West Columbia’s Mota Enterprises and Mota Crosslinking Business Academy celebrated the 6th Annual South Carolina Latino – Hispanic Business Day Proclamation on Friday at the Solomon Blatt Building on the grounds of the South Carolina State House.

Several elected officials, including US Rep. Joe Wilson, attended the ceremony. State Rep. Micah Caskey and State Rep. Russell Ott presented proclamations. Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and Anna Huffman, West Columbia Director of Public Relations and Business Development, also read proclamations. Ulises Chavez Mota Enterprises PR Manager introduced award winners. Vanessa Mota, CEO of Mota Enterprises also spoke.

The multicultural event featured the reading of the SC Business Day Proclamations written by Mota Crosslinking Business Academy and proclaimed by the SC Governor’s Office, City of Columbia, West Columbia, Cayce, and Charleston respectively. There was also culture, food, and music celebrated at the event.

Individuals were awarded and acknowledged. Business owners from the Latino – Hispanic community based on their contributions and economic impact to our state. Awarded were:

• Francine Teran-McCartha – Stellar Educator the Year
• Athony (Antonio) Millian – Creative Business of the Year
• David Nieves – Community Advocate of the Year
• Juan Carlos Rivera Contreras TACOS NAYARIT – Business of the Year