Serving The Lowcountry & Beyond

Preserving & Improving The Quality Of Life In The Area

Greater Island Council (GIC) is an association of citizen advocates who collaborate with our regional partners to improve the quality of life in our community. It was organized and chartered as the Greater Island Committee in 1989 as a non-profit, non-partisan South Carolina corporation by a small group of community leaders. The objective was to provide a means by which interested citizens could stay abreast of ongoing and emerging issues affecting the resident within the region.

Presentations on Beaufort County ARPA Funding and Redistricting Plans and Info on the Town of Hilton Head Island’s Strategic Action Plan

Presentations on Beaufort County’s Plans for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding and Redistricting are now available on the GIC website.  To view, print or download the presentations, click on:

BC ARPA Funding Plan

BC Redistricting Plan

The Town of Hilton Head Island’s Town Council approved the FY 2021-2022 Strategic Action Plan on December 7, 2021.  To see more information about the Town’s plan,  access links to the Town’s website and to read, download or print the report, click below:

FY 2021-2022 Strategic Action Plan

Reports by the GIC Childcare and Food Insecurity Task Forces Approved by GIC Members

The GIC Childcare Task Force completed its work on September 39, 2021 and the report was approved for distribution to the GIC members.  It was approved at the GIC General Membership meeting on November 4, 2021.  The GIC Food Insecurity Task Force completed its report at the end of July 2021 and after approval of the draft by the board, it was sent to the GIC membership for review.  The report was approved by the GIC members at the General Membership meeting on January 6. 2022.

To see more information about the task forces, and to read, download or print the reports, click below:

Childcare Task Force

Food Insecurity Task Force 

Affiliated Agency Policy Recommendation

The Town Council of Hilton Head Island unanimously adopted a new Affiliated Agency Funding Policy, based on the recommendation of GIC’s Government Policy Committee on August 19, 2021. Affiliated Agencies are nonprofit organizations, whose projects are not eligible for ATAX funding (due to legislative restriction on those funds), yet provide significant and often vital, support to the community.

Affiliated Agency Policy Recommendation 

Education Committee Guides

Preparing for Kindergarten Guide now available

The Education Committee’s newest guide for parents: “Reading: Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten” offers information and recommendations at various stages of a child’s development from birth to age four. Click below to see a copy of the guide in English or Spanish.

Early Reading Guide now available

The Education committee has completed a new guide: Collaborate from Birth to Eight for Early Grade Reading.  Click below to see a copy of the guide in English or Spanish.

Early Reading Guide Featured in the Hilton Head Sun

Read the interview with Tom Henz, Chair of the GIC Education Committee in the Hilton Head Sun.  Here is the Link: GROUP’S FREE BOOKLET PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR EARLY READING


About Us

Working To Improve
The Future Of Beaufort County

The Greater Island Council of Hilton Head and Bluffton (GIC) is an independent association of active and involved citizens of Hilton Head Island, Greater Bluffton and beyond who share a common interest in preserving and improving the quality of life in the area. The GIC endeavors, through its committees, to stimulate private and public interest in community enhancement projects and programs in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton region. Our committees partner with public and private agencies and organizations to achieve common goals.

We strive to exhibit these characteristics:

  • Collaborate
  • Do Good
  • DELIVER (Tangible Outcomes)

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.

Enriching the lives of area residents through a desire to preserve, protect and improve the quality of life for all who call the Lowcountry their home. The GIC partners with other organizations to unite, support, and enhance our shared community beliefs.