MELINDA WALDROP PROFILE

Three Richland County schools will celebrate South Carolina’s observation of Arbor Day tomorrow by planting trees.   Celebrated nationally in April, Arbor Day is observed in December in the Palmetto State, as that ... Read More

Carolina Lights, the annual drive-through holiday light show on the South Carolina State Fairgrounds, will return for its third year this weekend.   The light show, featuring more than 100 individual LED light displays s... Read More

Rockit Pest has acquired Columbia-based Home Pest Control, which has provided services throughout South Carolina for nearly 60 years.   Rockit Pest is a portfolio company of Halle Capital, a New York-based growth equity-focu... Read More

A 12-day philanthropic effort sponsored by Central Carolina Community Foundation begins tomorrow.   The 12 Days of Giving is an online giving platform that will highlight different nonprofits each day until Dec. 11. The high... Read More

A new land development code featuring several key changes has been adopted by Richland County Council and is slated to go into effect in May.   The new code, adopted Nov. 16, includes a switch to density-based zoning, which ... Read More

Applicants for certain U.S. Small Business Administration loans are urged to submit applications ahead of a Dec. 31 deadline to ensure adequate processing time.   The SBA is accepting COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan prog... Read More

South Carolina’s unemployment rate fell to 3.9% in October from 4.1% in September, with the trade, transportation and utilities industry adding almost 20,000 jobs.   The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce&rsqu... Read More

South Carolina saw 1,234 initial employment claims filed for the week ending Nov. 13, a dip of 76 from the 1,310 first-time claims filed the week before.   For the most recent week, three S.C. counties recorded double-digit ... Read More

Five graduates have completed Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corp.’s 2021 Pharmacy Technician Apprentice Program with the highest grade point average and completion rate in the history of the program, started in January 2018.   ... Read More

The average internet user probably doesn’t give much thought to how information shared or requested arrives at its final destination.   But in South Carolina, that process is about to undergo a significant change.&... Read More

Wastewater filtration system engineering and design company AVANTech LLC is expanding its Richland County operations with a $3.6 million investment expected to create 17 jobs.   AVANTech, founded in 1999 in South Carolina, p... Read More

Apprenticeship Carolina and the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs have signed an agreement aimed at increasing minority-owned business participation in statewide apprenticeship programs.   “We strive to pr... Read More

Encompass Health Corp., a health care provider with 145 hospitals nationwide, plans to build a 27-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Irmo.   Encompass offers both facility- and home-based patient care through its netwo... Read More

While the initial surge that lifted S.C.’s hospitality and tourism industry when businesses reopened after pandemic-related closures has abated somewhat, experts agree that reasons for optimism remain for the economic sector th... Read More

More than $13 million in grant funding for statewide municipal infrastructure projects has been awarded by the S.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority.  The grant recipients include, for the first time, two planning studies as part o... Read More

Richland County’s redesigned neighborhood grant program will begin accepting applications on Dec. 1.   The Neighborhood Enrichment Grant program, which replaces the Neighborhood Matching Grants, was developed in respon... Read More

Ashely Teasdel, director of the S.C. Department of Commerce’s business services division, has been promoted to deputy secretary of the organization.   In her six-plus years with the commerce department, Teasdel has led... Read More

For the week ending Oct. 30, 1,130 initial unemployment claims were filed in South Carolina, a drop of 95 from the previous week.   The Upstate saw a large share of first-time claims, with Greenville County recording 107, Sp... Read More

A Lexington County pet boarding service and two Lowcountry organizations have been recognized for operational integrity by the Better Business Bureau Serving Central SC and Charleston.  Chapin Pet Lodge was named the BBB’s ... Read More

The second Veterans Virtual Career Fair, featuring more than 35 organizations from throughout South Carolina, is set to take place Tuesday.   The fair will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Online registration is open now at... Read More

The South Carolina Research Authority has accepted three new member companies, including a mobile health records provider relocating from Seattle to Anderson, and distributed new grant funding to three other startups throughout the state... Read More

Segra Park, home of the Columbia Fireflies, is now open again as a public park.   The park reopened to the public on Monday for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m... Read More

Construction has begun on the third and final phase of St. Anns Alley, a 34-unit, single-family development in West Columbia’s River District.   Phase III will include the development’s final 11 homes and one... Read More

Twenty-two influential women, from nonprofit giants to marketing mavens, have been named 2021 Women of Influence by the Columbia Regional Business Report.  These groundbreaking women, nominated by CRBR readers and selected by a p... Read More

South Carolina’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.1% in September from 4.2% in August.   The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce’s seasonally adjusted, monthly survey of households estimated the number of S... Read More

The number of initial unemployment claims filed in South Carolina for the week ending Oct. 16 dropped by 250 from the previous week.   For the most recent week, the state saw 1,064 first-time claims, according to statistics ... Read More

The Congaree Vista Guild’s 36th annual Vista Lights celebration is returning to its full format after adjustments necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.   The holiday event will be held from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. o... Read More

The S.C. real estate market cooled slightly in September, though the Greater Columbia area saw an 11% increase in home sales.   Statewide, 9,323 homes sold throughout the month, according to the most recent South Carolina Re... Read More

Colonial Family Practice, a physician-owned primary and urgent care practice with multiple S.C. clinics, has agreed to a $1.25 million settlement to resolve allegations of filing claims for medically unnecessary services.   ... Read More

A new food and beverage concept is coming to the BullStreet District.   Sanctuary Food Hall is seeking local businesses, from food trucks looking to open a brick-and-mortar location to restaurants in search of a place to exp... Read More

Evanesce, a sustainable technology innovator, is opening its first U.S. production facility in Hampton County.  The company makes biodegradable, environmentally friendly food packaging from upcycled food waste. An opening celebra... Read More

More than 22,000 visitors helped open the 152nd S.C State Fair this week as the annual event returned in full force after being limited to a drive-through event last year.   The fair opened Wednesday and welcomed 22,266 ... Read More

A new project between Richland County School District One and Schneider Electric is projected to reduce the district’s energy bill by nearly 73% when completed next year.   The two-phase project will add solar arrays t... Read More

Initial unemployment claims in South Carolina increased by 157 for the week ending Oct. 9 from the previous week, with Greenville County recording a state-high 182 first-time claims.   The state saw a total of 1,314 claims f... Read More

The Engineering Research Visioning Alliance has an ambitious goal to influence the future of engineering while helping to change its face. The initiative, funded by the National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering, launched... Read More

The large capital M is omnipresent.   The block letter, which could be considered burgundy but skews closer to garnet in Columbia color palettes, that is Mashburn Construction’s simple but instantly recognizable logo m... Read More

A biscuit cafe with locations throughout the Southeast and in Texas will be coming to Five Points later this year.   The Flying Biscuit Cafe will open in the new Treadwell redevelopment in the 900 block of Harden Street by m... Read More

Savannah River Remediation, Savannah River Site’s liquid waste contractor, has reaffirmed a memorandum of understanding with Denmark Technical College.   The renewed memorandum, signed Sept. 28, continues a partnership... Read More

As Columbia International University celebrated the naming of its business school, Mike Crapps reflected on the benefits of partnering with the private Christian university with nearly 2,400 students.   “Our bank h... Read More

Cleveland-based industrial property owner and developer Weston Inc. is continuing to add Columbia properties to its growing Southeast portfolio.   Weston most recently acquired a 65,000-square-foot industrial building at 110... Read More

S.C. businesses have a new resource to help procure military contacts and subcontracts with the U.S. Department of Defense as well as federal, state and local governments.   The Procurement Technical Assistance Center of Sou... Read More

The next time a big commercial real estate deal closes in South Carolina, participating parties can celebrate by cracking open a cold one.   Colliers | South Carolina has partnered with North Charleston’s Holy City Bre... Read More

South Carolina saw 1,157 initial unemployment claims filed for the week ending Oct. 2, an increase of 44 from the previous week.   Greenville County had a state-high 112 first-time claims filed, while Horry County had 89. Ri... Read More

Former SCANA Corp. CEO Kevin Marsh has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in the V.C. Summer nuclear debacle.   Marsh, 66, who pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, w... Read More

A $400,000 federal grant will be used to create a new statewide investment program to identify, qualify and invest in promising startups through the University of South Carolina’s Office of Innovation, Partnerships and Economic Eng... Read More

Saltwater fishing boat manufacturer Sea Pro Boats LLC is investing $3.7 million in an expansion of its Newberry County operations expected to create 50 jobs.   The company has manufacture center console fishing boats for mor... Read More

An economic development professional with more than two decades of experience is the new president and CEO of the Central SC Alliance.   Nelson Lindsay, the S.C. Department of Commerce’s director of global business dev... Read More

Hotel Trundle, recently named one of the top five best historic hotels in the country by USA Today, will now have its own day on the calendar.   Mayor Steve Benjamin will issue a proclamation during Tuesday’s Colum... Read More

Columbia International University’s business school will be named for the owners of America’s eighth-largest pest control company.   The John and Lyn Cook School of Business will be dedicated during a ribbon-cutt... Read More

Initial S.C. unemployment claims fell by 464 for the week ending Sept. 25 from the previous week, with Greenville County the only county to still see triple-digit claims.   The 1,113 first-time claims represented a drop from... Read More

A new apartment complex will add more than 500 residents to the BullStreet District as soon as 2023.   Work has begun on Bennet at BullStreet, a 280,000-square-foot community with 269 luxury apartments ranging from studi... Read More

Three S.C. Community Development Financial Institutions will receive nearly $3 million in grants as part of Wells Fargo’s Open for Business program.   The $420 million national small business recovery program, laun... Read More

Twenty years ago, Tom Milliken sat on a Blythewood porch and rocked.   He had a vision for land surrounding the house where he was occupying a rocking chair. He would have to get it under contract three times and keep an... Read More

Trinity Partners Columbia has leased more than 52,000 square feet of medical/office space in the last 90 days in commercial real estate transactions totaling more than $7 million.   Nick Stomski, partner, and Jake Nidiffer, ... Read More

A new website powered by the Central SC Alliance aims to connect skilled workers with local employers while touting the benefits of the region.   Start Central includes search tools for jobs and internships, training program... Read More

Richland County is searching for artists to illustrate Tessa’s Tale, a children’s story featuring a fish whose adventures educate young readers about stormwater pollution.   The activity book, which explores diff... Read More

Initial unemployment claims in South Carolina fell by 796 for the week ending Sept. 18 from the previous week, when first-time claims topped 2,000 for the first time since mid-July.   The 1,597 claims for the most recent wee... Read More

One million applications have now been received by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program Direct Borrower Forgiveness Portal from borrowers seeking forgiveness for loans of $150,000 or less. ... Read More

Five Midlands leaders will be recognized by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce at its annual awards gala on Oct. 7.   As previously announced, longtime banking executive Mike Brenan will receive the Ambassador of the Year awar... Read More

Midlands Technical College will celebrate the grand opening of $4.5 million in upgrades to a new welding technology center at its Airport campus on Wednesday.   The center adds 19 welding stations to the 45 previously in exi... Read More

South Carolina’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.2% in August from 4.3% in July, the eighth consecutive month the rate has decreased. The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce’s seasonally adjusted, monthly household ... Read More

Initial S.C. unemployment claims topped 2,000 for the first time since mid-July for the week ending Sept. 11, rising to 2,393.   That represented an increase of 1,128 in first-time claims from the week before and the most cl... Read More

National automotive refinancing company ilendingDIRECT has opened an office in Richland County with plans to create 40 jobs.  The office is located at 1001 Pinnacle Point Drive, near Interstate 77 and Farrow Road.   ... Read More

Resource Financial Services Inc. has acquired 708 Lady St., the former location of Carolina Ale House, to be redeveloped into its new headquarters.   Bruce Harper, managing partner of Trinity Partners, represented t... Read More

As the National Small Business Week Virtual Summit winds down, a new report reflects growing optimism among S.C. small businesses, while another study points to a continued labor shortage in the state.   Following up on a Fe... Read More

The S.C. Department of Revenue has introduced a new tax and licensing guide for vendors, promoters and hosts.   The Events & Festivals guide is a resource for participants in state and county fairs, trade shows, festival... Read More

Frank Knapp sees one straightforward solution to the labor shortage facing many industries as the nation continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic: Make more workers available.  Three pieces of legislation currently before the ... Read More

Registration is now open for the 2021 Hire Me SC Employer Summit, to be held online from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 13.   The annual event, led by Hire Me SC and Able SC, provides resources for business managers, executives an... Read More

The University of South Carolina has been ranked the No. 1 public institution in the country for first-year experience in U.S. News and World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings.   It is the third straight year the ... Read More

The LOOK! Photography exhibit, featuring glimpses into the lives of children and young people living with a disability or chronic health condition, will celebrate its 2021 online premiere on Sunday.   The exhibit, presented ... Read More

Initial S.C. unemployment claims for the week of Aug. 29-Sept. 4 dropped by 50 from the previous week, with a total of 1,265 first-time claims filed.   Greenville County saw a state-high 222 initial claims filed, followed by... Read More

Rock Hill-headquartered 3D printing company 3D Systems is acquiring cloud-based Manufacturing Operating System company Oqton, based in Belgium, in a $180 million deal expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year.   O... Read More

Longtime Midlands banking executive and community leader Mike Brenan will be honored as the Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s Ambassador of the Year next month.   Brenan, regional president for the South Carolina region o... Read More

Premium Peanut is investing $64.3 million to establish operations in Orangeburg County in a move expected to create 130 jobs.   The grower-owned peanut shelling company, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Georgia, has... Read More

The city of Columbia has unanimously voted to require city employees to be vaccinated by Nov. 1, with Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin saying there is a need to protect vulnerable citizens from the coronavirus.   With 20,767 CO... Read More

Southwest and Asian fusion restaurant Takosushi will open a Columbia location this fall in The Arcade building.   The Georgia-based restaurant features an eclectic menu including sushi, potstickers, nachos, quesadillas,... Read More

S.C. agribusinesses have until the end of this month to apply for a tax credit for increasing purchases of products certified as grown in South Carolina by the state Department of Agriculture.  The program provides a possible inc... Read More

Those searching for a different lunch option in downtown Columbia once again have a distinctive choice open to them for the first time in more than a year.   The McCutchen House on the University of South Carolina’s Ho... Read More

Almost $3 million in federal funding is available for projects aimed at reducing diesel emissions across the state.   The U.S. Environmental Program Agency’s 2021 State Diesel Emissions Reduction Act includes $294,000 ... Read More

The Grand on Main is adding a dessert and cocktail lounge to the bottom level of the restaurant and boutique bowling alley featuring the creations of New York-based pastry chef Rory Macdonald.   The Robinson Room opens today... Read More

Initial S.C. unemployment claims for the week ending Aug. 28 fell by 233 with from the previous week, though Greenville and Richland counties each saw claims rise above 200. First-time claimants filed 1,315 claims for the week of... Read More

Global mining manufacturer Metso Outotec is investing $3 million to relocate its Richland County pump manufacturing operations.  The Helsinki-headquartered company, which also provides end-to-end solutions for the aggregates, min... Read More

Curious about the S.C. counties where residents make the most money? The folks at financial technology company SmartAsset were, and analyzed census data to find answers.   The study, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau&rs... Read More

Lexington garden and plant center Wingard's Market has partnered with Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity to add a touch of home to as many as six new Midlands houses. Wingard's Market is donating plants, flowers and l... Read More

Nine new honorees have been added to Columbia's City of Women project.  The project, in its third year, shares the stories of women who have made significant contributions to the city's history, pushed boundaries and help... Read More