North Myrtle Beach chamber’s job creation fund delivers results
Part of the mission of the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce is to enhance the economic prosperity and the sustainable development of our community. We recently saw a need for more skill-based job opportunities in the area and asked local businesses to partner with us in providing local jobs and in making a positive economic impact in our community. Our plan to fulfill this need is by asking local partners to invest in our Job Creation Fund.
The North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Job Creation Fund, a sector of our Building North Myrtle Beach campaign, is a prime example of how a private organization, such as the Chamber, can work alongside the city and county to bring diverse industries into the area to not only provide local jobs, but also invest in the local economy.
The Job Creation Fund consists of money raised from private-sector commitments for a 5-Year Sustainable Growth and Prosperity Initiative. The purpose of the fund is to assist in the creation of new jobs to the North Myrtle Beach area of Horry County through the expansion of existing businesses or the relocation of business from other areas and states, to assure sustainable development built around the positive factors of the “Green Economy.”
We have pledged that the Job Creation Fund will be used to recruit businesses that will provide a minimum of 40 full-time jobs, exceed average hourly wages, remain “clean (and) green,” commit to at least five years in a North Myrtle Beach area location and meet the approval of the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation.
By offering an incentive (a $25,000 grant) to prospective businesses willing to relocate to the community and that meet the rigid standards outlined above, the Chamber is able to offer an unexpected incentive for thriving existing businesses to move to the area. Horry County and the state of South Carolina also provide incentives to businesses that relocate to the area and the Chamber’s Job Creation Fund works in conjunction with these.
Established in early 2015, our Job Creation Fund was approved and granted to its first recipient ever in late April – Little Spider Creations, a family-run business from Denver, Colo. that specializes in prop and set production. The company will bring 35-40 jobs over a five-year period, paying an average of $20 per hour, and is expected to make an investment of $2.65 million dollars in the area.
The Chamber and its donors are investing in businesses that have pledged to meet strict criteria and in return will bring about a positive economic impact to the community. We are not simply hoping that these businesses will bring a positive contribution, but we are certain that they will after giving careful analysis before our grant is offered. We pledged to do everything within our power to increase the diversity of the industries in our community and economic development and we intend to keep doing just that by partnering with our local organizations and investing in businesses that have our community’s best interests at heart.
For more information about our Building North Myrtle Beach campaign and the Job Creation Fund, visit www.northmyrtlebeachchamber.com.
The writer is president of the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce.
This story was originally published May 23, 2015 at 1:32 PM with the headline "North Myrtle Beach chamber’s job creation fund delivers results."