Skip to main content

Columbia Business Monthly

The Business Narrative: Relief Resources

Oct 11, 2024 10:32AM ● By Donna Walker

(123rf.com Image)

Governor Announces Three Additional Team South Carolina County Days

Gov. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Pamela S. Evette announced that state and federal officials and representatives from nonprofits will hold additional Team South Carolina County Days in Clinton on Tuesday, Oct. 15, Allendale on Thursday, Oct. 17, and Aiken on Friday, Oct. 18.

 

Team South Carolina County Days provide local residents affected by Hurricane Helene with a one-stop opportunity to learn about relief resources available to them.

Team South Carolina County Day events will include representation from the following agencies:

 

S.C. Department of Agriculture – Gathering impact data in preparation for upcoming Farm Recovery Centers (FRC).

S.C. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services – Providing counseling resources, alcohol and drug services and substance use prevention.

S.C. Department of Disabilities and Special Needs – Supplying information on resources and services for individuals with disabilities.

S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce – Supplying information on unemployment benefits (including Disaster Unemployment Assistance) as well as employment services.

S.C. Department of Environmental Services – Providing assistance for private drinking well owners and free test kits for those whose wells have been impacted by floodwaters.

S.C. Department of Health and Human Services – Providing information on health care services and Medicaid.

S.C. Department of Insurance – Providing information on the insurance claim process as well as coverage and insurance fraud prevention.

S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation – Providing information on fire safety, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and residential builder information.

S.C. Department of Mental Health – Providing general center-wide resources and personal screenings as appropriate.

S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles – Assisting citizens attending the event.

S.C. Department of Public Health – Providing information on Women, Infants and Children (WIC) educational resources and support as well as onsite Tdap and flu vaccines.

S.C. Department of Social Services – Providing guidance on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and Affidavit of Loss Due to a Household Misfortune.

S.C. Department on Aging – Providing information on services for seniors.  

S.C. Division of Veterans Affairs – Providing information on services for veterans.

S.C. Emergency Management Division – Coordinating individual disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and will provide information for residents about personal recovery steps. SCEMD will also provide emergency preparedness guides and demonstrate the SC Emergency Manager mobile app.

S.C. Housing Authority – Providing rental properties listing and potential resources for home repairs.

S.C. Office of Resilience – Providing disaster case managers to assist eligible citizens with disaster-caused unmet needs through a basic intake process.

FEMA  Providing assistance with registering for financial assistance related to the storm.

U.S. Small Business Administration – Providing assistance with applying for disaster loans.

United Way Association of South Carolina/AmeriCorps SC and Local Chapters – Providing information on community volunteer opportunities.

One SC Fund – Providing information on nonprofit resources during disaster relief.

Other state and local nonprofit organizations.  

 

When and Where:

Tuesday, Oct. 15, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
For Union, Newberry, and Laurens Counties
Piedmont Technical College, Laurens County Higher Education Center, 663 Medical Ridge Road, Clinton, S.C.
 

Thursday, Oct. 17, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
For Barnwell, Bamberg, and Allendale Counties
USC Salkehatchie, Allendale (West) Campus, 465 James Brandt Boulevard, Allendale, S.C.
 

Friday, Oct. 18, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
For Aiken, Saluda, and Edgefield Counties
USC Aiken Convocation Center, 2049 Champion Way, Graniteville, S.C.

Colliers lists Hotel Opportunity In Partnership with Columbia Metropolitan Airport

Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) selected Alia Bostaji of Colliers | South Carolina to list and market a hotel site on an approximately two-acre parcel on the airport’s campus in West Columbia, South Carolina.

 

Colliers said the airport will offer the land as a ground lease and will look for a developer to build and operate the hotel.

 

It said conceptual site plans are available, consisting of a four-story hotel with approximately 150 rooms. 

 

Located in West Columbia on the corner of Airport Boulevard and Aviation Way, the site features approximately two acres for hotel development with direct access to the airport surface and garage parking as well as the breezeway.

 

“This hotel will significantly ease the travel experience, particularly for those with early-morning or late-night flights,” said Mike Gula, president and CEO at CAE.

 

Bostaji is a hospitality real estate expert specializing in transactions involving land for hotel development and hotel investment sales.

 

Colliers | South Carolina is the largest full-service commercial real estate firm in South Carolina with 66 licensed real estate professionals covering the state with locations in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and Spartanburg. 

Soccer Legend Joins Local Ownership Group

The Greenville Triumph and Greenville Liberty announced Oct. 9, 2024, that global soccer star Ronaldinho Assis has joined the club’s ownership group.

 

One of the most valuable footballers in the world known for his creative playmaking, Ronaldinho brings a wealth of soccer knowledge and an international presence to Greenville Pro Soccer (GPS).

 

Ronaldinho inked the deal at the New York Stock Exchange Oct. 9, where he rang the closing bell as part of International Day.

 

Officials said Ronaldinho’s investment is a powerful endorsement of what the organization has built during the past six years and elevates the standing of the Greenville Triumph and Greenville Liberty within the soccer community. 

 

With the global spotlight on North America for the 2026 World Cup and Atlanta serving as a host city, Ronaldinho’s involvement is set to bring international recognition to the Triumph and Liberty teams as well as Upstate South Carolina, the officials said.

 

Ronaldinho began his professional career in Brazil before moving to Europe, where he starred for Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona, winning the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2004 and 2005.

 

His success continued with AC Milan and the Brazilian national team, where he played a pivotal role in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup victory.

 

“We are honored to welcome Ronaldinho into the Triumph family,” said Greenville Triumph Chairman Joe Erwin. “His influence in the sport is unmatched, and his presence within our ownership group speaks volumes about the direction we are heading as a club."

 

Erwin added, "Ronaldinho’s involvement will not only elevate our club’s profile but also inspire our players, fans, and the entire Upstate community.”

 

Erwin said that Ronaldinho’s passion for the sport and commitment to fostering the next generation of soccer talent aligns perfectly with the mission of the Greenville Triumph.

 

“The emphasis the Greenville Triumph and Liberty place on youth play through the boys and girls youth academy teams, and the level of competitive excellence of the Triumph professional team and Liberty pre-professional team is impressive,” Ronaldinho said. 

 

He added, “For me and our group, this is an opportunity to support soccer’s growth at all ages and levels, and to be part of a community that values international presence and a unique blend of cultures.”

 

Wallace Cheves, a member of the GPS ownership group, brought Ronaldinho on board through Cheves’ Grupo Ronaldinho ownership syndicate.

 

“Having spent years developing businesses in Brazil and witnessing firsthand the deep passion that the Brazilian people have for soccer, I’ve had the privilege of watching legends like Ronaldinho inspire millions,” Cheves said.

 

“To now bring that same energy and global soccer influence to Greenville is a dream come true,” he said. 

 

Roberto Assis, Ronaldinho’s brother and business partner, said, “In our visits to Greenville meeting with senior staff of the Triumph and Liberty we’ve been charmed by your beautiful, warm and welcoming community. Its proximity to Atlanta, a key city for the upcoming World Cup, makes this an important area for the sport’s continued expansion in the United States.”

 

Ronaldinho joins an ownership group comprised of Erwin and his wife, Gretchen; Cheves; William M. Webster, IV; Rick Pennell; Jim Casey; Doug Erwin and Shannon Wilbanks.

Ratan Tata, Indian Magnate, Dies; Had Honorary Doctorate From Clemson

Ratan Tata, an Indian industrialist, investor, and philanthropist who in 2015 received an honorary doctorate in automotive engineering from Clemson University, has died at age 86, The New York Times reported.

 

The patriarch of a powerful family, his Tata Group put an indelible stamp on Indian life while acquiring British brand names like Tetley Tea and Jaguar, the newspaper reported.

 

For years, Clemson students and faculty members have shuttled between Clemson and India for a flurry of exchange programs, many centering on the auto industry and the PSG College of Technology in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

 

Activity surged after Tata Trusts agreed to pay for five PSG students to work toward master’s degrees at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research, or CU-ICAR. 

 

The Tata Fellows program has been among Clemson’s connections to Ratan Tata. 

 

The Times reported that India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, called Tata “a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being,” saying he had “an unwavering commitment to making our society better.

 

The Times said Tata died on Wednesday in Mumbai. 

Allow us to tell your company's Business Narrative. Send your press release to David Dykes or for more information email [email protected]