Tag Archives: Myrtle Beach

Brad Lofton leaving Myrtle Beach, SC



Looks like Horry County, SC stuck to its
initial three-year offer, both for Lofton, and for millage
to fund his development authority there.
There are things the

newly-renamed Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority
could do to let sunshine turn Lofton’s local land legacy green.

Jason M. Rodriguez and Amanda Kelley wrote for Myrtle Beach Online yesterday,

Brad Lofton leaving Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation,

Membership to the EDC increased earlier this year, but revenue from
the membership decreased by nearly $60,000, impacting the
organization’s marketing services and more.

Loton has had many projects succeed, and met some challenges during
his time in Horry County.

Earlier this month Continue reading →

Do you miss him yet? Brad Lofton in SC



He may be gone, but he’s still up to his old tricks, and he’s using us for a reference.

Adva Saldinger wrote in The Sun News 8 May 2011,

Lofton hits ground running in new post; CEO asking taxpayers for $1.6 million:

The new Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corp. president and
chief executive is by many accounts aggressive and personable, and he
says, ready to take charge and bring much needed jobs to the area quickly.

Brad Lofton said he will bring 500 jobs in the first 18 months, and an
average of 500 jobs each year over the next five to 10 years.

And a pony!

Has anybody verified the jobs Lofton claimed he brought to Lowndes County?

Continue reading →

“Parameters on the types of industry” –VDT Editorial



And what about all that land?

In addition to a news story about

Brad Lofton moving on up to Myrtle Beach,
the Valdosta Daily Times also had an editorial yesterday (14 March),

Lofton’s leaving a void
in which they make some good points, including:

While the search is on for a new director, now is the time for the city,
county and industrial authority board to come together to make some
decisions about the organization and what the community leadership needs
and wants it to be.

Here are

a few modest suggestions along those lines, including considerations
such as water.

More from the VDT:

Continue reading →

VDT on Lofton Leaving



What’s Brad Lofton’s legacy?

The VDT finally published something today about Brad Lofton moving to
Myrtle Beach, apparently mostly drawing on the same SC newspaper story

LAKE picked up on last Thursday,
with some material from

the second SunNews story of Friday.
The VDT did

add some local interviews:

Continue reading →

History changes the closer you get to Valdosta?



Some people have expressed surprise to learn that Brad Lofton
was fired from his previous job in Effingham County.
The VLCIA’s own website may be part of the reason why they’re surprised.

According to

“In the News”
on the
the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA) web site:

“Lofton is currently the president and CEO of the Effingham County
Industrial Development Authority and the executive director of the
Effingham County Chamber of Commerce. Lofton brings a wide range of
experience to the position including time served as the executive
director of the Lee County Chamber of Commerce and the Lee County
Development Authority.”

You have to search or scroll way down in that page to find that passage,
and there’s no date on it.

However, it is almost a word-for-word copy of a paragraph by Kelli Hernandez
that appeared in the

Moultrie Observer 16 August 2006:

“Lofton’s most recent position was president and CEO of the Effingham
County Industrial Development Authority and the executive director of
the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce. Lofton brings a wide range
of experience to the position including time served as the executive
director of the Lee County Chamber of Commerce and the Lee County
Development Authority.”

See the difference? “Lofton’s most recent position was” in the
Moultrie article is “Lofton is currently the” on the VLCIA’s own web site.
So which was it?

Continue reading →

More from Myrtle Beach

Lorena Anderson writes in the SunNews more about Brad Lofton’s
new job, including a very interesting tidbit about how he left his previous job.

Georgia man tapped to bring businesses, jobs to Myrtle Beach area:
Lofton gets three-year deal to lead MB agency:



A Georgia native with experience attracting industries and jobs to his
home state has signed a three-year contract to lead the Myrtle Beach
Regional Economic Development Corporation.

Doug Wendel, EDC board president, said the board voted unanimously
Thursday afternoon to offer Brad Lofton the job. He will announce the
change to his current employer, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial
Authority, on Tuesday, Wendel said.

Lofton will begin work on the Grand Strand on April 15, bringing to an
end the EDC’s search for a new chief executive, which began more than
a year ago.

The EDC will pay Lofton about $121,000 a year to bring new industry and
jobs to Horry County.

Look what else they mentioned:

Continue reading →

Movin’ on up!



Arrived via google alert for keyword “Valdosta”:

Those on the committee to hire a new EDC director seem so certain they
will offer Lofton the job that he is already making plans to announce
he’s leaving Georgia next week, and can start work here in mid-April.

Lofton?
Yes, that Lofton:

Brad Lofton, a Georgia native and moneymaker for the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority in his home state, is being introduced around Horry County today as the leading candidate for the executive director of the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation.

The story is

Economic development agency likely has new director,
by Lorena Anderson, in the Myrtle Beach SunNews.

Hm, somebody is counting at least one chicken that hasn’t hatched:



Lofton has been with the Valdosta group since 2006, and has brought
millions of dollars’ worth of business and jobs to that county, Wendel
said, including an energy plant that uses biomass and is now getting
federal renewable energy credits; ….

Also notice what they don’t list as a positive:
the solar plant.
Perhaps an indication of somebody’s priorities.

-jsq