Business news
Palmetto Electric Holds 2025 Annual Meeting
More than 4,500 members participated in Palmetto Electric Cooperative’s 2025 Annual Meeting, held May 1st–3rd via drive-thru registration at the Ridgeland office. This year’s theme, “Working Together in the Cooperative Spirit,” emphasized safety, storm recovery, and managing rising costs. The co-op reported strong engagement in energy efficiency programs and earned a 90 on the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Board election results include the re-election of incumbents James L. Rowe, D. Terrell Smith, and Jeremiah E. Vaigneur, with David L. White winning a contested seat. Rosalyn Brown of Ridgeland won the grand prize—a 2016 Ford Explorer.
Jo Anne Rizza Named REALTOR® of the Year
The Hilton Head Area REALTORS® association named Jo Anne Rizza of Hilton Head Real Estate Partners as its 2024 REALTOR® of the Year, honoring her leadership, integrity, and civic involvement. Rizza has built a reputation for excellence and community engagement. Contact her at 843-301-5825 or visit rizza.hiltonheadrealestatepartners.com.
Lowcountry Legal Volunteers Awarded $200K Grant
Lowcountry Legal Volunteers received a $200,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta to assist local families with heirs’ property legal challenges. The funding helps preserve generational wealth by supporting estate planning and clearing property titles. It’s part of a larger $5.9 million initiative awarded to 21 organizations across the Southeast.
Play It Again Sports Opens Bluffton Location
Play It Again Sports opened a new store at 1202-B Fording Island Road on May 15th. The store, owned by local couple Jason and Kayla Mattingly, buys, sells, and trades quality used sports and fitness equipment. The store offers in-demand gear for football, golf, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and more. Details: (843) 757-8025 or playitagainsports.com/bluffton-sc.
Heyward House Receives Historic Preservation Grant
The Historic Bluffton Foundation has been awarded its third Historic Preservation Grant, this time for $20,000 to help restore custom window shutters at the Heyward House Museum. Built in 1841, the home is one of Bluffton’s few antebellum structures to survive the 1863 “Burning of Bluffton.” Since 2022, the Town has awarded over $256,000 in grants through its preservation program.
BlacQuity Celebrates Graduates of Black Equity University
BlacQuity honored six local entrepreneurs on April 30th as graduates of its 12-week Black Equity University (BEU) accelerator. The program helps Black-owned businesses build sustainable models and connect with funding. Fall 2025 cohort applications are now open at Register-BEU. Graduates include Shauna Carmichael, Laurie Thompson, Leo Moore, Christian Gordon, Gina Johnson, and Inez Miller.
Arrhythmia Alliance donates AED
Arrhythmia Alliance has donated an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to Revolution Gymnastics, a new facility in Bluffton. The device will be available for emergencies involving sudden cardiac arrest.
The donation is part of the alliance’s Defibs Save Lives program, which has placed more than 80 AEDs in the Lowcountry. Gym owner Robyn Davies said the AED enhances community safety and aligns with the gym’s mission to promote health and well-being.
Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance Appoints New Executive Director
Automotive enthusiast Rick Sabol has been named Executive Director of the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival. A car collector and local resident, Sabol brings strategic leadership experience to the event, which draws more than 22,000 attendees annually.
The 2025 festival is set for Oct. 29th–Nov. 2nd. Tickets: hhiconcours.com. Those interested in volunteering should visit: hhiconcours.com/volunteer
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