Thursday afternoon Main Street Columbia received a $6,000 donation from Experience Columbia. The donation will be used in three different ways, including a $2,000 facade grant, $2,000 landscaping grant and $2,000 to be set aside for future projects.
During the Christmas celebration, which wrapped up recently, Main Street teamed up with Experience Columbia on a ride, Candy Cane Express, that took passengers to Candy Land located at Bluff Street Park.
Kristian Agoglia with Experience Columbia said it had been a successful year with merchants working together with the city. Experience Columbia and Main Street have worked together during a challenging time to help keep businesses open.
“Not only to get by but to survive and thrive and the donation is part of the efforts of the collaborating and working together and giving back to the organization,” Agoglia said.
It was a good way to send the season, Agoglia said.
“They really believe in not just bringing events downtown, but continuing that Christmas spirit all year round, by helping some of the business owners and building owners,” Ingram said.
While Main Street and Experience Columbia have worked together for three years, the two entities have worked together more closely during the festivities this past year.
Ingram said it was estimated that 10,000 people were downtown each night there were activities. He also said on average about $600 was made each night by the businesses that stayed opened during the season.
“We feel really good about that,” he said.
Ingram said it has been one of the purposes of Experience Columbia, Main Street Columbia and other groups to make downtown better. He said people are purchasing and renovating buildings, enhancing the look and feel of downtown.
As the season wrapped up, Agoglia said despite the pandemic, Columbia stayed open for business.
“It was amazing we were able to do that and not only get by, but the city really thrived working as a group. It can only get bigger and better,” Agoglia said.
Agoglia said it took about three months to set up everything downtown, and they are hoping to have everything taken down within the next couple of weeks.
