Invest Local Initiative

Are you looking for funding to start or scale your business?

Are you looking for opportunities to invest in your neighbors?

Lowcountry Local First is a hub for good growth, and we’re here to help connect local entrepreneurs with guidance and access to creative capital opportunities, and to help equip every citizen with timely ways to support our home-grown businesses.

Small, locally owned businesses need investment to get off the ground and grow. Our community needs banks, credit unions, and CDFIs, but alternative platforms can sometimes be a better first step.

Crowdfunding platforms can unlock both flexible, affordable capital, and community support for your small business. We’re here to show you how and support you along the way.

Get Funding

Do you need funding for inventory, to hire, or to sign a lease for your small business?

Lowcountry Local First and our Invest Local Advisory Committee are here to help. We believe in the power of the local community to support entrepreneurs like you. To get started, simply fill out this brief form and our team will be in touch:

Get Funding

Invest Locally

Everyone can be an investor. We’re here to help you discover homegrown businesses throughout the Lowcountry that need your support right now.

In the Lowcountry, many small businesses lack access to traditional funding due to insufficient collateral or credit history. This program provides financial education and coaching to help businesses become loan ready. It also introduces new funding pathways, promotes 0% or low-interest loans, and endorses businesses through an Invest Local Advisory Committee.

By leveraging proven platforms such as Kiva, Honeycomb Credit, and others, this work connects character-based lending and crowd-lending opportunities to entrepreneurs who may face barriers to traditional capital sources.

Raising Now

Check back often – we’ll update this page to introduce entrepreneurs we’re working with so you can learn more about them and invest in their success.

Crowdfunding

Get to know some of our favorite platforms that we encourage local entrepreneurs to explore:

Kiva: A global platform that enables businesses to raise 0% interest loans up to $15K through community-driven, crowdfunded campaigns. Kiva focuses on businesses that, due to credit score or legal status, may not qualify for traditional financing.
Kickstarter: A platform primarily for creative projects, allowing businesses to raise funds through campaign-based contributions.
Honeycomb Credit: A platform that facilitates crowdlending for small businesses, allowing them to raise funds through community investors in exchange for interest payments.
NuMarket: Crowdfunding for independent food and beverage businesses looking to grow, open a new location, fund essential equipment, or simply need working capital.