CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS PROFILE

Specialty food services such as bakeries continue to be among the hottest new tenants of rental space around the state, including the Midlands. One recent example is Crumbl Cookies’ lease of 1,414 square feet of retail space in... Read More

A new restaurant, BirdsNest Grille, has opened inside Random Tap in Elgin. The new eatery, which opened in early September, is run by Chapin residents Donald and Chatara Taylor, who bring years of experience in the restaurant indu... Read More

The seasons are changing in South Carolina and so are conditions on the residential real estate market, with recent statistics suggesting it is no longer exactly a buyer’s or seller’s market in many regions of the state. ... Read More

The seasons are changing in South Carolina and so are conditions on the residential real estate market, with recent statistics suggesting it is no longer exactly a buyer’s or seller’s market in many regions of the state. ... Read More

S.C. state officials continued to prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Ian Thursday afternoon as forecast trends for the storm grew "more concerning," according to an official from the National Weather Service who spoke at ... Read More

Roslyn Clark Artis, president and CEO of Benedict College, and Columbia attorney I.S. Leevy Johnson were inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame at a ceremony held in Atlanta on Sept. 23. Each year, the national o... Read More

Two upcoming workforce development events aim to help residents find jobs and sharpen skills. Recruiting Solutions, an employment agency, will hold a hiring event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Richland Library main branch, lo... Read More

Rodney Ellis, 71, of Sumter, has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to defrauding a Sumter County nonprofit.  While serving as the financial officer for Sumter Behavioral Health Services,... Read More

David Pankau has received the Ambassador of the Year award from the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. He will be honored at the Chamber’s 119th Annual Gala on Oct. 6, according to a news release. The award, sponsored by Colonial ... Read More

The University of South Carolina’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2023-24 seeks to keep tuition affordable across the eight-campus system. The budget proposal also prioritizes construction of classrooms and innovative learning ... Read More

Plant lovers can get their yards and gardens ready for fall at the Midlands Plant and Flower Festival, scheduled for Oct. 7-9 at the South Carolina State Farmers Market. The market is located at 3483 Charleston Highway in West Col... Read More

The Columbia Fireflies will open the 2023 season on April 6. Columbia’s minor league baseball team will start its 2023 Carolina League campaign at home with a three-game weekend series at Segra Park, beginning Thursday, Apri... Read More

Artwork by clients of Transitions Homeless Center in Columbia is on display for the next few months at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Each year, Transitions officials work with CAE to highlight the artistic talents of many of their cl... Read More

MGS LLC, a military procurement company, is investing $3 million to expand its operations in Richland County. Based in the U.S., MGS LLC is an international procurement and distribution company that assists the government in acqu... Read More

Flock and Rally, a woman-owned integrated communications and marketing agency based in Columbia, has named Merritt McNeely its new CEO. McNeely, who has served in an executive leadership role at the agency since spring 2018, will ... Read More

Turn90, a nonprofit that equips men to succeed after prison by providing a route to a career-path job, has received a $50,000 grant from Power:Ed, a philanthropic project of SC Student Loan. The funds will be used to hire two new ... Read More

Southern cuisine restaurant Willie Sue’s Food and Spirits has closed its Columbia location at 380 Columbiana Drive. General manager Javier Boscio told SC Biz News that the closing is a result of “unforeseen circumstances&r... Read More

Troy Benjamin Bittner, 53, of Myrtle Beach, has been indicted by a Florence grand jury for defrauding a local resort out of nearly $1 million during the pandemic, according to the U.S. Attorney of the District of South Carolina. The i... Read More

Entrepreneurs from around South Carolina can learn how to grow their businesses at the seventh annual Growth Conference, scheduled for Oct. 20-21 at 701 Whaley in Columbia. The summit will offer professional growth and networking for ... Read More

Richland County is holding two additional training sessions for organizations interested in applying for emergency federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act. The county received $16 million in funding from ARPA to help smal... Read More

A large speculative building will be coming soon to the Pointe Salkehatchie Industrial Park in Allendale County. The 50,000-square-foot building is expandable to 150,000 square feet and will have space available for lease or sale,... Read More

South Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased to 3.1% in August from July’s estimate of 3.2%, according to statistics released today by the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. During August, the state added 9,600 n... Read More

Verizon Wireless has entered into a partnership with the University of South Carolina to research new uses for the company’s 5G network in the health care, civil infrastructure and manufacturing fields. Research through the ... Read More

Benedict College has named Verna Orr as the school’s new chief of staff. Orr, who previously served as special assistant for planning and institutional effectiveness, will be responsible for directing the operations of the p... Read More

Charleston-based Beach Real Estate Funds LLC, an affiliate of The Beach Co., has acquired Waters Edge at Harbison, a 240-unit garden style multifamily community in the Harbison area. “Columbia is a market in which The Beach Co. ... Read More

Benita Lefft is the new COO for Columbia-based Optus Bank. She comes to Optus with more than 30 years of banking experience, including a long career at Wells Fargo, according to a news release. At Wells Fargo, she served as COO... Read More

ABB Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicle chargers, is opening a new facility in West Columbia. The company's $4 million investment will increase production of EV chargers, including ones compliant w... Read More

Land at the corner of Forest Drive and Beltline Boulevard in Forest Acres has been sold and eventually will become home to a drive-thru coffee shop and a medical office. Commercial real estate firm Trinity Partners represented the sel... Read More

A new toy store is open on Columbia’s Main Street. Located at 1426 Main St., Perfect Storm Bear Factory is owned by Columbia residents Jenny and Allen Franklin and offers a wide selection of toys, games, puzzles and customiz... Read More

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has renewed the operating license for the Westinghouse Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility in Hopkins. The renewed license authorizes the facility to continue operations through Sept. 12, 2062. The Col... Read More

The Five Points Association, a nonprofit organization that oversees efforts to promote and develop the Five Points district in Columbia, has hired Heather McDonald to serve as its new executive director. As executive director, she... Read More

The City of Columbia Community Development Department and Office of Business Opportunities will host the quarterly All Access Columbia event from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15. The sessions will focus on resources for small businesses a... Read More

The Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity will hold its third Engage Richland Opportunity Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, in the R212 Conference Center at 763 Fashion Drive, Columbia. The event is open t... Read More

The Congaree Vista Guild has announced the return of Third Thursday Art Night from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15. Third Thursday has been a long-standing tradition in The Vista, offering a chance for people to visit the district and enj... Read More

A new affordable housing option for seniors is in the future for the St. Andrews submarket after Midlands Housing Alliance purchased Dutch Plaza, a 76,000-square-foot building, from D&P Beach Properties LLC. Crawford Prezioso,... Read More

South Carolina residents who receive student loan forgiveness through a plan recently announced by President Joe Biden will not be taxed for it, according to the S.C. Department of Revenue. In a statement dated Sept. 1, the DOR said r... Read More

Current statistics show South Carolina’s job market at an interesting crossroads, with more jobs available than ever before but a consistent problem in getting people to apply for them. Addressing that situation will be a centra... Read More

When Vicki Weigle set out to develop a vineyard and winery on the grounds of a former tobacco farm in Horry County nearly 30 years ago, many local farmers thought she was making a big mistake. Recently, one of those nay-sayers sto... Read More

  The Savannah River National Laboratory has received a $3 million award from the Department of Energy to promote research into developing new clean energy technologies. The award comes from the DOE’s Office of Science B... Read More

Brent Jonas has been hired as the first COO of Sustain SC, an economic development organization dedicated to connecting the sustainability goals of businesses around the state with local solutions for the benefit of the economy, environm... Read More

Richland County is accepting applications for federal funding from organizations serving vulnerable groups that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The county received $15 million in emergency federal funding through the American ... Read More

The City of Columbia on Tuesday unveiled a new concept for providing services to chronically unsheltered people in the city. City officials announced the construction of a transitional housing project that will be built on city pr... Read More

A third popular national retailer is coming to Trenholm Plaza in Forest Acres. Bath & Body Works, known for its soaps, lotions, fragrances and candles, will be the third store to go into retail space vacated by Stein Mart in 2020,... Read More

Destination marketing organization Experience Columbia SC is teaming up with Cities of the SEC, a coalition of cities that are home to the schools in the Southeastern Conference, to familiarize fans with regional attractions throughout t... Read More

Hotel Trundle has added another honor to its portfolio. The downtown boutique hotel recently was ranked in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, announced earlier this week. The hotel was ranked No. 4 for Best Bou... Read More

Columbia craft beer lovers will have some new brews from Georgia to sample later this month. Creature Comforts Brewing Co., a certified craft brewery based in Athens, plans to expand its distribution to Columbia by mid-September, comp... Read More

Sung Wook Kim, also known as “Paul,” 36, of Lexington, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney of the District of South Carolina. Evidence presented ... Read More

A new Publix grocery store will be coming the Pontiac community in northeast Columbia in the near future. The Florida-based grocery chain recently executed a lease for a site at the northwest corner of Spears Creek Church Road near Ea... Read More

Midtown at Bullstreet, a new 90-unit attainable housing rental apartment complex, will soon be under construction at the BullStreet District in downtown Columbia. Midtown at BullStreet will cover approximately two acres located ne... Read More

Claflin University recently unveiled its Veteran Women Monument, the first of its kind at a historically Black college or university. The monument is a tribute to women who graduated from Claflin and also served in the U.S. milita... Read More

A popular Thai restaurant in the Vista is making a move to Columbia’s Main Street. Kao Thai Cuisine will be moving to 1307 Main St. in downtown Columbia, according to a release from Columbia-based commercial development firm The... Read More

Nephron Nitrile is one step closer to starting production of nitrile rubber gloves, an important component of personal protective equipment, in West Columbia. Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corp. launched the glove company in July 2021 t... Read More

Richland County Councilman Derrek Pugh was recently elected chair of the Membership Committee for the S.C. Coalition of Black County Officials, a group that works to ensure minority county officials have the resources to help lead their ... Read More

The city of Columbia is seeking volunteers to help conduct bicyclist and pedestrian counts around the city. The city targets key intersections and crossings for these counts because these heavily used locations are also where many ped... Read More

South Carolina farmers who grow specialty crops will benefit from a grant of more than $591,000 the state received on Thursday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service. Funding from the Specialty ... Read More

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for the Midlands Minority Business Accelerator Class of 2023. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Sept. 22. The MMBA is a program of the Columbia Chamber in partnershi... Read More

Richland County’s Conservation Commission is working on plans to attract more tourists interested in African-American history. The commission is currently working with the county’s procurement office to select a vendor to ... Read More

Benedict College is now the first historically Black college or university in South Carolina to offer an accredited environmental engineering program. The college’s Environmental Engineering program recently received its ini... Read More

The Transportation Security Administration has some advice for travelers as Halloween approaches — leave the Freddy Krueger gloves out of your carry-on bags. A homemade glove with blades for fingers, like the one worn by Kre... Read More

Columbia and other S.C. cities could soon see the development of large lagoons for recreation and swimming through a new funding relationship between Greenville-based private equity firm Broadstreet Inc. and Blue Lagoon Development L... Read More

Tacos Nayarit, a popular Mexican restaurant at 1531 Percival Road in northeast Columbia, will be adding an Irmo location in the near future. In recent days, the owners of Tacos Nayarit posted video and photos on Facebook and Insta... Read More

A Richland County woman was arrested today and charged with seven counts of tax evasion, according to the S.C. Department of Revenue. Zina F. Hampton, 59, of Irmo, is charged with failing to timely report individual income tax returns... Read More

Columbia International University will open a new 2,700-square-foot Health Science Lab this week as part of ongoing expansion of the school’s health care program. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the lab will be held 11 a.m. on... Read More

Soldiers serving in the U.S. Army in South Carolina will have new tools available to them to aid their transition into the workforce upon leaving the military thanks to the state’s new partnership with the Army’s Partnership ... Read More

Owen Steel Co., a structural steel fabricator and contractor based in Columbia, plans a $3 million investment in its Richland County plant that will create an estimated 22 jobs. As part of the investment, the company is purchasing new... Read More

Jazz fans in the Midlands will want to mark their calendars for the fifth annual Cola Jazz Fest, to be held Sept. 24 and 25 in downtown Columbia. The event is sponsored by the ColaJazz Foundation. The festival runs from 6 p.m. to ... Read More

A downtown business has been permanently closed by the Columbia Police Department after being deemed a public nuisance. Main’s Best LLC, a convenience and grocery store at 2132 Main St., was officially declared a public nuisance... Read More

Two members of a Myrtle Beach family have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a scheme to defraud the government out of more than $500,000 by submitting false tax returns and stealing economic impact payments sent to othe... Read More

Pet Supplies Plus, a full-service pet supply retail company, is investing $53 million to establish a new distribution center in Orangeburg County expected to create 275 jobs. The distribution center will be located in the Shamrock Com... Read More

Poogan’s Southern Kitchen will open on Aug. 22 in the Cardinal Crossing Community at 4605 Forest Drive in Forest Acres. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m., followed immediately by a grand opening celeb... Read More

Lexington Medical Center has purchased two properties, 5133 and 5143 Forest Drive, that formerly held The Turning Pointe and The Marlboro Inn. The hospital network plans to demolish both buildings and build a two-story medical buildin... Read More

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship is partnering with Clemson Cooperative Extension to accept applications for the fifth annual curriculum program for agribusiness i... Read More

Plans for a seven-story hotel in the Vista received the green light from the City of Columbia’s Planning Commission at its Aug. 11 meeting. The commission approved plans for construction of a combined Homewood Suites and Tru... Read More

Zoe’s Kitchen, a long-time favorite for Mediterranean food lovers in Forest Acres, has announced it will be closing its location at 4855 Forest Drive on Wednesday. It will be replaced by a Cava restaurant, according to Lynns... Read More

The Whig, the iconic subterranean bar located at the intersection of Main and Gervais streets in downtown Columbia, will close later this year after a 17-year run. Owners Phill Blair and Will Green announced on Thursday that the b... Read More

South Carolina ETV and Public Radio (SCETV) has teamed up with Aiken Technical College to provide free certified tower technician courses to military veterans through a partnership with Warriors 4 Wireless and Safety LMS. The course i... Read More

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce is now taking nominations for two awards to be given out at its Annual Gala on Oct. 6. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. Aug. 26. The Military Advocate of the Year Award recognizes a person in the Great... Read More

Claflin University in Orangeburg has opened new affordable housing for its faculty and staff members. The block of nine two-story townhomes, known as The Villas at Claflin, is across from the main campus at 2005 Magnolia St. and o... Read More

A Pelion man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for defrauding investors out of more than $3 million. Samuel Sturkie Jackson Jr., 51, of Pelion, has been sentenced to 48 months in federal prison followed by three years... Read More

The owner of a new boutique in Five Points hopes to offer Columbia women a wide variety of clothes at affordable prices. Unis Boutique, located at 616-I Harden St., held its grand opening Monday morning. The store is located ... Read More

Georgia-based Queensborough National Bank and Trust Company opened its first location in South Carolina Thursday in downtown Columbia. The office, located at 522 Lady St. in the Congaree Vista, District will provide commercial lendin... Read More

The popular Asian/Southwest fusion restaurant Takosushi has opened a new location in The Arcade building at 1332 Main St. in downtown Columbia. The new location opened in mid-July and has been drawing large crowds showing up for the e... Read More

Lowes Foods will hold a virtual vendor summit on Sept. 28 in order to find new local products to feature in its stores. During the online meeting, local entrepreneurs will be able to meet with decision makers from the chain who purcha... Read More

Temperatures outside may be in the 90s right now, but investors in the world of cryptocurrency are weathering a very different kind of season. The digital currency world is experiencing a downturn those in the field refer to as a &ldq... Read More

Hotels around South Carolina experienced a revenue boost during the second quarter, according to a market report from Colliers South Carolina. A steady stream of travelers is helping to alleviate the woes of staffing problems and increas... Read More

Jackie Bowers has been promoted to director of operations for the Central Midlands Regional Authority. She previously served as customer experience and contract compliance manager. Bowers will oversee the day-to-day-operations of the ... Read More

A hair salon known for both luxurious hair care and a welcoming atmosphere has come to Columbia’s Congaree Vista District. Metropolis Salon opened for business at 1215-A Wayne St. Tuesday morning, marking the event with a gr... Read More

A new eatery in Five Points is serving up all-day breakfast and a positive vibe with a side of homemade apple butter. The Flying Biscuit Cafe, located at 936 Harden St., opened its doors at 7 a.m. Monday and celebrated its grand o... Read More

Big changes are coming to a building on Columbia’s Main Street which houses multiple businesses. The first floor at 1624 Main will see one change in tenants, according to an announcement from LTC Hospitality Services, a Colu... Read More

When Bohemian Home closes its doors at the end of August, Columbia shoppers will lose a source for one-of-a-kind furniture and artwork, and Devine Street will lose one of its legacy businesses. Owners Bruce Schultze and Denise Cel... Read More

South Carolina residents seeking workforce training will get a boost from an additional $25 million investment in the Workforce Scholarships for the Future program announced this week by S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster. The scholarship ... Read More

Two well-known national chains will be moving into Trenholm Plaza in Forest Acres in the near future. Home furnishings and accessories retailer HomeGoods and Sephora, which specializes in beauty products, will be moving into space... Read More

Adair Ford Boroughs was sworn in on Tuesday as United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina. She was nominated by President Biden on June 6 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 21, according to a press release from th... Read More

Business owners can learn about grants available to them through a free webinar, “The 411 on Grants for For-Profit Businesses,” scheduled for 10-11:15 a.m. Aug. 11. The event is sponsored by the cty of Columbia Office of B... Read More

The S.C. Department of Revenue has discovered that publishing the names of top delinquent taxpayers is a great way to get them to pay up.  For the second year, SCDOR has published lists of the state’s top 250 individual and... Read More

Plans for a new seven-story hotel in the Vista moved closer to becoming a reality after approval by the City of Columbia’s Design/Development Review Commission at its July 21 meeting. The commission unanimously approved plans fo... Read More