Grants and free programs for small businesses in South Carolina

South Carolina Small Business Marketing Grant (Post and Courier)

Evening Post Publishing Newspaper Group (The Post and Courier)For businesses and nonprofitsOnly in South Carolina

Evening Post Publishing, owner of The Post and Courier and more than 15 other South Carolina media brands, runs an annual matching advertising program for South Carolina small businesses and nonprofits. Accepted applicants who commit to at least a six-month paid advertising investment get matching advertising space worth 50% of what they pay. The 2026 application window closed March 6, 2026; the program has run every year since 2020.

What you get

Matching advertising space equal to 50% of a paid advertising investment (e.g., $5,000 in space on a $10,000 spend); not cash

Who qualifies

• Small businesses and nonprofit organizations in South Carolina
• Must make a paid advertising investment of at least six months with Evening Post Publishing; 50% of the paid investment is matched in ad space
• Existing advertising agreements and prior-year advertising for the same period are not matched
• For 2026, at least 20% of the paid investment had to go to Evening Post Publishing's owned and operated solutions or other high-funnel products
• Matching ad space has no cash value

How to apply

1. Submit the free online application on the Post and Courier Advertising site during the annual window (2026 deadline: March 6, 2026)
2. Applications are approved on a rolling basis, usually within two weeks
3. Meet with the advertising team to build a marketing plan and agree the partnership (2026 cutoff: April 10, 2026)

Program page checked on October 16, 2026. The amount or dates aren't published, so confirm them on the program page.