Focusing on promoting businesses throughout the area east of the Cooper is a rather difficult task, especially this year. The fiscal 2010 budget is a whopping $4 million less than that in 2009. Instead of raising property taxes, Swails has developed a consolidation strategy to save money.

The town has eliminated 32 vacant positions while implementing a wellness program in an effort to save money. This particular program will reduce employee insurance costs dramatically. Additionally, the sanitation department will begin using different trucks, thus reducing operating costs.

Economically, Mayor Swails is taking a calculated approach. He stated that the town is focused on attracting and retaining businesses. The strategy will fill the vacant storefronts before expanding and building new locations.

Another point of interest was the lack of a Main Street. The town of Mount Pleasant is looking to expand roadways to create more investment corridors. These roads include Coleman Boulevard, Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, Long Point Road, Patriots Point and Oakland Plantation.

The town is also looking to benefit from Boeing’s recent decision to put a manufacturing plant in North Charleston. Mount Pleasant is hoping that many spin-off businesses and vendors locate within its city limits.

Over $150 million in road and intersection projects are planned for the upcoming year. The major projects include: $70 million for widening of Johnnie Dodds Boulevard from the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge to the Kmart property at Bowman Road; $50 million for the overpass at Interstate 526 and Hungryneck Boulevard; and $15 million for the widening of U.S. Highway 17 from the Isle of Palms Connector to S.C. Highway 41.

Despite the numerous changes and ongoing roadway construction, Mount Pleasant, SC is one of the most highly desired areas for homebuyers in the nation.

Hailing a taxi could have a whole new meaning here in Charleston, SC.

Charleston’s Parks and Capital Projects Department applied for a permit from federal regulators to build a new floating dock near historic downtown Charleston. This dock would allow various private water taxi companies to operate in Waterfront Park.

This new dock would allow tourists and passengers to have easy access to the heart of the historic district from various areas around Charleston Harbor.

One particular company, the Charleston Water Taxi, currently loops about 10 times daily between the Charleston Harbor Marina at Patriots Point and nearby hotels in Mount Pleasant and the Charleston Maritime Center, near the South Carolina Aquarium downtown.

Many supporters argue that the new dock would showcase Charleston’s beautiful waterfront while decreasing demands on public transportation. The estimated cost of the proposed dock is about $150,000.

Following their proposed expansion to the new Waterfront Park, Charleston Water Taxi hopes to expand to Daniel Island. From there they have their sights set on Mount Pleasant’s Memorial Waterfront Park as well as a stop in North Charleston. They also plan to launch a more traditional taxi service on a separate boat that will ferry passengers to locations at their request.

We think that whether you’re a local or a tourist, you’ll find a water taxi a delightful and inexpensive adventure. What are your thoughts?

Read original article from the Post and Courier here.

The town of Mt. Pleasant, SC launched a marketing initiative in September that is encouraging residents to take part in their research. Aiming to develop a business plan that will increase the quality of life for residents, town officials want to hear from YOU!

The Web site, IdeasForMP.com, was created to act as a community forum – a place to share thoughts, pictures, video, personal stories and ideas for improving Mt. Pleasant.

As the Web site reads, “We’ve launched a long term, strategic marketing effort to help improve the quality of life for all our residents and businesses and we want to incorporate your input and feedback.”

So if you’re a current Mt. Pleasant resident with some ideas for the town’s future or thinking about moving to the area, check out IdeasForMP.com and get a glimpse of this vibrant, close-knit community.

The 21-foot-tall tree, which features almost 600 Christmas lights and a star on top, will help “create a new tradition,” Mount Pleasant Mayor Billy Swails said.

“Santa will arrive on a bright red fire truck to listen to Christmas requests and distribute candy canes,” he said. “Entertainment will include local performers, and a Toys for Tots drive will be held at 7 p.m. in the Cooper River Room at the Visitor Center. Bring your children and good cheer and help us usher the Christmas season into our wonderful town!”

For details on the “Tree of Lights” ceremony, contact Su McManus-Frost at 884-8517.

Every year the Municipal Association of South Carolina Municipal Association of South Carolina recognizes and encourages innovations and excellence in local governments through its Achievement Awards. The 2009 winners were recently announced.

The town of Mount Pleasant was the 2009 recipient of the Public Service Award.

Mount Pleasant is a rapidly growing and vivacious area, making it a highly desired place to live. Local officials in Mount Pleasant knew that it was nearly impossible for middle-income workers to find a place to live in town.

Many of these workers were commuting from nearby towns – Goose Creek, Summerville or West Ashley. These long commutes were not only tiresome for the drivers themselves, they also created extra congestion on the roadways.

The town council created the Workforce Housing Advisory Committee which in turn generated workforce housing in various areas around Mount Pleasant. These zoned areas provide affordable housing within the town of Mount Pleasant.

Consequently, numerous workers can now live within the city in which they work. This has dramatically cut down on commuting traffic and made the lives of many middle-income workers much less stressful.

At the South Carolina State Ports Authority’s (SCSPA) Wando Welch Terminal, the U.S. Coast Guard joined various maritime businesses to further develop projects that will reduce the port industry’s impact on air emissions.

While the port sees the movement of more than $60 billion of cargo on an annual basis, many businesses are concerned with the environmental impact of their operations. The port industry recognizes the fact that they can still continue operations while minimizing negative environmental impacts.

As part of its comprehensive “Pledge for Growth” environmental initiative, the SCSPA and private companies are taking a proactive role in improving air quality in the region through a number of programs. These projects include the reduction of truck emissions along with cleaner fuels and engines.

The SCSPA and several private companies are working in partnership with the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, the S.C. Trucking Association, the EPA and the American Lung Association. Together, they have partnered on more than $5 million in various projects aimed at reducing diesel emissions.

These projects include idle reduction devices and filters on trucks, repowering 57 pieces of cargo-handling equipment and repowering two local tug boats and a dredge. These projects alone will eliminate more than 2,500 tons of pollutants and reduce fuel consumption.

The Port of Charleston is vital to the surrounding economy and is an economic development engine for the state. Port operations facilitate 260,800 jobs across South Carolina and nearly $45 billion in economic activity each year.

Qualified first-time homebuyers in Berkeley, Charleston or Dorchester counties could receive the money from the Homeownership Resource Center, a division of Family Services Inc.

The additional $3,500 will be given to one qualified person or family at each of the six First-Time Homebuyers Workshops hosted by the Homeownership Resource Center, a nonprofit, Housing and Urban Development-approved counseling agency.

The recipients must attend one of the free workshops and close on their first home by Nov. 30, the date the tax credit is set to expire.

Topics to be discussed include mortgage programs, buying HUD properties and foreclosures, home inspections, homeownership insurance, getting the most out of your real estate agents, legal fees, and current market conditions.

For more information, visit www.fsisc.org.

The new two-lane road will link the Isle of Palms Connector and Six Mile Road. It will have a median along with pedestrian walkways on both sides of the road. The roadway will be a much-needed relief to the already busy US 17.

The new addition to Hungry Neck Boulevard will connect the existing 1.5-mile-long boulevard that runs from U.S. 17 at I-526 to the Isle of Palms Connector at Iron Bridge Road. Another planned extension of the boulevard that will begin at Bowman Road is a cooperative venture between the town and the developers of Central Mount Pleasant.

The town is also considering another boulevard extension from Six Mile Road to Porchers Bluff Road, but funding is not yet available.

The section of new boulevard from the Isle of Palms Connector to Six Mile Road is funded through a $2.3 million general fund bond, $1.1 million in transportation impact fees, $1 million in tax increment district financing, $150,000 in hospitality tax revenue and $110,000 in another general fund bond. The biggest expense was the construction contract at $2.5 million.

More traffic relief is planned in the form of a project to widen five miles of US 17 from four lanes to six lanes from the Connector north to Darrell Creek Trail. The project is intended to relieve serious commuter delays, particularly during rush hours.