The Greenville News from Greenville, South Carolina • Page A9

THE GREENVILLE NEWS II 9A BUSINESS HILTON HEAD ISLAND Aproject that promises to bring thousands of new jobs and an unprecedented level of economic activity to Jasper County finally has a tart date. Permitting for the long-anticipated asper Ocean Terminal which could eshape one of the poorest counties in he state will begin this fall under a new agreement between project leaders and the S.C. Ports Authority. the first time officials have set in stone a deadline to start the arduous federal permitting and review process. But more importantly, it marks a tipping point in the efforts to bring the $4.5 illion, bi-state port project to reality after more than two decades of discussions and a series of lawsuits, say its advocates.

terms of economic impact, the Jasper port is on a scale comparable to hat BMW did for the Upstate and Boeing for the Charleston area, if not great- said state Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, who has worked to make the port a reality since 2007 when he was chief of staff for then-Gov. Mark Sanford. But the most vocal advocate at the Statehouse here to celebrate the news. The late state Sen.

Clementa Pinck- ey, D-Ridgeland, was shot to death at his Charleston church June 17 in what au- horities believe was a hate crime. or 12 years, Pinckney and Davis orked closely to push the port in the S.C. General Assembly and with the S.C. Ports Authority. something that was extremely important to Davis said.

would feel satisfaction now that South Carolinians who have long been neglected are finally being given their turn at bat. Clem as always the one urging patience We made a good Last month, leaders from the Joint Project Office, Jasper County, and the South Carolina and Georgia ports au- horities agreed to a new plan to begin the lengthy, eight-year federal permit- ting process by October, Davis said. A lthough that means completion scheduled until mid-2028, the first time Davis and port advocates have had aactual date they can point to, they said. of this vague assertion that we recognize a Jasper port is needed, now got a blueprint with dates and deadlines and we can hold people acc Davis said. so many years there a sense of certainty hat (the port) was going to happen.

The uestion is no longer if going to be a port. The question is single land The estimated $4.5 billion port and its immediate facilities will sit on 1,500 acres of recovered dredge material in the southernmost portion of Jasper County, near the Tybee National Wildlife Refuge a the mouth of the Savannah River. Once complete, it will handle seven million units of shipping cargo that the ports in Savannah and Charleston be able to process when they reach cap acity within the next 15 years, according to studies of the ports. More than 900 jobs will be created dir ectly and indirectly for the construction of the port alone in the early 2020s, generating $210 million in wages, one study found. By 2040, with the complete build-out of the terminal, the port has the potential to create one million jobs and $9 billion in tax revenue between Georgia and South arolina, according to a 2010 study by the University of Georgia and Wilbur mith Associates.

Once this is totally complete, alking about the largest single land port in the said David Posek, chairman of the Joint Project Office that is overseeing the development. is a monumental Enormous estimates aside, the basic logistics of building such an ambitious project and establishing the new road a nd rail infrastructure will demand thousands of new jobs at a minimum, Davis said. And that take into account the businesses the port would eventually at- ract to the Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties region, he added. Project is set to begin this fall under new agreement ZACH MURDOCK ISLAND ACKET New ocean terminal could boost economy NORTH MYRTLE BEACH Aweek aft er Myrtle Beach City Council passed a esolution opposing offshore drilling ff the coast of South Carolina, North Myrtle Beach council members are poised to become the third Grand Strand community to take a stand a gainst oil exploration. orth Myrtle Beach City Council on uesday will consider a resolution that points to the need to protect the greatest asset the beach as a reason to oppose oil exploration.

arlier this month, Atlantic Beach Town Council approved a similar reso- ution and Myrtle Beach City Council voted to oppose drilling last week. If North Myrtle Beach City Council approves the resolution, it would be the 19th government body in South Carolina to do so. I April, North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley praised the mayors and a dministrators at a Coastal Alliance meeting for not rushing to oppose seismic testing before a deadline to provide i nput to the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The Coastal Alliance i a group that represents Horry County a nd cities along the Grand Strand. BOEM accepted comments on what hould be included in environmental studies to decide whether areas in the A tlantic are opened to oil and gas devel- pment later this decade.

too soon to jump on the not a all, not atley said in April, adding that she felt she needed more information be- ore they could vote to support or oppose the testing. Hatley could not be reached on Sund ay. Gov. Nikki Haley supports offshore drilling and is a member of the Outer ontinental Shelf Governors Coalition, which has a mission statement that says it works to a sensible ath forward for the development of offshore energy Drilling proponents say it can help reduce dependence on foreign energy and create jobs and revenue. Opponents of offshore drilling worry that spills could damage fisheries and the important coastal tourism industry.

Supporters say drilling can be done safe- and will mean jobs and new revenues. MAYA T. PRABHU SUN NEWS North Myrtle Beach may ppose offshore rilling Council to consider plan to protect greatest asset SALT LAKE CITY, Colorful pad- dleboards and pictures of people practicing the sport in beautiful settings illed the exhibit halls at the argest outdoor retail trade show recent- in Salt Lake City in the latest illustration of the exploding popularity. They make long, skinny boards for racers. There make wide, sturdy ones or more casual users, some of whom do yoga or fish off the boards.

They even ake inflatable boards for people who want the convenience to be able roll them up and put them in a bag. Once viewed as a fringe activity or fad, paddle boarding is now carving out an expanding place in the lucrative out- oor recreation industry. A growing number of companies are doing a brisk usiness selling boards, paddles and accessories to accommodate the growing popularity. Whether in oceans on the coasts or in- and lakes and rivers, people are increasingly drawn to a sport that can be one for vigorous exercise and racing or for casual paddling or yoga with friends and even dogs aboard. Participation in stand up paddling in the United States has increased nearly three-fold from 2010 to 2014, according to a study from the Outdoor Foundation.

That makes it one of the fastest-growing outdoor sports, the foundation says. Last year, an estimated 2.7 million people participated in the sport, up from about 1million in 2010, the first year the foundation began including the sport in i ts annual survey. The participation numbers put it on par with surfing and BMX bicycling. he sport is easy to learn unlike other board sports like surfing, wind urfing and snowboarding and can be racticed all around the world, said Jimmy Blakeney, marketing manager at of ic SUP, one of the leading companies making boards. And what Blakeney calls the cool that also draws people.

standing up, in your bikini, being Blakeney said. Boards are cool. A lot of young people really like being on a board versus a The roots of modern paddle boarding a re traced to Hawaii, where surfers used paddles to get out further or do exercise when there were no waves. The sport slowly spread from Hawaii and has been around in the United States for about 10 years, Blakeney said. rowth really accelerated about five years ago, he said.

Companies not only sell to outdoor shops, but to rental companies, which say they do well renting the boards for people who want to try them for the first time. The Stand Up Paddle Industry Association formed in 2012 to bring cohesion and support for manufacturers, retailers and people who teach, train and org anize races. Kristin Thomas, the industry executive director, said the versa- ility of the boards is a huge draw. very easy to use on one level and yet can as extreme as you want it to be. Peo- le are surfing huge waves.

They are doing Thomas said. A a burgeoning sport, the industry is trying to establish best safety practices and manage different rules being estab- ished. For instance, there is still debate about whether paddle boarders should wear life jackets or have the boards har- essed to their ankles, like surfers. The U.S. Coast Guard recently designated paddleboards as a vessel, like a can oe or kayak, meaning users must have alife jacket and sound-making device aboard unless they are within a swimming, surfing or bathing area.

A21-year-old Utah man recently died while paddle boarding on a mountain ake when winds came up and he went missing, authorities said. He wearing a life jacket, they said. Prices for boards range from $400 to Paddles cost from $75 to $100. As is the case with any equipment, you have to pay more for lighter, higher-performing boards. Bic top seller is one that retails for about $1,000, Blakeney said.

We always say: light, durable, affordable: pick Blakeney said. The majority of the people are recre- a tional users who use the boards about 10 times a year, he said. A smaller port ion of people, often the types who are rawn to running and triathlons, use the boards for vigorous exercise and comp ete in a growing racing circuit, Blakeney said. The World Paddle Association formed in 2010 to oversee the sport. he growth of the sport was also on display this week in Utah at a demo day for the Outdoor Retailer Show at a reser- oir north of Salt Lake City.

Paddle boards filled the lake, a stark contrast from the late 2000s when only a few ompanies were catering to the sport, said Jeff Atler, president of Hobie. they are on every body of water Atler said. simple, enjoyable and you can do it on just about any body of BRADY MCCOMBS ASSOCIATED PRESS AP Cadel Walton on Bic Sup paddle board at the Outdoor Retailer Show recently in Salt Lake City. Growth of paddle boarding display at outdoor show Once viewed as a fad, carving out a place i recreation industry Inc5.53434.23+.18 Airgas2.322106.39-.55 Altria3.72155.67-.09 AmCapLtd1514.35+.12 Apple Inc1.814117.16+1.20 Cp2.71540.19-.12 BP PLC6.8dd35.53-.24 BallCorp.72171.66-.05 BkofAm1.11917.77+.07 Barclay2.417.16-.06 Bemis2.42345.90+.28 Boeing2.520144.44-.65 BorgWarn1.11746.79+.42 CSX2.41529.68+.06 Caterpillar3.91378.54+.05 CatoCp3.21737.24+.04 CntryLink7.62328.42+.15 Citigroup.31557.77+.18 CocaCola3.22441.35+.10 CmclMtls2.91116.40+.40 ConocoPhil6.02349.56-.21 Cott Cp2.12911.40+.10 CrownHold1652.95+.16 Culp Inc.72432.01+.27 Dennys3012.56+.11 DollarTree3078.48+.70 DomRescs3.42276.22+.85 DonlleyRR6.51216.08+.03 DowChm3.71345.47+.57 DukeEngy4.31976.52+.15 ExxonMbl3.71478.77+.41 FedExCp.653164.97+.16 Fluor1.71348.23+.20 FordM4.11614.68-.10 FrptMcM2.0dd10.24+.21 GenElec3.5dd26.21+.13 Graingr2.118226.46+1.68 HewlettP2.51128.61-.10 HomeDp2.024119.70-.05 HonwllIntl1.919106.28+.20 InglesMk h1.21955.90+1.54 IBM3.313156.31+.56 IntPap3.32048.16+.85 Jarden s4955.01+.22 Kemetdd1.88-.02 Lennox1.128125.64+.59 LockhdM2.819213.02+1.06 Lowes1.52672.48+.37 Manulife g17.07-.14 MetLife2.81054.50-.26 Mondelez1.53646.20-.29 MonstrBev56150.71+.31 NorflkSo2.91482.15+.41 PalmettoB1.62620.23+.23 PepBoydd11.75-.02 PepsiCo2.82399.86+.63 Perrigo.3cc197.06+1.06 Pfizer3.22535.50+.18 PhilipMor4.71884.30+.04 PhoenxCosdd14.85-.65 PiedNG3.32239.98+.10 PitnyBw3.51021.50+.18 Prudentl2.61089.31-.79 RegnlMgt1416.97-.64 RegionsFn2.31510.55 RoyalBk g57.62-.42 SCANA3.81157.37+.11 ScanSource4936.99+.46 SealAir.94454.81-.22 Sherwin.929284.69+5.32 SimonProp3.240193.54+1.86 SonocoP3.31642.03+.25 SouthState1.32178.21+.66 SthnFstBsh1621.19+.19 SpanAm3.51618.33-.99 SpectraEn4.92129.95-.15 Standex.62075.36-.24 SunTrst2.21344.16+.02 Synalloy2.51012.17+.06 Synnex.61679.54+.87 SynovusFn1.32331.79 Target2.8dd78.98+.19 Tegna2.2625.78+.34 Textron.21843.71+.14 3M Co2.719149.24+.96 Timken3.1dd33.21+.25 TorDBk gs939.52-.13 VerizonCm4.62047.52+.03 Visa s.63074.41+.19 VulcanM.4cc98.81+1.04 WalMart2.71571.91-.47 WellsFargo2.61457.35+.02 WestRock n2.463.34+.11 WmsCos4.310054.90+2.67 Windstm rs8.6dd7.01+.29 Woodward.81748.56+.30 WldAccept334.22+.53 YumBrnds1.93985.03+1.44 Name Yld PE Close Chg.Name Yld PE Close Chg.Name Yld PE Close Chg.Name Yld PE Close Chg.Name Yld PE Close Chg. STOCKSOFLOCALINTEREST.