Rants & Raves: How to keep young people in Beaufort

On why a high percentage of younger people are leaving Beaufort:

Overpopulation. This used to be a nice medium size town with small town features. Granted I’m older, but I grew up here. You’re paving paradise to look like a parking lot.

It should have been left the way it was. We are not a huge city. And I never wanted it to be one, or haha “act or try to be” one.

But architects from North Carolina were hired to make Beaufort look like Charleston. I always considered this town more like a quiet, less crime riddled Savannah.

This is nothing new to Beaufort County. Beaufort cannot keep young people and families because of the high cost of living, nothing for children to do year-round, non livable wages, and attitudes towards locals’ needs year-round. There is no one answer to solve this problem until you listen and really want that change to happen for all.

Low-paying, or the lack of, jobs. High rent. So when are Beaufort elected officials going to do something? Start writing letters requesting rent moratorium and higher wages. If tourism wants to thrive here then they are going to need people to fill those jobs.

As a young working professional I’ve made sacrifices to live here, and it’s worth it — but the lack of a comprehensive and aggressive economic development effort here is absolutely appalling.

Economic development is what ruined this area. It once was a small, quiet community and is steadily been in decline as more people move in.

Because there’s no opportunity for young people in Beaufort. It’s been turned into nothing more than a retirement community and a tourist destination.

I believe it’s for jobs with better pay as well as things to do on their off time. I have heard a lot of younger people say they wish there was more to do. I like it here but others want places fun to hang out at etc.

Clubs usually end up getting shut down because some idiot with a gun wants to make a statement, but I would love a convention center to do comic cons and the like here in town. Or a Guild Hall like Savannah has where young adults can hang out with fellow gamers and/or nerds.

If a town wants to rely on tourism as a means of economic growth, it seems very logical that it would build a convention center!

I love Beaufort. I have three small kids, and I would much rather have the small town festivals and street parties, etc. than a mall. As far as jobs, it is a great place to be an entrepreneur!

I love it here too! We are a modest, one income family with 2 kids. I suppose we could go live somewhere else and have more things but our priorities are different.

I couldn’t wait to leave growing up here. I left and saw the world a couple times over. I moved back last night. It has grown so much in the 20 years I’ve been gone. Bottom line you want more opportunities there is a million ideas, there are a million ways to be a entrepreneur.

I don’t live in Beaufort but do live about an hour north of there. We visit every weekend and I would say that it is due to many retirees moving into the area and not enough high paying jobs because it is tourist destination. It’s mainly restaurants and little shops. I would say attract bigger business with competitive wages!

Being one of those that left, I’d say jobs. Income prospects in Beaufort are bleak. I grew up in Beaufort, and loved every minute at the sandbars and in the creeks, but then I had a boat.

Too many dollar stores on every corner and nothing to do. No bowling alleys, movie theaters, no decent shopping. Along with no jobs that pay, I guess all we can afford are dollar stores? Tons of blight and empty buildings doesn’t help the scenery either.

This story was originally published April 9, 2016 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Rants & Raves: How to keep young people in Beaufort."