Surfside Beach starts own chamber of commerce

Surfside Beach business owners are forming a chamber of commerce for the town.

The paperwork to officially create the Surfside Beach Chamber of Commerce is on its way to the S.C. secretary of state's office, said Sammy Truett, the president of the new chamber of commerce.

He said the South Strand has different needs than Myrtle Beach and needs a chamber of commerce dedicated just to those businesses.

"They've got your big high-rise hotels ... we only have three motels" he said.

Truett, a former Town Council member and the owner of a local insurance agency, said there was a push several years ago to form a chamber in Surfside Beach, but it failed.

"We've got a bigger push now," he said.

There are about 450 businesses in Surfside Beach alone, he said, "so we've got a pretty big base to draw from."

The new chamber will focus on businesses in the Surfside Beach and southern Strand area, which Truett said is becoming more and more populated.

He also said Surfside Beach "isn't paving a new path here." North Myrtle Beach, Georgetown and Conway all have their own chambers, he said.

"Everybody else has got one, why can't we?" he said.

Another group, the Grand Strand Chamber of Commerce, formed in 2009. Organizers have said the group aims to champion small business owners whose needs aren't met by the Myrtle Beach chamber. The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is "eager to work with any group that shares our goals," said Brad Dean, president of that chamber, of the Surfside Beach effort.

He said he and members from the other established chambers were on the phone together earlier this week talking about a joint venture.

"We can't have too many oars rowing the same direction," Dean said.

Dean said they don't view the other chambers as competition.

"Our commitment to serving business in and around Surfside won't change," he said.

Truett said the Surfside Beach chamber will "absolutely" work with the Myrtle Beach chamber.

He also said the new chamber "looks forward to working with the town of Surfside Beach and trying to improve the business community."

Surfside Beach Mayor Allen Deaton said he would prefer to continue to work with the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

Deaton said he would "stay with the proven organization."

The Myrtle Beach chamber has millions of dollars to use to promote the area and "they've supported us," he said.

He "has all the respect in the world" for the effort but "would rather see a business or merchants association form" and work with the existing chamber, he said.

Truett said it "just makes sense for us" to have a Surfside Beach chamber. The group's first meeting will be announced soon.