Myrtle Beach's tourist economy attracts about 17 million visitors a year, and with a permanent population of just 35,000 and many of them retirees, some local businesses have issues finding workers who can fill positions during peak season.
Mark Lazarus, owner of Lazarus Entertainment Group (Broadway Grand Prix and Myrtle Waves Water Park), is one business owner who has had that issue.
鈥淎ll the businesses in town are the same way. We鈥檙e all looking for good people that will show up on time and come to work when they鈥檙e supposed to and be responsible. We can鈥檛 fill all the jobs that we have available here with local people,鈥 Lazarus said.
Of his 500 employees during peak season, 150 are participants in the J-1 Bridge USA cultural exchange program, Lazarus says.
Soon the J-1 workers will have more housing options available.
On Nov. 13, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a housing project that will provide dorm-style residences for J-1 participants in the Myrtle Beach area.
The first phase of the project is expected to house 624 residents and would open in April 2025.
Dan Bullock is a co-founder and partner of International Residence Hall, which has housing developments for J-1 students in Wisconsin, Missouri, Alabama and Tennessee and is building its first South Carolina J-1 housing development in Myrtle Beach.聽After all phases are complete, plans show that 1,200 people could be housed in the project.
The J-1 program is a non-immigrant exchange visitor program that allows students, physicians, interns, trainees, camp counselors and child care workers to come to America for seasonal visits. Participants are vetted by the U.S. State Department and undergo background checks. Participants aged 14-79 are required to undergo an interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their home country.
鈥淚t is a cultural exchange program. Some people confuse it with immigration, and it has nothing to do with any of those things,鈥 Bullock said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really a program to create that cultural experience and create ambassadors from other countries 鈥 we represent over 20 countries annually 鈥 to go back and have the right impression, the right experience of the United States of America.鈥
Bullock said that J-1 programs are for 15 to 20 week terms and that the program operates year round.
Lazarus said most of the J-1 participants he hires are students who have earned scholarships at colleges in their home country and that the term of the cultural exchange program works well with the busy tourist season during the summer.
But without a dedicated housing complex, the conditions that J-1 participants stayed were sometimes overcrowded. Bullock said he heard of instances where 19 people were living in a single house.
鈥淭his community, every community really, faces issues like that. And in order to make sure that we鈥檙e standing by the goals of the program and creating that quality experience, we have to make sure housing is part of that,鈥 Bullock said.
To avoid instances of his workers being overcrowded or not being housed in safe conditions, employers like Lazarus have been working in collaboration with sponsors like the nonprofit Council on International Educational Exchange to find suitable housing for J-1 participants before they arrive. With the addition of IRH, Lazarus said it will make the whole process much easier and safer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a gamechanger for us. One, we don鈥檛 have to go out and try to secure 150 beds all over the beach because there鈥檚 not just one facility that you can just pick here locally,鈥 Lazarus said. 鈥淚t was very difficult for us to secure the beds and have the available places for these kids to stay that met the standards and met our standards.鈥
Bullock said only J-1 or H2-B students would be permitted to stay in IRH Myrtle Beach during the busy summer season, but that others may be considered in the offseason when residency rates drop.
IRH Myrtle Beach is located at 1000 Globe Drive on the corner of 10th Avenue North and Robert Grissom Parkway.
Lazarus, who worked hard with IRH to bring the development to Myrtle Beach, said the project will be great for the Myrtle Beach community and will help local businesses grow with a reliable workforce.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge deal for us and for this community,鈥 he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 over 100,000 J-1 kids nationwide during the season, and they鈥檒l start picking Myrtle Beach more and wanting to come here more because of the available housing that they鈥檒l have.鈥
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