2007 South Carolina Community Economic Development Awardees Announced
October 8th, 2007
Charleston, SC – The South Carolina Association of Community Development Corporations, Inc. announced the winners of its “Eagle Award of Excellence in Community Economic Development” during the first North/South Carolinas Conference on Community Economic Development (CED) September 25 – 27, 2007. The winners were three community development corporations (CDCs) that have excelled in advancing economic development in some of the state’s most distressed communities. The three winners were:
• Allendale County Alive - A rural CDC based in Allendale County who, among other efforts, developed a commercial space to attract a Sav-a-Lot grocery store site as part of a local neighborhood revitalization project,
• Community Assistance Provider – A multi-county CDC has plans to develop and rehabilitated over 100 unites of affordable housing in 5 counties in South Carolina, and
• Midlands CDC – A rural CDC based in Richland County who is a partner in a multi-use development in lower Richland County. Midlands CDC is currently developing the job/career development center that will focus on careers in the health care field.
All three of the winners are also grantees under the South Carolina Community Economic Development Fund, managed jointly by the South Carolina Department of Commerce and the South Carolina Association of Community Development Corporations. Awards were made to nine grantees receiving $770,500 in state funds provided through the South Carolina Legislature’s initial appropriation in 2006 of $1 million in funds pursuant to the South Carolina Community Economic Development Act of 2000.
The grant funds were awarded to state-certified community-based organizations to advance a host of projects designed to benefit the low-wealth communities of South Carolina. Allendale County ALIVE and Community Assistance Providers each received $100,000 through the CED Fund and Midlands CDC received $79,800 in state funds.
The other grantees include:
• Camden First CDC - $30,000 for creation of a business development center.
• Charleston Area CDC - $100,000 for an affordable housing development
• Metanoia CDC (Charleston)- $60,700 for a “building green” entrepreneurship program
• Santee Lynches CDC (Sumter) - $100,000 for a rental housing development
• Soteria CDC (Greenville) - $100,000 for its Vance Street housing development
• Sumter County CDC - $100,000 for its North/South Zone housing development
The South Carolina Legislature has appropriated $1.4 million in the 2007/08 State Budget. Final proposals are due on October 11, 2007. Eligible applicants include organizations certified by the South Carolina Department of Commerce as “community-based organizations.”
The South Carolina Association of Community Development Corporations (SCACDC) serves as the grant administrator for the program”, said Bernie Mazyck, President and CEO of SCACDC. “These grant awards represent our State’s investment and confidence in the work of grassroots organizations. Our low-wealth communities will reap the benefits of these funds for many years to come.”