County Council backing 10 percent shift plan

Image by Charleston County photo by Jennie DavisImage by LowcountryLocalFirst.jpg Charleston County Council member Paul Thurmond (right) presents a resolution to Lowcountry Local First representatives on Tuesday, June 16.

We've been talking about the benefits of Lowcountry Local First's grass-root local stimulus 10% shift plan for a while now, so it's good to hear that Charleston City Council has officially become a proponent of the movement.

On Tuesday, June 16, Charleston County Council passed a resolution supporting Lowcountry Local First’s 10% Shift Campaign, a movement that encourages individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies to spend at least 10 percent of their purchases with local, independent businesses.

“This is a local, grass-roots stimulus plan,” Charleston County Chairman Teddie E. Pryor said. “If we all spend at least 10 percent of our purchases with local, independent businesses, we could help create jobs and increase economic activity in our area.”

Based on a recent study of the Grand Rapids, Mich. area (similar in size to the Tri-county area) by Civic Economics, Lowcountry Local First estimates that a commitment to shift 10 percent of purchases to local, independent businesses in the Tri-county area could:

- Create 1,600 jobs, reducing unemployment by .5%
- Generate $50 million in new wages
- Create $140 million in new economic activity for the region

But if you'd like to get a little more on why folks are so excited about it, check out this recent article from The Post and Courier.

Charleston County Council plans to participate in Lowcountry Local First’s press conference scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30, in Marion Square.

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