News

The Business Education Partnership Committee hosted Lisa Carroll, chair of the Foundation For Educational Excellence, during its June meeting to learn more about its programs and initiatives.

Chris Crowe gave our Bluffton Regional Business Council a tour of the Burnt Church Distillery and an overview of how state legislation was changed last year to allow them to serve food and stay open past 7 p.m

Your chamber hosted its first Biscuits + Benefits meeting, and our newer members learned about the different ways they can make the most of their chamber membership.

Your chamber hosted a roundtable with Congresswoman Nancy Mace and local business owners in June.

During the Public Policy Committee meeting Expedia’s Paul Seago talked about short-term rental trends.

Thanks to the Sun City Money Talks Club for having us and USCB’s Charlie Calvert at their meeting this morning, talking about how tourism drives our local economy. 

Your chamber hosted a meeting with the private communities’ general managers to chat about the future of the island and more.

The Town of Hilton Head Island unveiled its proposed Mid-Island Community Park, a 103 acre parcel bordered by William Hilton Parkway, Dillon Road, and Union Cemetary Road. Plans call for multi-use trails, an open-air market, gardens, interactive water feature, playground, a nature preserve, and more. 

The Technical College of the Lowcounty is the first institution in the state to purchase a LapSim, a virtual reality simulator that allows students to practice assisting with medical procedures before ever stepping foot into an operating room.

The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa unveiled Oceans, an adults-only seaside lounge that offers craft cocktails and small plates. 

The Town of Hilton Head Island launched two new initiatives this summer: 

• Free beach wheelchairs offered at Islander’s Beach Park and Coligny Beach Park. Reservations can be made through the town’s website. 
• On-demand interpretation services in 240 languages and American Sign Language.

The Rotary Club of Okatie donated money to the Foundation For Educational Excellence to help fund its annual fall grant program.  

The Bluffton Police Department Benevolence Fund received a donation to help equip the K-9 program and other police programs. 
 

The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry awarded $724,625 to eight local nonprofits:

• Arts Center of Coastal Carolina for diversity training
• Coastal Discovery Museum to hire a History Educator
• FRIENDS of Caroline Hospice to complete Caroline’s Cottage
• Hospice Care of the Lowcountry to expand their palliative care program
• Meals-on-Wheels Bluffton-Hilton Head to hire Program Coordinator
• Multiplying Good to bring Students in Action leadership programs to local high schools
• USCB for water quality research on Port Royal Sound estuaries
• The Waddell Mariculture Center Fund to purchase essential heavy equipment

With the passage of its budget, the Beaufort County School District is now among the top-paying districts for educators in the state.

The Italian American Club of Hilton Head will host a student exchange with its sister city in Verona, Italy. In July, 32 students will tour southern colleges as well as experience Hilton Head Island’s culture, nature, and beach. 

Hilton Head Island Airport received $12 million in additional funding in the state budget. The $53 million project will expand parking and upgrade the terminal.

Hilton Head Regional Healthcare workers donated over 7,500 servings of cereal to Sandalwood Pantry and St. Stephens Outreach Food Bank as part of its annual Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive.

There’s a new oyster reef along the 18th fairway of famed Harbour Town Golf Links thanks to the efforts of local volunteers, the Outside Foundation, The Sea Pines Resort, and SCDNR. More than 700 bags of oyster shells were used to create a manmade reef that will serve as a natural habitat for oysters, help with erosion, and support other wildlife.