Myrtle Beach Selected to Host Two NCAA Competitions, Boosting Local Economy

(PICTURED: The 2024 NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Track & Field Championships at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium in Myrtle Beach. The three-day event will return in 2028. Credit: Visit Myrtle Beach)

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (MBACC) and Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) announced the NCAA has selected Myrtle Beach for the 2027 Division I Men’s Golf Regionals and the 2028 Division III Men’s & Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Coastal Carolina University (CCU) will serve as the host institution for both events.

The Division I Men’s Golf Regionals will take place May 17-19, 2027, at TPC Myrtle Beach in Murrells Inlet, featuring 75 of the nation’s top collegiate golfers as they compete for a spot in the NCAA Championships.

Officials said the event returns to Myrtle Beach after its successful 2019 edition, further cementing the area’s reputation as the “Golf Capital of the World.”

From May 25-27, 2028, Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium in Myrtle Beach will host the Division III Men’s and Women’s Track & Field Championships, marking the second time Myrtle Beach has hosted the event.

This past May, the 2024 championships generated $4 million in local economic impact and welcomed 1,200 participants and coaches, including 847 athletes.

“We’re honored by the NCAA’s decision to hold two major collegiate sporting events here and are especially grateful to our community partners like CCU, City of Myrtle Beach, Golf Tourism Solutions and the Founders Group International,” said Jonathan Paris, executive director of Sports Tourism at Visit Myrtle Beach.

Paris added, “Following the success of the 2019 golf regionals and the 2024 track and field championships, we’re excited to continue showcasing our facilities and driving economic benefits to the region.”

“We are thrilled that the NCAA has chosen Myrtle Beach for these prestigious events,” said City of Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune. “Hosting both the 2027 Men’s Golf Regionals and the 2028 Division III Track & Field Championships is a tremendous honor and further solidifies our city’s reputation as a premier destination for collegiate sports."

Bethune added, "We look forward to welcoming the athletes, their families and fans to Myrtle Beach, where they will not only experience top-tier competition but also enjoy all the wonderful things our community has to offer.”

In the coming months, the Grand Strand will host additional sporting events, including the Myrtle Beach Invitational basketball tournament (Nov. 21-22 & 24), the Myrtle Beach Bowl football game (Dec. 23), and the ACL Collegiate Cornhole Championships (Jan. 2-5, 2025).

Officials said that, collectively, these competitions are projected to generate over $5 million dollars in local impact, while also showcasing Myrtle Beach to national audiences through ESPN’s family of networks and other broadcast platforms.

BoldAge PACE Opens New Program in North Charleston, S.C., Offering Comprehensive Care for Seniors

 BoldAge PACE  - a program of all-inclusive care for the elderly - announced the opening of its newest center in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Officials said this new location marks a significant step in the organization’s mission to provide comprehensive, personalized care for seniors in the community, allowing them to live independently at home while receiving medical and supportive services.

BoldAge designs its PACE programs to deliver holistic care through an integrated team of health professionals, ensuring that participants receive the medical, social and emotional support they need.

The North Charleston site will serve a growing senior population, providing access to primary care, physical therapy, home care, nutrition services and social activities – all under one roof.

The custom-designed center is located at 2801 Ashley Phosphate Road, and BoldAge will provide transportation services to the building for participants.

Leading the new site in North Charleston is Rob Williams, Sr., who brings extensive experience in senior care management and community outreach.

"This program offers life-changing services, and we look forward to partnering with local families to ensure that our seniors receive the care and support they deserve,” Williams said.

Enrollees must be 55 or older, live in the service area, and be certified by the state as eligible for nursing home care. 

BoldAge is a privately owned and operated company. The organization provides care to over 400 individuals at six licensed PACE centers across New Jersey, South Carolina, California, Indiana and Kentucky.

It has plans to open 10 more centers by 2026.

Belk Announces New Board of Directors, Further Positioning Company for Long-Term Growth, Success

Belk, Inc., a department store with nearly 300 stores across the Southeastern United States, announced its new board of directors, led by Chairman Steve Sadove.

Officials said the new appointees, in addition to Sadove, Joel Bines, Bob Hull, and Jon Zinman, will join Don Hendricks, Belk’s chief executive officer, in reinforcing Belk’s momentum as it focuses on deepening national brand partnerships, creating a more personalized shopping experience, and further increasing customer engagement.

In a statement, Hendricks said the announcement "demonstrates the strength of Belk’s vision and brand. After successfully completing a landmark transaction that positions our business for long-term growth earlier this summer, adding the breadth of retail knowledge and business-acumen of our Board will help enable Belk to reach new heights."

Hendricks added, "I look forward to serving alongside these accomplished professionals.”

Joining Hendricks on the board are:

Steve Sadove (Chairman): Sadove was chairman and chief executive officer of Saks Incorporated from 2007 to 2013. Prior to joining Saks, Sadove held senior positions at companies including General Foods (now Kraft Heinz) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company as president of Clairol. Sadove serves on the boards of Aramark, Movado, and Park Hotels, and is a founding partner of JW Levin Management Partners, a private equity firm. He is also an advisor to Mastercard and the former chair of the National Retail Federation.

Joel Bines: Bines is a retail expert with over 30 years of experience, and a bestselling author. He currently serves as managing partner of Spruce Advisory, a boutique advisory firm serving ambitious investors and executives.

Prior to founding Spruce Advisory, Bines led the Global Retail Practice at AlixPartners, where he worked with a wide range of retailers, brands, and consumer businesses, including multiple domestic and international department stores. He currently serves on the boards of Dormify, Grocery Holdings, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation and is a trustee of TITAS/Dance Unbound.

Bob Hull: Hull is the founder and CEO of Integrity Strategic Solutions, an advisory services firm working with private equity and early-stage firms. He currently serves as the executive chairman of the board of Tailored Brands as well as board director, non-executive chairman for Party City, and board director and Audit Committee chair for Mattress Firm.

Hull formerly held leadership positions at Shoe Show, Inc. and Food Lion, and spent nearly two decades at Lowe’s Companies, including 14 years as CFO. He has previously served on a number of boards and is an active advisor in the nonprofit sector.

Jon Zinman: Zinman is the managing member of JZ Advisors LLC, a firm that invests in and provides strategic advice for businesses and investors across a diverse set of industries.

Throughout his more than 17 years of industry experience, he has worked as an investment analyst specializing in event-driven, process-intensive and post-reorganization situations; a board member for growing companies emerging from various forms of distress; and as a restructuring lawyer.

Prior to founding JZA, Zinman was a managing director at Silver Point Capital, a managing director at Solus Alternative Asset Management, and as an attorney at Kirkland & Ellis. Zinman currently serves on the board of directors of Mallinckrodt PLC and Tradesmen International.

Charlotte-based Belk, Inc., a privately-owned department store, opened its first store in 1888.

Today, Belk serves customers at nearly 300 Belk stores in 16 Southeastern states, at belk.com and through the mobile app.

Government Provides More Than $20 Million to Hurricane Helene Survivors

As search and rescue, power restoration and communication capabilities remain top priorities throughout the Southeast, FEMA has helped thousands of Hurricane Helene survivors jumpstart their recoveries with more than $20 million in flexible, upfront funding.  

More than 5,000 personnel from across the federal workforce are deployed, including more than 1,500 from FEMA.

To date, FEMA has shipped over 9.3 million meals, more than 11.2 million liters of water, 150 generators and more than 260,000 tarps to the region. 

President Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for portions of Tennessee and areas in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

The President announced an increase in federal cost share for each state to help state, tribal and local governments and non-profit organizations cover the cost of recovery.

Officials said disaster survivors in declared areas can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA. 

The officials said people with damage to their homes or personal property who live in the designated counties should apply for assistance, which may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies.

Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay.  

There are three ways apply for FEMA assistance:  

Calling FEMA’s Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.  

Online by visiting disasterassistance.gov. 

Downloading and applying on the FEMA App. 

Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for Hurricane Helene.   

Voluntary organizations are also providing personnel and resources to the hardest hit areas.

The American Red Cross has more than 850 trained disaster workers providing comfort and operating shelters. Additionally, they are helping find loved ones through their helpline 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by visiting the Red Cross Hurricane Helene Reunification page, where you can enter pertinent information about the person you’re looking for.

If someone is missing a child related to this disaster or any other incident, they need to call 9-1-1 and then 1-800-THE-LOST to receive assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

People can receive free services like cutting fallen trees, tarping roofs and mold mitigation with the help of Crisis Cleanup by calling 844-965-1386.

The hotline is open through Oct. 11 and can connect people with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups and the faith-based community who may be able to assist.  

One of FEMA’s tools for emergency communications is Starlink, a mobile unit that allows customers high-speed internet by connecting to satellites.

FEMA has successfully deployed Starlink in previous disasters including Guam, Hawaii and Alaska.

Because the unit is portable and weighs less than 15 pounds, FEMA can deliver it to the areas that need it most, bringing connectivity to over 100 users.

Over 60 Starlink units have been sent to multiple states in support of Hurricane Helene response efforts.

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are on the ground in neighborhoods across the affected counties helping survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.  

In South Carolina, FEMA has received over 88,000 applications and distributed more than $4.4 million to survivors.  

The American Red Cross is engaging in targeted distribution of emergency supplies in low-income communities with high levels of minor or affected residential damage. 

Team Rubicon is continuing to route clearance operations in Spartanburg County and continues planning for clearing other areas.

The state has established a Mass Feeding Task Force to include multiple voluntary agencies.

Three Salvation Army mobile feeding units are in hard hit areas. FEMA is supporting the state’s feeding mission with Meals Ready to Eat and drinking water.  

Information for residents:  

Residents with questions on Hurricane Helene can call the state’s toll-free hotline, open 24 hours a day, at 1-866-246-0133. 

Residents who are dependent on medical equipment at home and who are without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. Call the state’s Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for more information. 

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