What is Independents Month? Independents Month—celebrated throughout July—is part of AMIBA’s national Choose Indie Local program. It’s a dedicated time to honor and uplift the locally owned, independent businesses that build economic opportunity, local character and a sense... Continue Reading
At Lowcountry Local First, we believe local ownership matters. Our mission 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
Local Level Our 2025 Annual Member Survey debrief is now live on our website. Check out our top takeaways or skim the full results here. To fulfill our mission, we must keep a pulse on the local business community we serve — to know the pain points and the victories —... Continue Reading
Local Level We're proud to welcome the Town of Mount Pleasant and their Mount Pleasant Made Initiative as a Local Economic Ambassador Member of our organization, reinforcing the Town’s commitment to supporting and elevating local, independent businesses. Read more! Eat Local!... Continue Reading
The Town of Mount Pleasant is proud to announce a new partnership with Lowcountry Local First (LLF) as part of its Local Economic Ambassador program, reinforcing the Town’s commitment to supporting and elevating local, independent businesses. This collaboration launches in July and will be... Continue Reading
We see you, small business owner. You are busy. And you’re up against a lot. Understanding how local land use policies and zoning regulations impact your business isn't just bureaucratic jargon – it's crucial for your bottom line and the very fabric of our beloved cities and... Continue Reading
Lowcountry Local First participated in a Historic Charleston Foundation + Bloomberg Philanthropies-hosted forum on responsible tourism held on May 20, 2025. A full room at The Charleston Museum officially launched a months-long process to support the City of Charleston as it works to draft a new... Continue Reading
Lewis BBQ / Rancho Lewis CHEF JOHN LEWIS Pork & BeansFermented Ahi Dolce Smoked Sausage with Slow Cooked Beans Pork Belly TacoSmoked Pork Belly Taco, House Milled Corn Tortilla, Red and Green Chile FARMERS: Marsh Hen Mill, Peculiar Pig Farm The Obstinate Daughter CHEF WILL... Continue Reading
Welcome, arts enthusiasts, to our beautiful Charleston! While you're here soaking in the incredible talent of the Spoleto Festival, we encourage you to truly experience the heart of our city – its local businesses. Step away from the well-trodden tourist paths and discover the unique... Continue Reading
Update from May 13: The City of Charleston’s Hospitality Parking Pilot Program has reached capacity, and the permit application window is now closed. On May 8, 2025, the City of Charleston announced the launch of a Hospitality Worker Parking Pilot Program, a new initiative designed to... Continue Reading
This week is nationally recognized as "Small Business Week," and we're often tapped to respond and contribute to the noise. If you know our organization, you know we love a campaign, and we love any reason to celebrate and call-out the many reasons we should all be supporting our small... Continue Reading
Worth a read: Many of you read and shared the Medium article, "The Downtown Death Spiral: Charleston's Best Businesses Are Closing and It's Not Their Fault," by Peyton Steele. It resonated far and wide and echoed a lot of the concerns we've raised over the last decade+. We're still advocating... Continue Reading
