Laurel had been producing her podcast from the Short-Term Office Space in downtown Walhalla, one of the local businesses destroyed by the recent devastating fires. When Dave Eldridge learned that several office tenants, including Laurel, had been displaced, we reached out to see how we could help. We're honored to be able to provide Laurel with temporary office space while she determines her next location. In difficult times like these, we're reminded of just how important it

The thoughts and prayers of Dave Eldridge and the team at TCEDC are with our Walhalla community following the devastating fire on Main Street last night. For a small business owner, a business is so much more than a building. It represents a dream, years of hard work, investment, sacrifice, jobs, and a commitment to the community they call home. Today, we grieve alongside the business owners and employees who have experienced such tremendous loss. But we also know something a

A wonderful initiative to support local children's literacy by Oconee County First Steps (Client and tenant at the Oconee Business Center). The Oconee County First Steps 9 2 5 Initiative: "What a Way to Make a Difference!" PLEASE SHARE On September 25th, Oconee County First Steps is organizing "9-25: What a Way to Make a Difference" — a one-day push to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library here in Oconee County! Dolly Parton's Imagination Library mails free, age-appropr

Today, we pause to remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, to honor the heroes who answered the call, and to remember the courage and unity that brought our nation together in the days that followed. May we never forget. 🇺🇸 9.11.2001

We are so excited to welcome new tenant Monica Young to the Oconee Business Center! Monica is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been providing counseling services for over 5 years beginning with her time in practicum and internship with Liberty University where she obtained her Master of Arts in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling. Since, she has provided professional clinical treatment to individuals and families from a wide range of ages and situations. She serves

September 24, 2026 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM Live via Zoom Do You Have an Entrepreneurial Spirit? Tri-County Technical College, in partnership with the Tri-County Entrepreneurial Development Corporation (TCEDC), Piedmont SCORE, and Clemson's Small Business Development Center, offer a FREE workshop to address the first steps involved in starting your small business. Topics include: managing your cash flow, setting up business and marketing plans, insurance issues, legal and licensi

Build a Smarter Marketing Plan with a Boost From AI ONLINE WORKSHOP July 31st @ 10:00 am I Fee: $10 The key to successfully running a Small Business is a Marketing Plan covering: Product Positioning Pricing Promotion Sales Forecasts Strategies and Tactics ... and now we have a new tool, Artificial Intelligence, to assist in the task: How AI can help (and where it can’t) Step-by-step guide to building your plan with AI Learn how to Create Your Own Smarter Marketing Plan and mo

Join us as we welcome Oconee First Steps to the Oconee Business Center! Here is a great photo of TCEDC Chairman Dave Eldridge with Oconee First Steps Executive Director Breanne Alexander. We are excited to have Oconee First Steps and are happy to assist this amazing agency to impact children throughout Oconee County. Oconee First Steps is a local nonprofit that uses state, federal, and private funds to support programs that measurably improve school readiness outcomes for chi

“Dave, it’s John Agostino. You’ll be happy to know that we just celebrated our 8 year anniversary at ITSURWIENER and we’re doing 2M a year in sales. Couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks again." Dave and the TCEDC team is so proud of John and the success of Itsurwiener in Clemson! Visit them today for a great hotdog! Learn more at https://www.itsurwiener.com/

Today we celebrate the fathers, grandfathers, and father figures who invest their time, wisdom, and encouragement into the next generation. The lessons they teach, the values they model, and the opportunities they help create leave a lasting impact for years to come. Thank you for all you do. Happy Father's Day from TCEDC!

HOT OFF THE PRESS: The new SBA Small Business Resource Guide is loaded with resources to help you start and grow your business! Download it now: https://bit.ly/4eeXhOs

Great News from TCEDC Client Darby Bailey, Ph.D. Hi Dave, My woman-owned SC company Pip Projects was just awarded a federal contract with NASA — a 12-month data project for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. First federal award on the board! I wanted you to be among the first to know, since you’ve been so generous with guidance on the Upstate ecosystem. Just wanted to share the milestone and say thank you!! I’ll keep you posted as things develop. Learn more about

Rick Cornell is a wonderful SCORE mentor in our community and will be using an office here at the Oconee Business Center to meet with SCORE clients. Rick brings more than 35 years of global operations leadership experience to the work of supporting entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and growth-oriented companies across South Carolina and the Upstate region. Drawing on senior executive roles in complex, highly regulated industries, he helps businesses build the operational foundati

This Memorial Day, we remember and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. 🇺🇸 Their courage, sacrifice, and dedication helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today and continue to inspire generations of Americans. As we gather with family and friends this holiday weekend, may we pause to reflect with gratitude on those who gave everything for our nation. Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day from Dave, Travis, and the Tri-Cou

Dave Eldridge was proud to join Oconee Economic Alliance President Jamie Gilbert earlier this week in presenting former Blue Ridge Electric Co-op President & CEO Jim Lovinggood with the 2026 Dave Eldridge Service Award. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate outstanding service to the Oconee County community and make meaningful contributions to local economic development efforts. Jim’s leadership, dedication, and continued investment in the success of our community

Writing a business plan allows you to carefully think through every step of starting your company so you can better prepare and handle any challenges. While a thorough business plan is essential in the financing process, it’s helpful even if you don’t need outside financing. Creating a business plan can: Help you discover any weaknesses in your business idea so you can address them before you open for business Identify business opportunities you may not have considered and pl

🌸 Happy Mother’s Day 💛 A mother’s love shapes families, strengthens communities, and leaves a lasting impact. Wishing all of our amazing moms a very Happy Mother's Day from Dave, Travis, and the TCEDC team.

Happy National #SmallBusinessWeek to America's more than 36 million small businesses! This week, we honor the entrepreneurs who power our economy and make communities vibrant places to live and work. If you’re thinking about starting a small business, we are always here to help at TCEDC and the SBA also has resources to help you take the next steps. Learn more: www.sba.gov/nsbw

Hello, everyone! We’re excited to introduce Dave’s newest TCEDC client, Laura Barnhorst, and her delicious new venture—Knot Crazy Pretzel Company! Laura founded Knot Crazy Pretzel Co. last year, bringing a fresh twist to the Upstate’s snack scene with handcrafted pretzels inspired by a beloved shop from her former hometown. After moving to the area and craving the flavors she left behind, Laura set out to recreate—and elevate—that experience for her new community. While plans

We recently received this warm and heartfelt note in the mail from one of our wonderful business clients, Rebecca Grubbs and Melanie Nix at Massey Driving School. Handwritten notes of appreciation are becoming a lost art, and we truly appreciate Rebecca taking the time to do so. Thank you! Dear Dave, Thank you for taking the time to review Massey's Driving School Business Plan. Your business insight, support, and kindness were greatly appreciated. This training course has exc