Myrtle Beach REDC Annual Meeting Touts Grand Strand’s Growth

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Over the past decade, the Myrtle Beach area has seen unparalleled growth, including an increase in population and a decrease in unemployment.

City and county officials discussed the positive changes Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at the annual meeting of the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation (MBREDC).

In 2014, soon after MBREDC President and CEO Sandy Davis came on board, community leaders shared their goals and visions for the community.

And now, a decade later, “these thing that they have talked about have come to fruition,” Davis said.

The population has grown from 300,000 to more than 400,000, the unemployment rate has fallen to 5 percent from 7.2 percent, and the Myrtle Beach region can lay claim to 162 industries from 79 in 2014, she said.

One of the biggest industries to locate in the Grand Strand recently has been Amazon, which brought a same-day fulfillment center to Myrtle Beach, a $15 million investment that created more than 100 jobs.

With several facilities in the Palmetto State, Amazon has invested more than $7 billion in South Carolina, said keynote speaker Sam Blatt, who is the Amazon economic development manager for the Southeast United States.

Blatt explained the different types of Amazon facilities, from the “first mile” centers that carry and box up millions of products to the “final mile” centers that get the packages into delivery vans and carried to the customer.

“The Myrtle Beach facility breaks the rules and doesn’t follow a formula,” providing same-day delivery for many products, Blatt said.

Weston Inc., Blue Vista Acquire Industrial Buildings in Lugoff

Weston, Inc. and an affiliate of Blue Vista Capital Management, LLC have acquired three industrial buildings totaling 909,161 square feet in Lugoff, South Carolina.

235 Standard Warehouse Road is a 516,121-square-foot industrial building with 27 dock-high doors and 1,200 amps of power and a roof replacement was recently completed.

218 and 240 Evans Road are identical 196,524-square-foot warehouses featuring 15 dock-high doors and T-8 LED lighting. All three buildings have the potential for rail access via the CSX main line.

“The timing of acquiring these buildings could not be better with Scout Motors’ $2 billion manufacturing plant in Blythewood currently under construction,” said Eileen McConville, asset manager for Weston, Inc.

“The Lugoff properties are located less than 30 minutes from Scout Motors’ future facility, and we are eager to see the growth in this central South Carolina region in the next few years as Scout begins operations.”

The properties are now part of Weston’s growing Southeast Industrial Properties portfolio which consists of 60 tenants and 44 properties totaling over 7.5 million square feet.

For more information on the properties and Weston’s Southeast Industrial Properties portfolio, visit www.southeastindustrialproperties.com.

“The central South Carolina region closed the year with a 5.27 percent vacancy rate for Class B industrial properties. These three buildings represent 80 percent of available space in the Lugoff submarket, just 20 minutes from downtown Columbia. 235 Standard Warehouse is one of two properties in central South Carolina that can offer over 500,000 square feet of contiguous space,” said Chuck Salley, SIOR, Managing Director | Industrial Services for Colliers | South Carolina.

“With the potential to re-install rail at these three facilities, it represents a unique opportunity for third-party logistics and other industrial users.”

Colliers’ industrial brokerage team of Chuck Salley, SIOR; Thomas Beard, SIOR; and John Peebles, SIOR; represented Weston in the transaction and will continue to represent Weston for the leasing and marketing of the properties.

Grant Butler of Colliers’ Real Estate Management Services (REMS) team will provide property management services. LCK, Colliers’ project management partner, will serve as the project executive for management of capital improvements. 

McAdams Acquires TPD Offices in Greenville, Asheville

McAdams, a multidisciplinary design and engineering firm headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, specializing in civil/site design, planning and design, transportation, water resources, geomatics, and construction administration, has announced the acquisition of two offices from TPD, formerly known as Traffic Planning and Design, Inc.

These offices, located in Asheville, North Carolina, and Greenville, South Carolina allow McAdams to strengthen its connection to its roots in North Carolina and expand into South Carolina. 

“Adding additional offices to our existing North Carolina footprint is a great opportunity for us,” said Michael Munn, president and chief executive officer at McAdams.

“The current TPD team focuses on specialized public engagement topics, such as environmental responsibility and work with non-profit agencies, and develops helpful and creative transportation solutions. As we aim to expand the transportation sector within McAdams, we're confident that together, we can deliver the best solutions to clients throughout the Carolinas, Texas, and Florida.”

With this acquisition, McAdams will further develop its transportation solutions division and continue to nurture existing relationships with cities, towns, and public officials. Adding additional local employees is critical to generating growth within the company and the communities it serves. 

Duke Energy Launches Campaign to Help South Carolina’s Aging Population

Duke Energy launched a campaign to promote grant opportunities totaling $200,000 to South Carolina organizations that help the state's aging population with services and support, particularly for those with income challenges.

“Organizations serving South Carolina's low-income seniors tell us they have seen an increase in the demand for their services in recent years,” said Tim Pearson, Duke Energy's South Carolina state president.

“With the aging population living longer, as well as the cost of living increasing, it's important to ensure those that helped build and strengthen our communities have the resources they need to comfortably enjoy their golden years.”

Qualifying nonprofits serving low-income seniors can request grant funding from the Duke Energy Foundation for a one-time grant of up to $10,000 to cover general operating expenses.

These funds cannot be used for weatherization or utility assistance programs but are available for organizations providing home delivery meal assistance, transportation assistance, home modifications and programs that help seniors maintain safety and self-sufficiency, among others.

This opportunity is only available to nonprofit organizations, not individuals. Organizations seeking more information or to apply for a grant should visit duke-energy.com/SeniorAssistance. The application window closes Jan. 28.

This request for proposals follows similar initiatives by the foundation to support the organizations that provide services to seniors in the state.

Through a similar request for proposals in 2023, Duke Energy provided 15 qualifying nonprofits in South Carolina grants of up to $20,000 that funded needed home repairs to enable senior citizens to continue to enjoy life in their current homes.

In 2024, the Duke Energy Foundation provided an additional $100,000 in grants to 13 organizations in the state with existing home ramp programs for low-income senior citizens or those with disabilities who qualified for assistance.

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