Grants

County officials and employees may find the following resources helpful when searching for grant funding and low-interest loans. Any specific questions concerning these resources should be directed to the specific agency. 

NACo Funding Opportunities for Counties Matrix

 

SCDOT TAP Application Workshop - Monday, March 25 at 10 a.m.

SCDOT will present the 2024 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Application Workshop on Monday, March 25, 2024 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Potential Applicants may attend in person at SCDOT Headquarters in Columbia, SC or view the livestream. (Information forthcoming)

A recording of the workshop will also be available online after the presentation.

For more information visit scdot.org.

Or contact:
Amy Blinson
Transportation Alternatives Program Manager, SCDOT
803-737-1952
blinsonal@scdot.org

SC250 FY24 (2023-2024) Grant Programs Launched - Application Deadline March 26, 2024

SC American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250) is now accepting applications for 24FY (July 2023 - June 2024). SC250 goals are to inspire education and set up cultural tourism sites that have an impact on the future.

Official County 250 Committees from each county are eligible for one non-competitive $3,000 County 250 Organizing Grant. If you represent a County 250 Committee that has not yet received your organizing grant, please reach out to Heather Hawkins at hhawkins@southcarolina250.com.

Click on the program name to learn more about the eight other competitive grant programs from SC250:

All deadlines are not postmarked dates as all applications must be submitted in the Discover SC WebGrants program. Click here for step-by-step registration instructions. Grant funding is dependent on allocations from the State Legislature each year. SC250 may choose to fund, not fund, or partially fund applications. All information is intended to be a summary and subject to change.

Download a SC250 24FY Grant Basics Info Sheet

DHEC Announces Diesel Admission Reduction Project Funding: Deadline April 16

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced the availability of grant funding for projects aimed at improving air quality by reducing diesel emissions.

DHEC has approximately $430,000 available for the replacement or upgrade of older diesel vehicles, engines and equipment. These funds are provided through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program.

The State DERA Request for Proposals, which contains detailed eligibility criteria and application instructions, is available at scdhec.gov/dera

 

FY24 Historic Preservation Fund Grants - Application Deadline is April 30, 2024

Applications and instructions for the FY24 Historic Preservation Grants are available at this link. Administered by the SHPO, the matching grants can assist two types of projects: Survey and Planning and Stabilization. Any local government, non-profit, or institution in South Carolina may apply for a Survey and Planning Project. Local governments, non-profits and institutions located in a CLG community may also apply for a Stabilization Project. At least 10% of the state’s annual allocation from the National Park Service must be awarded to CLGs. Grant awards generally range from $2,500 to $35,000. For more information, contact Brad Sauls at 803-896-6172, or bsauls@scdah.sc.gov.

Energy Grant and Funding Opportunities

US Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program

Competitive EECBG Grants

The US. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a competitive Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program available to local governments in South Carolina. The first prerequisite to apply for the EECBG Program is completing the Pre-Award Information Sheet, due April 28  by email to eecbg@hq.doe.gov. The information provided regarding the decision to apply for a voucher or a grant in the Pre-Award document is non-binding. Counties pursuing the grant option will need a Unique Entity ID (UEI) number to submit the form. If you do not have one, please register on the System for Award Management.

Note: This can take three weeks to process, so it’s important to get started early!

DOE continues to release information about the EECBG Program, including informational webinars about the grant application process, vouchers option, and the DOE technical assistance available to support eligible entities. More information about upcoming webinars and webinar recordings can be found on the DOE EECBG Program website.  If you have questions, you may direct them to the EECBG Program Inbox: eecbg@doe.hq.gov.

Formula EECBG Funding

Ten South Carolina counties are initially eligible for EECBG formula funding.  For more information contact SC Department of Energy office at rtolton@ors.sc.gov

EECBG for SC Formula Eligible Entities Webinar

ConserFund Loan

ConserFund is a revolving loan program administered by the South Carolina Energy Office for energy-efficiency improvements in state agencies, public colleges or universities, school districts, local governments, and 501 (c)(3) organizations. The loan program is focused on supporting the implementation of energy-efficient improvements that provide long-term cost reductions and energy savings. Loans range from $25,000 to $500,000 per fiscal year with a maximum 10-year term.  More information is available on the SC Energy Office's page.

SCDOT Publishes List of On-Call Consultants for Local Government Project Management Services

All local governments are asked to contact Roxanne Ancheta, SCDOT’s Director of Grants, at least a month in advance if you are planning to apply for a federal or state grant or earmark for a project on the State Highway System. Ms. Ancheta can be reached at (803) 737-1232 or via email at AnchetaRM@scdot.org

White House Guidebook on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act/Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

FEMA announced a significant investment in climate resiliency by authorizing $3.46 billion for the 59 major disaster declarations issued due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

With the growing climate change crisis facing the nation, FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program will provide funding for states, tribes and territories to maximize their investment in mitigation measures that result in safer and more resilient communities. This new funding will allow communities across the nation to further develop capacity and take mitigation actions that will foster greater resilience and reduce disaster suffering.

Across the country, Americans have witnessed the enormous and devastating effects of hurricanes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes and other events. The increasing duration, intensity and severity of such disasters, which are exacerbated by changes in population, land use and weather patterns, are alarming and highlight one of the most important emergency management challenges facing the United States. The impacts of natural hazards on communities, families, individuals and our economy make it imperative to invest in creating infrastructure and communities more resilient to natural hazards.

FEMA encourages state, local, tribal and territorial governments with significant vulnerabilities that lack the resources to invest in mitigation to leverage the funds being authorized through Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

For more information, visit FEMA.gov.

The USDA - Rural Development

The Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area. Learn more & apply on the USDA - Rural Development website.

 

National

NACo Grants Clearinghouse — free to any NACo member

Foundation Center

Grants.gov

National Trust for Historic Preservation

U.S. Department of Agriculture

General grants and loans

Office of National Drug Control Policy

State

Grantsmanship Center: South Carolina Funding Sources

S.C. Department of Archives and History — Historic Preservation

S.C. Department of Commerce — South Carolina Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program

S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control

S.C. Department of Transportation

Grant Funding for Local Governments

State Revolving Fund

S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism

S.C. Emergency Management Division — South Carolina Recovery Grants

S.C. Grantmakers Network

S.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority

S.C. State Library