Town of Saluda Awarded a $148,500 Community Development Block Grant
March 23, 2009
Funding to Assist in Creating Affordable Housing for Teachers
COLUMBIA, SC – March 20, 2009 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce and the South Carolina Department of Education today announced that the two agencies have partnered in an effort to secure housing for teachers in Saluda County. To achieve this goal, the Department of Commerce is providing $148,500 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to assist in the renovation of a downtown Saluda building that will be used as affordable rental housing for teachers.
“Our CDBG grant funds have helped communities across the state enhance infrastructure, improve access for workers to job training centers and, as in this case, increase the amount of affordable housing available. This grant will make it easier for Saluda County teachers to find rental housing near the schools where they teach. The CDBG program has been successful in the past in producing positive results for communities and will go a long way towards helping the Saluda County School District attract and retain teachers,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.
The Saluda School District hires approximately 30 new teachers each year. This year, 28 of the 30 teachers hired were from outside the county. The District has found that most teachers cannot find housing in Saluda, and this grant will help provide affordable rental housing for teachers in downtown Saluda.
Four of the five schools in the district are located within one mile of the boundaries of the Town of Saluda. By helping new teachers secure a home in the community and within close proximity to the schools, district officials hope to attract new teachers and increase teacher retention rates.
“This project is a great example of how we can invest in our teachers as they continue to invest in our children,” said Superintendent of Education Jim Rex. “We welcome the Department of Commerce’s assistance in providing an additional incentive for young people to enter the teaching profession and work where they are needed most.”
The new apartments will include a number of “green” features, such as low-flow showerheads and faucets, water saver toilets, energy star lighting and appliances and energy efficient windows. The building owner is investing over $150,000 in the improvements.
“This grant goes a long way in helping us bring and retain teachers to Saluda County Schools. We look forward to completing this project and providing affordable housing to our teachers. This is truly an investment in the future of our community,” said Town of Saluda Mayor Frank Addy.
This grant represents the first workforce housing project funded in a pilot CDBG program to bring more teachers into areas that have the greatest difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified teachers. Communities receiving CDBG funding are required to provide at least 10 percent matching funds.
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.
The grants funds are allocated annually to South Carolina from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Department of Commerce administers the CDBG program for the state. The program assists communities in providing housing, a suitable living environment and expanded economic opportunities. Grants are awarded to local governments to carry out a wide range of activities addressing housing and community development needs.
About S.C. Department of Commerce
As South Carolina’s leading economic development agent, the Department of Commerce works closely with economic development professionals throughout the state to recruit new businesses and jobs and help existing businesses grow. In 2008 Commerce recruited a record 18,993 new jobs and $4.17 billion in capital investment. Many well-known names and world-class companies chose to invest in South Carolina during 2008, some of which include: Target Corp., Home Depot, Heinz, Monster, American Titanium Works, BMW, Michelin and URS Corp. Commerce also assists companies in locating buildings and sites in which to operate, offers grants for community development and infrastructure improvements and provides tools to enhance workforce skills. For more information, visit www.SCcommerce.com.
