Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee — Columbia, SC
Date: 2025-06-04
Time: 11:00

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE MEETING
 MINUTES
 TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2025


CALL TO ORDER

The Columbia Economic Development & Infrastructure Committee conducted a
meeting on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at City Hall (Mayor’s Conference Room), 1737
Main Street, Second Floor, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. The Honorable Peter
M. Brown, Chair called the meeting to order at 9:06 a.m. and the following
members were present:

Attendee Name Title Status
Peter M. Brown Chair Present
Will Brennan Member Present
Aditi Bussells Member Present

PRESENTATIONS

1. DESA, Inc. Update - Ms. Diane Sumpter, President & CEO – Received as
 information.

Ms. Diane Sumpter, President & CEO of DESA, Inc. provided an update on the firm’s
work that focuses on being a driver of city growth. She outlined efforts to expand
contracting access by streamlining procurement, accelerating business capacity,
promoting access to capital, and strengthening the overall business ecosystem.
Additional priorities include enhanced transparency and accountability through
improved digital tools and an inclusive outreach campaign. She emphasized talent
attraction and retention for the next generation. She noted that DESA will provide
quarterly performance reports. DESA, Inc. has requested an annual budget of
$250,000 per year over a two-year period to support 2,496 direct labor hours,
management and technical training services, and the implementation of a capacity-
building, outreach, and equity initiative.

There was discussion about businesses working collaboratively in Columbia;
modernizing procurement and payments; helping put Columbia in the forefront;
tracking growth of prime subcontractors; and being future oriented.




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2. Boyd Innovation Center Update - Mr. Lanford Holloway, Board Member –
 Received as information

Mr. Lanford Holloway, Board Member for the Boyd Innovation Center outlined their
primary goal of fostering entrepreneurship and helping small businesses grow by
putting founders first. Key objectives for the fiscal year include creating new
founders, supporting existing ones, and expanding the founder pipeline. He
reported hosting over 150 events reaching 1,500 individuals and 20 businesses
graduated from their six-week ColaStarts program. Boyd Innovation Center
currently operates at 75% capacity in their Five Points location and plans to add a
new row of office spaces. Challenges include increasing community support and
engagement and refining success metrics to better evaluate and improve impact.

There was discussion about looking outside of Columbia for entrepreneurship;
talent retention; increasing private sector support; adding Columbia Opportunity
Resource to their tour; and working together as economic development partners for
the City.

3. Columbia World Affairs Council Update - Mr. Dickson Monk, Executive
 Director - Received as information

Mr. Dickson Monk, Executive Director of the Columbia World Affairs Council
highlighted key focus areas including business growth, talent retention,
entrepreneurship, and enhancing Columbia’s business-friendly environment. He
shared recent and upcoming international engagement opportunities with
delegations from Egypt and Botswana, as well as connections through sister city
and diplomatic relationships with Ghana, the UK, and South Korea. Efforts are
underway to establish a new sister city relationship with Naju, Korea, while
celebrating 25 years with Kaiserslautern, Germany. Looking ahead to Fiscal Year
2025-2026, the World Affairs Council is prepared to support potential sister city and
international network visits.

4. Central SC Alliance Update – Mr. Jason Guilletti, President & CEO – Received
 as information

Mr. Jason Guilletti, President & CEO of Central SC Alliance shared about the
organization’s shift from building momentum to executing with intention. Central
SC Alliance closed the fiscal year with over 100 company leads and 12 marketing
missions. He emphasized transparency, collaboration with the City, and a new five-



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step lead tracking system. Key focus areas include international outreach, real
estate marketing, and targeted industry growth in finance, biotech, and insurance.
He urged earlier engagement from the City to improve planning and support, and
announced the launch of a regional strategic plan outlining sector-specific goals and
key performance indicators.

There was discussion about recruiting associating companies; scheduling a work
session; providing lead generation ideas to the committee; and Central SC
providing a blueprint.

5. Columbia Opportunity Resource Update – Mr. Lee Goble, Chair – Received as
 information

Mr. Lee Goble, outgoing Board Chair of Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR),
shared highlights from the past year, including membership growth, new interest
groups, and expanded talent retention programs like Crash Course Columbia and
Capture Columbia. Moving Capture Columbia to spring helped engage students
from Benedict, Allen, and Columbia International University. COR’s goals for Fiscal
Year 25-26 include increasing membership, scaling retention programs, and hiring
its first full-time staff member to address capacity limits. Performance will be
tracked through membership numbers, program participation, and staffing
progress. COR is planning for more community partnerships, including a Table for
Six event with the Columbia World Affairs Council and a new local volunteer
management platform.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 11:03 a.m.

Respectfully submitted:



Erika D. Moore Hammond, CMC, CPM
City Clerk




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