MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – A local Aviation company will invest one million dollars in Myrtle Beach and bring at least 75 full-time jobs to Horry County.
The company is called Executive HeliJet, and the expansion will help serve as a one-stop-shop for repair, service, inspection, painting, and all things aviation.
Executive HeliJet already has operations at the North Myrtle Beach Airport and Myrtle Beach International Airport.
Local officials say the announcement could mean a boost to both students in our area and the local economy.
Jeremy Bass is the CEO of Executive HeliJet, and he told people in Myrtle Beach Tuesday the expansion would bring 75 full-time jobs, and Horry County residents would have first priority.
“Why would we not choose to live somewhere where people pay good money to come visit and in an industry where we’re getting paid to do something where people generally pay to do? It’s the best of both worlds,” said Bass.
Bass says they’re looking to hire in several different departments including management, professional and technical support, and maintenance repair. He says previous education doesn’t matter.
“If they want to become a pilot, we will help them do that, funded in-house. If they want to become a licensed mechanic, we will help them do that. We’re just looking for good people, that’s it,” said Bass.
Peg Skalican is the campus director for the PIA Campus for Aviation and Technology in Myrtle Beach.
She says the new jobs will give her students opportunities they didn’t have before.
“For most of the time this campus has been open, students have had to accept that they will relocate after graduation because there weren’t a lot of opportunities in the area,” said Skalican.
Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development President and CEO Josh Kay says he hopes the investment will draw more people to want to live and work in Myrtle Beach, and Tuesday’s announcement is part of an even bigger plan.
“Our goal is to try to go out and recruit aviation, aerospace related companies as well as IT companies to create a very diverse park, business park, commerce park if you will that will create and continue and sustain high quality, high paying jobs for the citizens of Myrtle Beach as well as all of Horry County,” said Kay.
Bass says the search has already started to fill the positions, and the average salary is a little more than $20 per hour with employee benefits.
If you’d like to apply, Bass says you can fill out an application at www.JSFirm.com.
