The Municipal Association of South Carolina has awarded Hometown Economic Development Grants to 12 cities and towns.
Available in amounts of up to $25,000 each, the grants fund economic development projects that will produce measurable results for a municipality’s quality of life, can be maintained over time and illustrate innovative practices that can be replicated in other cities. The grants have matching requirements of either funds or in-kind contributions ranging from 5% to 15% depending on the size of the municipality.
Here are the winners of the 2023 cycle:
Town of Allendale
Revitalizing Allendale Community Center: Restoring Hope and Unity
Through a combination of renovations, innovative design, and community engagement, Allendale will aim to restore the Allendale Community Center into a vibrant hub of opportunity. This collaborative project seeks to revitalize the center, making it a welcoming space catering to the diverse needs of the community.
Town of Blackville
Blackville Downtown Facelift
Blackville will create a Façade Improvement Mini-Grant program, which will incentivize property owners to comprehensively enhance the facade of commercial and mixed-use buildings. The program is part of the town’s initiative to support revitalization efforts that will create jobs, reduce blight, and preserve and improve structures in the community.
Town of Carlisle
Planning For Carlisle’s Future
Carlisle will use grant funds to create a comprehensive plan, which will include a vision for recreational spaces, future housing and commercial developments, as well as amenities to accommodate industrial growth in the area.
Town of Clio
Park and Playground Project
To engage young families and promote economic development in its historic downtown, Clio will develop its first-ever park and playground adjacent to its new municipal building and local post office. The park will feature traditional design elements and a specialized sensory area to cater to a diverse range of children's needs and interests.
City of Dillon
Targeting the Highest Potential
Building on the momentum from a previous HEDG award for a master plan, Dillon will use its funds to conduct a city-wide market analysis focused on targeted, informed recruitment and expansion of business opportunities. The project will collect market data paired with stakeholder input to target realistic market opportunities that will advance the city’s revitalization efforts.
City of Johnsonville
Kayak Through History
Johnsonville intends to provide visitors and residents a new way to enjoy the cypress-lined banks of the Lynches River and Mill Creek by offering the experience of floating through the scenic wetlands that were once traveled by Revolutionary War Patriots engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Loyalists. The city will partner with Paddle SC, Visit Florence and Discover SC to increase public awareness and enjoyment of paddle recreation opportunities on waterways throughout South Carolina by purchasing an eight-bay, self-service kayak rental station.
Town of Lane
Farmer’s Market
Designated as a food desert, the Town of Lane will use grant funds to establish a weekly farmer's market and create an opportunity to teach canning and other methods of food storage to local residents.
Town of Lockhart
Town Square Market Plan
As the first step in implementing its Lockhart Tomorrow visioning plan, the town will use grant funds to guide the development of the town square market into the economic hub of Lockhart. The town square market pavilion will host pop-up markets and other events to encourage future business development in the town’s center that will serve tourists and residents alike.
City of Marion
Bringing LIVES to Downtown Marion
Seeking to fill an unmet need for downtown living space and bring residential living into its downtown, the City of Marion and the Historic Marion Revitalization Association will use grant funds to help convert an unused, upstairs commercial space into three apartment units.
City of Mauldin
City Center Village Master Plan
Mauldin will use its grant funds to craft a plan to transform the city’s underdeveloped, crossroads downtown into a true urban village. Through parcel acquisitions, public-private partnerships and now with development partners onboard, a new City Center Village Master Plan will build upon recent development efforts and provide a roadmap for the future of Mauldin.
City of Simpsonville
South Main Street Archway
As a part of its Downtown Revitalization and Traffic Realignment Project, Simpsonville’s “Festival Street” will be set apart by an archway to delineate the space, letting visitors know that they have arrived in the heart of the central business district. The archway will feature a public engagement platform where visitors and residents can affirm their city as “Simply Home.”
Town of Winnsboro
Downtown Economic Redevelopment Plan
Poised to grow exponentially in the near future because of the construction of the Scout Motors Manufacturing campus nearby, the Town of Winnsboro must prepare for how to manage its growth. The town will use its grant funds to immediately create a plan to manage its future and best utilize state funding for the development of its downtown.
The Municipal Association launched the Hometown Economic Development Grants in 2016 and has awarded grants each year since then. Learn more about past winners.