BEAUFORT/PORT ROYAL, S.C. () — Two local entities have now questioned the value of Beaufort County’s Economic Development Corporation (BCEDC).
One claims the taxpayer money they’re giving to the corporation is being wasted. The other is looking to spend the funds on themselves.
“I advocate for a more efficient approach to economic development that avoids speculative public investment,” stated Beaufort city councilman, Josh Scallate.
He motioned to pull the city’s $42 thousand allocated for the BCEDC.
In a 2-3 vote, the motion failed, keeping the money as part of the city’s 2026 budget.
Councilman Scallate and Mayor Phil Cromer both questioned the necessity of the $42,000 contribution from the city when the program is already being funded by its residents.
Director of the BCEDC, John O’Toole, noted that this concern has been raised twice, prompting them to explore alternative funding solutions.
“A more in-depth conversation could and should occur there to figure out how to fund economic development moving forward,” said O’Toole.
The town of Port Royal recently voted in favor of keeping their $40,000 and investing it back into their community.
“We’re not trying to marginalize the regional aspect of the organization, but we want to get hyper focused on Port Royal. As a Beaufort County resident, we’re still funding the organization, but we want to we want to look for opportunities closer into Port Royal,” said Jerry Ashmore, a councilman for the town of Port Royal
Ashmore said the town was in discussion of possibly creating their own Economic Development program but said that O’Toole didn’t seem happy they were even considering the possibility.
“I don’t think we made a mistake at all,” said Ashmore. “I think we’re going in the right direction. We’re listening to our residents, listening to our community. We’re seeing the opportunity that’s out here, and we want to focus more on that. We just didn’t feel like we have been, so we decided this year to go in a different direction.”
O’Toole said the economic development corporation doesn’t focus on hospitality and tourism. That’s what Port Royal wants, so he said he respected their decision.
When O’Toole was asked how he feels about two municipalities now questioning the programs value, he responded with insight to the future.
“Whatever people might say, I think the most important thing is for us to stay focused on doing economic development well, being transparent and trying to deliver value for all of the residents of Beaufort County.”
