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
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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2026 MEDIA CONTACT: Mara Fields 843-801-3390 mara@lowcountrylocalfirst.org LOWCOUNTRY LOCAL FIRST SHARES UPDATED PLANS FOR THE GOOD BUSINESS SUMMIT AHEAD OF ORGANIZATION’S 20th ANNIVERSARY Charleston, SC – Lowcountry Local First... Continue Reading
As we roll into the second month of Do Good Season, we’re inviting our community to put purpose behind their purchases by supporting Black-owned businesses. From makers and retailers to farmers, creatives, and service providers, Black entrepreneurs are doing incredible work right here in... Continue Reading
Join us at Lowcountry Local First's 13th annual Good Business Summit this month on February 18th as we explore business as a force for good. A special interactive breakout session after lunch will equip attendees with connections and tactics to grow collective, neighborhood-level advocacy... Continue Reading
Month Long - Black History Month events in Charleston Feb 1 - Taste of Gullah Geechee presented by Carolima’s Lowcountry Cuisine & Friends Feb 4 - SBE Certification Webinar for Small Businesses hosted by the City of Charleston Feb 4 - The Bitter & The Sweet at Philosophers &... Continue Reading
Thank you for joining us at this month’s Marketing Mindshare with Brianna Crossley and Nicole Lennox with Pollen. This session focused on building organic social media systems that help brands grow sustainably in 2026. Instead of chasing trends or posting reactively, the conversation... Continue Reading
Happy New Year, Localists and Locavores! We invite you to review our recently approved 2026 Advocacy Priorities to see key areas where we'll be investing our time and energy in the months ahead. In other news... Local Building a strong local community starts with you and your dollars. We... Continue Reading
Lowcountry Local First is proud to announce its 2026 Board of Directors. The Board includes talented and passionate business leaders from a wide variety of sectors and backgrounds. 2026 Board of Directors (* Indicates a new board member) Executive Committee:- Chair: Kate Schmieding, Obviouslee -... Continue Reading
The below set of 1-year priorities for 2026 compliment the organization's ongoing Advocacy Principles as outlined here and enable the staff of Lowcountry Local First to act swiftly towards policy and regulatory opportunities that align within. 1. Advance Small Business Anti-Displacement Support... Continue Reading
