Myrtle Beach is ready to fight for federal cash

On Tuesday and Wednesday, representatives from all over the Grand Strand will get the chance to meet with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and vie for some of the new administration's economic stimulus money.

Lobbying isn't a rarity, especially for Grand Strand municipalities, but this will be the first shot at getting in on President Obama's plans.

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce travels to the nation's capital eight to 10 times a year, said president and CEO Brad Dean. Members meet with staff, agencies and members of Congress, and testify at hearings.

"Typically, we take a smaller contingent, but once a year, we like to bring a large contingent of 75 or more people," he said. "Sometimes, you can get more accomplished with just a few people, but there's strength in numbers and when a large, united group shows up, speaking in unison, the congressional delegation welcomes the feedback and pays close attention to what is said."

The chamber arranges the trip, and Dean said the two-day fly-in is so packed with lobbying, there's really no time for fun.

"I've been told I am the least fun person to travel with, and I intend to maintain that reputation," Dean said. "We have two short days to reach out to members of Congress and persuade them to keep the Grand Strand in mind when appropriating our tax dollars."

Question | What are you hoping to accomplish this trip?

Answer | Congress is preparing to spend billions, some estimate trillions, of dollars on infrastructure. This could impact our roads, highways, airport, railways, oceanfront and the Intracoastal Waterway. We intend to show a united front, with leaders from throughout the Grand Strand urging Congress not to overlook our area. If they are spending our tax dollars, we want to make sure our fair share ends up right back here, to meet the needs of the Grand Strand.

Q. | How do you think the new administration will view the projects the region has lined up?

A. | Even before the election, President Obama spoke often about rebuilding America through investments in infrastructure. While no one knows how Congress will pay for this, the current administration appears poised to spend an unprecedented amount of money on infrastructure to create jobs. We need jobs here more so than ever before, and we have tremendous infrastructure needs. So, we definitely meet the criteria set forth by the new administration.

Q. | In what way will trip participants be able to interact with the legislators?

A. | Each member of the South Carolina delegation will meet individually with the group, offering his views and insights and giving our local leaders a chance to interact one-on-one. We will also host a reception on Capitol Hill for members of Congress and their staff, and we expect members from outside the South Carolina delegation to show up and address the group. Hearing from them is important, but the opportunity to interact with the members and the staff face to face, one on one, is essential to making our needs their priorities.

Q. | Do you think the legislators understand the particular needs of this area, or do you find you have to explain to them the differences between a resort community and other kinds of communities?

A. | Absolutely. They fully understand the importance of the Grand Strand to the state's economy. And, as we are seeing today, as goes the Grand Strand economy, so goes the South Carolina economy. Nonetheless, it's an outright competition amongst communities and regions inside and outside our state to secure funds. We cannot rely upon our sister cities like Charleston or Columbia to lobby for us. By uniting and speaking with one voice, we naturally reinforce the economic importance of the Grand Strand. The squeaky wheel gets the oil, and we intend to squeak loud, long and endlessly.

Q. | Do you think the economic challenges will play much of a role in the region's ability to get federal money for projects?

A. | No doubt the current economic challenges are causing everyone to focus solely on job creation, and rightly so. People are hurting, businesses are struggling, and we need to revive this sluggish economy. In past years, we have talked about the importance of infrastructure investments in terms of safety, quality and capacity. Today, our top three priorities are, simply enough, jobs, jobs and more jobs.