Community leaders from across the state gathered for the fourth annual Georgetown County Economic Development Forum Thursday at Pawleys Plantation. The function was sponsored in part by the Georgetown County Economic Development Committee, the Georgetown County Economic Development Office, and the Georgetown Economic Alliance. Those in attendance heard presentations from some of the area’s most important industries and high-ranking officials.

Present Thursday were state legislators Vida Miller (D-Pawleys Island) and Carl Anderson (D-Georgetown). Senators Yancey McGill (D-Kingstree) and Ray Cleary (R-Murrells Inlet), as well as S.C. Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor.

The purpose of the annual event is to present information and ideas to the business and

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government leadership about maintaining and enhancing a climate for business expansion and the creation of economic opportunity.

Taylor began the noon event with a luncheon address that spoke of South Carolina’s recent economic peaks and successes. The Secretary of Commerce reported that sales tax revenue had gone up 13.5 percent along with individual holdings, which rose 5 percent.

“Too many times we focus on the bottom and don’t fully look at what we are succeeding in,” Taylor told the crowd, pointing out 2005 as being a record year economically for South Carolina. Taylor said that so far this year the state is 46 percent ahead of last fiscal year in jobs created, and 82 percent ahead in rural jobs created — this being a key, Taylor acknowledged, in improving unemployment numbers statewide.

Taylor spoke highly of the state’s technical school system. “It is one of the best in the nation,” he said, and that it is one of the most important allies for state industry.

“We don’t give enough credit to the tech school system”, said Taylor. The Secretary of Commerce then used Horry-Georgetown Tech and Midlands Technical College located in Columbia, as being examples of “invaluable sources of employees to our state’s industry.”

Taylor referred to many other positives throughout the course of his presentation pointing out that BMW just manufactured its one-millionth automobile at the Greer plant and the Global Aeronautica plant in Charleston is changing the face of aviation with its production of the new 787 jumbo jetliner. The 787 will be the first large commercial jetliner to have an all-composite, carbon fiber fuselage.

Taylor finished his segment of the forum by stressing that further lowering the state’s income tax rate would be good for the economy as it attracts business and gives people more money to spend. Taylor closed by saying, “It’s a great time to be a South Carolinian.”

Port of Georgetown

A major focus of the forum was the importance of the Port of Georgetown to the local economy and on hand to speak was S.C. Ports Authority C.E.O. and President Bernie Groseclose Jr.

Groseclose began by stressing the role of the ports across the state as an “economic engine” and that they are our “gateways to international companies”. Either through exportation or importation, ports are related to 280,000 jobs in the state.

The CEO explained that since Georgetown is a bulk-break facility, meaning that it receives and ships loose raw material, it is affected very much by the companies’ production using its facilities.

The Port of Georgetown peaked in production in 1999 when it handled 1.7 million tons of material, four years later when Georgetown Steel shut down, it dipped to 900,000 tons. The executive officer explained this connection as being key to the Port of Georgetown’s survival. Groseclose explained that much of Georgetown’s dredging dollars are derived from the amount of tonnage handled the year before and in the anticipated year to come. Groseclose thanked the local delegation members for all their support but stressed the importance of keeping the Winyah Bay shipping channel dredged.

Groseclose said that since 2001, dredging monies have remained relatively steady when Georgetown received $5,234,000 in federal funds to 2007, when it will receive a projected $5,250,000. The port president said this presents a predicament as the Army Corps of Engineers recently estimated that it would take $11 million to bring the entire 14-mile channel up to standard depth and width.

“Year after year the channel is narrowing and due to dredging costs and cut corners, we are facing an expensive problem,” said Groseclose. McGill asked if funding may be used from another port that may have money waiting on a shelf unused to solve the predicament, a clear answer was not given but it was said by Groseclose to be a possible option.

Development

Wayne Gregory, director of the Georgetown County Economic Development Office spoke of recent projects in the area such as the American Gypsum and Santee Cooper partnership as well 3V Chemical investment that has brought 300 jobs and $400 million to Georgetown County in the past 5 years. Gregory accredited this growth to four factors that Georgetown possesses- visionary leadership, hospitable atmosphere, collaboration between business community and government, and our facilities for conventional training such as the technical school system. Gregory also praised the area’s quality of life as being an important factor that has and will bring industry to our region.

William Conner of the Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Service presented the PISCES project, a first time evaluation of pre-developed and post-developed land. PISCES — Program for Integrated Study of Coastal Environment Stability — will be an observation of what will become Bannuckburn Plantation. Bannuckburn is a 3,500-acre development between Prince George and DeBordieu, it will be a pre- and post-development study to discover how thoughtful techniques of development affect the environment and ecosystem around it. It will be two years before any groundwork has begun on Bannuckburn but during this time Conner and his team of five technicians provided by Clemson University will analyze and gather data from the site. PISCES will extensively study the area’s hydrology and ecosystems use of nutrients.

Bannuckburn Plantation, a Mandalay L.L.C. development, was presented as being built in five phases, the first consisting of a home development, conference center, five star hotel, and clubhouse.

State of the County

County Council Chairman Sel Hemingway ended the event with a few words and a State of the County address. Hemingway gave praise to the work that had been accomplished on the county’s newly adopted storm water ordinance, the Visions II comprehensive plan, the new judicial center, as well as additions made to the county’s recycling efforts.

The chairman said that challenges in 2007 would be much like 2006 as the county would most likely face some tough decisions. He foresees an update on the comprehensive land use plan and an implementation of an impact fee system being vital to the future growth of the area.

Hemingway said growth will be the focal point in the coming year but with efforts such as the county industrial park preparing a pad ready site and a spec building, Georgetown County should have another prosperous year.