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Charleston-North Charleston, SC Ranked #3 in Latest U-Haul Top Growth Cities Index List; Myrtle Beach #11

January 3, 2024 by 0 Comments
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PHOENIX, Jan. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Florida destinations dominated the U.S. growth cities list again in 2023, with the Palm Bay-Melbourne market netting the largest number of movers in one-way U-Haul® equipment last year.

The U-Haul Growth Index found seven Florida markets among the top 25 growth cities last year. It marks the seventh year in a row the Sunshine State has had the most cities represented. Florida had four markets among the top 25 in 2022, and a whopping 10 in 2021.

The U-Haul Growth Index reveals seven Florida markets are among the top 25 U.S. growth cities for 2023 based on one-way U-Haul customer moves. It marks the seventh year in a row the Sunshine State has had the most cities represented on the growth cities list.
The U-Haul Growth Index reveals seven Florida markets are among the top 25 U.S. growth cities for 2023 based on one-way U-Haul customer moves. It marks the seventh year in a row the Sunshine State has had the most cities represented on the growth cities list.

Ocala, the No. 1 growth city in 2022, backslides one spot in the latest rankings. The Sarasota-Bradenton market ranks fourth just behind Charleston-North Charleston (S.C.). Austin is the fifth-ranked growth city – the first of three top-10 Texas destinations along with the College Station-Bryan market and Dallas.

U-Haul calculates growth cities by each city’s net gain (or loss) of one-way equipment from customer transactions in a calendar year. The U-Haul Growth Index is compiled from more than 2.5 million one-way U-Haul truck, trailer and U-Box® moving container transactions that occur annually across the U.S. and Canada. Neighboring cities in U-Haul markets are often packaged together for migration trends purposes.

In the Palm Bay-Melbourne market, 54.7% of all one-way U-Haul traffic was arriving compared to just 45.3% departing in 2023.

“Growth in the Palm Bay-Melbourne area has been increasing at an explosive rate,” stated Cal Conner, U-Haul Company of Eastern Florida president. “The Space Coast has many companies investing in this region and creating jobs such as Embraer®, SpaceX®, Northrop Grumman®, Lockheed Martin® and L3Harris Technologies®. We have a low cost of living compared to many of the northern cities people have left. Add to that our fantastic year-round climate, and you can see why Palm Bay-Melbourne is such a desirable area to live.”

Other notable markets to make the top 25 include Kissimmee-St. Cloud (Fla.), Charlotte (N.C.), Boise (Idaho), Knoxville (Tenn.) and Henderson (Nev.).

2023 U-Haul U.S. Growth Cities

1.PALM BAY-MELBOURNE, FL (4)
2.OCALA, FL (1)
3.CHARLESTON-NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (10)
4.SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL
5.AUSTIN, TX
6.COLLEGE STATION-BRYAN, TX
7.CHARLOTTE, NC
8.HUNTSVILLE, AL (9)
9.DALLAS, TX
10.MYRTLE BEACH-NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (17)
11.KISSIMMEE-ST. CLOUD, FL
12.PANAMA CITY-PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL
13.NORTH PORT, FL (6)
14.BOISE, ID
15.WAKE FOREST, NC
16.CONROE, TX (19)
17.KNOXVILLE, TN
18.SURPRISE, AZ (8)
19.AUBURN-OPELIKA, AL (5)
20.LAKELAND, FL (21)
21.MURFREESBORO, TN
22.WILMINGTON, NC
23.QUEEN CREEK, AZ
24.HENDERSON, NV (17)
25.NAMPA, ID

2022 growth rankings in parentheses

FIVE MORE notable cities that just missed the cut but posted strong net-gain numbers in 2023:

•   Clarksville, TN
•   Asheville, NC
•   Madison, WI
•   Chattanooga, TN
•   Tucson, AZ

While U-Haul migration trends do not correlate directly to population or economic growth, the U-Haul Growth Index is an effective gauge of how well states and cities are attracting and maintaining residents. Find the 2023 U-Haul growth states release here: Texas and Florida Top Growth States in 2023.

U-Haul is the authority on migration trends thanks to its expansive network that blankets all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The geographical coverage from 23,000 U-Haul truck- and trailer-sharing locations provides a broad overview of where people are moving like no one else in the industry.

U-Haul continues to benefit the environment through its shared-use business model. Truck and trailer sharing enables communities to share moving equipment so that families and individuals don’t need to own large-capacity vehicles to transfer belongings. Sustainability initiatives like U-Haul Adaptive Reuse (the preserving and repurposing of existing buildings for new stores), truck modifications to improve fuel economy, and plastic Ready-To-Go Boxes® that are shared hundreds of times before being recycled are among the many ways U-Haul promotes green business. U-Box Load Share, the Company’s latest sustainability program, was just named the 2023 Best in Biz gold winner for the Most Environmentally Friendly Service of the Year.

About U-HAUL

Founded in 1945, U-Haul is the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers with more than 23,000 rental locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The enhanced U-Haul app makes it easier for customers to use U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 to access trucks anytime through the self-dispatch and self-return options on their smartphones through our patented Live Verify technology. Our customers’ patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to 192,200 trucks, 138,500 trailers and 44,500 towing devices. U-Haul is the third largest self-storage operator in North America with 967,000 rentable units and 83.3 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities. U-Haul is the top retailer of propane in the U.S. and the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. We were recently named one of America’s Best Large Employers (Forbes, 2023); a Best for Vets Employer (Military Times, 2022); and one of the Healthiest Workplaces in America (Healthiest Employers, 2022). Find careers at uhauljobs.com. Get the U-Haul app from the App Store or Google Play.

Lowcountry

Argyle Real Estate Partners Enters Charleston, SC MSA with the Acquisition of Newbrook Point Hope

January 3, 2024 by 0 Comments
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TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Argyle Real Estate Partners (Argyle), a real estate investment firm focused on multifamily acquisitions in the Southeast and Texas, today announced the closing of Newbrook Point Hope (Newbrook), a 264-unit community located in Charleston, SC, an extension of the affluent and highly desirable Daniel Island submarket. The acquisition marks the Company’s first in the Charleston market.

Newbrook Point Hope, Charleston, SC
Newbrook Point Hope, Charleston, SC

“Argyle is pleased to tap into unchartered territory and close out the year with the acquisition of Newbrook,” said Ryan Reyes, CEO for Argyle Real Estate Partners. “Given its location and accessibility, the mint condition of the asset, and the development planned for the area, which we believe will help spur future growth, we’re confident that Newbrook will be one of our standout properties.”

Newbrook is at the epicenter of the ‘Point Hope’ Masterplan Development; a master development plan that contains single-family residential homes from many of the nation’s top builders, multifamily housing, retail and office space, and brand-new A-rated public schools.

The 2021-vintage Newbrook offers studios, and 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments with unique and spacious floorplans averaging over 1,000 sf ft. Apartments feature stainless-steel appliances, quartz countertops, walk-in closets, modern fixtures, and full-size washers and dryers; while the property’s amenity suite, which draws its design and inspiration from the area’s coastal surroundings, includes a full-service clubhouse, a resort-style saltwater pool, a pickleball court, fitness center, an impressive dog park known as the “Doggy Paddle”, and ample green space with community trails for walking, biking, and running that also provide access to other neighboring attractions. Greystar will oversee operations onsite.

Newbrook is 25 minutes from Downtown Charleston, the main manufacturing (Boeing and Mercedes) and healthcare hub in Charleston; and Daniel Island is home to major employers such as: Benefitfocus (county’s largest employer), Booz Allen Hamilton and Gildan. 

“Newbrook fits our investment criteria of buying well located assets for below replacement cost in strong and desirable submarkets,” said Mike Cacciatore, Principal for Argyle Real Estate Partners. “By being within walking distance to Publix, 30K SF of quality retail, and A-rated public schools, Newbrook offers access to an unparalleled, walkable community that is and will remain desirable to prospective tenants over the long term.” 

SOURCE Argyle Real Estate Partners

Lowcountry

Charleston, SC based Christian Youth Network provides support resources and mentorship for today’s youths nationally

December 30, 2023 by 0 Comments
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YOUTH IN CRISIS OR YOUTH IN CHRIST?

We’ve all heard the resounding concerns and crippling statistics about our current generation of youth: obvious addiction to technology (social media, screen time, etc.), rapid decline in mental health, rise in antisocial disorders with a corresponding increase in teen suicide…just to name a few. Today’s parents have no premise for raising this highly unique generation that has experienced a global pandemic, has 24-hour access to an infinite amount of information with no distinction between what is opinion and fact, the rise of new addictions particularly related to social media, screen time, and untraceable cyberbullying.

News outlets, research studies, influencers, talking heads, all infiltrate our world with the same message…“Today’s generation of youth is in absolute crisis.”

In addition to this, a staggering decline in this generation’s relationship with Christ is seen in the permanent shutdowns of churches and youth groups since the 2020 pandemic, “millennial” parents who don’t have a relationship with Christ and/or don’t attend a local church, and most egregious, the flagrant restrictions social media outlets, public schools, and local and state governments place on Christ-centered and faith-based messaging. For the first time in U.S. history, today’s generation is a “post-Christian” generation, meaning less than 50% of U.S. citizens identify themselves as Christian.

Sadly, our youth hear the same messages of hopelessness about their generation as we do.

Fortunately, however, GOD’s Word instructs us on how to discern between the overwhelming amount of messages we receive at any given moment: “Dearly loved friends, don’t always believe everything you hear just because someone says it is a message from God: test it first to see if it really is. For there are many false teachers around.” (1 John 4:1)

Additionally, GOD’s Word speaks specifically to teens and youth:

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” (Timothy 4:12)

“But the LORD said to me, Say not, I am only a youth; for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 1: 6-7).

Since 2002, Amy Byers (a Charleston local) has felt GOD’s call to youth ministry. Since then, she has served as a youth counselor, mentor, and coach in various volunteer positions, and in

2020, was hired by a large church in Wilmington, NC to manage communications and serve as a youth leader. However, in 2023 Amy’s husband’s job moved their family to Charleston, SC, leaving her unemployed and recovering from extreme burnout. It was in that humble and vulnerable state that GOD started working on Amy’s heart, speaking to her through His Word and circumstances. Through prayer, lessons in humility, joyous convictions, and necessary surrender, GOD clearly directed and paved the way for Amy to create a fully virtual Christian youth community that provides real-time support and unconditional love and acceptance.

The Christian Youth Network (CYN) was launched in April 2023 and since then, GOD has already blessed this ministry with memberships and growth. CYN is the first and only completely online Christian youth community that offers the crucial support, encouragement, and Bible-centered direction that our youth need today. Through live, weekly video chats that consist of age and gender-specific Community Groups, topic-driven Support Groups, Group Bible Studies, and daily Devotionals, CYN connects youth from around the nation and offers a safe place where they can be their authentic selves without fear of judgment and rejection.

Additionally, the Christian Youth Network (CYN) recently launched CYN-U, a collection of free, online “courses” that educate and encourage members on important issues such as, What is all this Jesus stuff about?, How to Navigate Social Media, Dealing with Depression, and Teen Anxiety.

The Christian Youth Network (CYN) also offers individual and personalized services including motivational speaking, youth life coaching and mentorship, parental support sessions, live chats, and community forums to name a few.

Becoming a member of the Christian Youth Network (CYN) is entirely free and provides each member with a unique member profile, unlimited access to resources, 24/7 online chat, community forums, online group bookings, and much more.

To remove any and all financial barriers for today’s youth, the Christian Youth Network (CYN) relies totally on the generous donations of individuals, families, and businesses. If you would like to get involved with and/or support CYN, please send an email to info@youthnetwork.life.

Moreover, if you or a teen you know would like to learn more about this exciting ministry, please visit youthnetwork.life.

AMY BYERS BIOGRAPHY

Amy Byers is a Christian youth coach, mentor, and evangelical speaker who has served in youth ministry for over two decades. Driven to advance the Kingdom of GOD and lead youth to know and accept salvation through CHRIST JESUS, Amy founded the Christian Youth Network (CYN) in April 2023 to remove any barriers youth today have towards knowing JESUS.

Amy currently lives in Charleston, SC with her supportive husband and furbaby, Saban Mac.

Important Website Link

Lowcountry

Ellie Mental Health SC Summerville Trident announces the Grand Opening of its new North Charleston location on January 2, 2024

December 30, 2023 by 0 Comments
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Ellie Mental Health SC Summerville Trident will open its doors to the North Charleston, SC community on January 2, 2024.

Congratulations to the wonderful team for making this new location a reality!

Lowcountry

CounterMeasures Corporation adds Charleston SC based High Rise Beverage Company as a new partner

December 30, 2023 by 0 Comments
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This week, CounterMeasures Corporation (CMC) announced they have added Charleston based High Rise Beverage Company to its list of partners helping to amplify its distribution and extend its reach. In an official statement made on LinkedIn, CMC said:

CMC is proud to welcome High Rise Beverage Company to our lineup of partners! After building an incredibly strong customer base in Charleston, SC they decided to grow their distribution footprint to new markets, so check them out when available in your town soon! We are happy to be their partner in supporting this growth!

“Step into the vibrant and uplifting world of High Rise, where life is all about embracing the bold, beautiful, and wonderfully imperfect moments infused with magic.
Our brand is founded on passion, culture, and the irresistible vibe of sunlit Charleston beaches, offering a charcoal-sketch of dreams, beauty, and coastal excitement.
Our mission at High Rise is to craft hemp-derived cannabis beverages that evoke the essence of natural purity and connection. Each can encapsulates the joy of sharing laughter around a bonfire, the enchantment of vibrant sunsets, and the soothing symphony of crashing waves – all moments woven with camaraderie and a splash of free-spirited fun.”

Our story originates with owners, Matt and Libiss Skinner, whose lives were transformed when they discovered the benefits of cannabis in managing Libiss’s uncontrolled ulcerative colitis. This life-changing experience led them to dedicate themselves to sharing these benefits with others.
Empowered by their transformative journey, Matt and Libiss founded Charleston Hemp Collective in 2019. A venture where their shared values of genuine relationships and newfound appreciation for hemp came together. In 2022, they embarked on a mission to create a beverage that promotes natural health and wellness, using simple, real, and effective ingredients accessible to everyone.

High Rise Beverage Company is proud to be the official non-alcoholic beverage partner of Sony Music Nashville.

Cheers!

Follow and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

Lowcountry

Revelry Brewing is now open on Folly Beach

December 29, 2023 by 0 Comments
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The day has finally arrived for the Grand Opening of Revelry Brewing’s newest location on Folly Beach on Center Street right next to Coconut Joe’s and just a stone throw from the ocean.

Let us tell you, it is beautiful and inviting!

The hours for their first weekend will be:

  • Friday – 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
  • Saturday – 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
  • Sunday (NYE) – 2:00 PM – Midnight
  • Monday – 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Stop by and enjoy the newest Folly sensation!

Follow Revelry Brewing on Instagram.

Photos courtesy of Revelry Brewing

Lowcountry

2023 Census Estimate places South Carolina #4 in numeric growth and #1 in percentage growth in the nation

December 29, 2023 by 0 Comments
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The 2023 U.S. Census Bureau‘s population estimate for South Carolina is 5,373,555, ranking it 4th in the U.S. for the highest total net migration population from 2022-2023, following Florida, Texas, and North Carolina.

South Carolina maintains its 4th position in cumulative net population migration from 2020-2023. Conversely, several states, including California, New York, Illinois, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Hawaii, and West Virginia, experienced a population decrease in 2023, continuing a trend observed over the past few years.

Click HERE for full report.

Lowcountry

South Carolina joins $10M settlement with Robinhood Financial LLC

December 28, 2023 by 0 Comments
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COLUMBIA — South Carolina has joined a multistate settlement with Robinhood Financial LLC, which will pay up to $10.2 million in penalties for operational and technical failures that harmed investors, state Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced.

“[The] agreement reflects the ongoing efforts by state securities regulators to protect investors and make sure that they are treated fairly by financial services firms,” Wilson said in a news release from his office.

The settlement stems from an investigation spearheaded by state securities regulators in Alabama, Colorado, California, Delaware, New Jersey, South Dakota and Texas and the North American Securities Administrators Association into Robinhood’s operational failures in the retail market.

The investigation was sparked by Robinhood platform outages in March 2020, a time when hundreds of thousands of investors were relying on its app to make trades, the release says.

Before March 2021, there also were deficiencies at Robinhood in its review and approval process for options and margin accounts, weaknesses in the firm’s monitoring and reporting tools, and insufficient customer service and escalation protocols that in some cases left users unable to process trades even as the value of certain stocks was dropping.

According to the release, South Carolina’s consent order settlement sets out the following violations:

  • Negligent dissemination of inaccurate information to customers, including regarding margin and risk associated with multileg option spreads.
  • Failure to have a reasonably designed customer identification program.
  • Failure to supervise technology critical to providing customers with core broker-dealer services.
  • Failure to have a reasonably designed system for dealing with customer inquiries.
  • Failure to exercise due diligence before approving certain option accounts.
  • Failure to report all customer complaints to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and state securities regulators, as may be required.

Robinhood neither admitted nor denied the findings as set out in the consent order, the release says. Robinhood fully cooperated with the investigation, and the S.C. Securities Division found no evidence of willful or fraudulent conduct by the company.

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Lowcountry

South Carolina Agriculture Department to take over some food safety responsibilities

December 28, 2023 by 0 Comments
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The South Carolina Department of Agriculture is preparing to take on some food safety regulatory duties — including retail kitchen inspections — that are currently handled by the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Starting July 1, 2024, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture will handle all retail food safety inspection, including restaurant kitchens, school cafeterias, caterers, grocery stores, some convenience stores and more. The Agriculture Department also is taking over DHEC’s Manufactured Food Programs, including soft drinks, cheese and dairy, bottled water and ice. Agriculture also will oversee the milk inspection program and laboratory, according to a news release.

The South Carolina General Assembly diverted the responsibilities to the Agriculture Department as part of S.399, a bill that restructures DHEC and divides its oversight among new and existing agencies, the release stated.

SCDA has regulated wholesale food manufacturing for nearly 50 years, according to the department’s news release. The agency also regulates animal feed safety, specialty food producers, and produce farming, and has well-equipped specialized labs that conduct a variety of regulatory testing.

“The South Carolina Department of Agriculture has a great reputation for protecting the public and working with South Carolina businesses,” Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers said in the release. “These new duties will strengthen our ability to assure food safety while also streamlining services for businesses, some of which are currently regulated by both SCDA and DHEC. This is good news for farmers, too. We’ll have even more involvement in every step of the food system, from when it’s grown to where it’s eaten. We look forward to serving our state in new ways as we affirm our longstanding commitment to food safety and a strong agriculture industry.”

SCDA and DHEC are working together with the South Carolina Department of Administration to assure a smooth transition for customers, employees and the public, the release said. SCDA will roughly double in size, with about 115 positions transferring over from DHEC. DHEC food safety staff will join SCDA’s existing Consumer Protection Division, which includes all the agency’s regulatory departments.

The food safety regulations aren’t changing, but the public will see some changes — and not just a new logo on the restaurant door,” Assistant Commissioner for Consumer Protection Derek Underwood said in the release. “South Carolina consumers and the businesses we inspect can expect a responsive team dedicated to helping improve food safety. We look forward to continuing to earn public trust with these new responsibilities.”

Over the next eight months, SCDA will post regular updates on the transfer online.

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