Sunset Kennerly & Broad River
Bush River & Broad River Forest Drive & Beltline
South Beltline & Rosewood Trenholm & Forest Drive
Leesburg & Garners Ferry Rabon Rd & Farrow Rd
North Springs & Clemson Rd
“This is a campaign that I personally look forward to each and every year,” said Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins, “I’m proud of what our firefighters do to raise dollar after dollar in support of this great cause. Last year was even more special as our department passed the $3-million-dollar mark in funds raised for the MDA. Knowing that all the funds raised have gone to help families grappling with these diseases makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
MDA’s relationship with the Columbia-Richland Fire Department goes back more than 50 years. CRFD’s ‘Fill the Boot’ campaign grew in the late 1990’s when our firefighters were allowed to collect in the intersections and on duty. At that time, the department was inspired by Taylor McEntire, the grandson of one of our retired battalion chiefs. Taylor was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. To this day his spirit continues to be a driving force behind ‘Fill the Boot’ that has helped families throughout the Midlands.
Muscular Dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass in patients. Complications from MD can lead to trouble walking, curvature of the spine and problems with the heart, breathing and swallowing. Across the U.S. hundreds of thousands of people are impacted by MD diseases. And locally, there are over 4,000 families in the Carolinas that are impacted by muscle disease.
Funds raised through Columbia-Richland Fire Department Fill the Boot events will help the MDA save lives and lift those up in need, by providing the MDA with vital resources to advance their mission of driving innovations in science and care for the neuromuscular community. Contributions have helped fund groundbreaking research and life-enhancing programs such as state-of-the-art support
groups and Care Centers, including the MDA Care Center at
Prisma Health System in Greenville South Carolina and Medical University of South Carolina.
They also help send more than 55 local kids to “the best week of the year” at MDA summer camp at Pleasant Ridge SC – all at no cost to their families.
In addition to Fill the Boot drives, firefighter contributions from year-round local events also help support MDA’s efforts to raise awareness and provide professional and public education about neuromuscular diseases.
“We are thrilled to be working with the Columbia-Richland Fire Department for another year of Fill the Boot to help provide the funds needed to find treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases that severely limit strength and mobility,” said Development Director of Firefighter Partnerships, Lisa Swicegood. “The dedication of these firefighters to MDA’s mission is unwavering, spending countless hours both with Fill the Boot and MDA Summer Camp to care for the kids and adults in Columbia. We know that their devotion to our families will make this year’s drive another huge success. And in addition to our dedicated firefighters, we are excited to announce that CPI Security is partnering with MDA to further our fill the boot efforts in the Carolinas and will be making a substantial donation to the 2020 CRFD FTB campaign.”
“We work closely with first responders throughout our communities to ensure our customers have the fastest response when they need it. So we are very excited to partner with MDA and the fire departments on a cause that is so important to them,” says Heidi Cowley, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, CPI Security.
About MDA
MDA is committed to transforming the lives of people affected by muscular dystrophy, ALS and related neuromuscular diseases. We do this through innovations in science and innovations in care. As the largest source of funding for neuromuscular disease research outside of the federal government, MDA has committed more than $1 billion since our inception to accelerate the discovery of therapies and cures. Research we have supported is directly linked to approved, life-changing therapies across multiple neuromuscular diseases. We support the largest network of multidisciplinary clinics providing best-in-class care at more than 150 of the nation's top medical institutions, and each year thousands of children and young adults learn vital life skills and gain independence at MDA Summer Camp and through recreational programs. For more information visit
mda.org
.
About CPI Security
CPI Security provides innovative security, video and smart home solutions to residential and business customers throughout the Southeast. Through their audio and video verification and their close work with local first responders, CPI leads the industry in alarm response times. Their smart home technologies allow consumers to remotely control their security system as well as video, lights, doors and home energy from their mobile devices through the CPI
in
Touch app. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC in a UL-listed, 5 Diamond Award facility, CPI is a recipient of the 2019 SDM Dealer of the Year Award, Marvel Award and a past winner of Monitoring Center of the Year. The company was founded by Ken Gill in 1991 and is the largest privately held security company in the Southeast. For more information on CPI Security, please visit
cpisecurity.com
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City of Columbia Community Development Public Meetings
The City of Columbia Community Development Department will be hosting public forums and public meetings, and your input is vital as we plan for the future.
Community Development is required, per HUD regulation, to create a Consolidated Action Plan every 5-years. This plan guides the City’s Community Development strategy, by identifying priority needs, through a thorough assessment of the City’s demographics, impediments to fair housing, market analysis and citizen input.
As part of the citizen input process, the City of Columbia Community Development Department will hold one input meeting in each City Council District.
For more information, please contact City of Columbia Community Development at 803-545-3373.
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FY 2020- 2024 Community Development
5-Year Consolidated Plan and
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
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Gloria Saeed, Director
City of Columbia Community Development
1401 Main street, 4th Floor
Attn: Columbia Development
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
PHONE: 803-545-3373
ww.ColumbiaSC.gov
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Public Space Public Life Seeking Volunteers
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March 2020 Council Meetings
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Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Columbia City Council Work Session - 2 PM
Columbia City Council Meeting- 6 PM
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Columbia City Council Work Session - 2 PM
Columbia City Council Meeting- 6 PM
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City of Columbia Planning and Development Services to Host Public Meeting for Review of New Zoning Map
The City of Columbia is moving forward with the new zoning map to correspond with the adopted Unified Development Ordinance. Planning and Development Services Department staff will host a public meeting in March to give citizens the opportunity to review the map and learn about the new zoning districts.
A general public meeting will be
Wednesday, March 11th from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
at the
Eau Claire Print Building, 3907 Ensor Ave, Columbia, SC
. Following the March 11th meeting, staff will offer one-on-one appointments in 15-minute increments at various locations throughout the City to answer property-specific questions.
For information on how to sign-up for an appointment and to view the draft map, please visit
https://www.columbiasc.gov/zoning
or call 803-545-3222. Please note that a second round of public meetings will be offered during the month of May prior to the map going before Planning Commission and City Council.
The new Unified Development Ordinance creates a user-friendly code that streamlines and modernizes procedures, creates a more efficient and predictable process, and provides for more flexibility in appropriate contexts. For information on the project to include the text of the new ordinance, please visit
http://www.weplantogether.org.
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Application Process Open for Accommodations Tax & Hospitality Tax Grant Funding Fiscal Year 2020/2021. (Due March 6
th
and March 13
th
)
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The City of Columbia is now accepting applications for Hospitality and Accommodations Tax Grants for the 2021 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2020– June 30, 2021.) Applications are due by 12:00 pm on the dates listed below.
Accommodations Tax Grant (Due March 6, 2020 by 12:00 pm)
The Accommodations Tax Grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations and their projects/events whose mission is to attract tourists by promoting overnight accommodations in the City of Columbia. To be eligible, your organization must be a nonprofit with documentation from the South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, with activities in the City of Columbia.
It is the intent of the Accommodations Tax Grant Committee to fund the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Visitors Bureau and Capital City Lake Murray for fiscal year 2021.
Hospitality Tax Grant (Due March 13, 2020 by 12:00 pm)
The Hospitality Tax Grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations and their projects/events whose mission is to attract tourists by promoting dining in the City of Columbia. To be eligible, your organization must be a nonprofit with documentation from the South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, with activities in the City of Columbia.
The City of Columbia will host an application workshop on February 10, 2020 from 2-4pm, at the Earlewood Park facility, 1113 Recreation Drive. Please join us for information regarding eligibility, policies, procedures, and guidelines for our grant applications offered. To RSVP or further information, please call 545-3146
For specific questions or information on our Accommodations and Hospitality Fund Grants, please contact Ms. Dee Dee Fanning via email at
[email protected]
or via phone at (803) 545-3048.
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Black History Month Basketball Tournament | City of Columbia
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Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, Columbia Parks & Recreation and several public safety agencies joined together for the Black History Month Basketball Tournament in a regional approach to build strong, lasting relationships with youth and the community. Members with the Columbia Parks & Recreation Department, Columbia Police Department, Columbia Fire Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the SC Highway Patrol compete in a friendly game of basketball.
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10th Annual Mardi Gras Columbia Festival & Parade
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The 10th annual Mardi Gras Columbia Festival and parade was held on Saturday, February 22, 2020 at City Roots Farm in downtown Columbia’s historic Rosewood neighborhood
. Citizens lined the streets to enjoy the parade!
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Councilman Will Brennan served as the Grand Marshall for the 10
th
annual Mardi Gras Columbia Festival and Parade.
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The public was invited to participate in the City of Columbia's Go Red for Women Day Party that included a press conference, community photo op, health screenings and heart health information to help and support the women affected by heart disease, the number 1 killer of women.
This year’s event was held on National Wear Red Day, Friday, February 7, 2020. The Go Red Columbia Day Party was hosted by Mayor Pro Tem Tameika Isaac Devine. The Go Red for Women movement encourages awareness of this issue and action to help save lives. Men and women wore red to support the "Party with a Purpose"
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City of Columbia Staff wished the community a Happy Valentine’s Day and expressed that they #LoveColumbia."
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Pictured from top to bottom:
Charles R. Drew Wellness Center Valentine’s Day Fitness Dance Party Class
Office of Business Opportunities Staff
Kalenna Ginyard, Office of Business Opportunities Program Coordinator
Benjamin Wildt, Columbia Water
Cathy Mauldin, Columbia Water
Mimi Draft, Columbia Water
Columbia Water Staff
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Columbia Richland Fire Department Engine 8 Push In
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The City of Columbia and Richland County were excited to push in our NEW
Engine 8
at Station 8 on Atlas Road! Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins and City of Columbia Councilman Will Brennan showed their support in helping lead the push in of Engine 8. Among this new engines features are state of the art traffic advisory lights to help keep our crews safe on the roads! Engine 8 is a Pierce model Fire Engine and will help traffic safely navigate around the engine when Fire personnel are on scene of a traffic accident or other roadway emergency. In an age where traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of firefighter line-of-duty deaths, the Columbia Richland Fire Department hopes that this feature will help give our crews greater protection. The surfaces of the truck can also be cleaned easily. This prevents harmful particles from building up on the truck and gives our firefighters greater protection from developing cancer. The cost of the truck was $628,157. It was purchased by the City of Columbia. Engine 8 will service parts of Garners Ferry Road and I-77. Last year the engine ran more than 1,300 calls for service.
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Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine Appointed to Serve in Various National League of Cities Leadership Roles
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Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine was appointed to serve on the Board Finance Committee for the 2020 Board Committee appointments for the National League of Cities. She was also appointed to serve as the board liaison to the Council on Youth, Education and Families.
In 2019, Councilwoman Isaac Devine was elected to serve a 2-year term on the Board of Directors for the National League of Cities. She was also re-elected to serve as a member of the Board for Women in Municipal Government (WIMG) and the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBCLEO).
The Board Finance Committee is responsible for overseeing The National League of Cities’ internal finances.
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On February 21, the City of Columbia hosted its annual “Hoop It Up” Blood Drive at the Columbia Convention Center where residents came out to the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center to donate blood. One donation could save three lives. Special thank you to the volunteers and every single one of the donors.
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Business and Breakfast with the City Manager
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The City Manager's Breakfast is hosted each year by the North Columbia Business Association. This program provides the City Manager an opportunity to reflect on the past year and provide insight to where she sees challenges and opportunities in the future.
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Sabrina Odom recognizing E & J Tax Service.
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North Columbia Business Association Executive Director, Sabrina Odom, City Manager Teresa Wilson & Councilman Sam Davis recognizing the Red Rooster Sports Bar & Grill owners being receiving award for their thriving new restaurant, check them out!
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City Manager Teresa Wilson was the featured keynote speaker at Business and Breakfast with the City Manager. This year's theme being, Our City, Our Vision: Building and Sustaining Strong Businesses.
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Business owners fill the Canal room at Edventure Children's Museum awaiting to hear the various initiatives underway that will focus on the growth of the business community.
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3rd Annual Black History
Heritage Ball
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Citizens gathered at the 3rd Annual Black History Heritage Ball on Sunday, February 23, 2020 to celebrate the rich culture and heritage of African Americans through song, dance, poetry and more!
Our community dressed to impress in African Attire to celebrate all the festivities at Greenview Park.The 3rd Annual Black History Heritage Ball included celebrating heritage through music and songs.
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