A new lobbying group is representing Myrtle Beach. Here’s what to know

Myrtle Beach is paying a new lobbying group to represent it in Columbia.

The city will pay South Carolina lobbying firm The Tallon Group $8,000 a month to advocate for its interests in the South Carolina General Assembly.

“It can be legislation that is beneficial to Myrtle Beach or the Grand Strand as a whole, it can be specific legislation, it could be funding for a particular project or priority, it could be assistance with revisiting the (Tourism Development Fee),” said Mayor Mark Kruea. “There’s a long list of ways in which the lawmakers in Columbia can be of assistance to the Myrtle Beach area and the tourism economy locally.”

Since mid-2019, Myrtle Beach paid Denny Public Affairs $5,500 a month to advocate for its interests.

“The general sense on council was that it was time for a change,” Kruea said.

In a Tuesday meeting, Myrtle Beach City Council voted to enter into a new lobbying contract, selecting The Tallon Group over Cornerstone Government Affairs.

“The sense that I got was The Tallon Group has a little more time in service than Cornerstone and has a sort of a Grand Strand component to it,” said Kruea.

The Tallon Group is slated to represent Myrtle Beach at the state level through February 2028, although the contract allows for a 30-day termination clause. At $8,000 a month, that lobbying will come out to $96,000 annually.

“We can’t be in Columbia all the time, so having a firm that’s familiar with the inner workings of the State House and Senate who can keep an eye on things, who can have the conversations that we can’t do on a daily basis, in our stead is a good thing,” Kruea said.