Wes Hickman or Kevin Bishop

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded an $89,771 grant to the Fair Play Volunteer Fire Department and a $45,000 grant to the Craytonville Volunteer Fire Department in Honea Path. The Assistance to Firefighters Grants will help the fire departments improve their training, wellness and fitness programs; purchase new firefighting equipment and personal protective equipment; and, make modifications to fire stations and facilities. “Firefighters risk their lives to protect others, and they deserve the best equipment and training available,” said Graham. “Firefighters are some of the heroes in our midst.” The Assistance program awards one-year grants directly to local fire departments, enhancing their ability to respond to fire and fire-related hazards in the community. The program supports departments by providing them the tools and resources necessary to protect the health and safety of the public and their firefighting personnel. Grantees share in the cost of the funded project at a percentage based on the population of their respective jurisdiction. Grantees that serve jurisdictions of 50,000 or fewer residents are required to provide a non-Federal cost-share of 10 percent while grantees that serve jurisdictions of over 50,000 provide a 30 percent cost-share. The match must be in cash without the use of in-kind contributions. In addition, the maximum amount of federal funds that an applicant can be awarded is $750,000 during any fiscal year.

Wes Hickman or Kevin Bishop

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded 22 aviation grants for over $5 million to various government and transportation entities throughout the state. The following grants have been awarded:

• $132,900 to Marlboro County for improvements to the Marlboro County Jetport-H.E. Avent Field. The funds will be used to install runway lighting, install miscellaneous navigational aids, remove obstructions, and install weather reporting equipment;
• $150,000 to the Chester County Airport Commission to rehabilitate the runway at the Chester Municipal Airport;
• $112,036 to Newberry County to conduct an environmental survey for proposed runway redevelopment at the Newberry County Airport;
• $158,000 to Pelion to install perimeter fencing at the Pelion Corporate Airport.
• $150,000 to Aiken to rehabilitate the apron at Aiken Municipal Airport;
• $150,000 to Kershaw County to install a Runway Vertical/Visual Guidance System at Woodward Field;
• $237,751 to Oconee County to extend the runway and install perimeter fencing at Oconee County Regional Airport;
• $150,000 to Hartsville to rehabilitate the runway lighting and install perimeter fencing at Hartsville Regional Airport;
• $495,000 to Allendale County to construct a taxiway at the Allendale County Airport;
• $150,000 to Walterboro County to extend the runway at Lowcountry Regional Airport;
• $216,610 to Cheraw to extend the runway at Cheraw Municipal/Lynch Bellinger Field;
• $150,000 to Laurens County to construct a taxiway at the Laurens County Airport;
• $150,000 to Pageland to rehabilitate the runway lighting at the Pageland Airport;
• $150,000 to Fairfield County to extend the runway at the Fairfield County Airport;
• $235,455 to Georgetown County to rehabilitate the apron and taxiway at the Robert F. Swinnie Airport;
• $200,950 to Georgetown County to construct a taxiway and conduct an environmental study at the Georgetown County Airport;
• $295,000 to Berkeley County to extend the runway at the Berkeley County Airport;
• $150,000 to the City of Sumter to rehabilitate the runway at the Sumter Airport;
• $828,000 to Horry County to rehabilitate the runway at the Conway-Horry County Airport;
• $253,855 to Greenwood County to install perimeter fencing at the Greenwood County Airport;
• $223,000 to Williamsburg County to rehabilitate the apron and taxiway at the Williamsburg County Airport;
• $331,830 to Horry County to expand the apron at the Grand Strand Airport.

“This is great news for South Carolina,” said Graham. “Airport improvements help improve passenger safety and increase the state’s ability to accommodate travel. This not only encourages tourism, but also makes South Carolina more attractive for business investment and economic development.”

Wes Hickman or Kevin Bishop

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $65,000 grant to Erskine College to support the operation of the Lakeland Center for Entrepreneurs. The Center will provide technical assistance to start-up businesses in Abbeville, Anderson, Greenwood, Laurens and McCormick counties. The funds will be used for development, marketing, specialized furnishings, and equipment for the Center. Erskine College will provide a building to house the Center, and space will be leased to tenants in the early stages of business start-up. Tenants will have access to office furniture, equipment, and necessary communications. “This is a great investment in the future of Abbeville and the surrounding counties,” said Graham. “The jobs created by this project and the success of these new business ventures will increase the attractiveness of this area to other companies and encourage future economic development.”

Wes Hickman or Kevin Bishop

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Florence and Rock Hill $200,000 each for a brownfields assessment grant. Florence will use the grant to perform environmental site assessments on brownfields in seven targeted areas of the city. These include a 20-acre site that inhibits economic growth in some low-income, predominantly minority neighborhood. Rock Hill will use the funds to conduct four Phase II assessments of former textile mills in the Arcade-Westside neighborhood area. Funds also will be used to conduct community outreach activities and redevelopment of planning for three of the four sites to be assessed. The Arcade-Westside area contains several small business operations, but has lost four major textile mills in the last 15 years. The 2,500 residents of the neighborhood surrounding the targeted area relied heavily on these mills for employment. On January 11, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Under the Brownfields law, EPA provides financial assistance to eligible applicants through four competitive grant programs: assessment grants, revolving loan fund grants, cleanup grants and job training grants. The Brownfields Program brings together states, communities, and other stakeholders in economic development to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields.