Tourism Growth Initiative

The Tourism Growth Initiative is designed to grow the Grand Strand’s tourism industry to record levels. Ultimately, this growth in tourism will help to stabilize and boost the Grand Strand real estate industry as well. The Tourism Growth Initiative began in 2006 and continues today, with an impressive record of success thus far. Read More

Sun Fun weekend June 3-5

The fun continues during June as the 60th Annual Sun Fun Festival moves to Grand Park across from The Market Common on Friday, June 3, through Sunday, June 5 . Stop by Friday evening to catch wake boarding and Jet Ski demonstrations plus lots of craft and food vendors will be on hand. On Saturday, check out the convertible car show and celebrity car appearances from The General Lee, Knight Rider and Munster’s Coffin Car. Plus you won’t want to miss the DC Cupcake goddesses from TLC Channel’s hit show ”DC Cupcakes.” Sophie and Katherine will be signing autographs and will unveil a cupcake masterpiece created for the Sun Fun Festival car show! On Sunday, join us for the festival’s first ever boiled peanut eating contest. And of course your favorite bands will be performing all during the weekend.

Sun Fun kicks off May 28

While summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21, anyone who has ever lived in or visited the Myrtle Beach area knows that summer begins with the Sun Fun Festival. Celebrating 60 years of bringing free entertainment, famous celebrities, fantastic food and the best arts and crafts in the South, the Sun Fun Festival has expanded to a full week of nonstop fun! The festival kicks off after the Memorial Day Weekend Parade on May 28 with meet-and-greets and live performances by ”American Idol” season seven runner up David Archuleta and various Disney® and Nickelodeon® celebrities!

Myrtle Beach MayFest ends with flag waving parade

Presented by Family Circle magazine, Myrtle Beach MayFest is ending the monthlong festival with a full blown weekend of music, food, arts, and, of course, the much anticipated Memorial Day Weekend Parade and 60th Annual Sun Fun Festival. This Friday, May 27, come on downtown for free military concerts starring country performer and military veteran Craig Morgan. And then find a spot for your beach chair along Ocean Boulevard for the Memorial Day Weekend Parade on
May 28. The parade starts at 9:30 a.m. at 27th Avenue North and heads south to
9th Avenue. North. U.S. Sen. John McCain will serve as grand marshal of the parade.
Free Military Concerts
(Downtown Myrtle Beach, between 8th & 9th avenues north) 
May 27: 282nd Army Band Jazz Combo at 6 p.m.
Veteran Presentation at 7 p.m.
Navy Band 5 Star Edition at 7:15 p.m.
Country performer and military veteran Craig Morgan at 8-9:15 p.m. Morgan has had several No. 1 hits on the country music charts.

Best of the Road Competition

Myrtle Beach is nominated as one of the best small towns in America in the Rand McNally & USA Today “Best of the Road” competition. Please help us become a top town by voting for us in the five categories & write a review of Myrtle Beach! We need as many votes & reviews as we can get by May 23. http://www.bestoftheroad.com/town.do?destinationId=4360

I-73: Should we build it?

Do you want to see I-73 built?

If so, please respond to this request for input by the South Carolina Department of Transportation.
http://www.scdot.org/inside/public_comment_statewide_interstate.shtml
(Note: This is a new comment process. If you have previously offered comments to/through other agency requests, sending the same information to SCDOT is helpful.)

WHY COMMENT NOW?
Earlier this week we learned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has expressed concern about Interstate 73 (I-73) based upon a recent assessment purchased by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC). The SELC is a privately-funded corporation commonly associated with environmental activists and anti-development issues. The EPA now suggests that building I-73 to our coast is unnecessary and encourages the federal government to simply widen Highway 501.

The Myrtle Beach area is the busiest vacation destination in America without interstate access. With plans underway to attract an additional 3 million to 4 million visitors per year, traffic congestion will only get worse. I-73 will attract new industries and higher paying jobs, providing an economic lifeline to the Pee Dee and economics diversification to the Grand Strand. In the event of a major hurricane, I-73 will provide an alternative hurricane evacuation route. Widening Highway 501 is a nice gesture but I-73 will provide jobs, create economic growth, boost wages, attract industries and save lives.

I-73 was originally conceived in 1982, identified in 1990 and designated in 1995. In 2005 the United States Congress deemed I-73 (from Interstate 95 to Myrtle Beach) a ”Highway of National and Regional Significance.” Construction began in 1999, the environmental impact statement was issued in 2007 and the final record of decision was delivered by the United States government in 2008. This process has taken more than 30 years, providing ample time for everyone to influence the outcome. The final route, approved several years ago, minimize the impact to wetlands, making this one of the most environmentally-conscious interstate projects in the history of the United States.

Earlier this year, the SCDOT added I-73 to its State Transportation Improvement Project (STIP) list and recently approved funding for its next phase. The EPA and its corps of anti-progress environmental activists have had three decades to be part of the solution, but it now appears they simply prefer to be the problem. They offer no solutions on how to create jobs and diversify our economy. Nor are they concerned with growing tourism, reducing congestion or enhancing safety.

We have come too far to stop now. In our view I-73 is not a matter of ”if” but only a matter of ”when.” Earlier Sen. Lindsay Graham spoke to the I-73 National Corridor Association and had this comment, ”Interstate 73 is a top priority. We are going to get this built. The EPA is carrying the water for a special interest group at the 11th hour, so we have to end this and then find the money to finish I-73.” The anti I-73 faction has spoken.

It’s time to make your voice heard. Please click on the link below to voice your comments to the SCDOT.
http://www.scdot.org/inside/public_comment_statewide_interstate.shtml

Brad Dean
President & CEO
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce