Horry County Council will reconsider AvCraft incentives

The Horry County Council approved a motion to reconsider incentives given to AvCraft Technical Services, keep the resolution to award incentives and discuss the topic again at the Jan. 17 Committee of the Whole meeting.

Councillman Jody Prince brought forth the motion and said the COW meeting is a perfect forum for council members to see a presentation that lets everyone know the company’s plans.

Prince said his fear is that anyone who has followed media accounts over the past few weeks has gotten a history lesson on AvCraft that may be less than appealing.

“The last thing that I want is to jeopardize, in any manner, our investment,” Prince said.

He added that he wants all parties to be prepared to “sell us.”

Some members of the Horry County Council said they may rescind their votes to give AvCraft Technical Services a $100,000 incentive package to expand its business at Myrtle Beach International Airport, even as council members consider another tax break for an unnamed business – known only as Project AF – that promises new jobs for the area.

Most council members did not know AvCraft – an aircraft maintenance and repair business that has fallen short of employment goals in the past – was the company getting the incentives until after a vote was taken to approve them during a Dec. 13 meeting in Conway.

Council members have learned that AvCraft laid off about 20 employees over the last month, even as it sought financial incentives for a promised 150-job expansion over the next five years.

Fellow Councilman Harold Worley said Tuesday he expects the Jan. 17 presentation to include how, exactly, the incentives money would be spent.

Prince said he knows there are people out there who feel it’s a good investment, and he wants economic development and AvCraft officials to publicly tell them just how they plan to spend the money.

“I need that same warm and fuzzy feeling that they have,” Prince said.