United Way of the Midlands launches Small Business Alliance

The new membership program and affinity group was created to connect small business owners with each other while creating long-term change.

“Traditionally, United Ways have concentrated their fundraising almost exclusively through workplace campaigns, focusing on larger businesses and organizations,” said United Way of the Midlands President and CEO Sara Fawcett. “According to the Small Business Administration, 96.9% of South Carolina’s companies are small businesses with less than 100 employees. Engaging our local entrepreneurs and small business leaders is important because of the significant impact they can make in our community.”

“I believe in the United Way mission of helping those less fortunate in our community and feel the Small Business Alliance will be an effective initiative in accomplishing that mission," said Henry Clay, publisher of Columbia Metropolitan Magazine.

Clay also chairs United Way’s Small Business Alliance Steering Committee, an advisory group that helps recruit new partners and to develop the program.

United Way of the Midlands' Small Business Alliance for a meet and greet event on Thursday, October 25 to learn more about the program. The event will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in The Vista Room at Blue Marlin located at 1200 Lincoln Street, Columbia, SC 29201. This is a free event open to small business professionals in the Midlands and others interested in joining the Small Business Alliance.

More than 40,000 community donors allowed United Way to invest $3.7 million in grants for its 2018-2019 fiscal year to fight to improve the health, education and financial stability of everyone in the Midlands. These grants are in addition to $2.3 million in donor-directed funds. Last year, the organization served more than 31,000 people in the Midlands.