In economic development, it's often said that companies don't locate to a state or region; they locate to a community. In South Carolina, we're blessed to have many vibrant communities across this state. To ensure prosperity in each of our communities, and specifically in our rural areas, S.C. Commerce administers several important programs.
Aimed at assisting low and moderate income populations, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program awards grants that fund a wide variety of projects, including neighborhood revitalization, infrastructure improvement and public safety protection. Since 2011, the program has awarded more than 350 grants, totaling $131 million. In the most recent round of grants, awarded last November, 17 projects received funding, benefiting approximately 59,000 people.
In addition to the CDBG program, S.C. Commerce also houses the South Carolina Disaster Recovery Office (SCDRO). Tasked with distributing federal grant funding to address the long-term housing and disaster case management needs of South Carolina citizens, SCDRO currently manages housing programs for areas recovering from the October 2015 flood, as well as Hurricane Matthew in 2016. To date, the office has repaired or replaced more than 920 homes affected by the two disasters. And, before its conclusion, the program is expected to reach a combined 3,500 homes.
In the Palmetto State, we often talk about our team-first approach -- Team South Carolina. When examining their collective impacts, it's clear the CDBG program and the SCDRO are critical components of our team. Together, they help us ensure communities of all shapes and sizes across our state have the resources they need to succeed.