2016 grant winners showing progress: 2017 applications due Sept. 29

Success can be slow in coming sometimes. But when it comes to the Municipal Association’s Hometown Economic Development Grants program, results have come quickly for several cities and towns that were awarded grants in 2016. 

Beaufort Digital Corridor

The Beaufort Digital Corridor opened in January in the City of Beaufort and has already attracted several tenants who are using the BASEcamp hub to incubate their high-tech startups. This local news report describes the program.

The Town of West Pelzer and the Town of Pelzer teamed up to win a grant to fund a master plan for their shared Main Street. This local newspaper article describes the plan that will help guide the towns’ collective futures as they prepare for growth.

One of the three winners of the Gaffney Main Street Challenge is already open for business in downtown Gaffney while the others will be opening soon, providing much-needed foot traffic for other downtown merchants. Read more about the challenge’s winners in this local newspaper article and from this local television report.

Ridgeway School Arch

The Town of Ridgeway finished “Painting the Town Red with Revitalization” when work to stabilize the historic school arch and the world’s smallest police station was recently completed. Read more about Ridgeway’s success in this Uptown article.

Walterboro is making progress toward wrapping up its engineering plans for the Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary Discovery Center and will be putting the project out for bid soon. Read this local news article for more information.

Building on the program’s initial success, the Association’s board of directors increased funding for the program for more grants that will enhance economic development opportunities and have a positive effect on residents’ quality of life. At least ten grants of a maximum of $25,000 each will be awarded in 2017.

Online applications for 2017 grant awards are being accepted until September 29, and winners will be announced no later than October 31. Get more information and details on the application process.