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South Carolina Infrastructure April 8, 2024
		The South Carolina Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has prepared the first Report Card for every South Carolina's residents and decision makers. The purpose is to inform to understand the current condition of the state's infrastructure. ASCE used eight criteria to discuss and grade the state of the infrastructure including capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety, resilience, and innovation.
Food Insecurity and Food Cost March 25, 2024
		Food insecurity is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as the lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life. In 2023, Feeding America released a report on county and congressional district food insecurity and county food cost in the states. The report focuses on the extent and variation in local food insecurity levels in 2021. Food insecurity did not improve in many communities and significant disparities continue to exist.
State of Homelessness Report February 9, 2024
		The report provides a broad look at homelessness across the state. It is prepared by the South Carolina Interagency Council on Homelessness (SCICH) in partnership with the state's four HUD Continuums of Care (CoC). The Lowcountry CoC serves Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper Counties as well as Berkley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties. Homelessness continues to be a community's concern because of the rise in housing costs, increased evictions, lack of “affordable” housing, unsheltered homelessness and children living without a permanent nighttime residence. Visit SCICH for more information on homelessness.
Community Foundation of the Lowcountry Annual Report 2023 January 22, 2024
		This report highlights the partnerships and collaborations focusing on a critical need in the community (such as food insecurity and mental health) and increasing knowledge for the future through education and community data. These partnerships exist to create opportunities for, and improve the lives of, Lowcountry residents of all ages. Learn more about the foundation here.
Palmetto State Housing Study January 17, 2024
		The University of South Carolina (USC) Darla Moore School of Business, in partnership with the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (SC Housing), conducted a statewide housing needs assessment, "Palmetto State Housing Study" in 2023. The study examines a broad range of housing issues facing the state, such as housing production and availability, fair housing and accessibility, housing cost burden, homelessness, and housing affordability. It also explores each region’s unique housing challenges and includes demographic analyses and forecasts of future housing needs and supply. The study presents the three major findings from the analysis and the agency’s policy recommendations to address these priority housing needs.
SC State Health Assessment January 16, 2024
		Presented by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the Alliance for a Healthier South Carolina (Alliance), South Carolina’s 2023 State Health Assessment (SHA) is a comprehensive evaluation of the health status of South Carolinians designed to inform health improvement plans at the state and community levels. In addition, it serves as a health data resource that organizations, the media and the public can use. The summary of this report can be read here.
SC Child Care Needs Assessment Report November 20, 2023
		Published by the South Carolina Child Care, the Needs Assessment Report provides a composite measure of three major indicators of childcare access – childcare capacity, quality childcare capacity, and voucher utilization in the county. The purpose is to fully understand childcare accessibility, affordability, and quality across the state's early childhood education programs. Ranking of 46 counties from 1 (highest childcare access) to 46 (lowest childcare access), Beaufort ranks 1, Colleton ranks 36, Hampton ranks 38, and Jasper ranks 42. Visit SC Child Care for more information on the quality of care for all children in South Carolina.
Lowcountry Council of Governments Annual Report 2023 October 27, 2023
		This report not only summarizes the quantitative successes of each program area — Community & Economic Development, Planning & Transportation, Workforce Development, and the Area Agency on Aging — and the overall financial success of the COG, but more importantly, it shares the tremendous and positive outcomes our work has on our communities. Learn more about the COG here.
Military Installation Resilience Review of MCAS Beaufort, MCRD Parris Island, and the Surrounding Areas March 17, 2023
		The Department of Defense awarded a $475,000 grant to the Lowcountry Council of Governments, in partnership with Beaufort County, the City of Beaufort and the Town of Port Royal to prepare a Military Installation Resilience Review for Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, and the surrounding communities. The project objective is to identify threats and vulnerabilities and to present recommendations that enhance the resilience and adaptation capacity of the bases and the surrounding communities.
Community Foundation of the Lowcountry Annual Report 2022 February 23, 2023
		The Annual Report provides an inside look at the exciting ways in which Community Foundation of the Lowcountry partners with donors and nonprofits to help improve the lives of people living and working in the community. Community needs were identified and addressed including, for example, a nursing shortage, a transportation issue, and educational challenges. In addition, there is an inspirational story that you cannot miss. Learn more about the foundation here.
The People and the Economy of the Lowcountry Region January 9, 2023
		The People and the Economy of the Lowcountry presents socioeconomic conditions unique to the region by tracking the performance of key indicators relevant to population, education, housing, economy, public health, and crime and safety. The report has been released annually for over ten years. Next year’s edition will have a new look, being incorporated into the “Lowcountry Community Indicators” website.
Community Indicators Report October 27, 2022
		The Community Indicators Report identifies significant trends and provides in-depth data about those that live, work, and go to school in the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry's four-county region — Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper. The report covers key indicators relevant to demographics, health, housing, employment and business, poverty, education, transportation, and environment. Next year, the report will have a new look, being incorporated into the “Lowcountry Community Indicators” website.
Lowcountry Council of Governments Annual Report 2022 October 27, 2022
		The Annual Report summarizes the programmatic success of each program Aging, Workforce, Planning and Transportation, and Community and Economic Development, and the overall financial success of the COG following the peak COVID years. Lowcountry COG worked through these times, adapting its processes, learning new skills, and growing its services. As a result, Lowcountry COG became more resilient. Learn more about the COG here.
Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Program Evaluation August 29, 2022
		The AAA program evaluation focuses on the improvement of the regional nutrition program and other services with existing providers and an increase of participation in the program. The purpose of an evaluation is to gain understanding of how the current participants perceive the AAA services and how to make services better for them as well as how to attract new potential participants, and of course meet state goals. The evaluation results will help indicate areas of the program that need to be improved so that the AAA services can attract new potential participants.