South Carolina STRONG has developed four social enterprises that have trained residents in marketable skills, created positive interactions between residents and customers in the community and helped support the organization financially. The current enterprises are:

Light Construction

Light Construction provides training in a number of building trades through jobs such as the remodeling of historic homes to providing maintenance and repair service. Training is provided in all aspects of carpentry, form to finish, plumbing, plaster, drywall, masonry, painting, glazier work, signage and a host of other trades. Skills are taught by SC STRONG residents and long-time builders and respected professionals in the community.

Culinary Arts

Culinary Arts combines on-the-job training with opportunities in catering large (e.g., weddings) and small events. Residents learn baking, food safety, food preparation, customer service and event planning. Residents in our mobile catering truck sell breakfast at The Navy Yard (on the corner of Noisette Blvd. and Turnbull) Monday-Friday from 5:30 am-10:30 am. We have catered events for Friends of the Library, Michaux Water Conservancy, City of North Charleston and Trident Literacy. We are DHEC certified Grade A.

Native Landscaping

Landscaping projects include maintenance of “bio-swales” for Oak Terrace Preserve, a sustainable community in North Charleston, and the installation and maintenance of indigenous flora and water efficient irrigation on a number of Navy Yard properties. SC STRONG residents are trained by licensed landscape engineers and architects and learn skills including irrigation, grading, and plant and flower layout and design. Residents have added a 20 x 30 garden enclosure that serves as training ground for residents working in our Native Landscaping social enterprise.

Furniture Restoration

SC STRONG residents are receiving training from David Beckford of American Furniture Restoration. Mr. Beckford has 30 years experience restoring antique furniture using only archaic materials. Residents have restored numerous antiques, ranging from oilcloth covered library desks to hand-made Lowcountry drop leaf tables.

Client list is available upon request.