When RGI began working with Main Street South Carolina, a review of 374 small businesses found that more than half had no way to take orders or bookings online, and one in twelve had no online presence at all. WeShopSC — the state's first commission-free e-commerce marketplace for small businesses — set out to close that gap.
Grants, technology, and training
Across multiple funded phases, RGI co-authored grant applications (including a $105,250 Southeast Crescent Regional Commission award and a $25,000 StimulateSC award), helped integrate payment technology, delivered e-commerce training across nine distressed counties, and provided one-on-one technical assistance to get businesses selling online.
Paired with a statewide storytelling and photography effort, the program grew from roughly 70 businesses to more than 700 across 96 towns and 38 counties, mobilizing over $600,000 in investment and delivering 15,000+ professional images and 1.2 million digital impressions for Main Street businesses.
