True to our City’s “Together, We Are Columbia” motto, Columbia Empowerment Zone, Inc. (CEZ, Inc.) is focused on encouraging and nurturing small business growth, with an overarching goal of creating jobs and improving quality of life across all sectors of our community.
CEZ, Inc. currently holds a portfolio of ready-to-lease properties ideal for new and expanding businesses, including multi-tenant locations, as well as a number of vacant properties for development by interested, qualified developers.
Working closely with the City’s Office of Business Opportunities and its Office of Economic Development, the Small Business Administration, the SC Department of Commerce, New Carolina (Council on Competitiveness), the USC/Columbia Technology Incubator and other resources for entrepreneurial enterprises, CEZ, Inc. is a valuable key to assuring that small businesses have a place to grow and thrive.
To foster, encourage, nurture and support Columbia as a socially and economically vibrant community with sustainable jobs and a thriving, entrepreneurial, small-business environment.
To efficiently, effectively and enthusiastically create and support economic development opportunities in the City of Columbia.
Accountability: We are committed to creating a culture of accountability by establishing expectations, demonstrating transparency, and enforcing compliance.
Integrity: We believe in leading in an ethical manner that exhibits strength of character, prudent decision-making, and sound judgment.
Inclusion: We believe all stakeholders, regardless of their differences, should have the opportunity to provide feedback, offer input, and participate in our success.
Outcomes: We believe in positive community impact as demonstrated by the establishment and achievement of meaningful, measurable outcomes.
Stewardship: We recognize that we hold a variety of resources in trust on behalf of the people of our community. We are committed to safeguarding those assets and operating consistently in the best interest of the public we serve.
