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MBRDC reports jump in site‑selection leads, eyes VisionSC headset program and industrial land options
Summary
Myrtle Beach Regional Development Council reported 75 active leads in 2025 versus 26 at the same time in 2024, highlighted spec buildings available for recruitment, and described a potential VisionSC virtual‑site program that would require headsets and signup costs; staff also outlined trade show and site‑selector outreach plans.
Sandy Davis, presenting for the Myrtle Beach Regional Development Council, told council members that the region has seen a notable increase in business recruitment activity in 2025. “We had 26 new leads this time last year in 2024. And as of right now, we are at 75 leads as of today,” Davis said, attributing growth in part to staffing increases and available product such as spec buildings.
Davis described three spec buildings staff are promoting: a facility at Ascot Valley of about 100,000 square feet expandable to about 153,000 square feet; a Palmetto Coast Industrial Park property (previously used for Amazon and Pepsi) owned by a private developer; and a new multi‑tenant building with 178,000 square feet that currently has interest from seven prospective companies.
Davis also described a virtual site‑selection tool from the South Carolina Department of Commerce called VisionSC that uses headsets to allow site selectors to “explore the areas we think they would be a good fit for.” She said headsets cost about $4,000 each and a program signup runs about $15,000; Department of Commerce grants may be available to offset costs.
On outreach, Davis said staff will attend Fabtech in Chicago, a Toronto marketing mission, shows in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show (to promote Bucksville Marine Park), and a November site‑selector mission. She credited two staff hires (one in October, one in November last year) with expanding marketing capacity and said MBRDC had visited more than 140 existing industries in Horry County in 2025 to offer free assistance on workforce and expansion issues.
Why it matters: increased leads and the availability of product could translate into new investments and jobs if negotiations and site visits convert leads to projects. The council heard the presentation and did not object; the commission will return with updates as negotiations proceed.
Quoted speakers in this article are Sandy Davis and the chair where relevant.
