July 2025 Advocacy Updates
Local Level
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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 — and these results are one important piece of the pie that helps us communicate issues with our municipal partners and elected officials.
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This month, we officially welcome the Town of Mount Pleasant, the City of Goose Creek and Charleston County Economic Development as Local Economic Ambassador members of our organization, expressing their support of the local-indie businesses we serve in a very tactical way for the coming year. These local municipalities believe in the power of their homegrown businesses to shape their communities, steward economic resilience, and amplify their citizens’ wealth and wellbeing. We’re currently digging into our recent member survey results with these key partners to make sure your voice is heard and your pain points addressed.
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Parking on the peninsula: The City of Charleston is actively exploring solutions to support our vital hospitality workers on the peninsula with improved parking options. Your input is crucial to help them understand current needs and best respond with effective strategies. If you have any questions, please contact Sarita Blackshear, City of Charleston Business Services Manager, at blackshearS@charleston-sc.gov. Complete the brief survey here.
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Zoning code improvements: The cities of Charleston and North Charleston are undergoing zoning code re-writes. We encourage you to let your voice be heard with city staff and electeds right now in both of these municipalities. Zoning makes or breaks small businesses every day and these municipalities have the chance to make significant improvements to their codes and streamline processes. Use our toolkit to discover why this issue matters and how you can get involved in the ongoing discussions.
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Be aware: King Street youth curfew approved by Charleston City Council despite opposition - via Post and Courier
- The Town of Mount Pleasant has released the draft version of its Five-Year Update to the Comprehensive Plan and invites residents, business owners, and community stakeholders to participate in the public review process. Final public event: July 8 – 6 p.m. at the Town Council Public Hearing, Town Hall. This meeting will include a brief presentation followed by an open house where attendees can speak directly with Town staff and review the updated materials. Learn more
Federal
- On June 12, the Small Business Liberation Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to protect small businesses from the devastating impact of sweeping tariffs. Small business owners in our region and across the country are already feeling the strain of rising costs and supply chain disruptions. In our recent member survey, 85% of members are already experiencing – or are anticipating, direct and indirect negative effects from the tariffs. 50% plan to raise prices as a result, and 26% will have to delay growth and expansion plans. We encourage you to join the Small Business Majority’s campaign and tell your story here.
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Let your voice be heard... again! Small Business Majority, a federal level partner org of LLF, invites you to take their Voice of Main Street survey. Congress is debating major policies that could directly impact your bottom line—including new tariffs, changes to healthcare coverage, and deep cuts in the federal budget. These decisions are being made right now, and small business voices need to be part of the conversation. Take their short survey to share how these issues affect your business. Your feedback helps us advocate for policies that support entrepreneurs like you—not just big corporations.
Questions? Input? E-mail Jordan@lowcountrylocalfirst.org