Aug 18 2003

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Valley Public Service Authority in Gloverville has been awarded a $1.76 million loan for water infrastructure improvements. The funds will be used to upgrade existing 2 inch and 4 inch waterlines to 8 inch and 12 inch lines. It will also be used to construct a 500,000 gallon elevated storage tank and well at the tank site. This project will eliminate low pressure, provide back-up capacity to the existing well, and add additional water storage. “These funds will enable Valley Public Service Authority to provide better service to their customers and make the area better suited for future economic growth,” said Graham. The loan is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ####

Aug 14 2003

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Lockheed Martin Services, Inc. in Greenville has been awarded a $5.8 million dollar contract modification to increase the value of an existing contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. The contract is for the production of aircraft parts for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. “South Carolina companies provide the brave men and women of our armed forces with the latest in military technology and equipment,” said Graham. “The employees at Lockheed Martin should be proud of the role they play in protecting American interests around the world.” ####

Aug 14 2003

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) announced Marlboro Electric Cooperative in Bennettsville and York Cooperative, Inc. in York received a combined total of $30 million in loans today. The loans will assist them in their efforts to serve new customers, add new distribution lines, and make improvements to their systems. Marlboro Electric Cooperative, Inc. The utility, which services Dillon and Marlboro counties, has been approved for a $12 million U.S. Treasury rate loan. The loan, which is to be paid back over the next 35 years, will allow the utility to serve 1,280 new customers, construct 141 miles of new distribution lines, and make other system improvements. York Cooperative, Inc. The utility, which services Cherokee, Chester, Lancaster, and York counties, has been approved for an $18 million U.S. Treasury rate loan. The loan, to be paid back over the 30 years, will allow the utility to serve 1,720 new customers, construct 102 miles of new distribution lines, and make other system improvements. “The energy needs of our state and nation continue to grow,” said Graham. “It’s important our utilities have the necessary infrastructure in place to ensure we meet our future energy needs.” The loans were made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service. #####

Aug 13 2003

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has been awarded a $1,000,000 National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) grant. The NCHIP assists states to improve the Nation’s public safety by enhancing the quality, completeness, and accessibility of the Nation’s criminal history and sex offender record systems and the extent to which such records can be used and analyzed for criminal justice and authorized non-criminal justice programs. SLED will use these funds for several purposes:
  • Contract with the South Carolina Judicial Department to provide access to involuntary mental commitment records to the FBI for National Criminal Intelligence Service background checks;
  • Enhance the XML rap sheet capability to allow law enforcement agencies, through the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, to request a multi-state query for rap sheet information;
  • Enhance computerized criminal history to include photo images for all criminal history records;
  • Institute a two-digit fingerprint check process for background checks conducted as required under homeland security and a store and forward server at the central repository to forward the civil prints to the FBI;
  • Create and interface between the computerized criminal history and National Incident-Based Reporting System databases;
  • Upgrade software and equipment to allow for repository data to be accessible to all components; and,
  • Participate in NCHIP related training sessions and workshops.
“The ability of law enforcement to share resources is critical,” said Graham. “These funds will help our state law enforcement better protect South Carolinians.” The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice. ####

Aug 13 2003

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Glenn Springs-Pauline Rural Fire District has been awarded a $23,166 grant for fire operations and firefighter safety. The funds will be used to improve 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 to Firefighters grant 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. The grants are made by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ####

Aug 13 2003

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Norris Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded a $29,083 grant for fire operations and firefighter safety. The funds will be used to improve 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 to Firefighters grant 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. The grants are made by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ####

Aug 12 2003

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the South Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) will receive $9.18 million in federal funds to assist the agency in purchasing vehicles. The funds will allow South Carolina DOT to purchase eleven 35 foot buses, eleven 40 foot buses, one hundred and five 17-passenger Cutaways, twenty-two 15-passenger ADA-equipped vans, and 2 trolleys. The vehicles will be used by the following agencies:
  • Aiken Area Council on Aging
  • Aiken County Transit
  • Anderson (city)
  • Berkeley-Charleston Dorchester Regional
  • Transportation Authority
  • Central Midlands Regional Transportation Authority
  • Clemson Area Transit
  • Coastal Rapid Public Transportation
  • Edgefield County Senior Citizen
  • Generations Unlimited
  • Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority
  • Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority
  • Santee Wateree Regional Transportation Authority
  • Spartanburg County
  • Spartanburg (city)
  • Williamsburg County Transit
“These new vehicles will help enable local transportation authorities deliver better service,” said Graham said. “In addition, improvements in transportation encourage future investment and economic growth.” The award comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The grant funds were appropriated to the FTA in fiscal year 2002. ####

Aug 12 2003

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced Clemson University has been awarded a $61,950 grant to conduct agricultural research. The funds will support a project entitled, ‘Role of Light Quality and Soil Temperature in Regulating Weed Seed Dormancy and Germination Beneath a Crop Canopy.’ “The research conducted at Clemson directly benefits South Carolina’s farmers and helps boost our states economy,” said Graham. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ####

Aug 12 2003

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced South Carolina State University has been awarded a $37,800 Extramural Associates (EA) Research grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The mission of the EA Program is to facilitate the entry and participation of faculty from underrepresented minority and women's institutions into biomedical and behavioral research and research training, through activities targeted to minority and women's institutions. The funds received by South Carolina State will be used to conduct population research. “The work done at South Carolina State helps us better understand the world in which we live and improves the future of our state and nation,” said Graham. ####

Aug 11 2003

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Brittons Neck Gresham Volunteer Fire Department will receive an $85,250 grant and $69,750 loan for the purchase of a new pumper fire truck. “Firefighters risk their lives to protect others, and they deserve the best equipment available,” said Graham. “Firefighters are some of the heroes in our midst.” The grant and loan have been awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ####