The South Carolina Department of Commerce today announced that approximately $2.2 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds have been awarded to 11 communities across the state including the Town of Sellers.
These projects will benefit more than 23,000 residents.
The Town of Sellers was awarded $50,000 from the Community Enrichment Program for a Library and Resource Center.
According to Amy Love of the S.C. Department of Commerce, “CDBG will fund minor renovations to a publicly-owned facility on Main Street that the local AME church donated to the town, to be used as a community resource center. Funding will also provide six computers. The project addresses the town’s focus on serving at-risk youth with after school and tutoring programs. Sellers is more than 85 percent low income.”
“The CDBG program consistently has a positive impact on communities across South Carolina. 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.
This round of CDBG funding focused on two programs for grants.
The Community Enrichment program has three objectives – enhancing workforce development, addressing community health and safety concerns and eliminating obstacles to economic development.
The Village Renaissance program is designed to identify significant needs within a low- or moderate-income neighborhood and work to comprehensively plan and implement improvements that will help revitalize the area and create more sustainable communities.
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.
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 grant 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.
