The picture shows (L to R) Business consultant Damon Jeter, Councilman Paul Livingstone (Richland County SC) and Fred Monk of the Columbia World Affairs Council. Paul could not resist trying the Lord Mayor’s seat in the beautiful debating chamber of Liverpool Town Hall.

The picture shows (L to R) Business consultant Damon Jeter, Councilman Paul Livingstone (Richland County SC) and Fred Monk of the Columbia World Affairs Council. Paul could not resist trying the Lord Mayor’s seat in the beautiful debating chamber of Liverpool Town Hall.

City of Columbia and Richland County, South Carolina

by Jack Stopforth

Since December 2019, Taylor Stopforth has been in discussion with the economic development team of the city of Columbia and Richland County, South Carolina about the prospects for establishing ‘Sister City’ status with a city or region in the UK. We are also in the initial stage of exploring how we might work with the Columbia World Affairs Council and City authorities to attract investment from the UK and Ireland into South Carolina, once Brexit becomes a stark reality after the transition process ends on 1st January 2021.

Three senior delegates from the Columbia city region visited the UK and were especially interested in the possibilities offered by Liverpool City Region, although other communities are involved in discussions. During a hectic day in the city, the group met the CEO of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Paul Cherpeau, the managing director of the region’s Local Enterprise Partnership, Mark Basnett and the Head of the mayor’s Office for the City of Liverpool, Tris Brown.