Community Development Block Grants Awarded
COLUMBIA, S.C. – August 26, 2011 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce today announced that approximately $16.3 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds have been awarded to 37 communities across the state. These projects will benefit more than 23,000 residents. A full list of grant recipients is listed below.“The CDBG program consistently has a positive impact on communities across our state that lack resources for community development. These resources not only help improve residents’ quality of life, but also help create a more competitive environment for bringing jobs and investment,” said Bobby Hitt, Secretary of Commerce.The projects receiving grants were selected through a statewide competitive process. Communities receiving CDBG funding are required to provide at least 10 percent matching funds. To secure grant funding, communities must demonstrate how they are ensuring healthy and safe neighborhoods. The projects include extension of water lines to serve residents without public water resources, improvement to existing water and sewer systems to upgrade services and conform to environmental and health requirements, and development of drainage infrastructure to prevent water overflows and damage to property. These strategic capital investments address public health, safety or environmental quality concerns.Approximately 82 percent of these funds will be invested in 31 communities in the state’s less developed counties in South Carolina. In all, 15,000 low- to moderate-income households will benefit from these improvements.All grants awarded through the CDBG program must meet at least one of three objectives:
- Benefit low and moderate income people.
- Aid in eliminating or preventing poor neighborhood conditions.
- Meet urgent community needs where there are threats to public health and welfare, and where other financial resources are not available.
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. More than 70 percent of the funding will assist the state’s lower income residents.-###- Community Development Block Grants will be awarded to the following communities: Town of Andrews – Pump Station Upgrades $500,000Beaufort County – Burton Water Extension $422,500City of Bennettsville –Sewer Line Upgrade $497,500Town of Blacksburg – Youngs Grove Road Water Extension $500,000Town of Blackville – Water System Upgrade $495,000Cherokee County – River Drive Water Upgrade and Extension $500,000City of Clemson – Old Central and Charleston Avenue Sewer Upgrade $305,550City of Denmark – Wastewater Lagoon Improvements $495,500Town of Elloree – Tee Vee Road Water Extension $484,590Town of Estill – Ruth Street Pump Station Upgrade $422,500Georgetown County – Marysville Sewer Improvements $500,000City of Greenwood – Southeast Waterline Upgrade $405,610Greenwood County – Panola Mill Village Sewer Upgrade $500,000City of Hardeeville – Drainage Improvements $500,000Town of Harleyville – Water Line Upgrade $500,000City of Hartsville – Water Line Upgrade $241,938Town of Heath Springs – Water System Upgrade $461,385Town of Hemingway – Baptist Road Water Extension $283,331Town of Iva – Sewer Upgrades Phase III $443,737Town of Jonesville – Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade $500,000Laurens County – Joanna Mill Water and Sewer Upgrade $500,000City of Liberty – Woodside Sewer Upgrade $500,000Town of Lockhart – Water and Sewer Upgrade $500,000Town of Perry – Water System Upgrade $499,775Town of Ridgeland – Ridgeland Water Tank Upgrades $429,500Town of Saluda – Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade $500,000Town of St. Matthews – Water System Upgrade $321,947Town of St. Stephen – Water Tank Upgrade $500,000Town of Stuckey – Water Upgrade/Interconnection $494,200Town of Timmonsville – Water Upgrade $500,000City of Union – Highway 49 Apartments Sewer Upgrade $243,893Union County – Monarch Mill Village Sewer Water Upgrade $500,000Town of Varnville – Mill Pond Pump Station Upgrade $190,297City of Walterboro – Jackson Street Pump Station Upgrade $340,900Town of Ware Shoals – Waterline Upgrade Phase II $450,848Town of West Pelzer – Water System Upgrade Project $447,500Town of Williamston – Sewer Upgrade Project $447,611