JAN. 5, 2016 | The City of Walterboro has received a $2,040,000 grant as part of the S.C. Lowcountry Promise Zone to make significant upgrades to its water and sewer treatment plant, officials announced today.
The grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration is expected to enhance the community’s economic diversification, ultimately creating 129 jobs and attracting $10.5 million in private investment.
“In this grant application, the city leveraged its inclusion in the new federal Promise Zone to secure the funding that will enhance the local economy, boost new commercial and industrial development, and increase jobs in the Promise Zone,” said Walterboro City Manager Jeff Molinari. “Being part of the Promise Zone was a key factor in receiving this award.”
The total cost of the improvement project is $3.4 million, which includes the $2.04 million EDA grant and a $500,000 grant announced in November from the S.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority, Molinari said. The grant announced today was a collaborative effort involving the city and the Lowcountry Council of Governments.
Danny Black, president and CEO of the SouthernCarolina Alliance, said Walterboro’s use of the Promise Zone designation awarded in April by the federal government illustrates the importance of community agencies and nonprofits using the designation to fund projects that increase economic activity. SouthernCarolina Alliance serves as lead organization of the Promise Zone.
“The success that Walterboro has had with the Promise Zone process highlights how we can use the designation to get major projects funded that, when implemented strategically, can change lives for people throughout the SouthernCarolina region,” Black said.
The South Carolina Lowcountry Promise Zone, a project of the SouthernCarolina Alliance, seeks to catalyze efforts in Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties to boost the quality of life and revitalize rural communities.
www.scpromisezone.org