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The initiative will lead or support efforts that will strengthen four equal and interconnected pillars of success:
Campaign Co-Chairs Dr. Michael Benson (President, Coastal Carolina University) and Clay Brittain (Chairman, Brittain Resorts and Hotels) joined MBACC Chair Alex Husner (Chief Marketing Officer, Condo World Resort Properties) to welcome over 200 business and community leaders at a kickoff breakfast at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
MBACC President and CEO Karen Riordan unveiled details of the initiative and Dr. Benson and Mr. Brittain shared why the foundation and initiative are needed now and how leaders can become among the first early investors in the campaign. Jeff McKay, Executive Director of the North Eastern Regional Economic Alliance, also shared a regional economic development update and thoughts on the importance of strong economic development partnerships.
“Partnership Grand Strand will benefit every business and resident from across Horry and Georgetown counties,” Dr. Benson said. “By creating a more resilient and diverse economy and vibrant quality of place, businesses will prosper and readily find the talent and resources they need to thrive.”
“Through the collaborative efforts of our business and community leaders, we are pleased to announce that Partnership Grand Strand has already secured $1.615 million in five-year private sector and foundation pledges – an impressive 54 percent of our campaign goal of $3 million in just a few months. We are grateful for the support of our early investors and look forward to new investors joining us in the coming months,” Brittain said.
“With the investment by the private sector, we will be able to launch some exciting and bold projects targeting the specific needs of Grand Strand businesses,” said Riordan. “Just a few examples include helping small- and mid-sized businesses overcome obstacles to growth through a new business retention and expansion program; funding a workforce development professional to launch and coordinate talent attraction, development and retention campaigns in partnership with our educational and workforce partners; supporting the new Myrtle Beach Downtown Business Alliance’s efforts to revitalize downtown and the oceanfront; and adding capacity to our transportation infrastructure to reduce congestion.”
The initiative and capital campaign were created over the past year by the MBACC with the help of national capital campaign management firm POWER 10 to raise and leverage new resources to comprehensively tackle the biggest challenges business and community leaders said were threatening the region’s long-term economic prosperity and quality of life.
Anyone interested in learning more about the initiative are encouraged to visit PartnershipGrandStrand.com.
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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 business community — serving Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Loris, Atlantic Beach, Carolina Forest, Conway, Aynor, Socastee, Surfside Beach, Garden City Beach, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island. 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 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.
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 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 POWER 10:
POWER 10 is a national capital campaign management firm specializing in campaigns to fund economic and community development programs at the city, county, region, and state levels. Our staff has managed 100+ campaigns, raised $500+ million and averaged more than 100 percent of goal.
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