Playing golf on Friday, June 11, can help support economic development in Columbia. That's when the Columbia Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) will hold a golf tournament at Cool Creek Golf Club, 300 Cool Creek Road, Wrightsville. Registration will begin at 7 a.m., and the tournament will kick off with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. The event will be held rain or shine.
"We are a not-for-profit organization ... dedicated to promoting business development and expansion within Columbia," explained Bill Kloidt, executive director of CEDC. "Proceeds from the golf tournament help finance our organization in promoting Columbia and assisting new businesses that wish to open in the borough."
This is the fourth year the CEDC has hosted a golf tournament, said Keith Lutz, CEDC president. The organization had to cancel last year's tournament, so this year is especially exciting, he noted. "We are very optimistic about this event," he said. "People are ready to come out to an outdoor event like this, and we're ready for them."
People may sign up to participate as individuals or as a team of four, Kloidt said. "If you sign up individually, we will assign you to a team," he stated. The event will include beverages on the course and lunch at the end of the tournament. Contests and prizes include closest to the pin, longest drive and first-, second- and third-place prizes. A 50-50 drawing and giveaway drawing baskets will also be featured. Lutz will address the group and give an update on some of the CEDC projects that are currently underway.
One of the biggest projects the CEDC is working on involves restoration of the Hotel Locust, which the group purchased in 2015. It took a few years, but the group found an investor who is working to return the building to its former grandeur, Kloidt said, and turn it into a business anchor in downtown Columbia.
"It's going to be a mixed-use property," explained Lutz, adding that construction is set to begin at the end of the year. "There will be commercial space on the first floor and residential rental units on the upper floors."
Other projects of the CEDC have included securing funding for the Turkey Hill Experience and the placement of plaques on historic buildings throughout Columbia.
"The plaques ... highlight the historical significance of Columbia," Lutz said. "That's something we're really proud of." The group is working with the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Columbia Historical Society to launch a walking tour of 15 locations in Columbia later this year.
Kloidt and Lutz noted that the golf tournament is not only a way to promote the activities of the CEDC, but it also provides a chance for networking and fellowship. "It's a nice event," Kloidt remarked. "You're outdoors, you're off on a Friday playing golf, and you can spend time with your fellow associates in the business world who want to see Columbia thrive."
To register for the CEDC golf tournament, visit http://www.columbia-edc.org or call Kloidt at 717-201-5134.
Leave a Review