Jun 29 2021

Graham, Scott Announce $25 Million Grant for Berkeley County

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will award the South Carolina Department of Commerce Division Of Public Railways a $25 million Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant.

The grant will help construct the Camp Hall Corridor, a 22.7-mile rail line that would connect the Camp Hall Commerce Park and Volvo Cars manufacturing facility in Berkeley County to the U.S. Class One rail network. The Camp Hall Commerce Park is located within a designated Opportunity Zone and is home to a $1.1 billion Volvo Cars manufacturing facility that ships finished vehicles to domestic markets on existing rail infrastructure.

In April, the senators wrote to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg encouraging DOT to make this important investment in the Lowcountry.

“This is great news for Berkeley County and our state’s export economy,” said Senators Graham and Scott. “Infrastructure improvement projects such as this ensure South Carolina remains internationally competitive in manufacturing.”

“Due to recent success in the manufacturing industry in South Carolina, the Port of Charleston currently exports more products than it imports,” continued the senators. “This connection further facilitates the resurgence of American export growth with the efficient transportation of automobiles to the Port of Charleston. It also encourages economic development in thousands of acres of non-rail served industrial property in Berkeley County.”

The senators also noted the project will eliminate the need to transport automobiles via truck on I-26, transitioning from highway to rail transportation to relieve congestion and reduce the incidence of accidents and wear-and-tear along the interstate.

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