A text message concerning I-73 was sent out by Steve Chapman Island Vista Resort Property Manager and President of Grand Strand Business Alliance yesterday.
The Grand Strand Business Alliance is a Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce key political PAC. In the United States, a political action committee (PAC) is a 527 organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to support political causes.
This text was sent after Chapman learned I-73 funding at the S.C. General Assembly level will not happen in 2022. Multiple State House sources have confirmed there will be no funding for I-73 in 2022.
As we published during a press event between Governor Henry McMaster, Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune, U.S. 7th Congressman Tom Rice, and MBACC C.E.O. Karen Riordan, the entire press conference was a sham.
McMaster promised Federal funding for I-73. There never were federal dollars available, however. The funds necessary for a $300 million connector road were actually state surplus monies. State Senators and Representatives have higher priority spending needs for this surplus.
The email below was sent out to residents Horry County wide.
Chapman states his text is paid for by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
Hi I’m Steve Chapman, a local business owner, parent and longtime Horry County resident. In a few days, I’m sending you a letter explaining the status of the important I-73 project and wanted to be sure you saw it. Check out www.I73.com for more info! Pd for by Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce.
WHY SEND THIS TEXT?
In the upstate, the South Carolina Association of Taxpayers are targeting key upstate leaders, including S.C. Senate President Thomas Alexander, who have expressed any interests in funding the I -73 South Carolina component.
ROAD UNPOPULAR
As MyrtleBeachSC News reported, the Interstate Road is highly unpopular in rural Horry County and Dillon County.
Sources in Columbia state Chapman’s approach is a Hail Mary, last minute effort to somehow breath life back into I-73.