The South Carolina Community Development Block Grant Program provides grants to eligible local governments (towns, cities and counties) that do not directly receive CDBG funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. CDBG grants can fund a wide variety of projects from revitalizing neighborhoods to improving community infrastructure, providing public facilities and creating or retaining jobs. The state program is administered by the South Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Grants Administration.
The SC Rural Infrastructure Authority was established by the General Assembly to assist in financing qualified infrastructure projects. Grants are awarded through a competitive process that identifies priority needs for improved public health, environmental protection, community sustainability and economic development. Applications are accepted in the spring and fall each year and applicants are required to match the RIA funding requests.
The State Revolving Funds are federally capitalized loan programs for water and waste water infrastructure projects. The programs offer low-interest financing for waste water treatment and collection, drinking water supply and distribution, water quality, and storm water infrastructure. It is jointly administered by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control and the SC Rural Infrastructure Authority.
In the past 27 years, more than $1.2 billion in SRF loans have been closed, ranging in size from less than $500,000 to $35 million for clean water (sewer) and drinking water projects.
The principal focus of the Tony Hawk Foundation is to encourage and facilitate the design, development, construction and operation of new, quality skateboard parks and facilities in low-income communities throughout the United States. The Foundation provides support to parks that are designed and built by qualified and experienced contractors, include local skaters in the design process, and demonstrate a strong grassroots commitment to the project. Also, parks that have a creative mix of obstacles and terrain, don't over-regulate or restrict access to the park, don't charge money, and are in areas that currently have no skateboarding facilities are preferred. Nonprofit organizations and government agencies, including public schools, are eligible to apply. Applications deadlines are March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1, annually.
FEMA offers several grant programs to implement hazard mitigation projects at the local level. These funds can be used for a variety of projects that will assist in lessening and/or preventing the effects of future hazards. Examples of projects may include, but are not limited to, retrofitting existing buildings to withstand potential hazards, flood barriers, generator connections for critical facilities, and warning systems. Federal mitigation funds may be available to finance up to 75 percent of the total project costs with the remaining 25 percent requiring non-federal funds.
A prerequisite for all eligible applicants is that they must have a Federal Emergency Management Agency approved hazard mitigation plan prior to receipt of any federal mitigation funds.
Municipalities that do not have approved hazard mitigation plans have two options. One, municipalities may sign on to an existing regional or county hazard mitigation plan. Two, local jurisdictions may develop their own hazard mitigation plans. Regardless of method, SCEMD encourages any municipality that does not currently have a hazard mitigation plan to contact the State Hazard Mitigation Officer to discuss which option would best suit their needs in becoming eligible for federal mitigation funds.
Melissa Potter, State Hazard Mitigation Officer, may be contacted at: 803.737.8856 or via email: mpotter@emd.sc.gov, subject: FEMA Mitigation Grants.
The National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program provides funding to reduce emissions from existing diesel engines through a variety of strategies, including but not limited to: add-on emission control retrofit technologies; idle reduction technologies; cleaner fuel use; engine repowers; engine upgrades; and/or vehicle or equipment replacement; and the creation of innovative finance programs to fund diesel emissions reduction projects. Under this grant program, funding is restricted to the use of EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) verified and certified diesel emission reduction technologies.
Community Programs, a division of the Housing and Community Facilities Programs, is part of the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development mission area. Community Programs administers programs designed to develop essential community facilities for public use in rural areas.
These facilities include schools, libraries, childcare, hospitals, medical clinics, assisted living facilities, fire and rescue stations, police stations, community centers, public buildings and transportation.
Deadline: Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.