Over the past 15 years, Bluffton has grown into a town with a unique “State of Mind” known as the “Heart of the Lowcountry.”

We at the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce are thrilled to have been along for the ride and to be among the organizations building positive momentum in Bluffton.

The Chamber’s presence in the heart of Bluffton – at the corner of Main and Main, as we like to call it – has further enabled us the opportunity to observe and aid that growth. We continue to support the booming Bluffton business community in numerous ways that help small businesses gain valuable exposure.

As our area continues to grow as a population center as well as a visitor destination, it’s important for the business community to grow with it responsibly, with the vision for the future set forth by the Town.

It is equally vital to take a regional approach that unifies our interconnected communities, because business doesn’t stop at the bridge.

With more than 60 networking events every year, the Chamber provides ample opportunities for some of the Lowcountry’s great business minds to connect, communicate and collaborate. Many of our events, such as Tech Tuesdays, include an educational aspect that helps members take their business to the next level via digital and social media marketing.

We’re also working behind the scenes, monitoring important developments at the local, state and federal level and working with elected officials to ensure your local representatives make decisions with your best interest in mind.

We listen to what our 1,600 members have to say and utilize that voice for your benefit. Your Chamber has taken that unified approach to building the region’s business community for nearly 60 years. We sponsor programs like Leadership Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, which helps develop the next generation of community leaders and provides tangible amenities such as the playground at DuBois Park, the community fire pit in the Promenade and the recent “Follow The Fiddlers” public sculpture series.

We have a heart for Bluffton. It’s the place many of our chamber staff members call home and where many more shop, dine and do business.

While Bluffton has its own identity and personality, it’s also a perfect complement to Hilton Head Island – and the two towns form a dynamic duo that makes the Lowcountry such a great place to be for residents and visitors alike.

Bill Miles is president and CEO of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.