Grants awarded to improve 13 South Carolina communities
November 24, 2014
Commerce awards $4.5 million in Community Development Block Grant funds
COLUMBIA, SC – Communities across the state are slated to benefit from public improvement projects supported by nearly $4.5 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 13 communities, representing more 38,000 residents, for the following projects:
Allendale County – Old County Jail Demolition – $92,800
Town of Edgefield – Fire Truck – $328,455
City Of Greenwood – Riley/Magnolia Streetscape Improvements – $500,000
City of Manning – Fleming Neighborhood Demolition – $266,111
Town of New Ellenton – Greendale Neighborhood Demolition – $500,000
Town of Norris – Fire Truck – $342,700
City of Orangeburg – Boswell Street Demolition – $150,700
Town of Pendleton – Mechanic Street Streetscape – $500,000
Town of Timmonsville – Demolition – $75,000
City of Darlington – Southeast Neighborhood Revitalization – $500,000
Town of Fort Mill – Paradise Neighborhood Revitalization – $500,000
City of Hanahan – Charleston Farms Neighborhood Revitalization – $244,930
Lancaster County – Midway Neighborhood Revitalization – $500,000
“The CDBG program consistently has had a positive impact on communities across our state, providing millions of dollars in funding for community development, stronger infrastructure and improvements to state residents’ quality of life,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt. “Through these community improvements, we continue to create a more competitive environment in our state and promote what makes South Carolina ‘Just right.'”
Approximately 57 percent of the more than 38,000 citizens that will benefit from the improvements in this grant round are considered low- to moderate-income residents. Additionally, four of the communities awarded will undertake comprehensive neighborhood revitalization projects, including: water and sewer upgrades, new sidewalks, drainage improvements, installation of security cameras and demolition of vacant, dilapidated homes.
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. Grant funds are allocated on an annual basis to South Carolina from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and 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.
For additional information on South Carolina’s CDBG program, including application guidelines and frequently asked questions, please visit www.cdbgsc.com.
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 business grow. Commerce has recruited world-class companies to South Carolina such as Boeing, Bridgeston, 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 Locatioin 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.
