MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Tuesday, April 27, 2021) – Berkeley County has awarded $1.2 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to six different local nonprofits and municipalities. The money stems from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and will provide Berkeley County communities with resources to address unique community development needs. The funds were presented to each recipient in the form of a large check during Monday night’s County Council meeting. (See full video HERE.)
This program is new to the County. We have funds that we’re entitled to get each year, and this is our first round of funding so we wanted tonight (to) celebrate the winners of this first round; and these folks put in a lot of work through the application process and also attended meetings and making presentations; but number two and equally important is we want to bring attention to this program. We envision in the future to have 13, 15, 17 different award applications each round of funding as other opportunities become available for funding. – Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb
Funding for two of the six recipients is for demolition projects, also known as Slum and Blight projects. Those recipients include the following:
- City of Hanahan – $30,000 for City Demolition Projects to demolish two homes, three mobile homes and a storage unit.
I’m a big believer that when we work together to accomplish, we can get more things done…so I just really thank all of you for being willing to put in the time and effort, to put in the money together, to put in the effort together, and to overall allow Berkeley County, and each municipality in it, to succeed. -Hanahan Mayor Christie Rainwater
- Berkeley County Codes Enforcement Department – $70,000 for demolition projects in unincorporated parts of the County. Specifically, money will aid in eliminating blighted properties throughout the County to help with health and safety concerns of residents. Additionally, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office deputies will be released from daily clearing and securing properties that might otherwise be used for illegal activity.
This will definitely help with reducing crime. With the broken window theory, many times neighborhoods go on a downward spiral when people let things go; but this will definitely help with vandalism, drug abuse and different things like that. –Chief Deputy Jeremy Baker, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office
As the (Chief) Building Official of Berkeley County, I’ve been at this job 11 years, and we’ve seen a lot of houses that are unsafe and have a lot of code cases that are open. This will definitely help in us getting rid of some of the problems. -Hank Jackson, Chief Building Official, Berkeley County Building & Codes Enforcement
Funding for the remaining four projects is for public facilities to improve quality of life in communities around Berkeley County. Those recipients include the following:
- City of Goose Creek – $131,834.76 to update the Senior Center Rehabilitation facility, which is used for meal deliveries, wellness activities, Alzheimer’s support, and much more.
The Senior Center is a collaborative effort between Berkeley County and the City of Goose Creek; it is not just ours; it is not just theirs. It’s somewhere where we work together, and I hope everybody recognizes how important that is, that not just on this grant side, but in a lot of things that we do, it’s really good to have partnerships like this through government. -Goose Creek Mayor Greg Habib
- Tri-Community Center – $189,777.63 to rehabilitate the existing Community Center facility in Cross. The funds will specifically be used to install a centralized HVAC system and make the facility ADA compliant in order to serve as a Special Medical Needs Shelter and a Point of Distribution site during hazardous weather and emergency events.
To both the selection committee on community services and the entirety of the County Council, on behalf of Tri-Community Center Inc., I humbly accept this and we will use it per the information provided in the grant, and it will increase the capacity and the livelihood of the members of the Tri-Community area, which are Pringletown, Poplar Hill and Sandridge, and we humbly accept this. -Executive Board Secretary Bernard Gilliard, Tri-Community Center
- Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County – $200,975.25 to purchase undeveloped land on Hutchinson Lane, located in the Wall Street community of Moncks Corner, to make infrastructure improvements to safely accommodate 5-7 new affordable homes.
You’ve heard a lot about buildings being torn down that were blighted; we’re actually in the business of building up affordable housing so in a market where supply is very dry and demand is very high, it’s the same for affordable housing so we’re so grateful to be in this position to receive this money, and we will use it in an area where, if we weren’t able to, it likely wouldn’t be developed. –Executive Director George Druyos, Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County
- Town of Moncks Corner – $405,850.31 to help fund the Miracle League ball field for disabled youth and adults. Located in the Regional Recreation Complex, this project will not only serve Moncks Corner but the entire County and region.
Supervisor Cribb, members of County Council, members of the Board, thank you so much. …You’re going to reach over 4,300 special needs kids in Berkeley County in Berkeley County School District alone, and that’s not mentioning the kids that don’t attend school, as well as the adults that can utilize this field so it’s going to go a long ways. (There’s) not another one in Berkeley County so we’re excited. -Moncks Corner Mayor Michael Lockliear
The County received the CDBG funding in February, and the projects will be funded beginning July 1. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.
A new application period for CDBG funds will open this Fall. The deadline to apply will be December 2021. The Community Development Advisory Board will meet in early 2022 to determine how to distribute the funds.
For more information on the CDBG Program, visit the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Program website.
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-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-
