News

We’re proud to spotlight another inspiring success story from our Invest Local Initiative: Sea Soap Co., a local soap-making business built on inclusion, sustainability, and heart. Meet the Mission Behind the Business For Brian, this business started with a promise. After his daughter was... Continue Reading

Charleston’s hospitality scene is often celebrated for its ability to feel both deeply rooted and constantly evolving. Behind many of its most compelling spaces is a powerful, often unseen force: collaboration. Few partnerships exemplify this better than the ongoing relationship between... Continue Reading

Update on April 20, 2026 via Main Street Alliance: The U.S. Customs and Border Protection began accepting IEEPA tariff refunds through their portal on April 20, 2026 at 8AM EST. If your business paid these tariffs, you may now be eligible to get that money back. Here’s what you need to know... Continue Reading

If you don’t already know Gina Cordoba, consider this your introduction to an incredible Charleston entrepreneur with a bold vision. A shining member of the Lowcountry Local First community, Gina has been building something special and we’re excited to share that her coffee shop,... Continue Reading

Tickets are Live! The 18th annual Chef’s Potluck is Lowcountry Local First’s largest fundraiser of the year! This event, co-presented by Indigo Road Hospitality Group and David Thompson Studio, is a joyful celebration of Charleston’s vibrant culinary scene and the people... Continue Reading

Farmers’ Markets provide excellent opportunities to meet farmers directly and learn more about their products, practices, and methods of sale, while also allowing you to stock up on fresh groceries! Fortunately for us, the Lowcountry is full of great neighborhood markets. There are more... Continue Reading

Did you know? South Carolina is number 10 in the country for electric bill overpayments due to excessive shareholder returns, effectively guaranteed to the utilities by the Public Service Commission. The average household overpayment is $248 per year. The Energy and Policy Institute released a... Continue Reading

Tort Reform and Liquor Liability, H3430, was signed into law in May 2025 for the state of South Carolina and brought significant changes to any business serving alcohol for on-premise consumption. The law was initially set to have enforcement of the alcohol service training portion begin Mar 2,... Continue Reading

H4758 is progressing through Senate amendment debates (as of March 12), aiming to regulate the distribution and sale of consumable hemp. While we support the proposed new safety and testing standards for THC-infused beverages and gummies, we do not support a full ban OR the restriction of sales... Continue Reading

TICKET POLICY: This event is rain or shine and tickets are non-refundable. A one-time ticket transfer is permissible. HEALTH POLICY: Due to the nature of this event, we cannot address individual allergy concerns. Each participating chef is asked to prepare at least one vegetarian dish. We... Continue Reading

Local On February 19, Charleston County Council approved the first draft of funding allocations for the half-cent Transportation Sales Tax referendum expected to be on the ballot this November. This is the breakdown of how the revenue generated from the sales tax would be spent (subject to... Continue Reading

We are proud to announce the latest recipients of the Marketing Momentum Small Business Grant, a program designed to equip local entrepreneurs with the pro-bono professional marketing support they need to grow, reach new audiences, and strengthen their impact in our community. This year’s... Continue Reading