A grant award to the City of Woodruff in 2020 contributed to the “Block 224” project, an effort to transform a dilapidated downtown building into a public space that connects downtown businesses with off-street parking.
In Woodruff, the Block 224 project connected Main Street businesses with public parking behind their buildings and with the city’s refurbished McKinney Park.
The Hometown Economic Development Grant program funds projects that will produce measurable results, can be maintained over time and illustrate innovative and sustainable practices that can be replicated in other cities. After applicants make submissions in September, an awards committee of former and current local government and state agency professionals evaluate the applications.
Cities and towns receiving a grant must provide matching funds, with the amount based on their populations, submit reports about the progress and successes of each grant-funded project and provide financial details of how the grant funds were used.
Here are the winners of the 2021 grant cycle:
City of Beaufort
South Coast Cyber Center
Beaufort will repurpose a former school facility into the downtown headquarters for the South Coast Cyber Center, a world-class facility dedicated to cybersecurity, cyber defense education and innovation.
City of Cayce
Cayce River Arts District
Cayce will infuse more public art into the Cayce River Arts District through everyday objects in order to continue the area’s redevelopment and growth.
Town of Donalds
Municipal and Historical Preservation Park
Grant funds will help fully restore, renovate and optimize the building and parcel of the Donalds Grange No. 497, a historic property that is a part of the South Carolina Heritage Corridor and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
City of Georgetown
Multi-Purpose Outdoor Marketplace and Park
In partnership with multiple organizations, Georgetown will redevelop the empty downtown site of the former city hall into a multipurpose facility to host farmers markets, food trucks, holiday markets and a variety of other attractions.
Town of Greeleyville
Historic Downtown Streetscape Improvement Project
The town will use grant funds as part of a Community Development Block Grant match to fund streetscape upgrades to the Greeleyville Town Centre.
Town of Honea Path
Main Street Facelift
Honea Path will assist business owners ready to make positive changes to their facades in an effort to continue downtown revitalization efforts.
Town of Moncks Corner
Miracle League Field
Building on the planning work it has pursued in recent years, Moncks Corner will use grant funds for construction of its Miracle League Field.
Town of Pacolet
Continuing the Pacolet Tradition
Continuing the Pacolet Tradition
The Pacolet Amphitheater grounds and infrastructure will be rehabilitated and upgraded to ensure its continued use as a traditional gathering place for town residents and community events.
Town of Pelion
Revitalization, Restoration and Reuse of the Former Pelion Train Warehouse
Grant funds will restore Pelion’s former train warehouse into a museum and event space that will host meetings.
Town of Society Hill
1822 Library Historic Preservation
In preparation for its bicentennial in 2022, Society Hill will conduct rehabilitation and preservation work on one of the oldest surviving public lending libraries in the state.
Town of Seabrook Island
Gateway and Wayfinding
Helping visitors find their way to local attractions and businesses will become easier with Seabrook Island’s grant-funded project to install gateway and wayfinding signage.
City of Westminster
Gateway to Revitalization
Westminster will enhance its Commercial Building Improvement Grant Program in an effort to include more downtown buildings in the city’s revitalization.
The Municipal Association launched the Hometown Economic Development Grants in 2016 and have awarded grants each year since then. Learn more about the grants, and see the recipients of past cycles back to 2016.