Now that we have that facility, we can capitalize on that and bring additional submarine fiber optic cables into the United States here and really create an internet traffic hub, Lightsey, the commerce secretary, said, adding that the Grand Strand could see growth similar to whats happened in Virginia. Those kinds of businesses are part of our future.
The Grand Strand does have a site set up for a tech park. Located near Myrtle Beach International Airport, the Myrtle Beach International Technology and Aerospace Park (ITAP) is a 460-acre property prepared specifically to accommodate the technology industry.
But even if the cable companies wanted to choose another location, county leaders said they would try to accommodate them.
Obviously, the county will facilitate and do whatevers necessary to make it a reality, said Horry County Councilman Gary Loftus, who serves on the EDCs board. He noted that Myrtle Beach State Park and ITAP are in the same general area.
While some places in the world have established tech parks near subsea cable sites, sometimes landing sites are simply a sort of box on the beach.
The promise of new industry isn't a given,Starosielski said. Whether the community adopts plans for attracting tech businesses and how leaders develop their infrastructure would be critical in creating such a hub.
That can happen and that has happened,she said of the tech parks. But also the opposite thing has happened, like where nothing occurs. A cable landing gets set up, and its just a building, and they just pay taxes and thats it.
Take the interstate analogy. Sure, there are giant manufacturers that choose to build their plants near interstate exits.
But some exits are, well, just roads to empty land.
It doesnt mean anyones going to get off or on,"Starosielski said. "But if somebody wanted to set up shop, they could.
Originally posted here:
