covid-19

Small Businesses Offered Financial Relief During Difficult Time

Small businesses everywhere have been hit hard by the pandemic. In Myrtle Beach, small businesses are being offered financial help to cope with the economic hardship they currently face.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has $600,000 available for small businesses in the area. Businesses can receive anywhere from $1,000 to $25,000, which can go towards a variety of different business expenses.

Courtney Frappaolo, Horry County’s Community Development and Blocks Grants Director, explained the purpose of the program saying, “The goal of this program from a federal funding standpoint is twofold. It’s to help local communities stabilize their economy but also to ensure that low to moderate-income residents can maintain their jobs and maintain their housing.”

Applicants must meet a variety of requirements in order to be eligible for the grant money – the small businesses must have 25 or fewer employees, be located in Horry County, and show the economic hit they took as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Small businesses have until January 29th to apply.

If you are interested in applying, click here to access the application.

News

Conway Medical Administers First COVID-19 Vaccine In South Carolina

After receiving a shipment of the FDA-authorized Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines on Monday, December 14, Conway Medical Center quickly began to distribute vaccines to healthcare workers.

Dr. Stephen T. Brady soon became the first individual to receive the vaccine in South Carolina.

On his decision to receive the vaccine, Dr. Brady said, “The hope is that this will come in and it will get down to being like the regular flu and we can get out together. We can travel together. We can see the world. We can be part of the universe again. And realize that we have overcome this once again.”

While Conway Medical Center is not requiring their staff to receive the vaccine, many healthcare workers have already expressed their eagerness to get vaccinated.

Angela Williford, Conway Medical Center’s Vice President of Quality, is hopeful that the vaccine will help everyone get back to some sense of normalcy. In a statement on the rollout of the vaccine, Williford said, “We all see this as a lifeline for all of us to getting our lives back. I don’t know whether it is the end of the beginning, or the beginning of the end, but it’s extremely exciting.”

As coronavirus cases have continued to rise throughout the state, the arrival of the vaccine is causing many to become cautiously optimistic about the future.

News

Schools in Horry County Will Install Special Workstations

In an effort to protect students and teachers from COVID-19, Horry County Schools are installing plexiglass workstations.

These new workstations will provide a barrier between students and teachers and potentially diminish the spread of the coronavirus. The South Carolina Department of Education provided Horry County Schools with around $4 million worth of plexiglass for these workstations to be installed.

The installation of the plexiglass workstations will begin on Friday, November 13th at elementary schools in Horry County. Due to their age and the overall importance of in-person learning, officials are eager to get all elementary school students back in the classroom as soon as possible.

Horry County Schools is hoping the installation of these special workstations will help get students back to full five days a week in-person learning. Most of the workstations should be installed in elementary schools by Sunday, November 22nd.

The same plexiglass workstations are also expected to be installed in middle and high schools in the coming weeks.

News

City of Myrtle Beach Loses 53 Employees

Due to the ongoing economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 53 employees of the city of Myrtle Beach have decided to leave their jobs.

Most of the employees are a part of a voluntary severance program that began in June. The voluntary severance package will provide employees their salaries for a quarter of a year as well as medical coverage through the end of the year.

In addition to those individuals voluntarily leaving the city, 10 employees were laid off by the city – all of whom will receive the same severance package.

This decision follows a season of significant decline in tourism to the city of Myrtle Beach. The subsequent decrease in revenue has caused salary cuts to city employees – a move that is expected to save the city around $1.3 million.

City Manager John Pedersen cited the ongoing financial impact of the pandemic saying, “Every employer in the Grand Strand has faced this as a result of the pandemic,” he said. “It’s not any easier for us than it is for them.”

News

Parents Now Able to Request Switch to In-Person Learning In Horry County

At a recent school board meeting, Dr. Rick Maxey, Superintendent of Horry County Schools, announced that parents will soon have the option to transfer students from virtual learning to in-person schooling.

The decision comes after many parents expressed their frustration following the first week of virtual learning, with some parents displeased by the lack of structure and others finding it difficult to support their child while also working full-time themselves.

Many Horry County students are currently operating in a hybrid model. These hybrid models consist of students attending in-person school two days of the week and the rest is conducted virtually.

In an effort to maintain safety and social distancing guidelines within schools, the school district will not be able to grant every request for children to return to traditional in-person learning.

However, Horry County School officials will continue to monitor the case numbers to determine whether or not students are able to return to in-person schooling full-time or if virtual learning needs to be implemented across the board.

Uncategorized

Grand Strand Golf Directors Association Disbands After 30 Years

As a hub for all things golf, the Grand Strand Golf Directors Association has been a part of Myrtle Beach since 1990. Now, 30 years later, it’s time the organization closed its doors. As a pinnacle part of the Myrtle Golf scene, the Grand Strand will be thoroughly missed.

At its peak, the organization had over 200 members, each partaking in monthly golf outings. Over the course of the last few years, the headcount has dwindled to about 50.

“The industry has changed,” said GSGDA member A.J. Gohil, who was also a former president and vice president of the group. “There’s so much happening online. It’s not like it was in the old days where you had 100 hotels and 100 golf directors, one at each hotel. Now you might have one golf director taking care of 10 hotels from their home or a satellite office. There aren’t as many hotel directors, and people are working from all different locations and it’s harder to get them out”

Throughout the years, the organization has established scholarship funds for local students. The amount reaches $2,500 per year with a maximum of four years per student. That isn’t the only charity work the group has participated in. The GSGDA has given 100 + college scholarships and raised over $350,000 throughout its time as an active organization.

While coronavirus has played a role in the ultimate closing of GSGDA, it was the prior years combined that made the decision final. Instead of coming together as a group, many of the Grand Strand golf courses have changed gears and allowed walking in order to practice social distancing. Walkers need only carry their bags or use a pull cart in order to enjoy the 18 holes.

News

CCU’s Plan to Return On-Campus

Instead of heading to campus like a typical year at Coastal Carolina University, students will begin their Fall 2020 semesters with online education until at least Sept. 8. After Thanksgiving break, classes will resume online. This decision came as a response to growing coronavirus case numbers in the South Carolina area.

Students have the option to forgo in-person learning for an entirely online semester. This academic plan was announced via a video on Tuesday, July 21. To follow, a 30-day video campaign launch fosters communication between staff and students. In the campaign, the campus safety measures are broken down for viewers.

According to CCU president, David DeCenzo, “the decision to delay in-person instruction for a few weeks provides us with the best scenario to safely resume on-campus operations. Upon our return to campus, it will be essential for all members of Teal Nation to wear face coverings inside buildings, practice physical distancing, and follow the protocols established in our Coastal Comeback Plan to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

Those opting for the in-person plan will all be on campus by Sept. 4th at the latest. This optional second move-in allows residents to take their time in deciding what their next move is. Those that opt for a September move-in receive a two-week housing and dining credit incentive.

As of now, a plan for Spring 2021 is being crafted by DeCenzo and other CCU staff members. They will be gradually updating their reopening plans via the Coastal Comeback Plan website.

Uncategorized

Carolina Country Music Fest Postponed Until 2021

Organizers of the 2020 Carolina Country Music Fest made the decision to postpone as of Tuesday, August 11th. The festival is now to be held June 10th, 2021 to June 13th, 2021. While things are now a little less than a year out, CCMF-goers can still get excited about a similar line-up.

Headliners Jake Owen, Luke Combs, Darius Rucker, and Eric Church were originally expected to play in this year’s performances. Each artist is set to join the CCMF fest come 2021. As a response to COVID-19 and the ongoing pandemic restrictions, a festival, in the way we once knew, is unlikely to take place any time in 2020.

The Carolina Country Music Fest has been considering postponement since restrictions on concert venues were enforced early into the pandemic. The massive gatherings make social distancing nearly impossible.

For those holding a CCMF ticket, a refund can be applied regarding their tickets. If they wish to roll over into the next year, incentives are offered. 2020 ticket holders have access to lower pricing for the 2021 concert and early entry into the festival.

For more information regarding CCMF ticket changes and refunds, visit their website.