News
February 28, 2008
Funding to Establish Workforce Training Centers
2/28/2008
Funding to Establish Workforce Training Centers
The South Carolina Department of Commerce announced today that Kershaw County will receive a $1,000,000 Community Development Block Grant. Commerce awarded over $8.4 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to 12 communities across the state. The funds are allocated for specific projects that will directly benefit more than 1,500 low to moderate income residents in South Carolina.
“From day one, our administration has focused on bettering the economic soil conditions to promote business growth throughout the state and enhance opportunities for community and economic development,” said Gov. Mark Sanford. “These grants will help a number of communities address workforce development and affordable housing needs helping them to become more competitive in attracting jobs and new investment.”
With this grant funding, Kershaw County will create a “QuickJobs” Development Center. Six new “QuickJobs” Development Centers will be created throughout the state to assist in workforce training and skills development needed to support and grow existing businesses, compete for new jobs and investment, and ensure economic opportunity for communities most in need.
“As we look at the state and talk about the future when it comes to education, trades, or skills, South Carolina cannot afford to focus solely on those that are currently employed. We must focus also on those that were left without the education, skills, or training needed to compete in today’s economy.
The “QuickJobs” Development Centers are an effort and partnership with the state technical college system to achieve the goal that every county in South Carolina will have the resources necessary to educate and train its entire workforce,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce. The “QuickJobs” Development Centers will be established in coordination with area technical colleges in six counties that do not currently have adequate technical college facilities within the community. Residents will benefit from these new training centers with access to skills training needed to compete for new or higher paying jobs. CDBG funds will cover the construction cost of the “QuickJobs” Development Centers and the centers will be operated by partnering area technical colleges that will provide training courses specifically based on locally identified needs or shortages. Grant recipients were selected through a statewide competitive process in which local governments submitted grant applications to the South Carolina Department of Commerce. These grants represent a portion of the money allocated annually to South Carolina from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Local governments are responsible for providing matching funds in an amount of at least five percent.
The South Carolina Department of Commerce administers the Community Development Block Grants program for the state. The program assists communities in providing housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities. Grants are awarded to local governments to carry out a wide range of activities addressing housing and community development needs.
All grants awarded by the CDBG program must meet at least one of three objectives:
* Benefit low and moderate income persons.
* Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums and blighting conditions.
* Meet other urgent community development needs where existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to public health and welfare and where other financial resources are not readily available to meet such needs.
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