Elliott Davis, a leading business solutions firm with nine offices across the Southeast, and the Columbia Fireflies partnered to host the inaugural “Light Up Business Downtown” celebration on Tuesday, June 4 at Segra Park. Representatives from more than 70 area businesses attended the event, making it one of the largest networking opportunities of the year.

Presented by Elliott Davis, “Light Up Business Downtown” combined business and baseball to spotlight the important role that local companies play in the economic development and prosperity of the Midlands.

“The first edition of ‘Light Up Business Downtown’ was a resounding success,” said Rick Davis, CEO of Elliott Davis. “From the networking opportunities to the game itself, the event proved to be a great way for local leaders to come together in a fun, festive setting and celebrate all of the great things taking place in the downtown business community.”

During the event, attendees enjoyed pre-game networking opportunities, special appearances, and other activities. Bob Hughes, chairman of Hughes Development Corporation, also provided a “sneak peek” into upcoming developments planned for the 181-acre BullStreet District, which is home to Segra Park and will eventually include more than 3 million square feet of commercial space and up to 3,558 residential units. During the game, officials from Elliott Davis and the Fireflies presented a check for a percentage of the “Light Up Business” proceeds to representatives from the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“The response to ’Light Up Business Downtown’ from the business community has been extremely positive and very encouraging,” said Jason Freier, chairman and CEO of Hardball Capital and managing owner of the Columbia Fireflies. "We look forward to partnering with Elliott Davis to host this event in the future in order to provide a unique setting for local business leaders to connect and develop new opportunities for growth.”