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Vocal for Local: Palmetto Pastures
Vocal for Local: Palmetto Pastures

Throughout the month of October, we are featuring eight unique Lowcountry Local First member businesses as they tell their story and why they’re proud to be Certified Local. Follow along! We hope you enjoy getting to know some of your neighbors as much as we do. Let’s get Vocal... Continue Reading

Date posted10/10/2019


Vocal for Local: Piece of Work
Vocal for Local: Piece of Work

Throughout the month of October, we will be featuring eight unique Lowcountry Local First member businesses as they tell their story and why they’re proud to be Certified Local. Follow along! We hope you enjoy getting to know some of your neighbors as much as we do. Let’s get... Continue Reading

Date posted10/8/2019


Vocal for Local: Off Track Ice Cream
Vocal for Local: Off Track Ice Cream

Throughout the month of October, we will be featuring eight unique Lowcountry Local First member businesses as they tell their story and why they’re proud to be Certified Local. Follow along! We hope you enjoy getting to know some of your neighbors as much as we do. Let’s get... Continue Reading

Date posted10/3/2019


Q&A with the 2019 City of Charleston Mayoral Candidates
Q&A with the 2019 City of Charleston Mayoral Candidates

Ahead of the City of Charleston’s mayoral election on Nov. 5, 2019, Lowcountry Local First has partnered with the Charleston City Paper to ask the six candidates pitching themselves to be the city’s next leader about specific policies that affect local businesses in our community.... Continue Reading

Date posted09/23/2019


Women Farmers: Taking care of the earth and creating a life of sustainability
Women Farmers: Taking care of the earth and creating a life of sustainability

The below guest blog post was provided by Michelle Jewell, Farm Bureau Women’s Committee Chair for Charleston County and 2018 graduate of Lowcountry Local First’s Growing New Farmers program. Learn more about our work in Good Farming aimed at nurturing a strong, vibrant local food... Continue Reading

Date posted04/22/2019


Folly Beach Restricts 'Formula' Businesses
Folly Beach Restricts 'Formula' Businesses

The following article ran in the Charleston Regional Business Journal, Volume 24 / No 26 print issue, that came out on December 10, 2018. Written by CRBJ staff writer Patrick Hoff. If you’re looking to buy a Big Mac, you won’t find it in downtown Folly Beach. And that will... Continue Reading

Date posted12/13/2018


Folly Beach City Council Approves Zoning Ordinance to Protect Unique Character of Business District
Folly Beach City Council Approves Zoning Ordinance to Protect Unique Character of Business District

Lowcountry Local First advocates for vibrant communities rooted in independent businesses Charleston, SC – On Tuesday, November 13, 2018, the City of Folly Beach unanimously passed the second and final reading of Ordinance 11-18, effectively prohibiting formula businesses (more... Continue Reading

Date posted11/14/2018


Folly Beach may ban chain restaurants and stores to keep itself unique
Folly Beach may ban chain restaurants and stores to keep itself unique

By Chloe Johnson cjohnson@postandcourier.com Oct 22, 2018 – Front page story for the Post and Courier Folly Beach may ban chain businesses from the island, a rare move for a South Carolina municipality that supporters say will help protect the beach community’s funky... Continue Reading

Date posted10/23/2018


Building Local Prosperity Week: Melvina Ravenel
Building Local Prosperity Week: Melvina Ravenel

“I love music, and I love what music does for me and I know what music does for others. And I like to make people feel good. …And the other part of my idea was wanting to lose weight and be healthier in my adult years. And I remember when I was younger, I danced a lot. And it was... Continue Reading

Date posted10/22/2018


Building Local Prosperity Week: Christian Senger
Building Local Prosperity Week: Christian Senger

“I did the typical big Charleston events and touristy things – which are all great, but I wasn’t digging into it until I had been here a while and started to meet people. And after 4 or 5 years here, around August 2011, I launched Holy City Sinner. And the reason for that... Continue Reading

Date posted10/22/2018


Building Local Prosperity Week: Mika Gadsden
Building Local Prosperity Week: Mika Gadsden

“Moving here to Charleston as a sophomore in high school was a pivotal moment for me. As someone who was born and raised primarily in the Northeast, the Holy City didn’t always feel like home to me, especially as a teenager. Not only did I have to adjust to new surroundings, but,... Continue Reading

Date posted10/22/2018


Building Local Prosperity Week: Ellie Davis
Building Local Prosperity Week: Ellie Davis

“I guess it hadn’t struck me that people farm – even though I was wanting to go into farming. And now I’ve leased land and growing milkweed, pawpaw, peanuts- and potentially hemp. But it all started with Growing New Farmers Program and then MUSC (mentor farm) and... Continue Reading

Date posted10/17/2018