prl of charleston

a local economy app

WHERE PURCHASING CREATES funding for real local life

LOCAL RESOURCE PULSE:

THINK ONLINE FARMERS MARKET + GOODS + SERVICES + EVENTS + EXPERIENCES + MUSIC + PICK UP BALL GAMES + SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES + AS WELL AS TAPPING INTO TOURISM $$ (ALL IN ONE PLACE) WHERE PROFITS GO BACK TO GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY EFFORTS, GROWTH, CULTURE & CAUSES

 
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how it works

Imagine an APP developed to for our Lowcountry (all local) incorporating the best aspects Facebook, Marketplace, Airbnb Experiences, and Etsy but keeps our currency flowing in our community, to each other. Our neighborhoods using group chats for things like ride shares, community gardens gifting and trading. The App itself generates a small percent profit off of lower than competition processing fees and uses 60% of those profits to re-invest into community generating efforts, people and causes.

  • Download Pearl App and make a 1 time contribution of $20 to help fund start up costs and get the app off and running for the first months - we will match each contribution and keep the community notified as to how close we are to self sustaining

  • Create a Profile as a community member, maker, service provider and personalize your domain

  • Offer any goods, services, experiences, events, community drop sites - and/or browse other offerings from other community members

  • Organize any chat groups for your interests such as bird watching, locally sourced foods, art lovers, neighborhood ride shares, composting or trade, the sky’s the limit

  • Purchase goods and services through the Pearl App and the low processing fee will generate starter financing for meeting local needs and uplifting opportunities within our community

  • Service hours to orgs or individuals can also go toward trade currency points accumulated on the app and available for gifting, trade, discounts, exclusive offers and more

  • Even though the Pearl App is hyper focused on bettering Local Charleston Life, it will also allow makers and providers to tap into tourism economy in association with the Gullah CVB so that participating tourist also give back to the real community of which they are visiting. We will be launching our Gullah CVB + Pearl App Tourism campaign once our local community foundation is established and participating on the app.

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causes

From the monthly profits the Pearl App generates from processing fees - we give 60% or 10% to the following 6 missions:

  • Restoration - any local projects for restoration especially those that are indigenous owned spaces that generate autonomous economy for their culture

  • Individual Entrepreneurs - support packages given to individuals with the drive and passion to create - including classes, business services, and highlights on the app

  • Food Access - community garden financial needs, kitchens and meal prep for communities, compost mills, CSA grants, food deliveries, disaster relief, etc.

  • Nature Access - community parks, field trips, equipment, wild life support, land and water use rights, transportation, etc.

  • Housing/Gentrification - family rent support, heirs property rights, necessary upgrades, community rooms for rent, tiny house, property shares, etc.

  • Education - opportunities in general from specific to standard education needs, Indigenous led initiatives and principle learning, field trips and special interests

As these profits are shared within the community missions, we will post the members who receive funding transparently. We require recipients to make Posts of Progress where they share once a month for up to 3 months to highlight their process in how the funding affected their mission.

 
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ORGANIZATIONAL INFO

Family First is a trust and relational principle relative to the Indigenous communities that is invaluable and as deep as life itself. This principle also pertains to how we co-create the world together. If we don’t build trusting familial relationships with each other, and with trusted leaders of culture, we will only have a shallow body of water, a puddle in which to jump and possibly see some mud. But if we honor the lineage, the relations, listen, share, learn, we may make something deep together that lasts and is wide and flowing and connected like the marsh is to the rivers and the ocean, and as precious as the mother of pearl.

  • Charitable For-Profit that gives us as a community the power to use our profits to fill any part of our missions to any individual or organization

  • A 6 month plan to be self sustaining as we invite more community members to join the Pearl App

  • Percent % of Profit break down:

    • 15% - goes to web development or improvement needs and taxes/business costs

    • 25% - goes to hourly contribution of admins who are actively fulfilling duties to keep the app community running smoothly

    • 60% - 10% each goes to each mission listed above under causes

  • Individuals or Organizations that wish to apply for funding should denote which category of causes they are applying for within their letter of 160 words or less along with a short form for our records. These can be submitted at localpulseji@gmail.com

The Local Pulse Mission is to Preserve. Diversify. Sustain. As part of the Preserve the Gullah Task Force, the Gullah CVB, and in cooperation with Build from the Block Up, Quaponda Tribe and Rescue Me, we are here to develop those relationships and work together to find new solutions now to bring a future that honors our true nature, nature’s true principles of this connected life.