When President Obama approved the American Recovery and Reinvestment act of 2009, or the stimulus plan, back in February, some of the goals were to jump start the economy and create and save jobs.
According to www.recovery.gov, the web site set up to track the stimulus money, South Carolina was awarded more than three billon dollars from the Recovery Act. The Web site states that more than 8,000 jobs have been created in the state.
Lauren Morris, director of marketing at the Myrtle Beach International Airport, said hundreds of those jobs were created right here in our area. Morris said the airport is using a little more that six million dollars of government stimulus money for project. The largest project is the south ramp expansion. With just over four million stimulus dollars, the expansion creates more room to park and move planes. "When we have the new terminal it'll certainly give us more access, so it's a great opportunity for us now to have more space to move some ground crews and the planes around and for the future it certainly gives us an opportunity as well with the new terminal." Morris said about three million dollars was used for a re-lighting project at Grand Strand Airport in North Myrtle Beach.
And the projects aren't just helping to improve and upgrade conditions at the airport. Morris said the projects are an economic driver in the community, creating jobs for construction workers, computer experts, engineers, and architects. "Right now we probably have between three and five hundred jobs that we've created from these projects and that does not include Harrelson Blvd. and that does not include the terminal expansion, that's an additional several hundred jobs as well."
Morris adds that most passengers probably won't notice the improvements, but people who are working because of the projects are seeing a financial impact.
While there are no more stimulus projects set for the immediate future at the airport, more jobs are coming. Morris said once the terminal expansion project is ready to begin, so will the hiring process.
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