City Center Partnership holds 6th annual meeting
By John Temple Ligon Temple@TheColumbiaStar.com

Midge McCauley of ERA's Washington office delivers the keynote speech on developing retail downtown

The City Center Partnership (CCP) gathered in the lobby of First Citizens Center for its annual meeting Monday, November 19.

The City Center Partnership is the management arm of downtown's business improvement district. The BID runs from Assembly to Marion and from Gervais to Elmwood, which covers 27 city blocks.

Jim Apple, outgoing chairman of the CCP, itemized the year's successes. Apple introduced the officers for 2008: Terry Brown of Edens & Avant, chairman; Steve Benjamin of McAngus, Goudelock, and Courie, vice- chairman; Karen Brosius of the Columbia Museum of Art, secretary; and Lee Mashburn of Mashburn Construction, treasurer.

Apple presented the Order of the Magnolia to E.W. Cromartie, member of Columbia City Council.

Matt Kennell, president of the CCP, introduced Mayor Bob Coble.

Following the mayor's remarks, Midge McCauley, the city's retail consultant with ERA Associates in Washington, outlined her plan of attack for boosting retail downtown.

Fred Delk, director of Columbia Development Corporation, and Grant Jackson, business editor of The State, and Jeff Prioreschi, chairman of the CCP's Open Space Committee Todd Avant, incoming board member of CCP, and Chuck LaMark, development director for the Cultural Council of Richland & Lexington Counties E.W. Cromartie, city council member, receives the Order of the Magnolia from Jim Apple, chairman of CCP. Loundes MacDonald, sales director for CanalSide, and Jim gambrell, the city's director for economic development