Making An Impact In The Lowcountry By
Addressing Ongoing and Emerging Issues

The GIC Action Committees are the principal vehicles through which the GIC identifies key issues, focuses on potential improvements, and encourages constructive changes. These committees explore issues of importance to the community, take steps to encourage sound policies, and constructive actions and deliver tangible outcomes.

Parks and Recreation Master Plan

We have advocated for a Master Plan for Parks & Recreation. The Town of Hilton Head Island now has a consultant working with Town staff and citizens to develop this Master Plan.

Covid-19 Testing & Contact Tracing

Working with our public and private partners, GIC coordinated a COVID-19 testing program that initially tested over 4000 people. No prescriptions or appointments were required and the vaccines were at no cost. It included a contact tracing program that would meet both the immediate needs in Fall 2020 and beyond.

Visioning and Our Plan

We supported the Mayor’s Task Force for the Vision of Hilton Head. Many of our members participated in the recent “Our Plan” follow-on project to create a new Comprehensive Plan.

Absentee Voting

Absentee voting was added back to Hilton Head Island. This will reduce the need for Island voters to drive to Bluffton, providing convenience and better access.

Guide for Early Grade Reading

The Education Committee completed a new resource guide: Collaborate from Birth to Eight for Early Grade Reading.  This guide identifies information and resources that are available in Beaufort County available in both English and Spanish versions.

Other Accomplishments

  • Supported several education referendums.  We believe that the passage of the recent referendum is an important win for Beaufort County families. 
  • Advocated for ordinances and laws to outlaw “texting while driving”.
  • Promoted the plan to beautify the corridor of Hwy 278 leading to Hilton Head Island.
  • Successfully working with the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections and the county delegation on obtaining new voting machines, improved training, and recognition for Poll workers and host locations
  • “Collaboration” with the TOHHI and other governmental bodies to review ways to improve primary health care access
  • As a result of work by the Military Committee, the South of the Broad area now participates in the effort to support the three military installations in Beaufort County and researching the Veterans Administration programs
  • The creation of the Silicon Garden concept for HHI/Lowcountry to promote the combination of Human Capital and technology skills
  • Focus, review, and collaborative support of the Project SAFE sewer effort
  • Coordination of delivery of enriching programs into the broader community such as a series of High School classes that have been packaged for delivery into the broader community,