In the Works: Grand Strand 2.0



Sunday’s editorial takes a look at all of the economic development efforts going on around the region:

Say what you will about our region’s leaders – and we’ve probably said just about everything – they certainly have a passion for improving the Grand Strand and leaving it a better place than they found it.

Rebuilding and revitalization fever seems to have swept through our region, from Horry County’s decision to dedicate new money to the Regional Economic Development Corp. to Georgetown County’s study of local industry. Perhaps it’s all a reaction to coming out of recession, taking a deep breath and wanting to quickly put contraction in the rear view mirror. Perhaps the stars just aligned and we found a number of business-building leaders in place all at the same time. Whatever the reason, plans are being made, funds are being raised and optimism is in the air all around us.

The North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce held a grand kickoff event this week for its “Building North Myrtle Beach” campaign, which hopes to draw new business to the area as well as bolster its traditional tourism industries. The added money – the chamber is looking for $2.5 million over five years – should help promote the area, but the voluntary nature of the contributions so far has been particularly notable. Chamber CEO Marc Jordan told us that local accommodations businesses first approached the chamber about collecting an extra $1 a night fee to be used for marketing, not the other way around. The distinction is evidence of the vital buy-in from the local community that should help ensure the campaign’s success.

Perhaps the most exciting venture under development is North Myrtle Beach’s continued leadership in wind energy, a move that has positioned it among the forefront of wind energy communities in the nation. The city was named this week the Green Plus Community of the Year in for Leadership in Sustainable Development – a mouthful, but also a great honor for a city and chamber that have worked hard to break out of the normal tourism mold. That sort of innovation and forward thinking will go a long way toward making the new initiative a success.

Moving south, Myrtle Beach is also moving forward with some exciting rejuvenation plans, as reporter Lorena Anderson writes in today’s front page story. The city is seeking to inject some new life into the downtown area that has been in various phases of stagnation in past years. It’s a wonderful campaign, particularly given the area’s location. It’s often the first part of Myrtle Beach that visitors see driving in on U.S. 501. It’s about time to dust off the welcome mat and spruce it up a bit. At this week’s Planning Commission meeting, a self-described investor from Florida, Jay Patrick, brought up that point, saying “You don’t want to drive into Myrtle Beach and see it shut down.”

It’s certainly not a new idea; city Planning Commissioner Fred Akel said “you could rewallpaper the Convention Center with all the stuff that’s been proposed for down there.” But if the attendees at this week’s Planning Commission meeting were any indication, the business owners are excited about it, the planners are excited about it, and everybody involved truly wants it to succeed. If that level of passion can be maintained, the future of the area looks bright.

Farther south, Georgetown County has commissioned a study of its industry prospects, an important first step in determining who to woo to the area. Perhaps more significantly, the study will also objectively address the prospects of the struggling port and what could be done to capitalize on its resources.

Other initiatives focused on improving the region are also ongoing: sports tourism pushes, the education-based Covey leadership program, the campaign for I-73 and others. Some of these ideas will probably fail. Others could just as likely be a great success. Others will fall somewhere in the middle. But just in case it helps, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for all of them.

 

The North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce held a grand kickoff event this week for its “Building North Myrtle Beach” campaign, which hopes to draw new business to the area as well as bolster its traditional tourism industries. The added money – the chamber is looking for $2.5 million over five years – should help promote the area, but the voluntary nature of the contributions so far has been particularly notable. Chamber CEO Marc Jordan told us that local accommodations businesses first approached the chamber about collecting an extra $1 a night fee to be used for marketing, not the other way around. The distinction is evidence of the vital buy-in from the local community that should help ensure the campaign’s success.

Perhaps the most exciting venture under development is North Myrtle Beach’s continued leadership in wind energy, a move that has positioned it among the forefront of wind energy communities in the nation. The city was named this week the Green Plus Community of the Year in for Leadership in Sustainable Development – a mouthful, but also a great honor for a city and chamber that have worked hard to break out of the normal tourism mold. That sort of innovation and forward thinking will go a long way toward making the new initiative a success.

Moving south, Myrtle Beach is also moving forward with some exciting rejuvenation plans, as reporter Lorena Anderson writes in today’s front page story. The city is seeking to inject some new life into the downtown area that has been in various phases of stagnation in past years. It’s a wonderful campaign, particularly given the area’s location. It’s often the first part of Myrtle Beach that visitors see driving in on U.S. 501. It’s about time to dust off the welcome mat and spruce it up a bit. At this week’s Planning Commission meeting, a self-described investor from Florida, Jay Patrick, brought up that point, saying “You don’t want to drive into Myrtle Beach and see it shut down.”

It’s certainly not a new idea; city Planning Commissioner Fred Akel said “you could rewallpaper the Convention Center with all the stuff that’s been proposed for down there.” But if the attendees at this week’s Planning Commission meeting were any indication, the business owners are excited about it, the planners are excited about it, and everybody involved truly wants it to succeed. If that level of passion can be maintained, the future of the area looks bright.

Farther south, Georgetown County has commissioned a study of its industry prospects, an important first step in determining who to woo to the area. Perhaps more significantly, the study will also objectively address the prospects of the struggling port and what could be done to capitalize on its resources.

Other initiatives focused on improving the region are also ongoing: sports tourism pushes, the education-based Covey leadership program, the campaign for I-73 and others. Some of these ideas will probably fail. Others could just as likely be a great success. Others will fall somewhere in the middle. But just in case it helps, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for all of them.