Mid-June, NCGrowth hosted a powerful and purpose-driven workshop in Walterboro, South Carolina, designed specifically for small rural businesses in the Lowcountry. Local entrepreneurs often share a common challenge: limited access to the tools, guidance, and connections they need to grow and sustain their businesses. This workshop aimed to bridge that gap.
Our summer workshop brought together a dynamic lineup of business experts, resource partners, and business support organizations for a full day of learning and networking. A key highlight was the resource fair, which gave rural business owners the opportunity to meet directly with the people and programs that can help take their business to the next level.
In addition to connecting entrepreneurs with expert support, we also opened the door for local small businesses to serve as vendors at the event. This not only gave them visibility in front of peers and resource partners, but also created an opportunity to generate sales, promote their brand, and practice engaging with a larger customer base within a supportive environment.
Of the over 80 participants, there were about 50 small business owners and 12 community resource partners representing a broad cross-section of local small rural business ecosystem partners. From learning about using social media to build brand awareness to learning about innovative technology in farming and agriculture, to learning about legacy planning and heirs property, this event created space for meaningful connections and actionable next steps.
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our panelists, presenters, vendors, and resource partners who made this event possible. Your time, insight, and dedication are helping to reshape the business landscape in rural South Carolina. We cannot wait to see you next summer!