$3.1 Million Raised from Grand Strand Businesses to Enhance Local Economy, Quality of Life

MBACC’s Partnership Grand Strand Foundation Exceeds Campaign Goal, Announces 82 Partners

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.—During a victory celebration held on Nov. 1, 2022, at Coastal Carolina University (CCU), Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC) President and CEO Karen Riordan announced the chamber’s new foundation, Partnership Grand Strand (PGS), has exceeded its campaign goal, raising $3.1 million to enhance the region’s economy and quality of life for all residents.

Joined by PGS’s fundraising campaign co-chairs Dr. Michael Benson, CCU President, and Clay Brittain, Brittain Resorts and Hotels Chairman, Riordan expressed gratitude for those supporting the endeavor and their financial committed to partner with the newly formed nonprofit. Current PGS investors are as follows:

Founder Level ($500,000+)

• Brittain Resorts and Hotels
   

Diamond Level ($125,000- $499,999)

• Carolina Cool
• Coastal Carolina University
• Founders Group International
• HTC
• Island Vista
• The Gay Dolphin
• Tidelands Health
• Truist Foundation
   

Gold Level ($75,000 - $124,999)

• Burr and Forman
• Coastal Carolina Association of Realtors
• Conway Medical Center
• Kingston Resorts
• Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
• Skywheel Attractions
   

Silver Level  ($25,000 - $74,999)

• Best Western Ocean Sands Resort
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina
• Burroughs & Chapin
• Carolina Limo and Coach
• Condo World
• Coral Beach Resort
• Cross Over Marketing
• Dargan Construction Company
• DDC Engineers
• Destination North Myrtle Beach
• Dunes Realty
• Elliott Realty
• Heidi’s Corner Restaurant Group
• Horry Georgetown Technical College
• The Jackson Companies
• Knight Foundation
• Lazarus Entertainment Group
• Maguire Law Firm
• McLeod Health
• MMGY Global
• Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association
• Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts
• Ponderosa, Inc.
• Retail Sports Marketing, Inc.
• Sandy Beach Resort
• Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center
• South Atlantic Bank
• United Bank
• Waccamaw Community Foundation
• Wonderworks Attractions
• Yahnis Coastal
   

Bronze Level ($10,000 - $24,999)

• Alabama Theatre
• Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union
• Duke Energy
• First Reliance Bank
• Holiday Inn at the Pavilion
• Myrtle Beach Pelicans
• Nexsen Pruet and NP Strategy
• Rowe Professional Services Company
• Sea Crest Resort
• Smith Sapp Professional Association
• Surfside Beach Oceanfront Hotel
• Synovus Bank
• United Community Bank
• Vacasa
   

Partner Level ($5,000 - $9,999)

• A&I Fire and Water Restoration
• Anonymous  
• Carolina Country Music Fest
• Complete Legal Defense Team
• Edward Jones – Scott Dietrich
• Fahlgren Mortine
• Grand Palms Resort
• Habitat for Humanity of Horry County
• KingOne Properties International
• Luckie & Co.
• Mashburn Construction Company
• Next Level Behavioral Health and Wellness LLC
• Restoration 1
• South State Bank
• The Meeting Institute
   

Supporter Level (up to $4,999)

• Pinnacle Financial Partners
• Ripley’s Aquarium and Attractions
• Santee Cooper
• Tidal Creek Brewhouse
• Venture Engineering, Inc
• Watermark Real Estate Group
• World Choice Investments, Inc
   

“Today is a momentous day for the entire Grand Strand. As a result of the generous donations made by eighty-two (82) local and national businesses and organizations, Partnership Grand Strand is fully funded and poised to hire staff members who will be charged with improving the livelihoods of all residents,” Riordan said.

Under the guidance of the 12-member board of directors, PGS will lead or support efforts to strengthen the Grand Strand through four equal and interconnected pillars:

1. Prosperity: Diversifying the region’s economy and growing small business opportunities;
2. Talent: Attracting, developing and retaining employees to build a robust workforce;
3. Place: Supporting the ongoing revitalization of Myrtle Beach’s downtown and oceanfront areas; and
4. Infrastructure: Scaling up regional infrastructure and transportation mobility to meet demand.

To pledge or for more information, visit PartnershipGrandStrand.com.

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About Partnership Grand Strand:

Partnership Grand Strand is a 501(c)(3) foundation launched in 2022 by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce to fund a five-year economic and community development initiative. Through investments from local businesses and partnerships with community organizations, the foundation will lead or support efforts related to four pillars of success: prosperity, talent, place and infrastructure. Through their focused endeavors, Partnership Grand Strand will work to accelerate economic prosperity and enhance quality of life across Horry and Georgetown counties. For more information, please visit PartnershipGrandStrand.com.

About Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau:

Since 1938, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC) has stood as the unified voice of the Grand Strand's business community. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has awarded MBACC its five-star accreditation — one of only a few chambers in South Carolina to earn this distinction. The award-winning Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and its destination marketing arm, Visit Myrtle Beach, promote tourism through various partnerships and initiatives to advance the economic success of the Grand Strand. For more information, visit MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com, MyrtleBeachAreaCVB.com and VisitMyrtleBeach.com.