Last month, Partnership Grand Strand (PGS) celebrated National Small Business Week by delivering lunch to five deserving local businesses — with help from our friends at GringoNinja! These businesses were randomly selected from those who completed our recent PGS business survey.
We would like to thank the business owners for allowing us to provide lunch for you and your employees: Dan Hoppe (Hop2It Consulting), Brittany Danel (European Wax Center), Will Smith (MadeMoves007), Vini Cordeiro (Alves Painting), and Rebecca Gibson (Rebecca Gibson State Farm).
Why celebrate small businesses? Because they are the foundation of Horry County’s economy. With over 8,000 locally owned businesses operating across the region — many year-round — these entrepreneurs and small teams drive economic growth, create jobs, and keep our communities vibrant and self-sustaining. Their impact reaches far beyond storefronts; they are deeply woven into the daily life and long-term prosperity of the Grand Strand.
Local businesses are the lifeblood of all 14 communities that make up the Grand Strand. They hire our neighbors, support fellow businesses, and reinvest directly into the community.
Here’s the impact in numbers:
According to the 2022 U.S. Census:
- 44,908 business establishments call Horry County home
- 34,595 of these are sole proprietorships — that’s 77% with zero employees
Even with a conservative estimate of $27,000 in average annual revenue per sole proprietorship, these businesses contribute a staggering $934 million to the local economy each year.
Small businesses aren’t small in impact — they’re essential. PGS is proud to support, celebrate, and advocate for them every day of the year.
