The Municipal Association of South Carolina has awarded Hometown Economic Development Grants to 12 cities and towns. Up to $25,000 each, the grants are intended to support those economic development projects that will make a positive impact on a municipality’s quality of life. The grant program also promotes and recognizes innovation in economic development practices.
The Municipal Association board of directors created the program to fund projects that will produce measurable results, that can be maintained over time and illustrate best practices that can be replicated in other cities.
2022 Hometown Economic Development Grant Winners
City of Bennettsville – “Downtown Business Facade Program”
Bennettsville will use grant funds to continue its downtown redevelopment by partnering with local businesses to improve their facades.
Contact: Jaharra Graves, 843.479.3941
Town of Bethune – “Main Street Park and Amphitheater”
Bethune has partnered with Sandhill Telephone Cooperative to construct a park and amphitheater that will anchor a comprehensive main street revitalization effort.
Contact: Susan Holley, 843.334.6238
Town of Blacksburg – “Lime Street Park Amphitheater”
Building on its success from a previous HEDG award, Blacksburg will build an amphitheater as a town gathering space at its Lime Street Park.
Contact: Dalton Pierce, 864.839.2332
Town of Bowman – “Inner Park Facilities Improvements”
As part of a larger effort to make Bowman an agritourism destination, the town will use its funds for improvements and development of its Inner Park.
Contact: Ike Carter, 843.709.7670
Town of Cheraw – “Cheraw Theatre on the Green Renovations”
Lacking accessible facilities at its historic Theatre on the Green, Cheraw will use grant funds to upgrade the theater’s facilities to ensure it remains a community space for all residents and visitors.
Contact: Rob Wolfe, 843.537.7283
City of Conway – “Downtown Business Environmental Refuse Facility”
Envisioned in its Riverfront and Downtown Master Plan, Conway will use grant funds to eliminate the clutter of refuse containers and capture stormwater downtown by constructing a multipurpose environmental refuse facility that will be made available to all of its downtown businesses.
Contact: Rosanne Dates, 843.488.7609
City of Landrum – “Farmers Market Pavilion Expansion”
Seeking to accommodate more community events and visitors, Landrum will use grant funds to improve a vacant property that will expand its farmers market pavilion.
Contact: Richard Caplan, 864.457.3000
Town of Pendleton – “Pendleton Oil Mill Redevelopment Plan”
Through a public-private partnership, Pendleton will use town funds and grant funds to clean up and make plans for the redevelopment of a decades-long blighted industrial property at the entrance to its Village Green.
Contact: Steve Miller, 864.646.9409
Town of Ridgeway – “Town Park Facilities Improvement Project”
Ridgeway will use grant funds to develop adequate facilities at the town’s iconic School Arch and surrounding parks which draw visitors and residents year-round.
Contact: Heath Cookendorfer, 803.337.2213
Town of Summerton – “Round & About Summerton Downtown Marketing Plan”
In an effort to boost downtown businesses, Summerton will develop and execute the Round & About Summerton marketing plan that will seek to draw motorists and visitors off the interstate and into town.
Contact: Amanda Salka, 803.485.2525
City of Tega Cay – “City Center Marketing Plan”
Tega Cay will use its funds to develop a marketing plan for it first-ever mixed-use development. The City Center District, which will create a “distinctive place of community,” is a key component of the city’s 2015 – 2025 comprehensive plan.
Contact: Susan Britt, 803.548.3513
Town of Ware Shoals – “West End Business District Storefront Project”
Partnering with the town, Ware Shoals’ west end businesses will get a boost from grant funds to improve their storefronts and eliminate blighted areas of the business district.
Contact: Randee Beasley, 864.456.7478
The Municipal Association launched the Hometown Economic Development Grants in 2016 and have awarded grants each year since then.
