Grants awarded to improve 24 South Carolina communities
July 6, 2014
Commerce awards $13.3 million in Community Development Block Grant funds
COLUMBIA, SC – Communities across the state are slated to benefit from public improvement projects supported by nearly $13.3 million in funds from the latest round of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The South Carolina Department of Commerce is awarding CDBG funds to these 24 local municipalities, representing 12,591 residents, for the following projects:
Berkeley County – Horseshoe Neighborhood Water Extension – $269,350
Town of Bluffton – Possum Point Sewer Extension – $320,000
Town of Cameron – Cameron Drainage Improvements – $750,000
City of Darlington – South Main Sewer Upgrade – $472,160
City of Easley – West End Sewer Upgrade – $719,475
Town of Greeleyville – Sewer Extension – $362,150
City of Greenwood – Water Upgrade – $487,700
Greenwood County – Sullivan Sewer Upgrade – $700,000
Hampton County – Brunson/Gifford Water Interconnection – $1,000,000
Town of Heath Springs – Water Upgrade – $405,500
Town of Iva – Water Tank – $750,000
Town of Jonesville – Alman Street Water & Sewer Upgrade – $547,093
Laurens County – Joanna Mill Water & Sewer Upgrade – $387,295
Town of Lockhart – Sewer Upgrade – $607,290
City of Newberry – West End Mill Village Water/Sewer Upgrades – $706,863
Town of Olanta – Well and Water Treatment Facility – $750,000
Town of Ridgeland – Wise Street Pump Station – $399,565
Town of Ulmer – Highway 301 Water Upgrade – $391,314
City of Union – May Street Sewer Upgrade – $343,490
City of Walterboro – Hampton Street Area Water Upgrade – $750,000
Town of Williamston – Pinecrest Drive Sewer Upgrade – $445,487
Town of Williston – Elko Area Water Upgrade – $385,940
Town of Winnsboro – Sewer Transmission Line Upgrade – $564,103
Town of Yemassee – Sewer Upgrade – $750,000
“The success of our business recruitment starts with having strong infrastructure and a good quality of life,” said Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt. “Through these improvements to public infrastructure, we continue to help ‘set the table’ for economic development in communities across South Carolina.”
Commerce awards CDBG funds in the fall and the spring of each year. Selected through a statewide competitive process, local governments receiving CDBG funding are required to provide at least a 10 percent match in funding to complete the projects. Approximately 69 percent of the 12,591 citizens that will benefit from the improvements in this grant round are considered in low- to moderate-income residents. Additionally, 96 percent of funds awarded will directly impact residents in Tier II, III and IV counties, which are not considered to be “developed.”
Grant funds are allocated on an annual basis to South Carolina from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Commerce administers the CDBG program on the state’s behalf. CDBG assists communities in providing housing, a suitable living environment and expanded economic opportunities.
All grants awarded through the CDBG program must meet at least one of three objectives:
- Benefit low- and moderate-income persons.
- Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums and blighting conditions.
- Meet other urgent community development needs where existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to public health and welfare, and where other financial resources are not readily available to meet such needs.
About S.C. Department of Commerce
As South Carolina’s leading economic development agency, the Department of Commerce works to recruit new businesses and help existing businesses grow. Commerce has recruited world-class companies to South Carolina such as Boeing, Bridgestone, Continental, Monster.com, ZF Group, BMW and Google Inc. and also supports small and existing business, rural development initiatives and community development. Commerce partners with the S.C. Technical College System via readySC to support workforce training and recruiting, and with the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, which provides worker training and employment opportunities within the state. South Carolina ranked first in the nation for attracting jobs through foreign investment, according to IBM-Plant Location International reports in both 2012 and 2013. The state won the Gold Shovel Award and the Project of Year Award from Area Development magazine in 2012. For more information, visit www.SCcommerce.com.
