The City of Camden’s Main Street Program will host a series of small business workshops in the coming weeks at the Camden branch of the Kershaw County Library. Main Street Manager Kat Spadacenta, Director of Planning & Development Shawn Putnam, and representatives from the Small Business Administration and Small Business Development Center will lead workshops for small business owners and any member of the public wishing to attend.
Workshops will be held on Tuesdays – January 9, January 23, February 6, February 27, March 5 and March 26 at the Camden Library Branch, 1304 Broad Street.
January 9, 6:00-7:00 pm – Get Your Business Online – Still haven’t verified your small business with Google? Let’s get you online, so customers can find you! Whether you’re nervous about bringing your existing business online, or you’re just starting a business and want to know where to begin, this workshop will get you found on Google. You will also learn the benefits of owning a domain and how to get the most out of your online presence. This Grow with Google workshop is presented by Main Street Manager and Google Partner Kat Spadacenta. Please bring a laptop to this workshop.
January 23, 6:00-7:00 pm – Do I Need A Permit? – Learn what steps you need to take in order to open a brick and mortar business in Camden. From construction to sign permits, sidewalk encroachments and more, City of Camden Planning & Development Director Shawn Putnam and Main Street Manager Kat Spadacenta will be on hand to guide you through the step-by-step process and answer specific questions. Registration recommended, but not required.
February 6, 6:00-7:00 pm – Learn the Basics of Google Ads – Learn how to reach more customers and grow your business through the help of Google Ads. In this hands on workshop, you will learn how to create and account and set up an ad campaign, write ads and refine keywords, and understand analytics to measure success. This Grow with Google workshop is presented by Main Street Manager and Google Partner Kat Spadacenta. Please bring a laptop to this workshop.
February 27, 6:00-7:00 pm – SBA Federal Contracting 101 – The federal government spends more than $500 billion annually on federal contracts and 23% must go to small businesses. Want to learn how you can be a part of that 23%? Join Angela Brewer, Business Opportunity Specialist with the SBA South Carolina District Office as she discusses federal contracting.
March 5, 6:00-7:00 pm – Let’s Start a Business – Do you have an idea for a business? Have a hobby or side venture that you think could be profitable? Or have you already launched your business, but still have questions about operations? Join Small Business Development Center presenter Bob Jones to learn the steps to starting a successful business. Find out what resources are available and what best practices to follow when starting a business. Registration recommended, but not required. Contact Main Street Manager Kat Spadacenta, kspadacenta@camdensc.org or 803-549-5648.
March 26, 6:00-7:00 pm – Brownfields 101 – Learn what a brownfield is and how the City of is seeking public participation through its current Environmental Protection Agency grant to ensure that the community is given the opportunity and encouraged to identify potential brownfield sites and help determine their potential for redevelopment and reuse.
The City of Camden Planning Commission held a public hearing Tuesday, November 21st regarding a proposed residential development consisting of single-family houses and townhomes. In overview, the proposal calls for a total of 795 lots, including 140 townhomes and 655 single-family homes. Based on the total acreage of the site, the resulting density is anticipated to be 2.56 units/acre. This density is comparable to the 2.5 units/acre maximum density in an R-15 zoning district. This is also a lower density than other developments recently approved. The development would be built in five phases as follows: Phase 1 (134 lots), Phase 2 (201 lots), Phase 3 (192 lots), Phase 4 (131 lots), and Phase 5 (124 lots). The developer anticipates a 7-10 year period for total build out of the project. Lots for the single-family homes will range from approximately 7,000 square feet to 12,420 square feet.
Please find below the corresponding documents regarding this proposed development, referred to as “The Paddocks”.
The holidays just feel special here in Camden. Many think it’s that small town charm, which just gets brighter and jollier as the end of the year approaches. Parades and performances abound, decorations appear along our city streets, and shops and restaurants are bustling with good cheer and great gift ideas.
Make plans to join in on some of these special holiday events and activities, starting with the City of Camden’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, November 30 at 6:00 pm at City Hall, 1000 Lyttleton Street. The Tree Lighting Ceremony kicks off the “12 Days of Christmas”, highlighting community events taking place in and around Camden between November 30 and December 11. In addition to traditional holiday events, many local businesses will host open houses, pop-up shops, visits with Santa, and more fun and festive ways to help you complete your holiday shopping with less stress.
Here’s a listing of events taking place during the 12 Days of Christmas. Check back often, as more are added each week. We hope to see you out there!
Blanket & Bands Fall Concert Schedule Rusty Davis & Friends – Thursday, 9/14 CANCELED – The FMS – Thursday, 9/28 The Dubber & Tetrahedron – Thursday, 10/5 The Tony Torre Orchestra – Thursday, 10/12 Bout Tyme – Thursday, 10/26
Free concerts return to Town Green this fall, with a variety of music on certain Thursday evenings in September and October. Get your blanket or lawn chair, family and friends, to enjoy live music outdoors. Bring a picnic dinner, grab some takeout from your favorite local restaurant or enjoy food and beverages available for purchase on site.
Kicking off the concert series on Thursday, September 14th is Camden’s own Rusty Davis & Friends, playing classic rock and timeless tunes that will have you singing along. Music begins at 6:00 pm with one of Rusty’s student musicians as the opening act. Rusty Davis & Friends will play from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.
All concerts will be held on Thursdays, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, weather permitting. Beer and wine are permitted on Town Green during the hours of the concerts. No glass containers are allowed on Town Green. In the event of cancelation due to weather, notifications will be placed here on the City’s website and Downtown Camden Cultural District social media channels.
Unfortunately, the concert scheduled for September 28th will have to be rescheduled.
On Thursday, October 5th, the free Blankets & Bands concert on Town Green will feature Columbia-based The Dubber & Tetrahedron, as part of the Arts Center of Kershaw County’s MAD Festival. Enjoy an evening of rock, jazz and funk, flavored by the international sounds of reggae, Armenian music, and Afro beat.
On Thursday, October 12th, you can swing the night away with The Tony Torre Orchestra. Led by Tony Torre, the band is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. This 15 piece Big Band based out of Myrtle Beach will be playing an evening of swing hits with an occasional turn to blues, beach music and pop favorites.
Closing out the fall Blankets & Bands concert series on Thursday, October 26th is the Bout Tyme Band, an ensemble of talented musicians playing jazz standards, danceable pop songs, and everything in between.
The Blankets & Bands concert series is a partnership between the Downtown Camden Cultural District and the Arts Center of Kershaw County, bringing free, live music to the community during the spring and fall months.
