Welcome to Fort Jackson S.C.

     Fort Jackson is the largest Army Training Center and most active Initial Entry Training Center in the U.S. Army, training 50 percent of all Soldiers and 80 percent of the women entering the Army each year (information per Fort Jackson´s website). Providing the Army with trained, disciplined, motivated and physically fit warriors who espouse the Army's core values and are focused on teamwork is the post's primary mission.

http://www.jackson.army.mil/!2009_pages/documents/aboutFJ.pdf

     It is a large employer in the Columbia area. Fort Jackson offers also recreation, a golf course and a nice swimming pool. To learn more about that you can visit this site and get full details
 

http://www.army.mil/info/organization/jackson/

http://www.jackson.army.mil/units/drill/index.html

(link for the US Army Drill Sergeant School)

Fort Jackson Lodging http://fortjacksonmwr.com/lodging/

The base is conveniently located off I-20 and I-77. Downtown Columbia just outside it´s gate on Fort Jackson Blvd. Off I-77. Northeast Columbia is located also within minutes to the base off I-20 and Decker Blvd. Many soldiers and their families live in the area close to Fort Jackson, but you find men and women in uniform living on the Southeast as well as Elgin, Lexington and Irmo.

     When you drive out of the gates at Fort Jackson on Fort Jackson Blvd. You will find a motel across the Interstate and a small shopping center with a Walmart and Sams Wholesale. You will find some fast food stores and other stores as well. Or take I-77 to the next exit and Garners Ferry Rd and find more stores and restaurants here. You can go left and also to the right. To the right is the Woodhill Mall with a Target, Starbucks and more places to eat and a World Market. If you were to take I-77 North you can get off at Decker Blvd. And that takes you to Columbia Place Mall and a Two Notch Road which has all kinds of Automobile Dealerships and restaurants along Two Notch Rd.

The Dorn Veterans Hospital is just off I-77 on 6439 Garner´s Ferry Rd very conveniently located. (803) 776-4000  http://www.columbiasc.va.gov/

Hotels and Motels near Fort Jackson

Feel free to contact us for a list of hotels or check out these sites:

www.sciway.net/hotels/fort-jackson.html

http://hotel-guides.us/south-carolina/fort-jackson-sc-hotels.html

                          Buying a home?

     Over the years we have assisted many soldiers and their families that relocated to and from Columbia and surrounding areas. We also have assisted some Air Force members stationed at Sumter but living here in Columbia. We understand your needs very well and look forward to hear from you to assist you and find out whether it is best for you to purchase a home, rent one or live on base. We tell it straight to you and help you in any way we can. We are members with PCS America and provide you with all the information you will need to make an informed decision. You will also receive a 10% coupon for Lowe´s (up to a $10,000 purchase) when you purchase a home with us. We have a home inspector that provides you with another 10% off coupon like ours a plus you receive a Lowe´s gift card from us. We have moved ourselves 15 times and know what is important to people on the move.

To learn a little about Columbia and Fort Jackson please visit here:

http://www.jackson.army.mil/Area/default.htm#Columbia

and don´t forget to check we gladly get you all the information that you like and you can chekck with the Convention Bureau´s website for more good information   www.columbiacvb.com .
We will also have a welcome pachage with all sorts of local information for you.

 

Downtown Columbia

offers employment, fine restaurants in the Vista area, Five points and Gervais Street and more, recreation, EdVenture, a children´s museum (1 of 5 in the entire US is right here), our state museum, The University of South Carolina, The Colonial Center, a variety of parks and recreation, three rivers (the Congaree River, The Saluda River and the Broad River) offer recreation and developments.

Money Magazine voted Columbia as one of the best places to retire to

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/moneymag/0909/gallery.bpretire_top25.moneymag/22.html

Check out these links and learn more about Columbia

• http://www.museum.state.sc.us/ , http://www.edventure.org,
  
  http://www.Columbiasc.net, http://www.hellocolumbia.com, http://www.sc.edu.com , http://www.columbiasc.net/parksandrecreation,  

http://www.columbiacvb.com/calendar/  http://www.columbiacvb.com/listings/index.cfm?catID=4  Dining and Nightlife,

_____________________________________________
  

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

The Zoo is one of the finest in the US. It has many visitors every year. Located conveniently off I-126 and Greystone Blvd or off highway 378 in Lexington close to downtown. 803-779-8717

http://www.riverbanks.org

Check out the Columbia Regional Business Report

Staff Report
Published Aug. 31, 2009

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden generates more than $60.8 million in sales for local businesses, according to a study by the University of South Carolina´s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management.

This economic impact includes the generation of $42.8 million in travel-related expenses from tourists who visited Riverbanks and $18 million as a result of Riverbanks operations, the study said.

The zoo also has a significant impact on job creation in the Midlands. According to the study, Riverbanks generated 723 jobs in the community, which resulted in $18.3 million in employee compensation. This figure does not include the 427 people employed during peak season by Riverbanks Zoo and its food and gift contractor, Aramark.

Riverbanks´ operating budget for fiscal 2008 was $8.1 million; attendance during that time was 922,665. In fiscal 2009, 955,542 people visited the zoo. The study found that the total annual spending in the local economy by Riverbanks tourists was $29.5 million; this includes money spent on lodging, food and beverage, retail, gasoline and transportation.

"While Riverbanks relies on taxpayer dollars to supplement its operating budget, it should be noted that we are nearly 70% self-sustaining based on revenues generated from attendance and in-park spending," said Satch Krantz, executive director of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

"In addition, the Riverbanks Society contributes a significant amount in private funds, closely rivaling the totals generated by each county."

The zoo averaged approximately 80,000 visitors a month in fiscal 2009 - nearly 20,000 more people than the population of the city of Greenville.

While visiting the zoo last year, guests spent $1.8 million on gifts, $1.9 million on food and $557,000 on weddings and other private events, totaling more than $4 million in spending at the park. As a result, Riverbanks collected and paid nearly $60,000 in hospitality taxes to the city of Columbia.

 http://www.columbiabusinessreport.com/news/29250-study-riverbanks-zoo-makes-60m-economic-impact?rss=0