Advocacy Updates

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Hurricane Helene Relief: Support Local Business' Recovery
Hurricane Helene Relief: Support Local Business' Recovery

Our hearts are with our neighbors in Appalachia and the southeastern US who have been affected by Hurricane Helene. We encourage you to support disaster relief efforts and buy from local business’ online stores in the region if you are able. Gift cards are always a good idea! The City of... Continue Reading

Postedby Jordan Amaker
Date posted10/1/2024


October 2024: Advocacy Updates
October 2024: Advocacy Updates

Our hearts are with our neighbors in Appalachia and the southeastern US who have been affected by Hurricane Helene. We encourage you to support disaster relief efforts and buy from local business’ online stores in the region if you are able. Gift cards are always a good idea! Explore... Continue Reading

Postedby Jordan Amaker
Date posted10/1/2024


September 2024: Advocacy Updates
September 2024: Advocacy Updates

City of Charleston Mayor William Cogswell unveiled the city’s new Basin Flood Action Program (BFAP) following a public workshop about the Charleston Integrated Water Plan (CIWP) with city council on Aug 27. BFAP marks a decisive step in addressing Charleston’s most pressing... Continue Reading

Postedby Jordan Amaker
Date posted09/1/2024


Credit Card Payment Settlement Deadline for Filing Extended
Credit Card Payment Settlement Deadline for Filing Extended

The below update is provided by the Independent Restaurant Coalition: — Credit Card Payment Settlement Deadline for Filing Extended If your business accepted Visa or MasterCard credit cards between 2004 and 2019, you may be eligible for a payment as part of a recent $5.5 billion class-action... Continue Reading

Postedby Jordan Amaker
Date posted08/14/2024


August 2024: Advocacy Updates
August 2024: Advocacy Updates

Local Level: Johns Island, It's Your Turn to Engage in the City of Charleston Zoning Code Rewrite: The City of Charleston is undertaking an update to its Zoning Code called Setting New Standards. The purpose is to modernize the regulations that govern development in the City, to make them... Continue Reading

Postedby Jordan Amaker
Date posted07/31/2024


2024 Annual Member Survey Debrief
2024 Annual Member Survey Debrief

At Lowcountry Local First, we believe local ownership matters. 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 to build support... Continue Reading

Postedby Jordan Amaker
Date posted06/26/2024


July 2024 Advocacy Updates
July 2024 Advocacy Updates

New Data: We recently wrapped up our 2024 Member Survey, with more than 60 responses captured. These results help inform our team of what kinds of programming and advocacy efforts matter most to you, and what the community needs at large in order to fulfill our mission. View the summary and key... Continue Reading

Postedby Jordan Amaker
Date posted06/26/2024


Strengthening Communities: The Power of Local Preference Policies in Municipal Procurement
Strengthening Communities: The Power of Local Preference Policies in Municipal Procurement

Lowcountry Local First has been advocating for stronger, enforced and tracked local preference policies with our local municipalities for more than a decade. In the realm of municipal governance, few policies hold as much potential for catalyzing local economic growth as robust local preference... Continue Reading

Postedby Jordan Amaker
Date posted06/24/2024


June 2024: Advocacy Updates
June 2024: Advocacy Updates

Local Level Worth celebrating: The Lowcountry Rapid Transit (LCRT) project recently received a $1.2 million grant from the FTA to advance TOD planning by focusing on the implementation of affordable housing strategies in the project corridor. This grant moves LCRT into Phase 3 of its TOD... Continue Reading

Postedby Jordan Amaker
Date posted05/31/2024


A Look at the June Primaries & November Elections
A Look at the June Primaries & November Elections

Deep Dive: A Look at the June Primaries & November Elections Depending where you live in SC, you could be voting on June 11 for your next State Senator, Solicitor, Sheriff and more. The below deep dive is being shared via TogetherSC, with permission: This year, all 170 legislator seats... Continue Reading

Postedby Jordan Amaker
Date posted05/2/2024


May 2024: Advocacy Updates
May 2024: Advocacy Updates

Below are things you should know or take action on right now as a local-independent business owner or community leader: Local Level Did you see? The City of Charleston has joined the ‘gram. Follow along for updates! Stay up to date with what's happening in the city by signing up here... Continue Reading

Postedby Jordan Amaker
Date posted04/30/2024


Credit card swipe fees take a chunk out of my SC small business. Congress can help.
Credit card swipe fees take a chunk out of my SC small business. Congress can help.

Every time a shopper uses a credit card, the merchant pays a fee to process the transaction, commonly known as a swipe fees. Supporters of a bipartisan bill in the US Senate say the bill could help merchants by lowering swipe fees. Continue Reading

Postedby Toni Reale
Date posted04/8/2024