By S. Kim Henson

Up and down the Grand Strand and inland, promotion of small businesses happens at the Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and Conway Chambers of Commerce. A Surfside Chamber of Commerce was announced as “in the works” in late 2010.

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce has more than 2,400 members – 80 percent of which have 50 or fewer employees. It is the Grand Strand’s primary destination-marketing organization. A chamber of commerce is a group of community business people, formed into an association to promote area businesses and especially important to help the smaller ones start and thrive.

Chambers of Commerce sponsor business and community events like the ones put on by the Myrtle Beach Chamber: Business After Hours, being held July in Pawleys Island at the world’s largest members only boating club, Freedom Boat, and the Grand Strand Fishing Rodeo, a six-month fishing event that runs through October 31st to promote pier, surf, inlet and deep-sea fishing.

Carolina Cool is a member of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.