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Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Talent Magnet Survey!

We're excited to announce the Columbia Talent Magnet Project survey will go live tomorrow! Be on the lookout for an email or link to the survey!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Citizen Input Sought on Transportation Plan

Residents of Richland, Lexington and Kershaw counties are invited to participate in a regional transportation plan. The Central Midlands Council of Governments is hosting drop-ins to unveil a 30-year plan for roads, bike and walking facilities, public transportation and freight travel in the region.

They are:

• 4 to 7 p.m. Monday — North Springs Community Center, 1320 Clemson Road, Columbia

• 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday — Lexington Town Hall, 111 Maiden Lane, Lexington

• 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 2 — Ballentine Community Center, 1009 Bickley Road, Irmo

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 4 — Dutch Square Mall, 421 Bush River Road, Columbia

Call Aaron Bell at (803) 376-5390, ext. 343.

http://www.thestate.com/local/story/535245.html

Monday, September 22, 2008

Columbia, SC Deemed a Very Walkable City

http://www.columbiacvb.com/docs/sep.Walkable_City%2009.2008.pdf

Columbia, SC – (September 5, 2008) According to www.walkscore.com , Columbia received an 86 out of 100 score in walkability. Walk Score calculates the walkability of an address by locating nearby stores, restaurants, schools, parks, etc., and measures how easy it is to live a car-lite lifestyle. With a score of 86, Columbia is considered to be a "very walkable" city with the flexibility to be able to get by without owning a car. The Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, in the heart of it all, scored a 91.

Walk Score uses a patent-pending system to measure the walkability of an address. The Walk Score algorithm awards points based on the distance to the closest amenity in each category. If the closest amenity in a category is within .25 miles (or .4 km), they assign the maximum number of points. The number of points declines as the distance approaches one mile (or 1.6 km)—no points are awarded for amenities further than one mile. Each category is weighted equally and the points are summed and normalized to yield a score from 0–100. The number of nearby amenities is the leading predictor of whether people walk.

Ric Luber, president/CEO of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism (MACST) states, "Being a ‘very walkable’ city is a great thing for Columbia. We want our visitors and our residents alike to be able to enjoy strolling along the streets of the city center. After all, we’re a 12 month destination - we want everyone to maximize their potential to enjoy our outdoors everyday possible."

About Walk Score

"What I can walk to" is a common home-buying and apartment-renting criterion. Walk Score's patent-pending technology calculates a Walk Score for any property and shows a map of what's
nearby with reviews to help you find a great neighborhood. Walk Score launched in July of 2007 and over 1 million addresses were searched in the first month. Walk Score has been featured in over 500 blogs and 75 newspaper articles and radio segments.

The Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism is the parent organization to the Columbia Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, the Columbia Metropolitan Visitors Center, and the Columbia Regional Sports Council. The organization was founded in July, 2001 for the purpose of marketing Columbia in anticipation of providing an avenue for generating an economic impact.