Grand Strand business leaders talk tourism, I-73 with lawmakers

Tuesday night Myrtle Beach business leaders traveled to Columbia, where lawmakers turned out in droves for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual legislative reception. About 200 people attended, up from last year. 

Chamber members and business owners pushed supporting I-73 and a tourism promotion grant with legislators from across the state. 

Many said that to gain support, it’s important to explain that both initiatives will help the whole state, not just the Grand Strand.  

Brad Dean, the chamber’s president, said that even though lawmakers and the Department of Transportation board members often rank building I-73 to connect Myrtle Beach to an I-95 interchange in Dillon as a top priority, they need to be reminded of the urgency to act.   

“South Carolinahas so many infrastructure needs, we need road maintenance funds all throughout the state, but there’s no project that will create 29,000 jobs like I-73. Our hope is that the state will mount the effort to get those federal funds allocated, get the bulldozers moving, create jobs now,” Dean said. 

This year could be pivotal in the fight for federal funds as Washington lawmakers dole out funds through a transportation reauthorization bill.  

But Rep. Alan Clemmons, R-Horry, said if state lawmakers can continue to put aside funding for the project, it will show the federal government that South Carolina is unified behind I-73 and will help support the state’s delegation. 

Though one of the primary arguments for building I-73 is that Myrtle Beach is the largest vacation destination without interstate access, which holds it back from its full tourist-drawing potential, Clemmons said the Grand Strand is also overdue for new industrial jobs. 

“When the governor announces a new business in South Carolina, over 80 percent of those new businesses are located within five miles of an interstate. Why isn’t Horry Countygetting its fair share of new industry? It’s very simple, it’s because we lack the interstate infrastructure. Once we’ve got that infrastructure we’ll be able to diversify our economy in that entire region,” Clemmons said. 

Gov. Nikki Haley has attributed some backup on infrastructure projects to the DOT commission, but Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Horry, said he doesn’t think getting rid of the board will help push important projects through.  

The other State House decision that could have a big impact on the Grand Strand is how much money is allocated for a 2-for-1 matching grant that gives one public dollar for every two private dollars tourist destinations can raise from private businesses to be spend on marketing. Over the past five years Myrtle Beachhas received between $3 and $5 million from the general fund, but Haley has allotted less in her executive budget this year. 

Dean said that number should be closer to $10 to $15 million for the state. 

“By investing private dollars and matching those with public dollars we’re able to generate a return on investment of over $137 dollars for every dollar spent. That means it pays for itself in the first year creating jobs and bringing dollars into South Carolina to help everyone throughout the Palmetto State,” Dean said. 

Clemmons said when legislators from around the state see the investment returns on the grant and how much money marketing brings back into the state’s general fund through taxes, it’s a “no-brainer.”  

Rankin said it would be an important victory to make the grant a recurring expense to make South Carolina consistently competitive in tourism.

“South Carolina unfortunately does not put nearly the amount of money up to market itself as some of our adjoining states. Florida for example puts tremendous amounts of state dollars into their marketing efforts to lure people to come to their state to vacation. South Carolina’s number one industry is tourism. South Carolina’s number one tourist destination is the Grand Strand,” Rankin said.