At the Columbia Council of Neighborhoods meeting on Thursday June 24, Tony Lawton, director of Community Development, spoke on programs the Community Development team is helping to put together throughout Columbia. Funding for the programs is coming from Community Development Block Grant funds through HUD. Among the projects are a summer camp for high risk teenagers, a façade program, a health care program, a program geared at helping prepare residents for technology jobs, a weatherization program, and a program aimed at helping the homeless.

The Summer Camp Scholarship program is designed to provide funds to 70 underserved youth, ages six to 17, who live in high risk areas such as Pinehurst Park, St. Anna’s Park, Lorick Park, and Teen Camp. The youths will attend an 11 week camp through the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department.

The façade program, funded by a forgivable loan from the city to eliminate slum and blight within the selected communities, will include painting and repairs; installing commercial façades, architectural lighting, canopies and awnings, and signage.

The Health Care program is funded by Palmetto Health Initiatives for uninsured low and moderate income residents of Columbia. Special emphasis will be placed on residents in the 29203 zip code. Services include cardiac surgery, podiatry, cardiology, rheumatology, orthopedics, ear, nose, and throat.

Low and moderate income residents will also be the focus of the Fast Forward Program, another program being funded by the money from HUD that will help residents searching for jobs in the technology field find training and assistance. The community technology center is located at 3223 Devine Street.

The weatherization program is also targeted to help low and moderate income households reduce fuel costs and contribute to national energy conservation. Ten eligible household will benefit from energy assessments that include replacing hot water heaters, roofs, attic/floor insulation, and HVAC units.

The South Carolina Department of Medicines’ office of Supportive Housing and the Columbia Housing Authority will provide housing and supportive services to the chronically homeless individuals. Twenty clients, who are currently in housing that is provided by the Housing First Pilot Program, will be selected for the selective services.

Chris Dawson, owner of the new CiCi’s Pizza on 3730 North Main, said he didn’t want his restaurant to be just another restaurant in the North Main area; he wants his restaurant to be part of the community.

CiCi’s Pizza opens its doors for the first time on July 19 and Dawson wants to open with a bang. On the first day he will give the first 100 guests who purchase a buffet, a free buffet every month for a year. Dawson will lower the price of the buffet on Tuesday to $3.99. Other specials going on during the first week of business will include 50% off any take out order on Thursday, a bike raffle on Friday, and a CiCi’s carnival on Saturday and Sunday, which includes face painting, balloons, and games.

Dawson said he wants to employee 25–40 residents from Columbia. Dawson says that employees that come from the area have a passion for their community and that is the sort of people that he wants working at CiCi’s Pizza.

Once CiCi’s Pizza opens its doors they will be open from Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“We’re coming to the community; we want to make a difference. We want to build relationships, we want to build partnerships,” Dawson said.