Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Claflin University will receive a $520,000 grant to support its GEAR UP program. GEAR UP is a national grant program to support early college preparation and awareness activities for low-income students. The goal of the Claflin GEAR UP Program is to ensure disadvantaged at-risk middle school and secondary students enrolled at target schools in Orangeburg are prepared for, pursue, and succeed in postsecondary education. The program begins to work with students in the sixth grade at both middle schools in Orangeburg School District Five. Activities include mentoring, tutoring, counseling, financial aid information, parental involvement and empowerment training. In addition, students are offered opportunities to participate in after-school and extended-day activities, Saturday academies, a five week Summer Enrichment Institute, and college visits. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. ####

Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Calhoun Falls will receive a $373,100 grant and a $211,000 loan for infrastructure relocation. The funds will be used to relocate water and sewer lines along the new rights of way of Highway 72. The South Carolina Department of Transportation will also contribute $334,226 to this project. The grant and loan were awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ####

Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) today announced more than $1.2 million in grants to counties and cities throughout South Carolina to support local law enforcement. Grant recipients include: Counties

• Aiken County will receive $48,808 to purchase equipment including digital cameras and in-car cameras.
• Cherokee County will receive $28,725 to purchase a police cruiser and communications equipment.
• Colleton County will receive $38,806 to purchase radar units.
• Dillon County will receive $19,163 to purchase communications equipment.
• Dorchester County will receive $34,125 to purchase computer equipment and software.
• Florence County will receive $60,810 to improve digital imaging capabilities and purchase vehicle audio/video equipment.
• Greenville County will receive $224,115 to purchase equipment and fund an adult drug court in the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
• Laurens County will receive $42,007 to fund several projects including education and fingerprinting programs for children, and a community crime prevention education program.
• Lee County will receive $15,002 to purchase vehicle equipment and tasers.
• Marlboro County will receive $22,884 to purchase a four-wheel drive vehicle to assist with the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Program.
• Pickens County will receive $21,203 to enhance the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT).
• Spartanburg County will receive $122,059 to purchase in-car digital cameras.
• York County will receive $65,770 to purchase a targeting system for the Weapons Training Facility, communications equipment, and mobile data and field reporting systems.

Cities

• Bennettsville will receive $16,683 to enhance the Crossroads Program to help eliminate school suspensions.
• Charleston will receive $78,732 to purchase a firearms training system to be used by multiple law enforcement agencies in the Charleston area.
• Florence will receive $61,090 to purchase two vehicles, laptop computers, projectors, and office equipment for the Community Services Division.
• Georgetown will receive $13,642 to deploy a speed monitoring device.
• Lancaster will receive $35,246 to purchase equipment, computer technology, and other support materials.
• Mt. Pleasant will receive $10,722 to upgrade evidence/crime scene software.
• North Charleston will receive $119,459 to purchase equipment including cameras and radar equipment.
• Spartanburg will receive $96,455 for the purchase mobile data terminals and software and to make tactical enhancements.
• Summerville will receive $17,163 to purchase and upgrade patrol laptop computers.
• West Columbia will receive $32,045 to provide enhanced training for officers and to purchase tasers and a defibrillator.

All grants were awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. ####

Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Anderson Regional Airport will receive a $2.65 million grant for airport improvements. The funds will be used for the final phase of a runway and taxiway extension, and to relocate the medium intensity approach lighting system. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. ####