Liberty, Abbeville Receive HUD Block Grants

Federal grants announced for six S.C. communities include $500,000 for Liberty and $454,545 for the city of Abbeville in the Upstate. The grants are allocated annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Liberty is using the money for the Commerce Drive streetscape project and Abbeville has been awarded the grant for its South Main streetscape.

The other $500,000 recipients are Hampton County for the Health Department, Hardeeville for the public library and Walterboro for the South Jefferies streetscape. Cheraw received a $375,000 grant for neighborhood revitalization.

A statement from the S.C. Department of Commerce, which administers the Community Development Block Grants, said there are more than 18,000 residents in the six communities receiving a total of $2.8 million.

“The CDBG program continues to be a way to strengthen our local communities while encouraging further economic growth in those areas,” Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt said.

In the most recent grant round last spring, more than $9.9 million was awarded for 24 public infrastructure projects, including water and sewer upgrades.

Communities compete statewide, and local governments are required to provide at least a 10% match. Most of those who benefit are in low- to moderate-income communities.