Spratt announces federal assistance for Pee Dee projects

By Morning News Staff Reports

Published: August 28, 2008

U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., has announced federal assistance for several Pee Dee projects.

Darlington County was awarded $24,680 by the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant will help the sheriff’s office buy 20 laptop computers with air cards and air time to allow deputies to report incidents in real time.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program awarded Dillon County $62,800 toward the purchase of a new pumper/tanker truck for the fire department.

Latta was awarded a $940,000 loan by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program to help with the construction of two new wells to replace the current water system. The new system will improve water quality.

Alligator Rural Water & Sewer Co. in McBee was awarded a $177,000 loan and a $230,000 grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program. The funds will be used to install charcoal filers to remove contaminants found in two wells.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program awarded Charles C. Helms of Cheraw a grant of $8,740 to make energy-efficiency improvements to five poultry houses.

The Chesterfield County Coordinating Council was awarded $100,000 by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to support the group’s efforts to reduce substance abuse among Chesterfield County youth.

The Rural Crossroads Institute in Columbia was awarded $99,000 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program to help two S.C. Community Empowerment Centers located in Marlboro and Greenwood counties. RCI hopes to assist 25 businesses and create 100 jobs with the funds.

“These grants are a plus for the Pee Dee and a good example of how the federal government helps out at the local level,” Spratt said in a press release.