Richland County residents and small business owners can take advantage of free information about bonding and insurance services by attending an upcoming seminar.

The Richland County Office of Small Business Opportunity (OSBO) is hosting a free seminar to help local businesses understand bonding and insurance procedures and to speak directly with professionals in the field. It takes place at 6 p.m. July 28 in the OSBO Conference Room located in the Richland County Health Department (next to the Richland County Administration Building) at 2000 Hampton St., Columbia.

The seminar will include a presentation by representatives of McCartha, Cobb, & Associates, a local insurance firm, followed by a question-and-answer session to allow attendees to receive insight about specific questions they may have. Light refreshments will be served.

“The purpose of this seminar is to assist small business firms in understanding the importance of bonding services and to provide them with the knowledge, resources and access they need to secure the tools necessary to succeed,” said Brenda Parnell, Interim Assistant Director of the OSBO Division. “We always try to support our small businesses in any way that we can. Our primary objective with this seminar is to help remove the complications associated with securing adequate bonding by giving Small, Local Business Enterprises the opportunity to interact face to face with the professionals.”

Those wishing to attend are asked to register online for the free event by visiting www.eventbrite.com and searching for “Richland County bonding seminar.”

For more information about the resources the OSBO offers to the local small business community, visit www.rcgov.us to learn more about its Small, Local Business Enterprises program or call 803-576-1540.