News

Get to know the Lowcountry’s local-independent business community, one changemaker at a time. “Small Talks, Big Ideas with Steve” is a podcast that features local business insights and updates, alongside interviews with members, sponsors, and supporters. For our 17th episode,... Continue Reading

Below are things you should know or take action on right now as a local-independent business owner or community leader: – Feeling Boxed Out: A new report highlights the impacts that monopolistic “predatory buying” have on our communities. It opens our eyes to some of the tactics... Continue Reading

We are in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month! Along with the city of Charleston and the Latinx Advisory Council, our very own Raquel Padgett and Nilsy Rapalo kicked it off at a proclamation press event held on September 15. Raquel is the Director of Good Enterprises, while Nilsy is an... Continue Reading

If you have ever attended events like our Local Socials or workshops, you have probably seen his face. September is all about making sure our members are utilizing their member benefits. It made sense to catch up with Alex Shi of Charleston Payroll, who has been an active LLF member for the past 8... Continue Reading

Get to know the Lowcountry’s local-independent business community, one changemaker at a time. “Small Talks, Big Ideas with Steve” is a podcast that features local business insights and updates, alongside interviews with members, sponsors, and supporters. For our 16th episode,... Continue Reading

For the month of August, we’re celebrating the arts! We’re proud to have dozens of small business members, including the Footlight Players, a theatre company located in Downtown Charleston. This Lowcountry giant has been a part of the local arts scene since the early 1930s. For this... Continue Reading

NEWS RELEASE // TOWN OF JAMES ISLAND // AUGUST 1, 2022: A new partnership between the Town of James Island and Lowcountry Local First is now offering localized business training and strategic small business support. The annual partnership includes a Community Storefront Challenge and the business... Continue Reading

Below are things you should know or take action on right now as a local-independent business owner or community leader: – Supply Chain Woes & Rising Costs: Charleston City Paper shared a recent feature highlighting LLF’s 2022 Member Survey results, which reported supply chain... Continue Reading

August 2022 Advocacy Updates JUL 29, 2022 Below are things you should know or take action on right now as a local-independent business owner or community leader: – 2022 Member Survey findings released: Lowcountry Local First’s 2022 Member Survey found top challenges include... Continue Reading

For the month of July, we’re spotlighting some cool ideas in the commercial real estate realm. Some of our members have interesting models and shared spaces that we can all find inspiration from. Sharon Payer is the owner the The Station Park Circle. The Station is a marketplace that houses... Continue Reading

At Lowcountry Local First, we believe ownership matters and relationships matter. Our goal is to support the local business community and tailor our programs to help our community gain access to every chance at success. That’s why we work with businesses, community members, and policymakers... Continue Reading

Below are things you should know or take action on right now as a local-independent business owner or leader: – SBA Summer School:Whether you’re looking to start a small business or expand your current one, SBA’s digital learning platform has everything you need to educate... Continue Reading