This week on OnPoint on WACH
The American Rescue Plan, What’s in it?

The COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding economic crisis are devastating families across the country. More than 30 million Americans have contracted COVID-19, and more than half a million Americans have died.

From big cities to small towns, too many Americans are barely scraping by, or not scraping by at all. And the pandemic has shined a light on the persistence of racial injustice in our healthcare system and our economy. The need to act is clear as small businesses are closed or closing, and the number of Americans experiencing housing
insecurity is growing. After more than a year of the public health crisis, our nation could face a deep economic crisis. Can the Biden Administration’s American Rescue Plan be the economic injection the country needs?

This week on OnPoint on WACH The American Rescue Plan. What’s in it and how is it helping?
Tune in at 7:00 am on Sunday May 23, 2021
This week on OnPoint on The BigDM 101.3
Why Are People Slow to Support Anti-Violence Towards Black People?

When it comes to issues like discrimination and hate crimes, it seems like Blacks are last on the list when it comes to getting support for their fight go combat these issues. It took George Floyd’s death for some to even realize the strained relationship between Blacks and law enforcement even though it’s been going on for over a century. But when crimes were happening to people of Asian decent, how quickly a bill was passed by Congress and now is expected to be signed by President Biden who hasn’t even been president for six months. Even bills to stop discrimination against the LGBTQ community seems to get faster support.

But when it comes to Blacks, it’s put on hold. It’s almost as if Blacks must have done something to deserve the treatment so it requires a more in-depth look. Nine innocent people were mass murdered in a church during bible study in Charleston and there still is no Hate Crimes Bill in South Carolina. June will make six years since that tragedy.

This week on OnPoint we’re looking into the hesitation when it comes to supporting anti-violence towards Black people and we want to know what can be done to stop that stigma?
dm logo
Tune in at 6:00 pm on Sunday May 23, 2021
Please join us in welcoming
our new partners!
Our ReStream is Sponsored by
Calling all Water & Sewer Primes
and Subcontractors
Major Changes Made to the Columbia Disadvantage Business Enterprise Program (CDBE)
 
The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities has worked diligently with City leadership to make revisions to the Columbia Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (CDBE) policy. It is the policy of the City that Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) shall be afforded the opportunity to participate fully in its overall procurement process. The purpose of the CDBE program is to ensure that CDBEs have an equitable opportunity to compete for contracts and subcontracts by taking specific steps to ensure non-discriminatory results and practices and fully involve CDBEs in the City’s procurement process.

The changes to the CDBE policy were made in an effort to ensure the program is more effective and efficient in meeting the procurement needs of the City of Columbia and small minority-owned enterprises in the water and sewer industry. If you are a prime contractor or subcontractor that has an interest in learning more about the CDBE program and key changes that have been made to increase the utilization of minority firms while simultaneously allowing primes more flexibility in meeting the CDBE goal placed on projects, please join us on Thursday, May 27, 2021. For your convenience and due to COVID-19, this meeting will be held virtually and twice on the 27th. To register for one of the zoom sessions, please select the link located by your time preference below, either 11:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m.

Due to the revamping of the CDBE program guidelines and Good Faith Efforts requirements as well as changes to the CDBE bidding process, all existing and interested CDBE participants, both primes and subcontractors, are asked to attend one of the zoom sessions. Please feel free to forward this invite as we encourage all to join the call. Attached is an informational flyer you can share with any new minority firms you know that may have an interest in this program. In order to register as a CDBE, your firm must be located within the eight county Columbia-Orangeburg-Newberry Combined Statistical Area (CSA) that includes Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, and Saluda.

Again, please allow time to attend one of the sessions below. The program has changed and we certainly feel that these changes will allow greater participation and flexibility for participants. If you cannot personally attend this meeting, send a representative in your place – Yes, it is that important!  Please register in advance by clicking one of the links below, send your RSVP no later than May 27, 2021.

Eventbrite Links for CDBE Session:



If you have any questions, please email us at OBOCompliance@columbiasc.gov. We look forward to seeing all of you!