Lowcountry Local First wins National Growth Accelerator contest

Lowcountry Local First awarded $50,000 to fill gaps in Charleston’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

Local Works, Lowcountry Local First’s open-sector coworking space for entrepreneurs and start-ups, has received $50,000 for being a winner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)’s annual Growth Accelerator Fund Competition. They join 84 accelerators from 32 states as part of the Class of 2016—it was the only accelerator chosen from South Carolina. This annual competition aims to draw attention and funding to parts of the country with gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

More than 400 applications were reviewed by a panel of 100 experts with entrepreneurial, investment, startup, economic development, capital formation and academic backgrounds from both the public and private sector.

“These awards deliver on a longstanding commitment at SBA to strengthen and modernize these support systems especially in parts of the country where access to capital has been a major barrier to starting a business,” says SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet.

“I would like to congratulate ‘Local Works’ for their selection as a recipient of the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition 2016,” said Elliott O. Cooper, District Director, South Carolina U.S. Small Business Administration. “Their ability to work with numerous small entrepreneurs in a unique manner and setting is setting a new direction for small businesses. This private sector incubator through this funding will continue to grow small businesses in South Carolina and create many more jobs for this state.”

“We are honored to be chosen by the US Small Business Administration as one of 85 winners across the US supporting a diverse group of companies,” shared Jamee Haley, Executive Director of Lowcountry Local First. “Local Works supports groups often underrepresented in traditional coworking or accelerator spaces, including Main Street entrepreneurs, women, farmers, creatives and other businesses that create the majority of jobs in the community.“

Local Works was launched in 2014 as a project of Lowcountry Local First to provide an open-sector coworking space for entrepreneurs and start-ups, as well as offer affordable space for businesses in our community. The 3,000 square foot facility currently hosts 40 entrepreneurs from 16 different industries, with 60% women-owned or led businesses.

The full list of winners and more details can be found online.

About Lowcountry Local First:

Lowcountry Local First, a nonprofit organization, cultivates local economic prosperity and quality of life by increasing community support for locally owned, independent businesses.