KEEL Announces Commencement of Fabrication for NOAA’s Pier Romeo Project

Benefiting Local Charities In 2024 Recognized By Myrtle Beach Classic

Chris Gotterup accepted the winner’s trophy at the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic, but he wasn’t the only winner at the area’s first-ever PGA TOUR event.

The tournament drew more than 40,000 spectators during a week of ideal weather that helped showcase the Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

In addition, nine local charities shared $225,000, with seven of those receiving at least $26,750.

The Boys and Girls Club of Myrtle Beach received the most funding, with $50,000 for its afterschool and summer programs.

“The money really made a difference for us,” said Mark Lazarus, co-chair of the program’s board of directors. “We don’t have a steady income stream, so we have to depend on grants. We’ve helped about 170 kids with this money, offering programs from computer learning and basic education skills to recreation.”

“This was a game-changer for us,” said Becky Large, executive director of Champion Autism Network, a program that helps to create judgment-free experiences for people living with autism and one of the six local charities that received $26,750 each.

Large added, “We support more than 900 families in Horry and Georgetown counties who have someone on the autism spectrum. We used these funds to create awareness and serve even more people.”

Other charities receiving the same amount were the Children’s Recovery Center, Classy Smiles, Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach, Project Golf, and SOS Care. Help 4 Kids received $10,000, while Blue Star Mothers of Coastal Carolina received $4,500.

All of the benefitting charities have 501c3 status, meaning they are non-profit, tax-exempt groups with a dedicated mission.

Tournament Director Darren Nelson also announced that the same nine local charities will again be beneficiaries of the tournament in 2025.

“These selected charities are all doing impactful and meaningful work, and we are proud to provide assistance to further promote these programs that are making such a huge difference on the Grand Strand,” said Nelson.

Nelson added, “The PGA TOUR has a time-honored tradition of supporting charities and giving back to each community where events are hosted.”

Tournaments under the PGA TOUR umbrella donate a portion of the net proceeds each year to support local philanthropic organizations, totaling close to $4 billion to date, which is more than all other major sports leagues combined.

The PGA TOUR’S Myrtle Beach Classic will again be played in early May in 2025 with the competition dates set for May 8-11 at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

The Myrtle Beach Classic is sponsored by Visit Myrtle Beach, the region’s official destination management organization, and managed by SPORTFIVE, a global event management company.

The local event will again be one of two stops in the Palmetto State for the PGA TOUR in 2025, joining with the RBC Heritage in April at Harbour Town Golf Links.

SCRA Announces New Member Companies, Grant Funding

NovaVia Spine and Biologics, Tax Titans, and Terratory were accepted as South Carolina Research Authority Member Companies. Dealerverse, Notey, and Querri received new grant funding.

All SCRA Member Companies receive coaching and access to SCRA’s Member Benefits, Startup Resources, can apply for grant funding, and have the potential to be considered for investment from SCRA’s investment affiliate, SC Launch Inc.

Dealerverse Inc. received a $25,000 Project Development Fund Grant.  The Greenville-based information technology startup has designed an AI-powered tech stack that combines creative content, technology, and results into one AI-driven, decision-making tool.

Its goal is to be their customers’ complete, full service for marketing campaigns in one comprehensive place.

Notey Inc. received a $50,000 Acceleration Grant. The Cayce-based information technology startup has built the first-ever AI-enabled, fully gamified music lesson app.

Notey partners with music teachers and students to add excitement to practice sessions and can work with music teachers and schools to integrate existing curricula into the game.

NovaVia Spine and Biologics, LLC has been accepted as an SCRA Member Company.

The Clemson University-based life science startup’s technology solution, the NovaVia Annular Repair System, is a medical device designed for repairing a herniated intervertebral disc.

The system is intended to serve as a mechanical barrier to cover the annulus fibrosus defect, prevent immediate re-herniation of tissue, and promote healing while the patient recovers.

Querri, Inc. received a $50,000 Acceleration Grant. The Mt. Pleasant-based information technology startup has developed a platform that simplifies, analyzes, and moves data by asking questions in natural language.

Querri’s data platform uses the latest advances in AI and large language models to allow anyone to ‘speak data’ and use it to run their business.

Tax Titans Inc. has been accepted as an SCRA Member Company. The Greenville-based information technology startup provides a free platform for small businesses to receive bids and quotes from qualified and vetted tax professionals.

The platform allows tax professionals to market their services to 32 million small businesses across the U.S. and receive 90 percent of their billing without upfront costs or referral fees.

Terratory LLC has been accepted as an SCRA Member Company. The Greenville-based information technology startup’s platform offers intelligent scheduling, routing, and team management for the lawn care industry.

The application simplifies the work the lawn care professionals do each week by creating daily automatically optimized routes and recurring schedules that shift according to the season.

Grant funding is made possible, in part, by SCRA’s tax credit program, the Industry  Partnership Fund, and its contributions that fuel the state’s innovation economy.

Contributors to the IPF receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit.

BMW Plant Spartanburg Anniversary

Thirty years ago on Sunday, Sept. 8, 1994, a white BMW 318i rolled off the line at Plant Spartanburg becoming the first BMW assembled in South Carolina.

Since that day, BMW Manufacturing has assembled more than 6.8 million vehicles for customers around the world. The plant has expanded multiple times, and the team has grown from 600 associates to more than 11,000. 

BMW Group announced on June 23, 1992, that it would build its first full manufacturing facility outside of Germany in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

At that time, the company pledged to invest $600 million, to employ 2,000 associates by the year 2000, and attract at least nine suppliers to the state.

The most productive year in Plant Spartanburg’s history occurred in 2021 when 433,810 vehicles were assembled.

In 2023, workers assembled 410,793 units.

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