EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Steve Chapman, Island Vista, Chairman
Tony Cox, Burroughs & Chapin, Vice Chairman
Shep Guyton, Robert S. Guyton, P.C., Secretary/Treasurer

Since 2005, we have served as a unified lobbying entity to represent the entire Grand Strand business community. We pursue pro-business, pro-Grand Strand legislation and defeat bad legislation. We use four state Political Action Committees (PACs) to support state officials and legislators that support issues important to our community.

Our Mission

The Grand Strand Business Alliance proactively supports and represents businesses and commercial interests along the Grand Strand in the political arena.

recent accomplishments

Protecting Water Quality in Myrtle Beach

The GSBA secured $2 million for deep water ocean outfalls along the Grand Strand. The outfalls help pump storm water far off the coast to ensure pristine water quality at our beaches.

Fall Marketing Campaign

We successfully secured $400,000 to conduct a fall marketing campaign which will seek to grow our fall shoulder season. This money will solely be used to market the Grand Strand.

Making sure school calendar doesn’t start in early August

In the 2019 session, the GSBA stopped efforts several legislators which would have moved the K-12 school start date into early August. Currently, the school start date is the third Monday in August. If it weren’t for the GSBA, kids might be heading back to school in late July. What summer break?

priorities Looking Ahead

Post Labor Day School Start Date

75 percent of parents in South Carolina would prefer to see a school start date in early September. We’re going to be working with legislators to introduce legislation that would give these parents what they want: a later school start date.

State Interstate 73 Investment

Interstate 73 won’t be built without state investment. We’ll be continuing conversations with legislators about ways the state can invest money into Interstate 73 to leverage the existing local investment and eventually attract federal investment.

Preparing the future Workforce

Education reform continues to be a hot topic in Columbia. The GSBA is supporting those efforts to ensure our students are prepared for the jobs of the future. With the expansion of Interstate 73 in Horry County, we want to make sure that new companies relocating to the coast will have an educated and eager workforce waiting for them when they decide to come to the Myrtle Beach area.

Much Needed Tax Relief

The GSBA will continue to support the elimination of the S.C. Corporate Income tax and work with legislators as they aim to take up comprehensive tax reform. Reform isn’t just lowering rates – which we’ll support – but it also includes simplification and making DOR more efficient.

Alcohol Regulations

There are statewide efforts relating to the sale of alcohol that could have a dramatic impact on our local restaurants, hotels and hospitality partners. We’re monitoring these pieces of legislation and working to ensure that legislators keep Myrtle Beach and our tourism-based economy top of mind while rewriting the rules on alcohol and liquor sales.

Short Term Rentals

There should be an even playing field for hotels, bed and breakfasts and short term rental companies when dealing with the expansion of services like AirBNB, VRBO and other online booking sites. These new services should pay the same accommodations and hospitality taxes that their competition is paying. This has a large impact on our state and local government general funds. In the name of fairness, we’ll support efforts to ensure these groups are paying appropriate taxes.