Grants help with sprucing up, infrastructure

By Star & Enterprise Staff Reports

Published: September 5, 2008

As part of $11.4 million in Community Development Block Grant funds awarded to 31 communities across the state, Marion County received $192,329 for the Highway 501 Neighborhood Water Extension project.

The South Carolina Department of Commerce announced the funding of the projects, which will benefit more than 15,200 low- to moderate-income residents. Twenty-seven CDBG-funded projects will provide new public water or sewer service and improvements to existing deteriorated systems to ensure a suitable living environment.  The projects will result in water service that is safe, free of contamination and that provides adequate fire protection for residents.  Sewer system improvements will eliminate failing septic tanks and ensure that environmental standards are being met.

Four additional projects are designed to help improve the physical appearance and stabilize neighborhood property values through a program called “Paint the Town.” “Paint the Town” is designed to make communities more economically competitive by improving the overall physical appearance and stabilizing neighborhood property values.  The program will make necessary repairs to facades and exteriors of low- and moderate-income occupied housing units within a concentrated neighborhood.

“The CDBG program is a great resource to address a variety of opportunities in areas most in need of assistance.  We are pleased that this year 31 communities and more than 15,200 residents will benefit from these grants,” said Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor. Communities receiving CDBG funding are required to provide at least 25 percent matching funds. 

The grants funds are allocated annually to South Carolina from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Department of Commerce administers the CDBG program for the state. In Dillon County, $103,300 was awarded for the Germantown Road water extension. The City of Johnsonville was awarded $495,995 for a water extension project.
A $53,240 Paint the Town grant was awarded to the City of Marion.