Applications are open for the Municipal Association’s Hometown Economic Development Grants powered by VC3, available to cities and towns for projects that make a positive impact on the quality of life in their communities, but the deadline of Friday, September 27, is fast approaching.
The Association has offered the grants since 2016, and has now awarded well over $1 million to several dozen cities. The 2023 cycle awarded $300,000 in funding to 12 cities and towns throughout the state.
Projects funded through the grants have been transformational for categories ranging from master plan documents to parks, façade grant programs, downtown revitalization and other initiatives. The City of Cayce, for example, used HEDG funding it received in 2021 to infuse more public art into the Cayce River Arts District, a focus of its redevelopment efforts. In 2023, the River Arts District’s economic and cultural successes won the city an Achievement Award from the Municipal Association.
Applying for a Hometown Economic Development Grant
The 2024 HEDG cycle will award as many as 12 grants of up to $25,000 each.
HEDG project proposals must make a positive, measurable and sustainable economic impact on a community. Some project types are excluded, as explained in the full eligibility rules on the application.
Those interested should apply online by Friday, September 27, at 5 p.m. The application and grant awards have several key requirements:
- The city or town council must pass a resolution in support of the grant application.
- Cities and towns that receive a grant must provide matching funds.
- Grant recipients must also submit progress reports and provide financial details about how they spent grant funds.
To keep HEDG equitable and effective, the program awards grants among several population categories. The population size determines the amount of funding available for recipients.
Find the HEDG application and sample resolution online. For questions, contact Jake Broom at jbroom@masc.sc.