New Ticket Prices Announced for Crash Course Columbia, driven by COR

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Connect to the community and become a local champion— tickets on sale for Oct. 19-20 tour

Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR) continues connecting the community with its talent retention initiative, Crash Course Columbia, returning October 19-20. The initiative was founded in 2020 and has held nine tours with more than 100 participants from a wide range of professions, ages and backgrounds. Whether new to Columbia or a life-long resident, all who have participated in Crash Course Columbia have walked away with a reenergized enthusiasm for the greater Columbia, S.C. region. Tickets are available, starting at $150, at CrashCourseColumbia.com.

“Crash Course Columbia now has a refreshed itinerary with more ways to get new and established locals plugged into some of Columbia’s exciting districts,” says Lauren Fleming, COR board chair. “Crash Course Columbia should be your go-to experience for learning about opportunities and growth in our region – and meeting the people who are making it happen.”

In only 10 hours, participants explore five entertainment districts, chat with more than 15 community leaders, discover eight tourism hot spots, meet eight nonprofits, dine at four local restaurants and become a local champion through Crash Course Columbia.

New Ticket Prices Released
Thanks to the support of community partners, ticket prices are lower to encourage more community participation. Tickets are now $250 for individuals, $200 for nonprofit partners and $150 for active COR members. All food and drink, experiences, and transportation are included in the cost as well as a complimentary one-year COR membership (a $75 value). Tickets are on sale now and open to the public.

Packages are available for businesses that plan to send multiple team members through Crash Course Columbia. Since the program’s inception, 15 corporate partners have participated, including AgFirst Farm Credit Bank, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Capgemini, Chernoff Newman and Nephron Pharmaceuticals.

“I had the opportunity to meet a group of phenomenal people who were very diverse and from different professions. Because of Crash Course Columbia, we are still staying connected!” says Nadia J. Muhammad, Crash Course Columbia participant and sales manager at Experience Columbia SC.

Preview of the 2023 Crash Course Columbia Itinerary
The 2023 tour kicks off the evening of Thursday, October 19 in Rosewood with happy hour at The Hangar at Hunter-Gatherer. Friday morning starts with coffee and breakfast at The Hideout in West Columbia, a stroll of the West Columbia Riverwalk led by Palmetto Outdoor, followed by a visit to the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden where attendees will get a one-of-a-kind experience with the animals. The adventure continues through the afternoon with lunch at Market on Main and a guided walk through the Main Street District with Historic Columbia and One Columbia.

After learning more about the art and history of Main Street, the tour offers even more insight into Columbia’s entertainment scene with a behind-the-scenes tour of The Koger Center. The day then concludes with happy hour overlooking downtown Columbia’s sunset at Savage Craft Ale Works. Transportation and all expenses are included throughout the tour. The itinerary changes each year to incorporate new developments and highlight more local gems.

“I was on the cusp of deciding as to whether I stayed in Columbia when I went through Crash Course Columbia. I learned so much about the region and left feeling excited to get involved in the community,” says Kaih Taylor, Crash Course Columbia participant and COR board member. “Now as a COR board member, I have the opportunity to share this passion for our region’s growth.”

Crash Course Columbia is made possible, in part, thanks to support from its strategic partners, Experience Columbia SC and Richland County Economic Development.

Connect with Crash Course Columbia
Website: ourcor.org/engage/crash-course-columbia/
Instagram:@crashcoursecola | #crashcoursecola
Facebook: @crashcoursecola

Connect with COR
Website: ourcor.org Instagram:@our.cor
Facebook: @columbiaopportunityresource
LinkedIn: Columbia Opportunity Resource

About COR
Columbia Opportunity Resource helps professionals get plugged in to the community, connecting them to opportunities, experiences and diverse networks. Through programs like Table for Six and Crash Course Columbia, COR fosters local pride and boosts talent retention in the greater Columbia, S.C., region. COR is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.