15 Aug I rode that bus 24 years ago and will never forget those traveling two hours each way to their jobs
During my first year serving in the SC State House of Representatives, I rode the bus from St Helena Island to Hilton Head Island with my constituents hoping to get a better understanding of the two hour commute and the jobs at the other end.
Thanks to the Island Packet / Beaufort Gazette to opening our community’s eyes.
To maintain a healthy workforce, I believe the hospitality industry must become more innovative and find more efficient ways of doing more business with fewer people at higher wages. Hilton Head Island is an ideal place to create a laboratory for developing such technology. Furthermore, we must find better jobs closer to home for hard working Beaufort families.
In Beaufort we must maintain a sensitive balance between those who live and work here, those who retire here and those who visit us. The only way to do that is to protect the strong military presence and find innovative ways to diversify our economy, grow local businesses and find new ones that want to live in this special place. It is not easy, but it is critical to maintaining our authenticity which is what distinguishes us from other physically beautiful places.
Meet Hilton Heads 5-Hour Commuters