New aerospace park moving forward

Big news on the economic development front.  Last week, the Horry County Transportation Committee granted 500,000 dollars to the new Myrtle Beach International Technology and Aerospace Park near the Market Common development.
    Even though the park’s completion is years away, it’s an important financial project for the future of the area.  Bill Brittain, with the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation, the marketing arm of the project, said they’re already meeting with potential companies.  “I think you can tell it’s early for the aviation park out here, this park has got so much potential for all of Horry County as far as bringing in high-paying, high-quality jobs,“ said Brittain.
Road construction should start by the end of the year and finish by spring 2010, at a cost of 2.5 million dollars.  The total project is projected to run right at 13 million dollars and should take two decades to complete.
“It’s a long-term project,” said Brittain. “It’s not anything that will happen tomorrow, it’s like a new neighborhood. If we could just get one or two companies here, then a lot of companies will follow and will start to build a story. We’re just looking for that one good high-quality, aerospace company or technology company to go in our park.“  
    Brittain said an office campus is also planned to attract technology and knowledge businesses, such as health services and IT companies.  He said they will focus on companies not looking for an interstate, but for a way of life only the beach can offer its employees.
The city of Myrtle Beach will deed the land to the county soon.