South Carolina Business Leaders Unveil Economic Roadmap, Cite Workforce and Housing Concerns
By Anthony Winn
Fri, October 23, 2026 at 12:47 PM
South Carolina business leaders gathering in Myrtle Beach on Tuesday expressed concerns that the state’s rapid growth cannot be sustained without addressing critical issues in roads, housing, and workforce development. (CREDITS: ANTHONY WINN/ WPDE)
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topics:
- South Carolina
- Myrtle Beach
- Economic roadmap
- Workforce development
- Infrastructure
- Housing
- Blueprint 2036
- South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce
MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WPDE) —
South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce presented Blueprint 2036, a new 10-year economic roadmap, during a gathering in Myrtle Beach on Tuesday. The plan identifies five key areas of focus: business climate, workforce development, infrastructure, rural opportunities, and innovation.
Matt Pivarnick, CEO of the Greater Myrtle Beach Collaborative, highlighted the plan’s emphasis on expanding economic opportunities while tackling obstacles to growth.
"The fact that they're talking about diversifying the economy in the state, creating more high-knowledge, high-wage jobs in the state, but also leaning into some of the things that are an impediment to that," Pivarnick noted.
Local business leaders expressed concerns about traffic congestion and other infrastructure issues as major challenges for the Grand Strand’s economic future. Will Frierson, vice president of government affairs for South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce, confirmed these concerns:
"The most common response here, I'd say two-fold. One, infrastructure challenges, their traffic congestion being a number one issue. So, you know, looking at different ways to mitigate those."
The roadmap calls for long-term, recurring investments in roads, bridges, and water and sewer systems to address infrastructure needs. Frierson emphasized the need for sustainable funding:
"We've seen significant dollars poured into those in the past ten years. But that doesn't make up for decades of underinvestment."
Another critical aspect of the plan addresses workforce participation and preparation for available jobs, including barriers such as childcare, affordable housing, and transportation.
"In this community, childcare remains a significant problem. Things like lack of affordable housing and transportation are all barriers to workforce participation," Frierson said.
South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce aims to incorporate feedback from communities like Myrtle Beach into its legislative agenda and advocacy priorities for the upcoming session. The goal is to translate local concerns into policy recommendations to attract businesses, create higher-paying jobs, and keep up with growing communities.