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.

Upcoming Events

For upcoming events regarding grant writing, grant applications, and grant management, please visit our Events of Interest page.

NACo Funding Opportunities for Counties Matrix

SC Infrastructure Investment Program (SCIIP) Grantee Workshop May 31

All SCIIP grantees are required to have a representative attend a Project Management Workshop on Wednesday, May 31 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

The session will assist grantees and provide more information about requirements of the program as it is federally funded with some different guidelines than the SC Rural Infrastructure Authority’s (RIA) typical state grant programs.

See more resources for SCIIP project implementation.

RIA awarded 219 grants, in the amount of $1.469 billion, to local governments as well as public water and sewer utilities under SCIIP. These program funds were allocated to RIA by the General Assembly from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. SCIIP grants will modernize and upgrade critical facilities that will have far-reaching impacts for years to come.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Competitive Program Reminder

Local governments can now submit concept papers as a first step to apply for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Competitive Program (EECBG). The deadline for submission to the US Department of Energy is 5 p.m. Monday, June 5.

The program will award $8.8 million in funding to cities, counties, towns, municipalities, state-recognized tribes – and teams of these communities - that were ineligible for the EECBG Program formula grant. EECBG Program recipients can use the funding for a wide variety of projects that lower energy costs, reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and reduce overall energy use.

This flexible competitive grant program includes the opportunity to receive up to $2 million in funds to advance local clean energy goals. Learn more.

CORE SC Funding for Resilience Solutions

The Center of Resilience Excellence (CORE SC) has announced two grant opportunities.

The goal of the Innovative Grant and Pilot and Demonstrator Grant programs is to provide funding that will enable South Carolina organizations to develop innovative solutions to the state’s resilience challenges that are scalable, replicable, and sustainable. Projects funded under these grants will benefit the public by modeling potential solutions to resilience challenges.

Each grant is up to $25,000, and letters of intent much be submitted by May 8. Proposals are due June. 5

See Innovation Grant eligibility and instructions.
See Pilot and Demonstrator eligibility and instructions.

Interested applicants can visit CORE SC’s grants page or email info@coresc.net for more information.

USDOT Announces $1.18 Billion Competitive Funding Opportunity for Local Road Safety Improvements

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has posted a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) competitive grant program. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, $1.18 billion is available now for eligible entities – restricted to only local governments, metropolitan planning organizations and Tribes – to develop safety action plans or to implement existing approved plans at an 80 percent federal match. Counties are directly eligible to apply for this program through USDOT until 5:00 p.m. on July 10, 2023.

Funds for the fiscal year 2023 SS4A grant program will be awarded on a competitive basis to support planning, infrastructure, behavioral, and operational initiatives to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets involving all roadway users. This includes:

pedestrians;
bicyclists;
public transportation, personal conveyance, and micromobility users;
motorists; and
commercial vehicle operators.

Read NACo's overview of the SS4A grant program.

View a list of eligible projects under both the “Planning/Demonstration Grants” and the “Implementation Grants” under the SS4A program.

Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program (TAP)

The SC Department of Transportation (SCDOT) announced that round one of funding applications for the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) for fiscal year 2023-24 is now open.

This federal reimbursement grant program funded through the US Department of Transportation allows local governments and other eligible entities to apply for grants for a variety of non-motorized projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities and Safe Routes to Schools.

Learn more including access to the letter of intent form and recent workshop recording outlining the program on SCDOT’s TAP page.

For more information, contact Amy Blinson at BlinsonAL@scdot.org or Roxanne Ancheta at AnchetaRM@scdot.org.

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

US Department of Energy Mini-Grant

The US Department of Energy has awarded funding to the SC Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) Energy Office (EO), to fund several high-impact demonstration projects in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean transportation. Eligible applicants include state agencies, local governments, public colleges/universities/technical colleges, K-12 public schools, and 501(c) (3) non-profit organizations. The maximum award value will be $10,000. Cost sharing is not required, but leveraging of funds is encouraged in order to maximize the energy-related benefits of a project. More information is available on the SC Energy Office's Funding and Incentives page.

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

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

The guidebook provides details on what’s available, who to contact, and how to get ready to rebuild. This resource is updated regularly and can be found online at Build.gov.

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

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.

BRIC Grants for FY 2021 and SCEMD Briefings

CDBG-Mitigation Match Funding Opportunity

The South Carolina Disaster Recovery Office is expanding the opportunity for assistance through the CDBG-Mitigation Funds Match Program.

Given the nature of other grant programs’ funding opportunity cycles, SCDRO has established a rolling application window for the CDBG-Mitigation Funds Match Program. SCDRO will accept CDBG-Mitigation Funds Match applications year-round, until all Match funds are obligated.

Eligible counties and their respective local governments include: Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Sumter, and Williamsburg.

A copy of the application is attached for your convenience.

The SCDRO anticipates the next application period for CDBG-Mitigation Buyout, Infrastructure, and Plans & Studies to begin June 2021.

Please email DROMitigation@admin.sc.gov if you have any questions.