Lowcountry

Lowcountry

South Carolina Small Business Resources – One-Stop Guide of Options

October 5, 2020 by 0 Comments
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Discover Business
This guide has free-to-access rich tutorials on the following areas:

• Business Plan Writing
• Critical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Time Management

These pages are useful to a) businessmen seeking resources on how to improve the way they manage their business, b) people thinking about opening a new business, and c) college students who are taking a business-related degree.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

A resource information page on energy efficiency and renewable energy.

How to Help Your Employees Vote

This Resource Guide features recommendations, best practices, and resources for business owners interested in helping their employees and/or customers vote. We also provide links to dozens of organizations and coalitions that can help.

IRS Small Business and Self Employed Tax Center

Resources for taxpayers who file Form 1040, Schedules C, E, F or Form 2106, as well as small businesses with assets under $10 million.

MBDA Business Center – Columbia, SC

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center assists Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) that generate a minimum of $1M in annual revenue with access to contracts and capital, strategic business counseling, export-readiness, and marketing. To learn more about Columbia’s MBDA Business Center and its services, visit the website or call (803) 743-1154.

SC Commission for Minority Affairs
The South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs was created in 1993 by the General Assembly to provide the citizens of the State with a single point of contact for information regarding the State’s minority population.

SCORE
Provides small business mentoring and advice on the full range of business topics at no charge.
Local SCORE Chapters:  Midlands, Greater Aiken, Piedmont, Charleston, Grand Strand, SC Low Country

SC Workers’ Compensation Commission
What business owners need to know about workers’ compensation insurance.

Small Business Caregiving Guide 
A new, free online resource guide that helps small business owners create a caregiving-friendly workplace. 

Small Business Development Center
One-on-one consultation, special interest seminars, and information referral services at no charge.

South Carolina Business One Stop
Almost all the government information you need to start a business anywhere in South Carolina.

South Carolina Business Resource Guide 2015-2016
The South Carolina Business Resource Guide looks at a number of issues that you may want to consider as you start your business or as your business grows. It covers everything from opportunities to export your products in the global marketplace to supply chain assistance, regulatory issues, workforce training support, and assistance for minority- and women-owned businesses.

The South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Headquartered in Columbia, SC is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on helping manufacturers throughout the state by solving business and supply chain process problems.

The U.S. Small Business Administration
Provides no-fee financial, technical, and management assistance to help Americans start, run, and grow their businesses.

Women’s Business Center
Headquartered at Columbia College, the Women’s Business Center of South Carolina establishes programs aimed at assisting women business leaders throughout the state.

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Lowcountry

“Fragile” A Short Film Depicting The Low Country Woman Entrepreneur’s Journey Through COVID-19 Released By Woman-Owned Film Company In Charleston

October 5, 2020 by 0 Comments
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Ten women-owned businesses in Charleston, South Carolina, coming together. A global pandemic. One story. “Fragile” depicts countless Charleston women entrepreneurs’ emotional journeys and strength through these COVID-19 times. The film was directed by Chief Cat Herder/Lead Filmmaker Shelby Ring of Ruby Riot Creatives, collaborating with Dance Lab Charleston founder, Jenny Broe.

“We may not look the way we did before COVID-19, we may not do business the way we did before COVID-19, but we’re better because of it”, says Shelby Ring, film director and lead cinematographer of this piece. “We’re stronger because of the resistance and challenges we’ve gone through, and I think if there’s anything this time has shown us —it’s that as women, we can absolutely handle anything life throws at us.”

The short film is set to Tech N9ne’s “Fragile” – a hip hop song released in 2013 and features five dancers and five local woman entrepreneurs depicting the emotional ups and downs of COVID-19. The dancing sequences were filmed at the historic Cedar Room off East Bay Street in downtown Charleston. To watch this Charleston-local produced and inspired the film, visit https://www.rubyriotcreatives.com/fragile .

Lowcountry

Left My Heart in the Holy City – Original Poem

October 4, 2020 by 1 Comment
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By Mark A. Leon

I left my heart in the Holy City

The spirits draw me in with the sweet song of the streets
Cobblestone roads and the gallop of horses in the distance
She romances me with her palate
Serenades with the wind whistling off the Palmettos

With a cocktail on the rooftop we toast the sunset
A breathtaking theatrical performance
With a wink from the moon, the evening sweeps you off your feet

Left my heart in the Holy City
Fair Charleston, the jewel of the South
A present to be unwrapped filled with magic and surprise

The tower bells ring, ushering in a new hour; a new adventure
Let her Southern warmth cascade the senses
A steamy night awaits filled with passion

With a secret smile and a courtesy bow, a gentleman woes the Southern Belle
Tradition alive and well in the Holy City

Plantations showered with flowers
Prominence and power
Tradition so sincere

In the garden, a maiden awaits her place
Resting under the shade of the tree
Born the fairer being
Destined to grace

Left my heart in the Holy City
So, proud, under the flag of Sumter
Free as the waterways out of the Harbor

Church steeples dance
Ghosts sway under the hot sun
A celebration of sin and charm

Now I rest under this Southern sky for tomorrow I will leave my heart in this Holy City

 

Lowcountry

Grand Opening: Mount Pleasant Welcomes its Newest Business Partner: The Hair Lab

October 3, 2020 by 0 Comments
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On Friday, October 2, Mount Pleasant, SC led by Mayor Haynie welcomed The Hair Lab to its list of businesses providing the community with excellence in services, products and the overall experience we expect from the Mount Pleasant community.

Welcome to the neighborhood Laura and the entire Hair Lab Family.

Here are some images from this past week’s ribbon cutting:

Learn more about this wonderful new business partner in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Official Website

Official Blog

Location: The Hair Lab, LLC – 1233 Ben Sawyer Blvd. Suite 100, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Contact:

About the Hair Lab and Owner Laura Frazier

We are a full-service Redken salon located in the heart of Mount Pleasant, SC dedicated to providing you with an elevated salon experience.

We also house Pureology hair care products and KC Smooth by Keratin Complex; a formaldehyde free smoothing treatment.

Our stylists operate at the highest skill level in Charleston, SC. We specialize in Color Correction, Balayage, Hair Color Formulation, Advanced Hair Cutting, Curly Hair, Blonding, Corrective Cutting, and much much more!

We are home to Hair Color Certified Stylists, Deva Curl Certified Stylists, and Design (cutting) Stylists.

We are here to serve all of your hair needs!

The Hair Lab was created by Laura Frazier, a national Redken Artist, Certified Colorist, NYFW Stylist and more. To learn more about Laura Click Here

Her dream was to build a team, support them with a healthy/safe environment that fosters teamwork and advanced skill development, as well as career development. Laura is not only passionate about the Beauty Industry but equally passionate about building other stylists up to fulfill their maximum potential. By catering to the Salon Professional, the love and care will show through to the guests’ experience, not only in top level skills but in top level care.

“If you take care of employees, they will take care of the clients.” – Richard Branson

Lowcountry

Charleston Restaurant “Josephine” closes its doors permanently – Read their emotional goodbye message

October 3, 2020 by 2 Comments
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Josephine on Spring Street is yet another culinary victim of the pandemic. They announced on Friday they will not be re-opening. Co-owner Jill left an emotional message on their social media:

“It is true… every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end…For me, my new beginning comes from Joséphine’s end. Owning and operating a restaurant under perfect conditions is not for the faint of heart, and post-Covid, it became a non-starter.

A laughter-filled dining room bustling with energy became replaced by the silent hum of an air conditioner. As I stood in the empty space one last time, I looked around and was full of pride for the amazing, vibrant restaurant that was Joséphine, ever mindful though that I did not do it alone.

My deepest thanks and appreciation to Executive Chef Shaun Connolly for consistently serving the best food this town has to offer – bar none; to GM Emily Sondervan who kept the front of house flawless and kept me sane; to Rachel Arnett, the most amazingly skilled and personable bartender I could have ever asked for (oh, how I’ll miss her cocktails!); to sous chef Jon Hager for working so damn hard; and to all the many outstanding servers, line cooks (Bailey!), dishwashers, SAs, and hosts who worked tirelessly in an effort to create memorable dining experiences.

Last, but not least, to all the guests who graced Joséphine for dinner and drinks, parties and special events, my sincere gratitude for choosing Joséphine to spend your time and money. While it is closing time for Joséphine, there is a new beginning.

I am happily returning to my simple life in Chicago, to my law practice and to my husband and new puppy Cocoa, and hopefully to many future vacations! Wishing all of you health and happiness in the months and years to come. XO, Jill”

Thank you for blessing us with your fine establishment and the best of luck in the future.

Lowcountry

NIET Receives $2.5 Million Federal Grant to Support Principals and School Leaders in South Carolina

October 1, 2020 by 0 Comments
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NIET, University of South Carolina, BranchED will partner to support principals in building equity and providing students with access to high-quality STEM education and social-emotional learning

The U.S. Department of Education awarded the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) $2.5 million today, in partnership with the University of South Carolina and the Branch Alliance for Educator Diversity (BranchED), to build the capacity of South Carolina’s principals and school leaders in supporting science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education and social-emotional learning for students.

This 3-year grant from the Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) program will support principal coaching and training, with a focus on advancing equity for all students, in the following six districts, reaching 150 administrators in 95 schools who serve a total of 58,000 students:

The partnership will create the South Carolina Principal Leadership Network, a two-year cohort-based program that will administer high-quality virtual professional development in STEM and social-emotional learning (SEL), coupled with quarterly on-site coaching and networking opportunities through virtual communities of practice. The training will be rooted in evidence-based practices that accelerate student achievement growth and will be tailored to the needs of the participating school leaders, teachers, and students. In addition, the inclusion of BranchED, which supports effective educator preparation at minority-serving institutions, will allow the partnership to put a particular focus on serving leaders from diverse backgrounds.

“Equipping students with the skills and knowledge to be successful and helping them to become informed and thoughtful citizens go hand in hand,” said NIET CEO Dr. Candice McQueen. “This partnership will equip school leaders across South Carolina to better support their teachers and advance STEM and SEL efforts in their schools that better prepare all students to be able to choose their path in life. We are particularly glad to have the University of South Carolina and BranchED as partners to advance equity, build the capacity of a diverse group of teachers, and increase opportunities for students.”

NIET will provide on-site coaching and networking opportunities, and NIET specialists will deliver professional development that focuses on creating and communicating a culture of equity, shared instructional leadership, and creating a culture of reflective practice and continuous improvement. Additionally, through this grant, the University of South Carolina faculty will provide principals and leaders with training designed to encourage equity of access to high-quality STEM education for all students. BranchED will focus their support on leading culturally relevant pedagogy to foster inclusion and integration of social-emotional learning and work with NIET on connecting principals to learn from each other through the virtual communities of practice.

This innovative project will align principals’ needs with evidence-based practices for excellence in leadership. The support provided in the partnership will provide a powerful tool for advancing school leaders’ leadership capacity and improving educator retention, school culture, and student outcomes − and it has the potential to become a model for school leader support and development nationwide.

About NIET
For two decades, NIET has partnered with schools, districts, states, and universities to build educator excellence and give all students the opportunity for success. NIET’s initiatives, including the TAP System for Teacher and Student Advancement, teacher and leader development, school improvement, rubric and observation systems, and educator preparation, have impacted more than 275,000 educators and 2.75 million students across the U.S. Learn more at www.niet.org. 

About the University of South Carolina
The primary mission of the University of South Carolina Columbia is the education of the state’s citizens through teaching, research, creative activity, and community engagement. Among America’s oldest and most comprehensive public universities, the University of South Carolina Columbia is the major research institution of the university system and its largest campus. At the heart of its mission lies the university’s responsibility to state and society to promote the dissemination of knowledge, cultural enrichment, and an enhanced quality of life. Learn more at www.sc.edu.

About BranchED
BranchED is the only nonprofit organization in the country dedicated to strengthening, growing, and amplifying the impact of educator preparation at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), with the longer-range goals of both diversifying the teaching profession and intentionally addressing critical issues of educational equity for all students. Its vision is for all students to have access to diverse, highly effective educators. Learn more at www.educatordiversity.org.

Lowcountry

East Cooper Rotary Club Lines Up Flags for Heroes

October 1, 2020 by 0 Comments
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(MOUNT PLEASANT, SC)…To celebrate Veterans Day, East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club will showcase a breathtaking display of hundreds of American Flags.  Flags will be on display November 10 through November 16 at the Cold War Memorial near the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. Individuals, businesses, corporations, and non-profits can sponsor a flag or more in honor of a hero(s) of their choice. Together we can engage and inspire our community by reminding us all of the true meaning of Veterans Day – a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

The East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club is proud to host this event along with the support of the USS Yorktown Foundation.  All of the funds raised through the Flags for Heroes program will be used for Rotary service projects and to support the Charleston Fisher House, a comfortable place for the families of heroes to stay while they are being treated at Charleston’s Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. Last year, the club gave $1,000 to Charleston Fisher House, provided over 250 pairs of shoes for kids in need in partnership with the Mount Pleasant Lunch Rotary Club, and partnered with Toys for Tots by donating over 80 children’s bikes.

The cost of an individual sponsorship is $50 for a single flag and pole. There are also corporate sponsorship opportunities available that include advertising and promotional benefits that will be fulfilled by the Rotary. 

To sponsor a flag in honor of a hero or for more information, please visit charlestonrotaryflags.org.

THE EAST COOPER BREAKFAST ROTARY CLUB was chartered in 1996 with 35 active members. The club strives to provide educational and financial assistance to the East Cooper community. For information about the East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club, please visit their website at www.ecbrotary.org.

Lowcountry

“Blood in the Low Country” – Debut Novel by Charleston Author Paul Attaway Now Available

September 30, 2020 by 0 Comments
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Blood in the Low Country by Paul Attaway 

Released for Worldwide Distribution

Mystery Thriller Is Attaway’s Debut Novel

Charleston, SC/September 30, 2020 – Blood in the Low Country (ISBN 978-1735401621, Linksland Publishing, 2020) by Paul Attaway has been released for worldwide distribution.  This religious mystery adventure tale is Attaway’s debut novel. This riveting book transports readers to the South of the mid-twentieth century with a façade of gentility that hides bigotry, greed, violence, and deceit; along with carefully crafted characters that will captivate readers.  The paperback edition of Blood in the Low Country retails for $18.95.  The book is also available in Kindle format for $8.99.  The book has earned strong endorsements and reviews from readers and reviewers alike who eagerly await Attaway’s next novel.

“I am very pleased to see Blood in the Low Country released,” said Paul Attaway.  “Writing the book was a labor of love.  I enjoyed developing characters, a setting,  and a plot that will entertain and thrill readers to the last page.  If you enjoy a good mystery, Blood in the Low Country is the book for you.”

Blood in the Low Country takes the reader back in time.  The year is 1973, and by all appearances, Monty Atkins has a wonderful life. He lives in beautiful Charleston, SC, his small law practice is growing, and he and his wife are raising two boys. Walker is their own son and Eli is a child from Rose’s first marriage, a troubled union she has been running from since its dissolution. 

But brewing beneath the surface lurks a conspiracy of lies, about who they are and what they believe. When a brutal murder and a shocking betrayal turn their world upside down, Monty’s faith in God and in everything he holds true is stretched to the breaking point. He must decide if there is anything, he won’t risk to save his family. This Southern family mystery will captivate you as the hunt for the killer threatens everything Monty holds dear.