Grand Strand Palmetto Pulse September

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

CCU Faculty Members Receive Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards to Teach Abroad

Two Coastal Carolina University faculty members have received Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards for the 2026-'27 academic year to teach abroad. Fulbright provides opportunities for exceptional Americans and participants from 160 countries and locations to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. Anna Oldfield, Ph.D., professor in the Department of English, will teach American literature in the Kyrgyz Republic. Darlene Booth-Bell, Ph.D., associate professor of accounting, will travel to Cape Town, South Africa, to collaborate with the University of Cape Town’s Development Policy Research Unit.

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Ty J. Young Wealth Management Acquires Moore Insurance Services

 Ty J. Young Wealth Management, a leading financial services firm, has announced the acquisition of Moore Insurance Services. With Moore Insurance Services' CEO, David Moore, stepping into retirement, the partnership represents the next chapter for its clients, who will now gain access to Ty J. Young Wealth Management's comprehensive suite of retirement solutions while continuing to receive the personalized service they have come to trust. Ty J. Young Wealth Management has continued to pursue strategic acquisitions as part of its national growth strategy, having completed 44 acquisitions.

HEALTH CARE

Shield of South Carolina's Decision to Cover TMS for OCD and Accelerated TMS for Depression

Radial, a national clinic network delivering advanced brain medicine treatments for mental health conditions, celebrated the news that Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina has approved coverage for two significant advances in treatment for depression and OCD: 1.) TMS for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and 2.) BrainsWay's SWIFT accelerated Deep TMS protocol for major depressive disorder. Both protocols are offered through Radial's network, including three South Carolina locations in Myrtle Beach, Conway, and Spartanburg.

NONPROFIT & PHILANTHROPY
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers Give Back to South Carolina Community

Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers' programs reach families across Greenville, Myrtle Beach, and the rest of the region through a growing network of local nonprofits, media partners, and community organizations. These partnerships allow the firm to direct resources throughout South Carolina, partnerships such as: Holly Hill Youth Sports, St. Matthews Library, Conway Center, Serve and Connect Orangeburg, The Corey Mitchell Foundation, Red Bank (Lexington 1), Palmetto Project, WIS News 10, and WACH Fox.

ART & CULTURE

Brookgreen Gardens Celebrates the 2026 Brookgreen Medal: The Oconee Bell by Adam Matano

Brookgreen Gardens celebrated the 2026 Brookgreen Medal, The Oconee Bell by Adam Matano on June 6. More than 250 members gathered at the Leonard Pavilion for the event, which featured sculptor Adam Matano. Now in its 54th year, the Brookgreen Gardens Medal Series was established in 1972 by sculptor and former chairman of Brookgreen’s board of trustees, Paul Jennewein. The medal is presented to members of Brookgreen’s President’s Council, Chairman’s Council, Huntington Society, and Atalaya Council, which together include more than 2,500 membership households.

SPOTLIGHT

CCU Professor Earns Pulitzer Center Grant for Waties Island Project, Expanding Civic Dialogue

Justin Vaughn, Ph.D., professor of political science and director of the Center for Applied Civic Leadership (CACL) at Coastal Carolina University, in partnership with the HTC Honors College, the Gupta College of Science and Engineering, and the Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies, has been awarded a 2026 U.S. Civil Society Microgrant from the Pulitzer Center. The grant will support a project titled Civic Leadership, Informed Dialogue, and Coastal Climate Challenges, with funds directed toward costs associated with utilizing the Coastal Explorer vessel for two half-day trips around Waties Island, as well as transportation for two cohorts of participants to and from the marina. The CACL will provide additional funding for meals and related expenses.

CIVIC BUILD-OUT

New Recycling and Convenience Center Opening This Fall

Construction is moving right along on Horry County's newest Recycling & Convenience Center. Located on Highway 90 near Long Bay Road and Water Tower Road, the new facility is expected to open in October. It will improve access to recycling and convenience center services for residents in the Wampee and Longs communities. The new site will become Horry County's 26th Recycling & Convenience Center and is being funded through impact fees.

SPOTLIGHT

Rural Civic Center project enters technical design phase

Plans continue to take shape for the Rural Civic Center, a multi-use venue in Horry County expected to bring new opportunities for entertainment, community gatherings, tourism, and emergency preparedness for years to come. When completed, the Rural Civic Center's indoor arena will provide space for concerts, rodeos, livestock shows, conventions, expos, community celebrations, and many other special events. The midway area is set to offer room for fairs, festivals, farmers markets, craft fairs, and family-friendly entertainment. Current plans also include a National Guard Readiness Center and a vehicle marshalling area to support emergency management operations. The center's planned location is near Highway 501 and SC-22 in the Conway area, on Hardwick Road.

ENTREPRENEURIAL EXCELLENCE

From Classroom to Boardroom: Meet the 2026 Minority Business Accelerator Grant Winners

The Minority Business Accelerator program was created through a partnership between Georgetown County Economic Development and the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce back in 2021 and is now run and funded by the Chamber. The free five-month program is open to women, minorities and veterans looking to start or grow a business. This year's class graduated 15 entrepreneurs, bringing the total number of graduates to 82 since the program launched. At the program's Pitch Night in May, three participants were awarded business development grants: Imani Atkins of Golden Rè Cocktails, Holland Carley of Carolina Strand Underwriters Insurance, and Veronica Black, representing her daughter, 9-year-old Zamirah Black of Mimi's Lemonade Boba.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Myrtle Beach Named to LinkedIn's 2026 Cities on the Rise List

Myrtle Beach continues to earn national recognition, this time being named one of LinkedIn's 2026 Cities on the Rise, a list highlighting the nation's fastest-growing metropolitan areas for jobs and career growth. The ranking identifies 25 emerging U.S. metros where hiring is accelerating, employers are expanding and professionals are choosing to build their careers based on LinkedIn's proprietary workforce data, tracking trends in hiring, job postings, and talent migration to identify communities with growing economic momentum. Myrtle Beach ranked No. 16 of 25 alongside communities such as Charleston, Charlotte, and Fort Wayne, Indiana.

VETERAN REMEMBRANCE

Pinnacle Bank donates $50,000 Myrtle Beach's Vietnam Veterans' Memorial

Officials with the City of Myrtle Beach extended a heartfelt "thank you" to Pinnacle Bank for its generous $50,000 donation to the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. During a City Council meeting, Pinnacle Bank representatives Tommy Chapin and Aaron McKnight presented the donation, which will help pay for the memorial's three life-sized bronze soldier statues. The statues are expected to be completed and installed at Warbird Park on 150 Farrow Parkway in time for Veterans Day this year, helping to honor the men and women who served our country. 

Ribbon-Cuttings Across the Grand Strand

• Melton Wates LLC

  • Melton Wates LLC is a family-owned law firm, practicing primarily in Real Estate and HOA law.

• People Over Profit Lloyd Foundation, Inc.

  • Dedicated to empowering underserved individuals and families through mentorship, workforce development, leadership training, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, career pathways, and community-based support programs.

• Legacy Capital Group

  • A full-service wealth management firm specializing in portfolio management, tax strategies, and risk management for businesses and individuals.

• Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach

  • A crisis intervention and referral agency nonprofit having served the community for over 50 years. Their services include: full client choice pantry providing food, hygiene supplies, pet food and supplies and diapers; rent or utility assistance; transportation assistance; prescription co-pay assistance; screening for SC Thrive benefits, obtaining a SC ID, and more.

WORKFORCE EDUCATION

Grand Openings of the South Carolina Construction Academy and Morning Star Academy

South Carolina Construction Academy High School is a tuition-free public charter high school serving students in grades 9-12. Students graduate with a South Carolina High School Diploma along with certifications in carpentry, electrical, and plumbing. Students graduate prepared to enter the workforce immediately while also having the foundation to pursue technical college or a four-year degree. Morning Star Academy is a tuition-free school serving students in grades K-8. They aim to cultivate leaders who are well-rounded and productive citizens. Their mission is to inspire young minds to become innovative, compassionate, and lifelong learners through a STEAM-infused, project-based environment that fosters creativity and critical thinking.

AT 12 WITH TWO SPOTLIGHTS