COLUMBIA— The S.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) announced it has awarded $1,369 billion in grant funding to communities across the state to assist with improvements for clean drinking water, sanitary sewer and stormwater resilience. The funds, made via the award of 216 grants to local governments and public water and sewer utilities across South Carolina, are expected to modernize and upgrade critical facilities that will have far-reaching impacts for years to come. These projects will benefit communities in every county in the state.
Among the awardees are the City of Dillon, who was awarded $10 million to be used for adding one million gallons of wastewater capacity and upgrading water meters for quicker and more accurate readings and the Town of Latta, who was awarded $8,134,112 for water system upgrades.
“The vital infrastructure improvements these funds will deliver across South Carolina will be a game changer,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “The availability of critical services not only improves the immediate quality of life for our citizens, but it also makes our state more attractive for impactful and sustained economic development.”
“We are making a huge difference by investing in our future,” noted RIA Executive Director Bonnie Ammons. “The funds awarded throughout the state will go a long way in addressing the sustainability of water and sewer systems for the long term. In many cases, these funds will transform communities.”
The S.C. Infrastructure Investment Program (SCIIP) was created by RIA as a major, one-time initiative designed to have a transformative impact on water, wastewater and stormwater systems in small and disadvantaged
communities as well as larger, growing communities using federal funds allocated by the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
“This is a generational opportunity to continue our efforts in setting the stage for economic development,” said S.C. Secretary of Commerce and RIA Board Chairman Harry M. Lightsey, III. “The funds awarded will directly support projects that will help make critical infrastructure improvements to support existing businesses and prepare all parts of South Carolina for future growth.”
The funding offers a unique opportunity to make long-term capital improvements that will strengthen critical services to residents and businesses, create more resilient communities and build the capacity to support future opportunities for growth and economic development. Projects selected by RIA’s board of directors are designed to address a range of needs that will protect public health and the environment and build capacity for the future.
Priorities for project selection included regional solutions involving multiple utilities, protection of public health and water quality, resilience and storm protection, modernization of aging infrastructure, capacity development
South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority
and economic opportunities. Recipients of the funds will be able to get started on their projects in the next couple of months, with a deadline to spend all funds by Dec. 31, 2026.
The types of projects that have been awarded range from storm drainage facilities that will protect residents and property from future storm damage and erosion, to upgrades of facilities that provide clean drinking water such as wells, storage tanks, treatment facilities and distribution lines, as well as the collection and treatment of sanitary sewer to protect the environment. A number of the SCIIP projects will address system capacity to create economic opportunities in the future. Applicants that serve fewer than 30,000 people, or are located in a county designated as Tier III or IV by the S.C. Department of Revenue, had a 15% match requirement. Large utilities, serving more than 30,000, were required to provide a 25% match requirement. In all, these SCIIP awards will leverage an additional $900 million in matching funds — local and other dollars committed to implement these projects. Furthermore, state grant funds that are annually allocated to RIA were also used as leverage for SCIIP projects in small and disadvantaged areas. In FY23, $15.2 million in state funds were awarded to carry out 37 SCIIP funded projects in these areas.
Over 300 applications totaling more than $2 billion were submitted. 70% of all applications were funded, including at least one project in every county.
