Horry County, City of North Myrtle Beach Announce First Amazon Facility

Amazon has entered into an agreement to build a same-day delivery facility in North Myrtle Beach, according to Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development officials and multiple media reports.

Same-day delivery facilities allow Amazon to fulfill, sort, and deliver orders all from one site — making the entire process of delivering customer packages even faster.

The facility, which will be approximately 165,000 square feet, is located within the Palmetto Coast Industrial Park.

Officials said launch plans for the facility are in the early stages, with construction starting earlier this month.

“Same-day delivery facilities are finely curated to the areas and customers they serve, so product selection varies by city. It’s also one of our fastest ways to serve our customers, which improves the overall shopping experience," said Amazon Manager of Economic Development Sam Blatt. 

Blatt added, “We appreciate the support of our great partners, including the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation, Horry County, and the City of North Myrtle Beach, and we look forward to sharing more details about this facility in the future.”

Since 2010, Amazon has created more than 6,500 full- and part-time jobs in South Carolina and invested $6.3 billion across the state, including infrastructure and compensation to Amazon employees.

The investments have contributed an additional $6 billion to the South Carolina economy and have helped create 7,000 indirect jobs on top of Amazon’s direct hires in the state.

Most hourly employees in customer fulfillment and transportation earn between $17 and $28 per hour.

“Amazon has been amazing to work with over the past year, and we look forward to watching them continue to grow,” said Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation President Sandy Davis.

Davis added, “Thank you to our partners at Edgewater Ventures, Horry County and the City of North Myrtle Beach for making it happen."

The MBREDC is a public‐private partnership that works closely with new and existing industries, site selectors, and economic development professionals to promote economic growth in Horry County.

Since January of 2012, the MBREDC has announced over 2,300 new jobs including announcements in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, back-office support, distribution, health-care, and technology-related businesses. 

For more information, go to www.mbredc.org.

SBA Approves Gov. McMaster's Request for Disaster Assistance 

Following Gov. Henry McMaster's March 20 request, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that South Carolina's businesses and residents affected by the Jan. 9 tornadoes are eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans. 

The declaration covers Bamberg County and the adjacent counties of Allendale, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton, and Orangeburg.

To assist businesses and residents affected by the disaster, the SBA was scheduled to open a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Bamberg County at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

Customer service representatives were to be available at the Center to answer questions about the disaster loan program and help individuals complete their applications.

“Businesses and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets,” said SBA’s South Carolina District Director Richard White.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.

EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

Loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.

Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.  

Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes.

Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future damage.

Interest rates are as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3.25 percent for nonprofit organizations, and 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years.

Interest doesn’t begin to accrue, and monthly payments aren’t due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Applicants can apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.

Applicants can also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance.

People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability can dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is May 21, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Dec. 23, 2024.

BJ’s Wholesale Club Continues Expansion, Announcing Five New Clubs in Southeast, Midwest

BJ's Wholesale Club (NYSE: BJ), a leading operator of membership warehouse clubs, announced the five newest clubs coming to its footprint:

* Maryville, Tennessee, in the Knoxville market. This will be BJ’s fourth location in Tennessee.

* Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the company’s second club in South Carolina.

* Palm Coast and West Palm Beach, Florida, the company’s 38th and 39th clubs in Florida.

* Carmel, Indiana, BJ’s second location in Indiana.

Each new BJ’s Wholesale Club location is expected to create approximately 150 jobs and hiring is expected to start soon for the new locations.

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream Announces Jennifer Schuler as New CEO

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, a leading operator and franchisor serving handcrafted ice cream since 1945, announced Jennifer Schuler as its new chief executive officer.

Schuler is a seasoned executive with extensive marketing and franchise experience. She is taking the helm of a nearly 130-store and growing brand with more than 65 franchisees.

Handel’s operates in 13 states, including recent expansion into South Carolina. The brand opened a flagship store in Clemson, South Carolina, earlier this year. 

Prior to Handel’s, Schuler was most recently at Wetzel’s Pretzels, where she spent nine years growing the brand. She first served as chief marketing officer, then as president, and, in the last five years of her tenure, as CEO.

During her time as CEO, Wetzel’s grew its store count from 200 to 350 units and average unit volume grew by 24 percent, just under $1M.

As part of her journey at Wetzel’s, Schuler and her husband also became franchisees in the system, purchasing a franchise in Minneapolis, which gave her first-hand experience running a franchise and understanding what tools and support she needed from the franchisor to be successful.

Schuler’s professional marketing career also includes five years as marketing manager at General Mills. She also served in senior executive roles for a private equity-backed consumer healthcare company and an education technology start-up.

In recent years, Handel’s system sales rose from $29M in 2019 to over $130M expected in 2024. Growth has come through continued success in both existing and new markets.

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