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

US Department of Energy Announces Communities Local Energy Action Program

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the Communities Local Energy Action Program (LEAP) is open for applications.

Under this second phase of the initiative, DOE will provide technical assistance services valued at over $18 million to support 24-32 communities to develop and advance their own community-driven clean energy transition approach. This is not a funding opportunity announcement; however selected communities may have the opportunity to receive funds (up to $50,000) for services rendered to help implement the technical assistance.

Communities LEAP seeks to facilitate sustained community-wide economic empowerment through clean energy, improve local environmental conditions, and open the way for other benefits primarily through DOE’s clean energy deployment work.

Eligible applicants are low-income, energy-burdened communities that are also either disadvantaged or experiencing direct economic impacts from a shift away from historical reliance on fossil fuels. Multi-stakeholder applicant teams must include at least one Community-Based Organization and one local government or tribal entity.

DOE has designed this initiative with the aim of:

Recognizing each community’s specific energy-related challenges and opportunities.
Supporting community member and stakeholder leadership in designing and implementing actions to address those challenges and opportunities.
Building toward long-term community economic and environmental change and a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future.

The application deadline is December 14, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Selections are expected to be announced March 2024.

To learn more about the second phase of Communities LEAP, register for webinars, and submit an application, please visit energy.gov/communitiesLEAP.

South Carolina Energy Office to Award EECBG Program Subgrants

The South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff – Energy Office (SCEO) submitted its application for formula funding through the United States Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program to award subgrants to projects and programs in SC that improve energy efficiency, cut carbon emissions, and reduce energy use.

Applicants for EECBG projects in South Carolina may select from the following eight eligible activity categories as outlined in DOE’s EECBG guidelines:

Strategy Development and Implementation
Energy Efficiency Retrofit Grants for Government Agencies
Conservation of Transportation Energy
Building Codes and Inspection Services
Reduction, Capture, and Use of Landfill Gases
Replacement of Traffic Signals and Street Lighting
On-site Renewable Energy on or In a Government Building
Programs for Financing, Purchasing, and Installing Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Zero-emission Transportation (and associated infrastructure) Measures and Capital Investments, Projects, and Programs for Leveraging Public and Private Sector Funds

County and municipal governments in South Carolina may apply for SCEO subgrants if they were not eligible to receive EECBG funding directly from DOE as listed in the EECBG Local Government Allocations. SCEO plans to award between 20 and 30 EECBG subgrants ranging from $50,000 to $75,000 each. Cost sharing is not required, but leveraging of funds is encouraged to maximize the energy-related benefits of each project. Additionally, projects in disadvantaged communities as defined by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool will be prioritized.

SCEO shall release an EECBG request for applications following receipt of its EECBG award from DOE.

To stay informed about this funding opportunity, please email the Energy Office and request to be added to the EECGB email list. To learn more about South Carolina’s EECBG program, please visit the EECGB page on SCEO’s website.

Historic Preservation State Grant Fund Now Accepting Applications

The South Carolina Department of Archives & History is pleased to announce that the Historic Preservation State Grant Fund is accepting applications. The purpose of the State Grant Fund is to support historic preservation projects that benefit local communities through the physical repair and rehabilitation of South Carolina’s historic buildings. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations [501(c)(3)], local governments, and federal or state recognized Native American tribes.

Grants ranging from $40,000 to $200,000 will be awarded to stabilization and weatherization projects of historic buildings. A minimum 20% cash match of the Total Project Cost is required. Buildings must be listed as a contributing resource in a National Register of Historic Places historic district or individually listed, or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Project work must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. The application deadline is December 31, 2023. To access the application and for additional information about grant requirements visit the SC Department of Archives and History website.

CORE SC Announces New Round of Grant Opportunities

Center of Resilience Excellence (CORE) SC is excited to offer two new grant opportunities. Think collaboration, research, and innovation and resilience! CORE SC will be accepting letters of interest in October and proposals in November for the next round of funding for the Advanced Research Grant (Up to $50,000) and the Advanced Collaboration Projects Grant (Up to $100,000).

Advanced Research Projects Grant - Up to $50,000

Who: South Carolina-based entities

Goal: To provide funding for up to one year to organizations interested in conducting applied research. Successful proposals will advance the program's mission of providing solutions to resilience challenges, making significant contributions in one or more of the resilience sectors - Water, Energy, Connectivity, Agriculture, and Natural Hazards (WE CAN) and align with one or more of NASA's missions.

Advanced Collaboration Projects Grant - Up to $100,000

Who: South Carolina-based entities

Goal: To provide funding for up to one year to organizations interested in conducting applied research in a collaborative manner. Successful proposals will advance the program's mission of providing solutions to resilience challenges, making significant contributions in one or more of the resilience sectors - Water, Energy, Connectivity, Agriculture, and Natural Hazards (WE CAN) and align with one or more of NASA's missions.

Learn more from CORE SC’s website. Questions? Contact grants@coresc.net.

SCDOT FFY24 - Round 2 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program (TAP)

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) opened up the Fall TAP Round and is now accepting Letters of Intent (LOI).

For eligible entities, LOI are due Friday, October 13, 2023, by 4:00 p.m. ONE project may be submitted per eligible entity per round. (SCDOT has two TAP competitive rounds - one in the spring, and one in the fall.

Transportation Alternatives include nonmotorized projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities and Safe Routes to Schools.

Local governments wanting to administer their TAP project as a Local Public Agency (LPA) must submit the LPA qualifications form along with the LOI.

TAP Program Guidance is available. This document contains information on eligible entities and projects, scoring, and more.

The tentative fall schedule is below:

Please contact Roxanne Ancheta, Director, Office of Local Government Services, or Amy Blinson, TAP Manager, at (803) 737-1952 with any questions.

State Economic and Infrastructure Development Grant Program Open to 39 Counties

The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC)’s recently-announced State Economic and Infrastructure Development Grant Program makes over $2.6 million available to counties across the Palmetto State.

The funding range is $50,000 to $500,000 for public infrastructure projects categorized as basic public, telecommunications and transportation, as well as projects to support basic health care, access to affordable housing, business and workforce development, resource conservation and preservation, tourism and recreation. The pre-application deadline is 5 p.m. September 15 with full applications due by 5 p.m. December 15.

South Carolina is a participating member of the SCRC, a federal-state partnership authorized to promote sustainable economic, business and workforce/labor development in 39 counties in the region.

Learn more and apply online.

SC250 FY24 (2023-2024) Grant Programs Launched

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:

24FY Anticipated Application Deadlines:
Cycle 2: Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 3:00 P.M. Eastern

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

SC RIA State-Funded Grants

RIA announced the availability of $38 million in competitive grant funds for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2023. This is an increase over previous state-funded programs, and new grant request amounts will be introduced.

The Basic and Economic Infrastructure grant programs offer assistance to local governments and other eligible entities for publicly-owned water, sewer and stormwater drainage facilities. An expanded Planning grant program is also available.

Available Funds:

$26M - Basic Infrastructure
$7.7M - Economic Infrastructure
$4.5M - Planning Grants

Application Deadline:

March 11, 2024

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

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.