Beaufort, SC Coworking Offices & Tech Incubator

CFL Awards $506,500 in Impact Grants to Eight Local Nonprofits

BEAUFORT, SC – December 10, 2025 – In its first Impact Grants cycle of fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026), Community Foundation of the Lowcountry (CFL) has awarded $506,500 in grants to eight local nonprofit organizations!

Impact Grants are competitive grants, each in excess of $10,000, awarded to nonprofit organizations for new programs or projects, improving existing programs or services, or for capital projects that are critical to the organization's mission. Impact Grants are for organizations that support those who live and/or work in southern Beaufort County, and there are two cycles per year.

These investments support crucial needs in the community, from affordable childcare and environmental resiliency to senior nutrition and veterans' wellness.

The recipients of the Fall 2025 Community Foundation of the Lowcountry Impact Grants are:

• Arts Center of Coastal Carolina - Supporting arts education for 10,000+ students by funding a box truck that improves safety, efficiency, and access to cultural learning.
• Beaufort Digital Corridor Foundation - Expanding digital media workforce training for underserved youth through hands-on filmmaking, storytelling, and tech skills.
• Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry - Helping launch the new Hardeeville YMCA, which will expand affordable childcare and youth development opportunities for working families.
• Meals on Wheels, Bluffton-Hilton Head - Strengthening senior food access and reducing isolation through a sustainable two-tier meal model.
• Neighborhood Outreach Connection - Opening a new Bluffton Learning Center to provide tutoring, enrichment, and family support in high-poverty neighborhoods.
• Operation Patriots FOB - Enhancing post-traumatic growth programs that support veterans and first responders through peer-led, research-informed resiliency retreats.
• Port Royal Sound Foundation - Expanding stormwater data tools, training, and monitoring to protect water quality and build environmental resilience across the watershed.
• Rise With Living Hope - Launching a financial literacy cohort to help low- to moderate-income families build financial stability and long-term self-sufficiency.

For grants recipients whose programs were not fully funded through the Impact Grant process, CFL offers an innovative way to achieve full funding through the CFL Grant Catalog. People can make donations (for a limited time) to help the organization achieve their funding goal. Each donation builds on CFL's investment and helps ensure these important initiatives can reach their full potential.

Currently, there are four organizations featured in the CFL Grant Catalog: Beaufort Digital Corridor Foundation; Beaufort Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry; Meals on Wheels, Bluffton-Hilton Head; and Port Royal Sound Foundation. To make a donation through CFL's Grant Catalog, please visit https://lowcountry.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/grant. To learn more about the Impact Grants process, contact Debbie Cahoon at dcahoon@cf-lowcountry.org or call 843-681-9100.

Nexvelo and Beaufort Digital Corridor Partner to Spark Local Innovation and Job Creation Across the Lowcountry

CHARLESTON, SC – November 6, 2025 – Nexvelo Corp, a Charleston-based Salesforce and digital transformation company, has officially joined forces with the Beaufort Digital Corridor (BDC) to champion a shared mission –- building local jobs, nurturing innovation, and empowering the Lowcountry's public and private sectors through technology.

This collaboration brings together Nexvelo's experience in Salesforce, AI, and data-driven transformation with BDC's deep roots in community building and entrepreneurial growth. Together, the two organizations aim to make cutting-edge technology more accessible to municipalities, small businesses, and innovators across Beaufort County –- while ensuring that the jobs created stay right here in South Carolina.

"This partnership isn't just about technology –- it's about people," said Jeff Gerson, Board of Advisors & Partner. "We believe innovation should lift communities. By hiring locally and collaborating with the Beaufort Digital Corridor, we're turning digital transformation into real opportunity –- creating high-value tech jobs and modernizing how local governments and businesses serve their citizens."

"BDC is excited to collaborate with Nexvelo to strengthen the regional tech ecosystem," added Jess O'Brien, Executive Director of the Beaufort Digital Corridor. "Our community thrives when companies like Nexvelo invest not just in technology, but in people, education, and long-term local prosperity."

Through this partnership, Nexvelo and BDC will co-create programs, workshops, and mentorship opportunities that bridge the gap between innovation and workforce readiness –- fostering an ecosystem where ideas, entrepreneurs, and public-sector initiatives can thrive side by side.

This initiative marks one of the first major public-private collaborations under BDC's renewed focus on digital inclusion, civic innovation, and sustainable job growth across the Lowcountry.

About Nexvelo Corp

Nexvelo is a Salesforce and data transformation consulting firm headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, with a mission to deliver intelligent, sustainable solutions for public-sector agencies, financial institutions, and private enterprises. Nexvelo specializes in Salesforce Sales, Service, and Experience Cloud implementations, AI-driven analytics, and integrated cloud solutions that drive real-world impact.
Learn more at www.nexvelo.com

About Beaufort Digital Corridor

The Beaufort Digital Corridor (BDC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization dedicated to growing Beaufort's technology economy by supporting entrepreneurs, startups, and digital professionals. Through mentorship, workspace, education, and partnerships, BDC fosters innovation and sustainable economic development in the Lowcountry. Learn more atwww.beaufortdigital.com

Beaufort Digital Corridor Partners with Google to Offer Career Certificate Scholarships in High-Demand Fields

BEAUFORT, SC – November 1, 2025 – The Beaufort Digital Corridor Foundation (BDCF) is pleased to announce a partnership with Google to offer local learners with scholarships for Google Career Certificates in seven high-demand career fields.

The career learning paths include Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing & E-Commerce, IT Support, Project Management, and UX Design (all with practical AI training incorporated throughout).

Nearly two-thirds of all new jobs created since 2010 require either high- or medium-level digital skills, but one in three American workers have very limited or no digital skills. To help bridge that gap, the Google Career Certificates prepare individuals for careers in high-growth industries in as little as three to six months. The self-paced courses are hosted on the Coursera online learning platform and require no prior experience.

"Investing in digital skills training today builds the foundation for a stronger workforce tomorrow," said Jess O'Brien, Executive Director of the Beaufort Digital Corridor. "We are honored to have been selected as a local partner to bring the Google Career Certificates to Beaufort and surrounding communities. These scholarships create powerful opportunities for residents to upskill, reskill, and unlock access to high-wage, high-demand career paths."

The Beaufort Digital Corridor held an Open House on Thursday, November 14th at 12:00 PM at BASEcamp (500 Carteret Street, Suite D) to provide more information about the program and how to apply for scholarships.Interested individuals can RSVP or learn more directly via Eventbrite: Register Here.

About the Google Career Certificates Program

Launched in 2018 as part of Grow with Google, the Google Career Certificates support skilling for in-demand fields including Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing & E-Commerce, IT Support, Project Management, and UX Design. The program includes an employer consortium of over 150 companies, including Walmart, Verizon, and Google, committed to considering graduates for relevant entry-level roles.

Over 1 million people have graduated from the program globally (more than 400,000 in the U.S.), and 75% of graduates report a positive career impact–-such as a new job, higher pay, or a promotion–-within six months of completion.

About the Beaufort Digital Corridor Foundation

The Beaufort Digital Corridor Foundation (BDCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing digital literacy, innovation, and workforce development across the Lowcountry. BDCF connects learners, founders, and businesses with the tools, training, and community they need to thrive in the digital economy.

Press Contact:

Jess O'Brien, Executive Director
Beaufort Digital Corridor
jess@beaufortdigital.com
500 Carteret Street, Suite D, Beaufort, SC 29902
www.beaufortdigital.com

Fall 2025 Newsletter

As we enter the season of gratitude, I'm so thankful for what our community has accomplished together. From fostering a spirit of creativity and connection through community events like the Run Forrest Run 5K to welcoming new startups and completing our first 9-week Launch Beaufort incubator, the energy inside the Corridor has never been stronger.

Tonight, we celebrate a major milestone –- the Launch Beaufort Graduation and Demo Day! 🎓🚀 Join us upstairs at BASEcamp at 6:00 p.m. for light bites, beverages, and an inspiring evening as our entrepreneurs showcase their businesses and what they've learned. This cohort spent the past nine weeks mastering AI tools, business modeling, and digital systems to launch their next chapter –- and they can't wait to share it with you.

We're also thrilled to announce that the Beaufort Digital Corridor Foundation has been selected as a local partner to distribute **Google Career Certificate Scholarships! **No previous experience needed.

If you've been considering a new career or want to grow your digital skills, this is your chance to get job-ready in as little as six months –- for free. These flexible, online certificates –- designed by Google –- prepare learners for careers in AI, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing & E-Commerce, IT Support, Project Management, and UX Design. No degree or prior experience required. Attend our Google Certificates Open House on November 14 from 12-1pm.

As we enter the season of gratitude and giving, I invite you to help us carry this momentum into 2026. Your tax-deductible donation to the Beaufort Digital Corridor Foundation supports programs like Launch Beaufort and digital-skills training that empower local residents to thrive in the digital economy.

Make your gift before December 31st to take advantage of 2025 tax credits –- and keep opportunity growing right here in Beaufort.

GIVE TODAY →

VIEW FULL NEWSLETTER →

Beaufort Digital Corridor and Foundation Announce Expanded Board to Strengthen Regional Innovation Network

BEAUFORT, S.C. –- Sept. 26, 2025 –- The Beaufort Digital Corridor (BDC) and its charitable arm, the Beaufort Digital Corridor Foundation (BDCF), today announced an expanded board of directors to accelerate Beaufort's innovation economy and strengthen its "network of networks" supporting entrepreneurs.

The joint board includes leaders from technology, education, venture, marketing, and economic development, positioning BDC to attract funding partners and strategic collaborations across South Carolina and beyond.

"This expanded board is the bridge between Beaufort's founders and the resources they need to scale," said Jess O'Brien, Executive Director of BDC and BDCF. "Each director brings unique expertise and networks that will unlock new opportunities for mentorship, capital, and regional impact."

Partnership Invitation

The expanded board represents more than governance –- it is a gateway to collaboration. With decades of combined expertise in technology, entrepreneurship, finance, and economic development, BDC is positioned to co-create programs, pilot innovative projects, and connect funders with the region's most promising founders.

Opportunities include:

• Strategic Sponsorships –- Support Beaufort's flagship events and innovation programs.
• Scholarships & Workforce Funding –- Invest directly in the next generation of tech talent.
• Mentorship & Pilot Projects –- Collaborate on initiatives that foster growth and inclusion.

Call to Action: Organizations, funders, and civic partners interested in shaping the future of Beaufort's innovation economy are encouraged to connect with BDC to explore partnership opportunities. Email jess@beaufortdigital.com to start the conversation.

New Board Members

Barry Wilson –- Treasurer
**Wilson has over 35 years in advertising and marketing technology, working with major brands on integrated campaigns. His expertise lies in business communications, brand development and digital strategy. Currently, he is co-owner of AlphaGraphics Beaufort.

David Hartshorn
Hartshorn is a technology executive and nonprofit leader with more than 25 years in digital initiatives, global telecommunications, and fundraising for education, health, AI, and cybersecurity projects.

Raquel Padgett
Padgett brings 20+ years in business development, program design, and consulting, with a focus on supporting minority- and women-owned businesses and connecting them to technology infrastructure opportunities.

Sustaining Board Members

Rich Conte –- Chair
**Conte brings 30+ years in technology, leading product and engineering work at Blackbaud, including identity management and developer tools. He is active in the startup and STEM community as a podcast host, organizer, and advisor.

Chris Robinson –- Vice Chair
Robinson is a visual artist and University of South Carolina Professor Emeritus whose research bridges art and technology, with early work in computer graphics, 3D imaging, light installations, space development, and nanotechnology.

Jason Loia
Loia is a Silicon Valley tech executive with C-suite experience in gaming, AI, and cybersecurity. He advises startups on growth, monetization, and executive leadership.

David Nelems
Nelems is a serial entrepreneur and startup mentor who has led hundreds of companies through the Don Ryan Center for Innovation. He specializes in scaling businesses and emerging technology strategy.

About Beaufort Digital Corridor

The Beaufort Digital Corridor (BDC) is a 501(c)(6) membership organization whose mission is to ignite innovation and economic vitality in Beaufort, S.C., by providing a dynamic ecosystem for tech entrepreneurs, digital pioneers, and tech-centric enterprises. Through resources in talent, collaborative space, community engagement, and access to capital, BDC empowers growth and leadership in the digital economy.

The Beaufort Digital Corridor Foundation (BDCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing digital literacy and helping diverse communities thrive in high-wage technology industries. BDCF drives inclusive growth and innovation by funding education, mentorship, and workforce development programs.

Become a member: beaufortdigital.com/join
Make a donation: beaufortdigital.com/donate

Beaufort Digital Corridor Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law (EIN: 99-2686137).

Artist Call for Submissions: Beaufort Park Bench Mural Project

The Beaufort Digital Corridor Foundation (BDC) invites local and regional artists to redesign and paint the park bench outside our downtown office. We're looking for a joyful, iconic piece that celebrates Beaufort's culture and its growing spirit of innovation. The design should combine all themes relating to BDC and to Beaufort, including the technology & innovation, the Woods Memorial Bridge, the Run Forrest Run 5K, and local shrimping culture.

For complete project details and design guidelines, review our creative brief HERE >.

Please submit all designs via email to info@beaufortdigital.com. You can also email us with any questions.