In July 2019, the SC General Assembly under Budget Proviso 50.21 had allocated $65 million in funding to the Commerce Department to “facilitate economic development and infrastructure improvements” in qualifying rural counties, according to a Commerce Department information sheet. Eligibility factored in population decline, and poverty and unemployment rates.
Some $35 million had been designated as grants to eligible counties to enhance economic development competitiveness, while the remaining $30 million had gone to the SC Broadband Office, part of the larger state Office of Regulatory Staff, to “provide competitive grants to broadband providers to advance broadband deployment in those specified counties.”
The Rural Initiative Grant Program awarded funding to 31 projects in 21 counties. Recipients ranged from community and economic development projects to infrastructure and public safety improvements. Six projects in Chesterfield, Dillion, Florence, Marlboro and Marion counties received funding.
The town of Cheraw received $500,000 to support the Phase 1 redevelopment of Caston Park as part of a broader three-phase Recreation Master Plan designed to revitalize the town’s recreational infrastructure.
Dillon County received $2.5 million for roadway improvements at the I-95 Carolinas Super Park. Work includes widening SC Highway 34, installing traffic signals and improving interior roads. The improvements are intended to open up parcels within the park for development.
Florence County received $2.5 million for clearing, grubbing and grading the 330-acre Florence County Industrial Park East located on Highway 76.
Marion County received $2,123,045 to purchase three parcels appropriate for industrial use: 210 acres on Highway 76, 12 acres inside the privately owned Marion County Development Park, and 183 acres at Highway 76 and Highway 501 Bypass.
Marlboro County received grants for two projects: $697,023 to develop a 50,000-square-foot speculative industrial building in the Marlboro County Industrial Park, and $1,088,724 for rehabilitation and improvement of the former Delta Mills textile facility at SC Highway 9 and US Highway 1 in Wallace.
Nearby Lee County received $2.5 million for two projects, Sumter County received $2.55 million for two projects and Williamsburg County received $2.5 million for three projects.
Monday’s statement also reported that construction under the Rural Broadband Grant Program had been completed in March. Projects had been awarded to 17 internet service providers across 21 counties at a cost of $1,386 per location, the statement said. The state Broadband Office reported that 2,041 miles of fiber have been built, providing 21,644 housing units with access to high-speed internet service.