PART THREE. COMMUNITY PROFILE

PART THREE. COMMUNITY PROFILE

A. Overview

Based on 2000 Census figures, Myrtle Beach now anchors the 13th _{fastest growing} metropolitan region in the United States. The City of Myrtle Beach, along with the cities of Conway and Georgetown, are the primary urban centers in the three-county Waccamaw region that includes Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg Counties. Myrtle Beach is the most populous city within Horry County, which is one of South Carolina’s fastest growing counties and the largest in land area. The County’s growth rate of more than 36% over the last decade significantly outpaced the statewide average of only 15% for the same period – giving Horry the second highest increase of all 46 counties. This rapid population growth has been accompanied by an unprecedented demand for land, housing, and infrastructure. Rising development pressures and a growing housing market – prompted in large part by the continued influx of retirees and expansion of the Grand Strand as a year-round tourist destination – have consequently fueled increases in housing and land costs.

Sustained population growth and a steady rise in housing costs have also contributed to a housing market in which some residents – such as the elderly, low income, minorities, disabled, and other populations with special needs – are more likely to experience challenges in finding and maintaining affordable, safe and convenient housing options. Map 3-1 delineates the Consolidated Planning area, including the City of Myrtle Beach, the Myrtle Beach Housing Authority (MBHA) Service Area, neighboring municipalities and communities, and major features such as highways.

Map 3-1. Municipalities, Communities and Major Features City of Myrtle Beach and the MBHA Service Area

US 17 SC 70 7 S C 5 4 4 SC 90 US 378 US 17 US 1 7 U S 5 01 US 701 U S 5 01 US 70 1 Horry County N or_th C aro lin_a Georgetown County Atla ntic Oce an US 17

MBHA Service

Area

North Myrtle Beach Surfside Beach Myrtle Beach Co nway SC 90 5 S C 2₂ Car olina Bays Pkwy F u ture SC 9 Fut ure

Outside of Study Area City of Myrtle Beach AI Study Area SC Highways US Highways

Neighboring Municipalities

The City of Myrtle Beach includes more than 16 square miles and stretches along a 10-mile uninterrupted beachfront within the Myrtle Beach Housing Authority’s service area. The MBHA service area encompasses most of a linear urban area that parallels the Atlantic Ocean from the Little River community at the North Carolina border southward to the Georgetown County line at Garden City and Murrell’s Inlet. The MBHA service area covers the eastern third of Horry County – the State’s largest county in land area and slightly larger in land area than the State of Rhode Island.

1. Government Structure

The City of Myrtle Beach operates under a Council-Manager form of government, in which the City Council sets policy and hires a full-time professional City Manager as chief executive officer to oversee day-to-day operations of the City and its staff. The seven-member City Council includes six council seven-members and a mayor, all elected at-large and for staggered terms. All members of Council, including the Mayor, vote equally on all matters before the Council. The City Council also appoints numerous boards, commissions and committees to assist with the work of governing the City. Immediately after election to Council, the members elect one member of their body as a Mayor Pro Tempore to serve as such for two years. The Mayor Pro Tempore acts as Mayor during the absence or disability of the Mayor, and in the event that the Mayor leaves office, serves in that capacity until a successor is elected. In addition to oversight of day-to-day operations of the City, the City Manager provides administrative oversight to the City’s 12 Department Directors. The City of Myrtle Beach employs more than 800 staff and provides a complete range of traditional municipal functions including police and fire protection, water and sewer service, solid waste and recycling collection, planning and zoning services, and parks and recreational opportunities.

2. City of Myrtle Beach Today

Myrtle Beach is at the heart of the tourism-rich 60-mile stretch of the South Carolina coast known as the Grand Strand. Myrtle Beach incorporated as a town in 1937 and became a city less than 20 years later in 1957. The City is now the County’s largest in terms of both land area and population. The Grand Strand and Myrtle Beach have emerged as a major tourist center, drawing more than 13.7 million visitors annually from around the nation and abroad to enjoy the temperate weather, beaches, and a wide range of entertainment and recreation opportunities. One-fourth (25%) of Horry County’s employment is tourism-related. The County leads the State in tourism income, employment, lodging and visitor spending. Long known as a golf destination, more than 4.2 million rounds of golf are played on the 120 golf courses throughout the area annually. Myrtle Beach was named by the Travel channel as the Best Family Beach and one of the nation’s top overall beaches. The area is ranked the second most popular summer vacation destination by AAA, surpassed only by Orlando, Florida, and followed by Washington, DC, and Niagara Falls, and Williamsburg, Virginia.

City data shows that the Myrtle Beach area has experienced significant economic and population growth since 1990. This growth is evidenced in the construction of several major mixed-use retail, lodging and entertainment developments that include Broadway at the Beach, Seaboard Commons, the baseball stadium, the Grande Dunes residential development, and Coastal Grande Mall. The area now offers visitors and residents alike a wide variety of accommodations that offer more than 72,400 rooms, more than 300 outlet stores, more than 1,700 full service restaurants, and live entertainment in 8 theaters. However, as the hub of a coastal resort destination, the Myrtle Beach area experiences dramatic seasonal fluctuations in population. Renters must compete with vacationers for housing and residents must seek rewarding employment within a predominantly tourist economy that is characterized by service jobs at or just above minimum wage. Seasonal

population swings contribute to temporary jobs with little to no benefits or opportunities for advancement. Homelessness is also a concern as people are drawn to the area by the attractive climate and the perceived promise of work, yet find themselves without adequate or permanent wages to afford housing.

B. Demographics

Socio-economic data provide a necessary foundation for effective community development needs assessment and planning efforts and help local decision-makers and service providers develop a clear picture of the human characteristics of the community. Information such as the number of residents, along with their race, age composition, and family status; income and employment data; health and public safety statistics; household characteristics; and information on educational attainment and other related factors are instrumental in guiding the development of relevant policies, programs and services to meet the housing and associated needs of low income and special populations.

1. Population

Horry County is the 6th _{fastest growing county in South Carolina, experiencing a 36%} population increase from 1990 to 2000. This rate of population growth is nearly double the statewide growth rate during the same decade. The Myrtle Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes all of Horry County and is projected to be the second fastest growing urban area in the United States over the next decade. Horry County is the largest county in the South Carolina in land area and had a total estimated population in 2003 of more than 210,000 residents. However, this permanent population swells to more than 400,000 to 500,000 during the height of the tourist season. As one of the most popular coastal destinations in the US, the area attracts more than 13.7 million visitors annually.

The City of Myrtle Beach is the State’s 15th _{largest municipality and the largest} municipality in the County with an estimated permanent, year-round population in 2003 of 23,691 residents. The Myrtle Beach Housing Authority service area includes a significant portion of the urbanized area, excluding the municipalities of Conway, Briarcliffe Acres, Atlantic Beach, and North Myrtle Beach. The total 2000 population for the MBHA service area at the census block level is 120,720 residents. The population of the Census tracts that include the MBHA service area as shown in Map 3-2 is 140,387 and includes portions of several Census tracts that extend outside the MBHA Service Area into other jurisdictions including the City of Conway.

As shown in Table 3-1, the City of Myrtle Beach experienced a slight decline in population from 1990 to 2000, while the County grew by 36% during the same time frame. However estimates provided by Claritas, a national marketing information resources firm, project a 16.8% population increase within the City of Myrtle Beach from 2000 to 2009 – lower than the projected growth countywide at 18.5% but significantly higher than projected growth statewide of only 10.8%.

Table 3-1. Population Growth and Projections, 1990 to 2009 City of Myrtle Beach, Horry County and South Carolina

Jurisdiction 1990 2000 % Change 1990-2000 Projected 2009 % Change 2000-2009

Myrtle Beach 24,848 22,759 -8.4% 26,587 16.8%

Horry County 144,053 196,629 36.5% 233,038 18.5%

South Carolina 3,486,703 4,012,012 15.1% 4,446,240 10.8% Source: US Census, 2000 and Claritas, 2005.

Map 3-2 illustrates the population distribution within the MBHA Service Area. The Census 2000 tracts with highest density are located mostly within the City of Myrtle Beach and surrounding communities east of the Intracoastal Waterway and along the Highway 17 corridor. This area includes tracts 504, 505, 506, 507, and 509, along with tract 512 (Surfside Beach) and tracts 513, 51401, 515 that fall outside the incorporated area. The tracts with lowest density are concentrated in the northern half of the MBHA Service Area to the west and east of Conway and west of the City of Myrtle Beach to include tracts 301, 60202, 603, and 701.

Map 3-2. Population Density (Persons per Square Mile), 2000 City of Myrtle Beach and the MBHA Service Area (Census Tracts)

Source: US Census, 2000. Georgetown County Horry County N ort h C ar oli_na Atla ntic Ocea n Myrtle Beach MBHA Service Area 507 512 405 405 601 603 402 403 404 502 503 501 504 505 506 509 508 510 511 513 514 01 60201 402 514 02 51602 51601 515 601 60402 60401 60202 603 401 301 301 701 701 Population Density 56 - 200 201 - 600 601 - 1,500 1,501 - 2,622 Myrtle Beach

MBHA Service Area

As shown on Map 3-3, the tracts with higher growth rates over the last 10 years have been hot growth areas for residential development. The areas that posted population losses are in the vicinity of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. These areas contained many military families living off base, who relocated to other air bases when the installation closed in 1993. Also, a high percentage of these military families were young families with children, creating an average number of persons per household that was higher than the 2.4 persons per household city-wide. The Census tracts (based on 1990 Census tract areas) with the greatest growth rate during the decade include 603 and 516 at more than a 100% population increase, followed by tracts 301, 401, 501, 514, 602, and 604 that posted a 50% to 100% increase. The tracts with the lowest growth rates included 508 (all within the

City), 510 (

within the City and including the former Air Base

Map 3-3. Population Growth, 1990-2000

City of Myrtle Beach and the MBHA Service Area (1990 Census Tracts)

Source: US Census, 1990 and 2000. Myrtle Beach MBHA Service Area Atlan tic O cean N or_th C aro lin_a Horry County Georgetown County 405 507 403 604 401 516 601 603 402 402 404 405 502 503 504 505 501 506 509 510 513 511 512 514 515 602 604 603 701 701 301 301 508 Percent Change -73.3 - 0% 0.1 - 50% 50.1 - 100% 100.1 - 194% Myrtle Beach MBHA Service Area

Table 3-2 lists each Census tract located entirely or partially in the MBHA Service Area. The tracts with the highest growth rate – tract 516 with 194% and tract 603 with 100.7% – significantly outpaced most of the other tracts. The tracts experiencing population loss all included portions of the City of Myrtle Beach – tract 510 (within the City and including the former Air Base) with a -73.3% growth rate, tract 511 (mostly within the City) with a -18% rate, and tract 508 (all within the City) with a -2.2% growth rate.

Table 3-2. Population Growth, 1990-2000

City of Myrtle Beach* and the MBHA Service Area (1990 Census Tracts**) Census

Tract Population 1990 Population 2000 % Change 1990-2000

30100 3,338 5,625 68.5% 40100 6,556 12,738 94.3% 40200 2,536 3,428 35.2% 40400 2,950 3,417 15.8% 40500 3,487 3,777 8.3% 50100 1,547 2,650 71.3% 50200 909 1,475 62.3% 50300 2,304 2,534 10.0% 50400 3,917 4,328 10.5% 50500 3,945 4,568 15.8% 50600 3,538 3,705 4.7% 50700 1,386 1,442 4.0% 50800 941 920 -2.2% 50900 4,883 5,312 8.8% 51000 5,493 1,467 -73.3% 51100 1,247 1,022 -18.0% 51200 3,815 4,127 8.2% 51300 3,523 4,396 24.8% 51400 8,254 13,528 63.9% 51500 8,905 12,204 37.0% 51600 3,370 9,909 194.0% 60100 2,947 4,373 48.4% 60200 4,521 8,353 84.8% 60300 3,569 7,163 100.7% 60400 6,302 11,750 86.4% 70100 4,617 6,176 33.8% Total *98,800 *140,387 42.1%

* Shaded rows indicate tracts that are included (all or part) in the City of Myrtle Beach. ** Population totals are for Census tracts and include areas outside of the MBHA Service Area.

Source: US Census, 1990 and 2000.

2. Age

Due its warm climate and coastal amenities, the Grand Strand region has become a relocation magnet for retirees. The Myrtle Beach area was named as one of the 100 Best

Retirement Towns in America by Where to Retire magazine. Continued marketing efforts

to attract this population, along with continued growth in housing developments designed for this market segment, will fuel the continued in-migration of older residents. Most of these senior residents are financially able to afford area housing.

The City of Myrtle Beach, MBHA Service Area, and Horry County have an older population than the State as a whole. Horry County significantly outpaced both the State and the nation in the growth in population aged 55 and older over the last decade, with an increase of nearly 60%. The 65 and older segment grew by more than 62%, with the number of residents between 65 and 74 growing by nearly 4 times the State rate. This demographic shift is expected to continue as a dramatic increase of 85% to 115% is expected in the age group including residents aged 65 and over by 2025.

Within the City of Myrtle Beach, 15% of residents are aged 65 and older – slightly lower than the percentage within the MBHA Service Area at 16.1%, equal to that of the County and higher than the percentage statewide of only 12.1%. The percentage of residents between the ages of 45 and 64 in the City approaches 23%, which is nearly equal to the percentage statewide but lower than the MBHA Service Area at 25.5% and the County at 25%. Less than one-fifth of residents in the City (18%) and the MBHA Service Area (19.7%) are under 17 years compared to more than one-fourth (25.2%) of State residents within this age group.

Table 3-3. Age Characteristics, 2000

City of Myrtle Beach, MBHA Service Area (Census Tracts), Horry County & S.C. Myrtle Beach MBHA Area Horry County South Carolina

Age # % # % # % # %

Total 22,759 100.0% 140,387 100.0% 196,629 100.0% 4,012,012 100.0% 17 yrs & under 4,095 18.0% 27,670 19.7% 41,929 21.3% 1,009,641 25.2%

18 to 24 2,502 11.0% 13,020 9.3% 18,421 9.4% 407,851 10.2%

25 to 44 7,637 33.6% 41,321 29.4% 57,623 29.3% 1,185,955 29.6%

45 to 64 5,112 22.5% 35,781 25.5% 49,186 25.0% 923,232 23.0%

65 yrs & over 3,413 15.0% 22,592 16.1% 29,470 15.0% 485,333 12.1%

Source: US Census, 2000.

The median age for Horry County residents mirrors the national trend towards an aging population. Median age in Myrtle Beach rose by 5.6 years to nearly 37 years from 1990 to 2000 – surpassing the State median of 35.4 years. The Horry County median rose by 4.5 years to 38.3 years.

Table 3-4. Median Age, 1990 and 2000

City of Myrtle Beach, Horry County and South Carolina Jurisdiction 1990 2000

Myrtle Beach 31.3 36.9

Horry County 33.8 38.3

South Carolina 32.0 35.4 Source: US Census, 2000.

As detailed in Map 3-4, the highest median age in the MBHA Service Area is found in tracts 401, 402 (one-half in North Myrtle Beach), 405 (more than one-half in North Myrtle Beach), 502, 503 (mostly in the City), 511 (small portion in the City), 513, 51401, and 51602. Tracts with the lowest median age include 301, 506 and 510 (within the City and including the former Air Base), 515, 51601, 60201, and 60202.

Map 3-4. Median Age, 2000

City of Myrtle Beach and the MBHA Service Area (Census Tracts)

Source: US Census, 2000. 701 701 301 301 401 603 60202 60401 60402 601 515 51601 51602 514 02 402 60201 5140 1 513 511 510 508 509 506 505 504 501 503 502 404 403 402 603 601 405 405 512 507 MBHA Service Area Myrtle Beach Atla ntic Ocea n N or_th C ar oli_na Horry County Georgetown County Median Age 29.5 - 34 years 34.1 - 36 years 36.1 - 45 years 45.1 - 60 years Myrtle Beach MBHA Service Area

3. Race

The City of Myrtle Beach has a predominantly Caucasian population with more than 81% white, 12.7% black, 4.7% Hispanic, and 1.4% other races. A slightly higher percentage of the residents of the MBHA Service Area are Caucasian (85.8%), while percentages of other

racial groups are slightly lower. The racial composition of Horry County is similar to the City, with 81% white, 15.5% black, 2.6% Hispanic and 0.9% other races. The State of South Carolina reflects a higher minority composition with a statewide average of 67.2% white, 29.5% black, 2.4% Hispanic and 0.9% other races.

Table 3-5. Racial Composition, 2000

City of Myrtle Beach, the MBHA Service Area and Horry County

Myrtle Beach MBHA Area Horry County South Carolina Race # % # % Number Percent Number Percent Total 22,759 100.0% 120,720 100.0% 196,629 100.0% 4,012,012 100.0% White 18,472 81.2% 103,626 85.8% 159,363 81.0% 2,695,560 67.2% Black 2,903 12.7% 12,350 10.2% 30,468 15.5% 1,185,216 29.5% Hispanic 1,062 4.7% 3,247 2.7% 5,057 2.6% 95,076 2.4% Other 322 1.4% 1,497 1.2% 1,741 0.9% 36,160 0.9% Source: US Census, 2000.

As shown in Map 3-5, portions of the MBHA Service Area with higher minority concentrations are primarily located west of Myrtle Beach in the unincorporated areas west of the Waterway and northeast of the City of Conway in tracts 301 and 603 (small portion in the City), as well as in the southern portion of the City of Myrtle Beach in tract 506. The tracts with the lowest percentage of minority residents include 501 (significant portion in the City), 503 (mainly in the City), 511 (small portion in the City), 512 (Surfside Beach), 513 and 51401.

Map 3-5. Percentage Minority Population, 2000

City of Myrtle Beach and the MBHA Service Area (Census Tracts)

Source: US Census, 2000. Georgetown County Horry County N or_th C aro lin_a Atlan tic O cean Myrtle Beach MBHA Service Area 507 512 405 405 601 603 402 403 404 502 503 501 504 505 506 509 508 510 511 513 5140 1 60201 402 5140 2 51602 51601 515 601 60402 60401 60202 603 401 301 301 701 701 Percent Minority 2.1 - 5.0% 5.1 - 15.0% 15.1 - 39.0% 39.1 - 61.2% Myrtle Beach MBHA Service Area

Although Horry County’s African-American population grew from 1990 to 2000 by more than 5,300, the City’s African-American population declined by nearly 600 residents. The Caucasian population in Horry County grew during the same time period, but also dropped within the City of Myrtle Beach by more than 2,300 residents. However, both the County and the City experienced a significant increase in the Hispanic population during the past decade, with the Hispanic population nearly tripling, rising by 400% in the County and nearly 300% in the City of Myrtle Beach.

Table 3-6. Change in Racial Composition, 1990-2000 City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County

Myrtle Beach Horry County

Race 1990 2000 Change 1990 2000 Change

Total 24,848 22,759 -2,089 144,053 196,629 52,576 White 20,801 18,472 -2,329 117,098 159,363 42,265 Black 3,499 2,903 -596 25,160 30,468 5,308 Hispanic 382 1,062 680 1,259 5,057 3,798 Other 166 322 156 536 1,741 1,205 Source: US Census, 2000.

The majority of County and City residents are not life-long members of the community. In 2000, 96% of Horry County residents and 91.6% of Myrtle Beach residents were US natives, compared to 97.1% of South Carolinians who were US natives. Only 47.2% of County residents who were natives to the United States were also born in South Carolina, compared to only 38.2% of Myrtle Beach residents who are both US and South Carolina natives.

Table 3-7. Place of Birth, 2000 City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County

Myrtle Beach Horry County South Carolina Place of Birth Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Total 22,607 100.0% 196,629 100.0% 4,012,012 100.0% Native to US 20,703 91.6% 188,823 96.0% 3,896,034 97.1% South Carolina 7,911 38.2% 89,197 47.2% 2,568,954 65.9% Different State 12,488 60.3% 97,812 51.8% 1,293,518 33.2% Outside of US 294 1.4% 1,814 1.0% 33,562 0.9% Foreign Born 1,904 9.2% 7,806 4.0% 115,978 2.9% Source: US Census, 2000.

4. Educational Attainment

Educational attainment is a key indicator of future earnings potential. A large portion of the region's incumbent workforce now needs a minimum of 14 years of education to be successful in an increasingly technology-driven economy. For example, the lifetime earnings for a college graduate with a bachelors degree is nearly $1 million greater than that of a high school graduate. In a typical working lifetime, a high school graduate will earn $1.1 million for a lifetime of work; a college graduate will earn $2.1 million; a graduate degree holder will earn $2.5 million; and an individual with an advanced professional degree, such as a doctor or lawyer, can earn an average of $4.4 million.

Unemployment is also lower for individuals having higher degrees. At the national level, US Department of Labor data indicate that residents with no high school diploma experience an unemployment rate of nearly 7%, while adults with a two-year associate

degree had a rate of only 2.3% and those with a bachelor’s degree had a rate of less than 2%.

This explains in large part why, despite sustained economic growth in Horry County and Myrtle Beach, a number of area residents continue to face formidable barriers to increased job opportunity due to lower educational achievement levels, lower functional literacy, and lack of advanced education and training. For the many residents lacking postsecondary training, especially women and minorities, local jobs are limited to lower-wage, lower-tech employment that offers limited security, benefits, and advancement opportunities. Without the successful completion of high school, followed by pursuit of advanced education and training in higher demand occupations, significant numbers of residents will be restricted to less-secure, minimum wage jobs.

Annual earnings also increase across literacy levels. The National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) estimates that 20% of Horry County’s population is at the lowest proficiency level (Level 1) and that 50% of the total population is only at Level 1 or 2. Adults at Level 1 proficiency are severely limited in reading ability – they can not fill out a job application, read a food label, or even read a story to their child. Individuals at Level 2 can perform more difficult reading tasks than Level 1 and can compare, contrast, and integrate basic information – but they can not successfully perform higher level reading and problem-solving skills. Adults with low literacy skills at only Levels 1 and 2 are considered to be lacking a sufficient foundation of basic skills to function successfully in society – a foundation that is needed to find and keep decent jobs, support their children's education, and participate actively in civic life. Whereas, residents at Levels 3 through 5 have the literacy skills to perform more complex tasks using increasingly lengthy and dense texts and documents.

When looking at high growth occupations through 2005, the minimum literacy proficiency requirement has increased by one level (from Level 2 to Level 3) over jobs with a declining demand. This can have a significant economic impact in both the State and County, where 56% and 50% of adults are estimated to be below Level 3 proficiency, respectively.

National data reveals that high school graduates from low-income families are far less likely to continue directly to college upon graduation, whereas as many as three-fourths of graduates from high-income families enter college upon graduation. Nearly one out of every five Horry County residents (19%) over the age of 25 lacks a high school diploma, as compared to a State average of 23.7%. Of the total County population aged 25 and older, less than 19% (18.7%) have a bachelors degree or higher.

However, Myrtle Beach residents have higher educational attainment levels on average than County residents as a whole. The percentage of residents holding a college degree (associate or higher) at 30.2% is higher than both the County percentage at 25.7% and the State percentage of 27.1%.

Table 3-8. Educational Attainment for Persons 25 and Older, 2000 City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County

Educational Attainment Myrtle Beach City of Horry County

Less than 9th _{Grade 4.1% 5.6%}

High School, No Diploma 10.9% 13.3%

High School Graduates 30.2% 32.2%

College, No Diploma 24.5% 23.2%

College Graduate - Associate Degree 7.3% 7.0%

College Graduate - Bachelors Degree 15.8% 12.8%

Graduate Degree 7.1% 5.9%

Source: US Census, 2000.

Horry County ranks above State averages in many measures of academic success. The dropout rate for students in Horry schools is the lowest in the State at 24% (2000-2002), compared to 31.9% statewide. SAT and other standardized test scores among Horry County Schools have exceeded the national average for several years in a row. The District’s SAT scores are above the national average at 1031, five points above the national average and 42 points ahead of the State average. Eighty percent (80%) of Horry County Schools’ 10th-graders passed the state’s new high school exit exam on their first attempt.

Efforts to attract new employers to the region will continue to be impacted in part by the educational attainment levels of area residents. The local economy remains characterized by a dependence on lower wage, seasonal jobs. By increasing the educational levels of residents and encouraging postsecondary training, the Myrtle Beach community can help the County alleviate a major roadblock to building a prosperous and sustainable community and offer residents new and rewarding job opportunities.

5. Household and Family Status

Household and family status are key indicators of social and economic conditions in the community. There are 81,800 households in Horry County, with more than 10,000 of these within the City of Myrtle Beach. Nearly 67% of County households and 52% of City households are families. The MBHA Service Area contains 52,396 households, with 33,865 (64.6%) of these households comprised of families.

More than 25.4% of County and 24% of City households include individuals aged 65 and older – almost one-fourth of all households. More than 10% of City households are comprised of a person over 65 who lives alone. Almost 30% of households in the County include children under 18 years of age. Nearly 12% of County households and 11% of City households are headed by a single female.

Table 3-9. Household Type and Characteristics, 2000 City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County

Myrtle Beach Horry County

Household Type # % # %

Total households 10,413 100.0% 81,800 100.0%

Family households (families) 5,410 52.0% 54,515 66.6%

Female householder, no husband present 1,156 11.1% 9,418 11.5%

Non-family households 5,003 48.0% 27,285 33.4%

Householder living alone 3,553 34.1% 21,075 25.8%

Householder living alone: 65 yrs & over 1,083 10.4% 6,984 8.5%

Households with individuals under 18 yrs 2,372 22.8% 24,156 29.5%

Households with individuals 65 yrs & over 2,504 24.0% 20,745 25.4%

Average household size 2.17 2.37

Average family size 2.79 2.84

Source: US Census, 2000.

The number of births to single mothers has increased steadily over the past four decades. In 1998, Horry County experienced births to single mothers at 41.5%. The number of children born to single-parent homes increases significantly when examining births to young mothers under age 20. In Horry County, 15.7% of all children were born to mothers 20 or younger. Of the babies born to young mothers under 20 years, 86.8% were born to single mothers.

Children born to single-parent households are more vulnerable to child abuse, poverty, academic failure, and other challenges. Nearly half (42%) of the reported child abuse cases in the target area involved children in single parent households (SC Kids Count, 2003). Single parent families are also more likely to live in poverty. Data from the SC Campaign

to Prevent Teen Pregnancy note that nearly half of all teen mothers and three-fourths of all

unmarried teen mothers rely on welfare within 5 years of the birth of their first child. Campaign data also reveals that students born to single mothers are twice as likely to drop out of high school and to have a child before age 20. More than 18% of all children in Horry County live below poverty. However, this number rises dramatically among single-parent families. There are 11,433 single-parent families with children in the County. The percentage of single-parent households with children living below the poverty level is staggering at 36.9% in Horry County. Among the County’s minorities, single parent families living in poverty are even higher at 50%. More than half (58.6%) of the children living in poverty in Horry County live in single-parent families.

Housing unit occupancy is a concern, since crowded housing conditions can amplify the risk of domestic violence, child abuse and other health and social problems. The number of persons living in each housing unit in Horry County is 2.37 persons with an average family size of 2.84 persons. Household size and family size averages slightly smaller in the City of Myrtle Beach at 2.17 and 2.79, respectively.

C. Income and Employment

Employment data is an important indicator and factor in planning for community development activity. The location and accessibility of major employment centers affects employability and access to jobs for lower income residents, including minorities, women, and special populations. In particular, the proximity of employment to housing, also known as the employment opportunity/housing linkage, impacts housing choice among these groups, as well as the need for additional support services such as transportation.

Paralleling the expansion of state economies throughout the South, South Carolina experienced heightened social and economic growth during the previous two decades. Emerging from an agrarian tradition, the State as a whole has successfully launched the transformation of its economy into a diversified base of manufacturing, trade, health care, services, and tourism activity. Horry County, in particular the Myrtle Beach area, has shared in this economic growth. The area continues to pursue economic development strategies that will strengthen and diversify the tax base and increase the number and quality of job opportunities available to residents.

1. Income and Poverty

Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) data is a special tabulation and adjustment of 2000 Census household and income data commissioned by HUD for use by CDBG grantees in the development of local consolidated plans. This data includes valuable information on household income for low income residents and provides information on the percentage of households within each income category that are cost-burdened. It should be noted that the Census Bureau uses a special rounding scheme on special tabulation data such as the CHAS data, resulting in small discrepancies between the CHAS data and the data provided in conventional Census data files. HUD defines cost burden as the fraction of a household’s total gross income that is spent on housing costs. For renters, housing costs include rent paid by the tenant plus utility costs. Housing costs for owners include mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, and utility costs. A household is considered cost-burdened if its occupants are paying more than 30% of their income for housing costs. Tables 4-10 and 4-11 depict income as a percentage of the Median Family Income (MFI) for the City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County. HUD defines low and moderate income (LMI) households as those households with incomes below 80% of MFI. Nearly 28% of all Myrtle Beach households and nearly 37% of households countywide are considered to be LMI. Poverty is more prevalent in rental households, with more than half (53.5%) of renter households in Horry County and nearly half (47.8%) of the renter households in Myrtle Beach considered to be LMI. By contrast, less than one-third (30.8%) of owner households in the County and 27.9% of owner households in the city are LMI. Overall, renters in Myrtle Beach comprise the majority (71.6%) of extremely low income households, nearly 61% of very low income households and 56.7% of low income households. Renters comprise a much smaller percentage of LMI households in the County, accounting for only 46.5% of

Table 3-10. CHAS Household Tenure and Income Estimates, 2000 City of Myrtle Beach

Renters Owners

Income Categories Renters Total % Renters of HH's Owners Total % Owners of HH's

Total Households

Extremely Low Income

0-30% MFI 632 71.6% 251 28.4% 883

Very Low Income

31-50% MFI 684 60.8% 441 39.2% 1,125

Low Income

51-80% MFI 1,056 56.7% 806 43.3% 1,862

Greater than 80% MFI 2,589 40.1% 3,871 59.9% 6,460

Total Households 4,961 48.0% 5,369 52.0% 10,330

Source: US HUD, State of the Cities Data Systems, Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy Data, 2005.

Table 3-11. CHAS Household Tenure and Income Estimates, 2000 Horry County

Renters Owners

Income Categories Renters Total % Renters of HH's Owners Total % Owners of HH's Households Total

Extremely Low Income

0-30% MFI 3,493 46.5% 4,018 53.5% 7,511

Very Low Income

31-50% MFI 3,463 42.1% 4,769 57.9% 8,232

Low Income

51-80% MFI 4,835 33.5% 9,610 66.5% 14,445

Greater than 80% MFI 10,265 19.9% 41,300 80.1% 51,565

Total Households 22,056 27.0% 59,697 73.0% 81,753

Source: US HUD, State of the Cities Data Systems, Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy Data, 2005.

In 1999, the City’s per capita personal income was $23,214, compared to $19,949 for Horry County residents. The per capita income for the City was 123% of the State average, while the County per capita income was 106% of the State average of $18,795. Table 3-12 provides per capita income data for Myrtle Beach, Horry County and South Carolina. The City’s per capita incomes for White and African-American residents was also higher than the State and County levels, but considerably lower than State and County levels for Hispanic residents.

Table 3-12. Per Capita Income, 1999

City of Myrtle Beach, Horry County and South Carolina Total White Black Hispanic Myrtle Beach $23,214 $25,503 $12,295 $10,951 Horry County $19,949 $22,044 $10,390 $12,534 South Carolina $18,795 $22,095 $11,776 $12,143

Source: US Census, 2000.

An individual is described as living in poverty when he/she has insufficient resources to meet basic living expenses – including the costs of food, shelter, clothing, transportation and medical expenses. Poverty thresholds as determined by the Census Bureau for 2003 indicate that 4 person family earning less than $18,810 (combined income excluding food stamps and housing subsidies) is considered to be living in poverty. A 2-person household with at least one member age 65 or older would be considered to be living in poverty with a combined income of less than 11,133. Table 3-13 includes 2003 poverty thresholds as determined by the Census Bureau for families of various sizes.

Table 3-13. Poverty Thresholds, 2003 Families and Persons in the United States Size of Family Poverty Threshold (weighted average)

One Person $9,393

Under 65 years $9,573

65 years and older $8,825

Two Persons $12,015

Householder under 65 years $12,384

Householder 65 years and older $11,133

Three Persons $14,680 Four Persons $18,810 Five Persons $22,245 Six Persons $25,122 Seven Persons $28,544 Eight Persons $31,589

Nine or more Persons $37,656

Source: US Census, 2005.

In 1999, 12% of City residents were living below poverty status – the same as the percentage countywide (Table 3-14). The percentage of residents statewide living in poverty in 1999 was higher at 14.1%. Census figures indicate that of the persons living in poverty, 8% of Myrtle Beach residents, 9.5% of persons in the MBHA Service Area, and 10.7% of County residents are aged 65 or older.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of City residents living in poverty and 44% of County residents living in poverty are children under the age of 18. Within the MBHA Service Area, nearly 40% of children under 18 are in poverty. Free or reduced lunch data for local schools also indicate a significant number of low-income households. More than half (56%) of students in Horry County schools are eligible for free or reduced lunch. The student eligibility rate statewide is 49.9%.

Table 3-14. Income Below Poverty by Age, 1999

City of Myrtle Beach, MBHA Service Area (Census Tracts), and Horry County Myrtle Beach MBHA Area Horry County

# % # % # %

Total Population 22,531 100.0% 138,755 100.0% 193,974 100.0%

Below poverty level 2,702 12.0% 14,292 10.3% 23,356 12.0% Under 5 years 220 8.1% 1,267 8.9% 2,042 8.7% 5 years 42 1.6% 248 1.7% 468 2.0% 6 to 11 years 273 10.1% 1,424 10.0% 2,669 11.4% 12 to 17 years 187 6.9% 1,279 8.9% 2,384 10.2% 18 to 64 years 1,762 65.2% 8,718 61.0% 13,296 56.9% 65 to 74 years 77 2.8% 674 4.7% 1,239 5.3%

75 years & over 141 5.2% 682 4.8% 1,258 5.4%

Source: US Census, 2000.

In 1999 the estimated median household income for the City of Myrtle Beach was $35,498 – low when compared to median household income for the County at $36,470 and the State at $37,082. As illustrated on Map 3-6, the Census tracts with highest median income – tracts 501 (significant portion in the City), 502, 503 (most in the City) and 51402 – are located relatively close to the beachfront. The tracts with the lowest median family incomes (and 80% or below of median household income for Horry County) are tracts 506 and 507 – both located mostly within the southern area of the City along the coast.

Map 3-6. Median Household Income, 1999

City of Myrtle Beach and the MBHA Service Area (Census Tracts)

Source: US Census, 2000. Georgetown County Horry County N or_th C ar oli_na Atla ntic O cean Myrtle Beach MBHA Service Area 507 512 405 405 601 603 402 403 404 502 503 501 504 505 506 509 508 510 511 513 514 01 60201 402 514 02 51602 51601 515 601 60402 60401 60202 603 401 301 301 701 701

Median Household Income $22,202 - $29,176 $29,177 - $36,597 $36,598 - $42,752 $42,753 - $47,617 Myrtle Beach MBHA Service Area

Low and moderate income data provided by HUD enables communities to determine the location of areas with at least 51% of households having low or moderate incomes (LMI). Table 3-15 lists the Census tract and block groups that are considered to be LMI using the HUD definition. Tracts 506 and 507 are the only tracts within the City that are LMI, with 61.8% of the population in the tract 506 and 59.6% of the population in tract 507 living outside of group quarters considered to be LMI. LMI percentages range from 53.3% in block group 4 of tract 509 to 75.3% in block group 1 of tract 509. Nearly 61% of the population (4,709 persons) in the designated LMI areas of the City are considered to be LMI. The total population (not living in group quarters) of the LMI areas in Myrtle Beach

is 7,771. Within the greater MBHA Service Area, tract 301 is also a designated LMI area, with 51.8% of its population considered to be LMI.

Table 3-15. Areas of Low and Moderate Income by Census Block Group and Tract, 2000

City of Myrtle Beach

Census

Tract Group Block Population LMI

Population not in Group

Quarters % Persons LMI

506 Entire Tract 2,215 3,584 61.8% 507 Entire Tract 837 1,405 59.6% 508 1 316 511 61.8% 509 1 61 81 75.3% 509 3 969 1607 60.3% 509 4 311 583 53.3%

Total all LMI Areas 4,709 7,771 60.6%

S

LMI areas are delineated in Map 3-7, with LMI block groups and tracts that are within the City of Myrtle Beach highlighted. LMI areas encompass most of the southern half of the City and include Census tracts 506, 507, and block groups 505001, 509001, 509003 and 509004. LMI areas are also shown in more detail in Appendix D.

Map 3-7. Areas of Low and Moderate Income by Census Block Group and Tract, 2000

City of Myrtle Beach

S

2. Unemployment

Horry County has 110,408 residents in the civilian labor force (2003 average), ranking 6th _in labor force size statewide. More than 20% of the labor force is employed in arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodations and food service; 15.7% in retail trade; 14.2% in education, health and social services; and 11.4% in construction.

The County consistently maintains one of the lowest unemployment rates in the State. The current (2003) annualized unemployment rate of 5.1% ranks 9th _{lowest statewide and is} substantially lower than both the State and the nation. Early figures for 2004 indicated a further drop in unemployment for Horry County to 4.9% – much lower than the State at 6.5% and the nation at 5.5%. Figure 3-1 depicts unemployment trends from 1998 to 2004 in

US

1

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17

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Myrtle Beach

MBHA Service Area

At

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MBHA Service Area LMI Tracts and Blocks Myrtle Beach

Horry County. Unemployment rose substantially from 3.6% in 2000 to 4.7% in 2001, dropped slightly in 2002 to 4.5%, then peaked in 2003 at 5.1%.

The City of Myrtle Beach had 13,183 residents in the civilian labor force in 2000, representing 69.2% of persons age 16 and older. More than 4.4% of the labor force was unemployed in 2000.

However, the relatively low average unemployment rate masks a vulnerable economy that is heavily dependent on tourism and seasonal activity. The area’s heavy dependence on tourism and retail sector employment translates into lower wage job opportunities that rely on fluctuating demand and are susceptible to economic downtowns. Many of these jobs are part-time or temporary and lack key benefits such as health insurance.

Figure 3-1. Horry County Unemployment Rates, 1998-2004*

3.8% 3.9% 3.6% 4.7% 4.5% 5.1% 4.9% 0.0% 1.0% 2.0% 3.0% 4.0% 5.0% 6.0% 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Year U n e m pl o y m e nt R a te

* Unemployment rate for 2004 is estimated pending completion of data analysis.

Source: South Carolina Employment Security Commission, 2005.

3. Major Employers and Employment Centers

The Grand Strand, anchored by Myrtle Beach, is a major tourist destination. Recent accolades from such noted travel resources as The Travel Channel, AAA, and Southern

Living rank Myrtle Beach as one of the best beaches and most frequently visited vacation

destinations in America. In 2003, domestic expenditures in Horry County exceeded $2 million and employee compensation and proprietors income directly related to tourism exceeded $1 billion. Data from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism indicates that 27,000 jobs (approximately one-fourth of the County workforce) were directly related to tourism in 2002.

As the hub of the 13th _{fastest growing Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the country,} Myrtle Beach is attractive to many sectors of the economy, not just those that are directly related to tourism. Forbes magazine rated the City 29th _{among the Top 200 Metro Areas for}

Business and Careers – ahead of Charleston (47th_{), Columbia (96}th_{), and the}

Greenville/Anderson/Spartanburg corridor (106th_).

The County’s largest employment sectors are: wholesale/retail comprising nearly 36% of earnings, the service sector at 29.4%, and State and local government at 10.9%. As shown in Table 3-16, while the retail trade sector provides the largest number of jobs and has the largest payroll within the County, the accommodations and food service sector follows closely and has a substantial impact on the local economy in both categories.

Table 3-16. Horry County Economic Sector Data, 1997

Sector Number of Establishments Number of Paid Employees Annual Payroll ($1000) Sales, receipts or shipments ($1000) Manufacturing 160 6,687 $173,408 $927,797 Wholesale trade 230 1,824 $49,515 $481,540 Retail trade 1,522 14,457 $230,737 $2,505,210 Real estate & rental & leasing 360 3,026 $59,655 $259,636 Professional, scientific, &

technical services 400 1,766 $53,822 $135,532 Administrative/support/waste

management/ remediation

services 283 3,274 $58,644 $137,434

Educational services 20 137 $2,324 $6,656

Health care & social assistance 326 4,036 $117,786 $295,870 Arts, entertainment, & recreation 212 4,628 $66,196 $268,422 Accommodation & foodservices 1,044 20,246 $228,524 $881,722 Other services (except public

administration) 336 1,477 $25,508 $91,496

Source: 1997 Economic Census, Summary Statistics for Horry County, SC.

In an effort to develop a county-wide strategy for attracting new business and industry throughout Horry County and its municipalities, Partners Economic Development

Corporation was formed in 1994 as a public/private partnership. Representatives include

businesses, chambers of commerce, higher education institutions, and utility providers. Now in its 11th _{year of supporting the County’s economic growth, Partners and its affiliated} organizations have facilitated more than $700 million dollars in investments in the County and helped bring 8,000 new jobs to the area.

Horry County is a member of the North Eastern Strategic Alliance (NESA) – a nonprofit organization organized for the purpose of promoting the joint development of the 10-county region of northeastern South Carolina through coordinated and planned sharing of

resources to address common needs. The alliance fosters public and private partnerships to coordinate resources from Chesterfield, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg Counties. NESA addresses vital issues that impact the current economy and the future growth of the region, such as education, labor, tourism, infrastructure and economic development. Specific areas of focus for the Alliance include economic development, infrastructure, improved educational opportunities, and labor force preparedness. A current issue that NESA is involved in of significant importance for Myrtle Beach is the proposed location and construction of Interstates 73 and 74, which will provide interstate access to the Grand Strand. NESA is also working on another critical issue for the Myrtle Beach area – the planning for and location of a new regional airport that will significantly lessen aircraft noise in the beach resort area and open new opportunities for economic development by providing local access to commercial carriers currently serving the Florence, Myrtle Beach and Wilmington airports.

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (through information provided by PARTNERS Development Corp.) lists the 4 largest manufacturing sector employers in Horry County as AVX Corporation with facilities in Myrtle Beach and Conway (1,380 employees), Conbraco Industries, Inc. in Conway (410 employees), CHF Industries, Inc. in Loris (187 employees), Wolverine Brass in Conway (175 employees), and New South in Conway and Myrtle Beach (159 employees). Major employers in Horry County are listed in Table 3-17.

Table 3-17. Major Employers in Horry County, 2004

Number Employer # Employees

1 Horry County School District 4,000 2 Burroughs & Chapin Company 2,214

3 Wal-Mart 1,792

4 Horry County Government 1,470

5 AVX 1,380

6 Conway Hospital 1,000

7 Grand Strand Regional Hospital 1,000

8 Myrtle Beach National 960

9 Blue Cross/Blue Shield 900

10 Verizon 891

11 Loris Health Care System 856

12 Sands Oceanfront Resorts 825

13 City of Myrtle Beach 766

14 HTC Communications 650

15 Coastal Carolina University 638

16 Santee Cooper Electric 530

17 Ocean Lakes Family Campground 420 18 Conbraco Industries, Inc. 410

19 Kingston Plantation 350

20 Sun Publishing 255

Map 3-8 depicts the location of the County’s major employers as listed and numbered in Table 3-15 above. The largest employer in the County is the Horry County School District, with 45 schools located throughout Horry County. The District is South Carolina’s third largest school district with a PK-12 enrollment of more than 31,000 students. The District operates 24 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, and 9 high schools and had more than 4,100 full time staff members as of February, 2005. As shown on Map 3-8, 9 of the County’s major employers are located or have locations within the City of Myrtle Beach and 16 are located within the MBHA Service Area, with all but one of the remaining major employers – Loris Health Care – located adjacent to the MBHA Service Area.

Map 3-8. Location of Major Employers in the Myrtle Beach Area*

* Names of major employers are listed by number in Table 3-15.

Legend

Municipalities

Outside of AI Study Area AI Study Area

Conway

Myrtle

Beach

North

Myrtle

Beach

MBHA

Service Area

As provided in Table 3-18, sales and office occupations, management and professional occupations, and service occupations employ the largest percentages of persons aged 16 and older in the City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County. By comparison, occupations with the largest percentages of employees statewide are management and professional, sales and office, and production, transportation and material moving. While manufacturing and

transportation occupations employ 19% of persons statewide, only 6.7% of persons in the City and 10.1% of persons countywide are employed in those occupations. Nearly 24% of employees in Myrtle Beach and 20.1% of employees in Horry County are in service occupations – significantly higher than statewide at only 14.7%.

Table 3-18. Occupation for Employed Civilians 16 years and older, 2000 City of Myrtle Beach, Horry County and South Carolina

Occupation Myrtle Beach Horry County South Carolina All Employees 16+ Years 12,608 100.0% 97,577 100.0% 1,824,700 100.0.% Management, Professional, and

Related Occupations 3,364 26.7% 25,558 26.2% 530,117 29.1%

Service 3,014 23.9% 19,589 20.1% 268,661 14.7%

Sales and Office 3,886 30.8% 29,113 29.8% 459,724 25.2%

Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 7 0.1% 523 0.5% 10,679 0.6%

Construction, Extraction, and

Maintenance 1,487 11.8% 12,927 13.2% 209,048 11.5%

Production, Transportation, and

Material Moving 850 6.7% 9,867 10.1% 346,471 19.0%

Source: US Census, 2000.

The average weekly wage for persons employed in the service sector in South Carolina was $523 in 2001 – low when compared to the average wage for persons employed in all industries at $562 and much lower than the average wage for manufacturing employees at $692. The higher percentage of persons in lower paying jobs in the Myrtle Beach area is of particular concern when considered in light of overall wages in South Carolina, which are the lowest in the Southeast (May 2001 Employment and Earnings, US Department of

Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics). Table 3-19 provides average weekly wage information

Table 3-19. South Carolina Average Monthly Employment, Total Annual Payroll and Average Weekly Wage by Sector, 2001

Sector

Average Monthly

Employment Total Annual Payroll

Average Weekly Wage All Industries 1,788,845 $52,280,618,922 $562 Construction 109,358 $3,369,159,945 $592 Manufacturing 326,608 $11,752,821,102 $692 Transportation, Communication, Public Utilities 93,396 $3,710,173,210 $764 Wholesale Trade 75,341 $2,920,101,501 $745 Retail Trade 354,541 $5,973,315,088 $324

Finance, Insurance, Real Estate 81,262 $3,033,157,077 $718

Services 410,494 $11,171,679,393 $523

Federal Government 28,676 $1,234,106,867 $828

State Government 90,650 $2,964,073,440 $629

Local Government 190,454 $5,533,149,871 $559

Source: SC Office of Research and Statistics, SC Statistical Abstract 2004, 2005.

Another key concern is underemployment. According to the SC Department of Commerce, approximately 29.5% of the State’s labor force (550,000 persons) are considered to be underemployed. These workers, whose individual earnings are $12,000 or less, tend to have more skills than their jobs require. It is likely that in the service driven economy of the Myrtle Beach area there are many members of the workforce who are underemployed. 5. Occupational Outlook

As described earlier, the Myrtle Beach area was recently rated among the Top 200 Metro

Areas for Business and Careers by Forbes magazine – well ahead of Charleston,Columbia,

and the Greenville/Anderson/Spartanburg area. However, the occupational projections for the region continue to reflect the dominant tourism, service, and retail economy. Out of the 12 jobs listed in Table 3-20 as having the most growth potential locally, at least 6 are linked to tourism and retail, while 3 are related to education and social services and 2 reflect growing health care needs. Educational requirements for these jobs range from on-the-job training to a Bachelors degree.

Table 3-20. Occupational Demand for the Waccamaw Region – Top 12 Jobs Occupation Openings Annual Wage Range Average Education Level Minimum

Top Executives 162 $20.23-$48.01 Experience/degree

Marketing/Sales 134 $10.55-$16.21 Related experience

Restaurant Cooks 127 $7.96-$9.91 On the job training Registered Nurses 83 $16.53-$23.26 Associate degree Food/Lodging Managers 76 $9.86-$15.36 Related experience Teachers, Secondary 75 $37,370/year Bachelors degree Counter/Retail Clerks 74 $6.46-$10.80 On the job training Office Managers 64 $10.99-$19.24 Related experience Child Care Workers 63 $6.11-$8.01 On the job training

Guards 60 $6.98-$8.43 On the job training

Nursing Aides 46 $6.33-$8.78 Certificate/OJT

Social Workers 29 $11.36-$15.84 Bachelors degree Source: Waccamaw Workforce Investment Area, SC Employment Security Commission, 2005.

Tourism and related employment will continue to grow as the region grows in popularity as a year-round destination for tourists, golfers and retirees. For instance, statewide 10-year growth projections for Food Preparation and Service workers exceed 33%, Restaurant Cooks surpass 22%, and Hotel, Motel and Resort Clerks approach 31%. The employment growth for Security Guards is more than 41%.

Employment in the health care sector will continue to offer economic opportunity for Myrtle Beach area residents as the growth in local health care systems, coupled with continued population growth and a steady influx of retirees into the region, will fuel a high demand for nursing and allied health professionals. South Carolina’s per capita growth in health services jobs is double the national rate, with employment in the State’s health service sector rising by 71% over the last decade. Statewide projections indicate a 30% increase in jobs for Registered Nurses, a 29% increase for Emergency Medical Technicians, 48% growth in Medical Assistant positions, and a 36% rise in jobs for Dental Hygienists. Local access to advanced education and training in higher demand occupations such as nursing and allied health will open new opportunity for a significant number of County residents, while alleviating the regional shortage of qualified health care workers.

Teachers and child care workers will also be in high demand in the area, as the Horry County School District enrollment has increased by more than 8,000 students over the last decade and is projected to grow by another 5,000 students over the next 4 years. The District is the State’ third largest with more than 30,000 students in 2004-2005. On the heels of a recently completed capital expansion program, the School District has plans to launch another building program that includes 6 new schools and renovations at 20 others in the County. The expansion effort is impacting the Myrtle Beach area with the construction of new schools and renovations to existing schools to accommodate enrollment growth. Opportunities for educators will grow in the County, with statewide employment projections for Secondary Teachers at 40%, Kindergarten Teachers at 34%, Elementary Teachers at 34%, Preschool Teachers at 40%, Middle School Teachers at 29%, Counselors at 37%, and Child Care Workers at 29%.

Construction trades will also continue to grow in the region, as housing and commercial construction consistently outpace State averages by nearly double. State occupational projections indicate a 21% to 32% increase in demand for construction trade labor over the next 10 years. This will be even higher in the Grand Strand since regional demand for new construction and infrastructure development will continue to rise, based on projections that the region will lead the State in overall percentage increases in population and employment growth from 2000 to 2015.

D. Transportation

The lack of accessible and reliable transportation is a major barrier that disproportionately impacts low-income residents and special populations. Greater demands are placed on transportation services as area residents move from government assistance programs to the workplace, with the creation of employment and job training resources being of little help to those residents who can not access them. Approximately 6.5% of Horry County households and 9.3% of City of Myrtle Beach households lack access to a personal vehicle. The lack of reliable transportation can greatly impede individual efforts to seek and retain employment, access critical health care, obtain support services, and pursue advanced education and training opportunities. Such transportation access includes a broad, multi-modal network of transit options that include reliable and responsive public transit systems and safe and interconnected pedestrian and bicycle pathways.

1. Public Transit

Affordable and reliable transportation is a necessity for all residents. However, the lower incomes and limited access of special needs populations makes the availability of affordable and reliable transit a greater necessity to maintain employment, receive support services, and access health care and other needed programs.

Coastal Rapid Public Transit Authority (CRPTA) was founded in May of 1983 with the goal of providing transportation for residents of and visitors to Horry and Georgetown Counties. CRPTA became Waccamaw Regional Transportation Authority in 1997 and is now known as Lymo. More than 823,000 persons use Lymo services annually. Lymo vehicles travel more than 2,170,000 miles each year. LYMO transit routes are shown in Map 3-9.

Lymo Services

ƒ Fixed route bus service seven days a week, 365 days a year

ƒ Myrtle Beach Neighborhood Lymo circulator

ƒ Myrtle Beach International Airport Shuttle

ƒ Van pool commuter services

ƒ Door-to-door Paratransit Lymo service for physically-challenged customers

ƒ Numerous community service shuttles

ƒ Ocean Boulevard Lymo circulator

ƒ Dash About for Seniors door-to-door service

ƒ Key Attractions Lymo

The Fixed Route System operates more than 50 vehicles ranging from air conditioned coaches to vans equipped to accommodate physically disabled passengers. The system travels 22 routes throughout the two-county region including Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Conway, Loris and Aynor. Frequency of service averages once each hour. However, peak frequency on heavily used routes is every 30 minutes. The Lymo buses are maintained and cleaned daily and are wheelchair accessible.

Dash About for Seniors (DAS) is a demand-response service designed to provide transportation for citizens over age 60, the disabled and the general public on a space-available basis. Transportation may be provided for any destination within Lymo’s service delivery area and includes travel to and from Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside, Murrell’s Inlet, Georgetown, Conway, Aynor, Loris and Little River. Clients must register for the program. Services are available seven days a week from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm, excluding holidays and inclement weather. Requests for rides must be made no earlier than 10 days in advance and no later than 48 working hours before the requested time for transportation.

Neighborhood Lymo began service in 2002 and provides transportation on two routes throughout the area from the Booker T. Washington and Pine Lakes neighborhoods to the Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, Plantation Point Plaza, Myrtle Square Mall, Seaboard Commons, Broadway at the Beach and other common destinations.

Fares range from $1.00 for shorter routes to $3.00 for the longest routes, with most fares averaging $1.00. Reduced fare passes are available for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, students and Medicare card holders and are valid on all fixed routes during regular operating hours. Fares for DAS are $12 for a round trip and $6.00 for a one-way trip. Neighborhood Lymo fares are $1.00.

Map 3-9. LYMO Transit Routes

Source: Waccamaw Regional Transportation Authority, 2004.

Co nway Surfside Beach North Myrtle Beach Briarcliffe Acres Atlantic Beach Atla ntic Oce an Georgetown County N or_th C ar oli_na Horry County US 70 1 U_S 5 01 US 701 U S 5 01 US 1 7 US 17 US 378 SC 90 SC 9 SC 54 4 SC 70 7 US 17 SC 905 US 17 US 17 Myrtle Beach

MBHA Service

Area

Outside of Study Area City of Myrtle Beach AI Study Area SC Highways US Highways

Neighboring Municipalities LYMO Transit Routes

2. Commuting Patterns

According to the 2000 Census, 31.4% of Horry County workers and 49% of Myrtle Beach workers traveled less than 15 minutes to work, while only 5.5% of Horry County workers and 3.7% of Myrtle Beach workers traveled an hour or more to work. More than 51% of County workers and 42% of City workers traveled between 15 and 34 minutes to work. Most residents in the area are employed in the local economy, with 90.6% of Horry County workers and 95.2% of Myrtle Beach workers commuting to jobs within the County. Only 6.7% of County workers and 3.7% of City workers travel outside of Horry County.