Session IV
October 21, 2010
Greenbelt Program
www.smallchangeforbigchange.org
WHAT WE DO:
The Charleston County Greenbelt Program implements the goal of the Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan to protect 40,000 acres of land for green space. Funding for the program is provided from the greenbelt portion of the Transportation Sales Tax funds.
WHY WE DO IT
The Greenbelt Plan established Rural and Urban Grants Programs to distribute the Greenbelt portion of the Transportation Sales Tax proceeds in the form of financial grants to rural and urban areas of the County. The purpose of these grants is to distribute funding in an equitable manner for the conservation of land, wetlands protection, historic and cultural preservation, parkland acquisition, greenway and trail acquisition and waterway access acquisition.
WHEN WE DO IT
Currently, two funding cycles are held during the year with application deadlines occurring March 31st and July 31st.
WHERE WE DO IT
Projects funded with Rural Program monies must occur in the Rural Area of Charleston County defined as the municipalities and unincorporated areas that are located outside the Charleston County Urban Growth Boundary. These areas include the West St. Andrews area in West Ashley, Wadmalaw Island, Edisto Island, the St. Paul’s area, Hollywood, Meggett, Ravenel, Rockville, Awendaw, McClellanville and portions of Johns Island, West Ashley and East Cooper.
Urban areas of Charleston County are defined as the municipalities and unincorporated areas that are located within the Charleston County Urban Growth boundary and include:
City of Charleston Town of Mount Pleasant
City of Folly Beach City of North Charleston
City of Isle of Palms Town of Seabrook Island
Town of James Island Town of Sullivan’s Island
Town of Kiawah Island Unincorporated
Town of Lincolnville
HOW WE DO IT
Entities meeting the definition of an Eligible Greenbelt Fund Recipient may apply for funding to purchase land or interest in land that will be utilized as green space. Eligible Greenbelt Fund Recipient is defined as Charleston County or a municipality in Charleston County; any agency, commission, or instrumentality of the County or municipality within Charleston County; a not-for-profit charitable corporation or trust authorized to do business in this State and organized and operated for natural resource conservation, land conservation, or historic preservation purposes, and having tax-exempt status as a public charity under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and having the power to acquire, hold, and maintain interests in land for these purposes; an agency or instrumentality of the United States Government; and any other entities as may be approved at the discretion of County Council on a case-by-case basis.
SUMMARY
To date, the Greenbelt Program has protected nearly 17,000 acres of green space throughout Charleston County. A summary of each greenbelt project is available on the website.
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Transportation Sales Tax Program
www.ccroadwise.com
WHAT YOU DO:
The Transportation Sales Tax Program implements the goals of the Proposed Comprehensive Transportation Plan to improve the transportation network throughout Charleston County. Funding for the program is provided through the transportation portion of the Transportation Sales Tax funds.
WHY YOU DO IT:
The Proposed Comprehensive Transportation Plan established a spending plan to develop structured, yet flexible, short-term and long-term strategies that can be implemented systematically to take advantage of available funding and improve the transportation network throughout Charleston County.
WHEN YOU DO IT:
Thirteen bonded projects were approved by the voters of Charleston County in two different referendums, one in 2004, and one in 2006. Currently, one funding cycle is held during the year to fund the Annual Allocations projects.
WHERE YOU DO IT:
Projects funded by the Transportation portion of the Transportation Sales Tax Program are utilized in all of the urban, suburban, and rural areas of Charleston County.
HOW YOU DO IT:
Historically, the annual allocation for new projects includes $4 million for resurfacing, $2 million for Local Paving (earth road improvements) $2 million for Intersection Improvements, $1 million for drainage Improvements, $1 million for County Council / Public Works projects, and $0.5 million for Pedestrian / Bike Enhancement Projects.
Charleston County Council adopted the use of an Objective Evaluation and Prioritization Process for the Allocation projects. This process is used to identify those projects that are most needed and will represent the best utilization of available funds.
SUMMARY:
To date, 193 projects have been completed. There are 62 projects which are active, under design, planning or construction. During the past three-plus years, there have been 41 public meetings held on projects in the program, with over 3,400 citizens in attendance. The status of the program, each project and public comment is available on the website.
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Mosquito Control Division
www.charlestoncounty.org
-click tab “online services”
-under “Public Works”, click “Request Services or obtain information”
-at top of page just to right of “site search”, click on “Public Works”
-under the bold-type “Functions” column, click “Mosquito Control”
What we do – The Mosquito Control Division of Charleston County Public Works provides mosquito control service throughout Charleston County utilizing an Integrated Mosquito Control Strategy.
Why we do it – To protect and preserve the health and quality of life of the citizens of Charleston County
When we do it – Due to Charleston County’s temperate climate and coastal, lowland location, aquatic stage and adult mosquito control can be carried out year-round, although activity typically intensifies from March through November.
Where we do it – The division provides mosquito control throughout Charleston County’s entire bordered area, ranging from the South Santee-McClellanville region southward all the way to Edisto Island.
How we do it – By implementing an Integrated Mosquito Control Strategy of Surveillance, Treatment, and Public Education using scientifically sound, proven, and environmentally sensitive best management methods.
Summary – The Mosquito Control Division’s 19 personnel are dedicated to serving the citizens of Charleston County by providing the safest, most efficient and effective mosquito control practices possible.
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Zoning and Planning Department
The Zoning & Planning Department administers the County's Comprehensive Plan ordinance (ten year update adopted by County Council on November 18, 2008) and the Zoning and Land Development Regulations ordinance (adopted by County Council on Nov. 20, 2001, as amended) and prepares various studies and plans related to the current and future use of land in Charleston County. This Department serves as the professional and technical staff for the County Planning Commission, which is an advisory body to County Council. The Zoning & Planning Department also serves as the professional and technical staff for the County's Board of Zoning Appeals and is the Planning Staff for the Towns of Kiawah Island, Meggett and Rockville.
The Department processes applications for: zoning permits, the subdivision of land, rezonings, planned developments, variance requests, special exception requests, site plan review, Zoning & land Development Regulations Ordinance text amendments, Comprehensive Plan amendments and appeals of administrative decisions. The enforcement of the County’s Zoning & Land Development Regulations Ordinance is also performed by the Zoning & Planning Department.
The Department is also responsible for 911 addressing for the unincorporated portions of the County and assists several municipalities with addressing. The addressing function is coordinated with the County’s Consolidated Dispatch office to assure accuracy, consistency and agreement of addresses, street names and any newly annexed properties for use by the 9-1-1 emergency system.
In addition the Department also:
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Assists in region-wide planning
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Provides support and expertise to County Council and to other departments of County Government
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Maintains records of annexations within the County and provides assistance to the County’s Board of Elections and Voter registration
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Assists municipalities in preparing comprehensive plans and land development regulations
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Provides technical design services for County Capital Improvement projects
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Provides graphic design and GIS services to other County departments
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Environmental Management
http://recycle.charlestoncounty.org
Charleston County Environmental Management provides services for the recycling center, recycling collections and convenience centers, the Bees Ferry Landfill, the Bees Ferry compost facility, and environmental enforcement.
Our department is responsible for the disposal of all County waste; however as stewards to the environment we recycle and compost in order to divert waste from the landfill.
Our service is ongoing and delivered daily throughout Charleston County. We are located at
Bees Ferry Convenience Center (staffed center):
Nov. 1 through March 1
Open 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily
Except Sundays, open 1 - 6 p.m.
See website for all other locations throughout Charleston County
Recyclables are picked up at the curb in the urban areas of the County by recycling trucks. The rural areas are serviced by convenience centers. Trash pick-up is handled by municipalities, not the County’s Environmental Management Department. The Environmental Management Department only manages the landfill for the disposal of garbage and to process compost. Our environmental enforcement officer is responsible for making sure homes are clear of extreme amounts of debris and trash.
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Grants Administration – Trident One Stop Career System (TOSCS)
WHAT WE DO:
Workforce Development Services for Job Seekers
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Job readiness training; job search assistance; job placement assistance; skills assessment; skills matching; career counseling and coaching; skills gap training; on-the-job training; classroom training; and customized training.
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Sample Training Programs: Community Health Care Training Program (CHTP); Manufacturing Certification Training Program; Trident Area Welding Initiative; Facilities Maintenance Training Program; and Electric Line Worker Training Program. Occupational training as required to meet market demand.
Workforce Development Services for Employers
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Labor Market Information (LMI) (i.e., prevailing wage data, skill availability, etc.) recruiting and staffing support services; layoff aversion strategy development assistance; Rapid Response services; apprenticeship program development assistance; job development services.
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Funding for Training: Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) program; On-the-Job Training program; Classroom Training; and Customized Training.
Training, Support and Workforce Services for Youth
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Occupational Training Programs; Hands-on Vocational Training with examples; SYEP and related services.
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GED prep; HS diploma classes; job readiness training; educational assistance; and employment preparation and placement services.
WHY WE DO IT
WHERE WE DO IT
HOW WE DO IT
SUMMARY
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Grants Administration - Community Development Division/ Urban Entitlement Program
WHAT WE DO
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Administer the County’s federal allocation received from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Community Planning and Development.
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Administration of the funds involve coordinating activities and enforcing programmatic compliance with all federal/HUD, state, county, and specific grant related requirements and regulations.
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The five funding sources currently authorized and appropriated to Charleston County are (1) the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, (2) Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funds, (3) HOME Investment Partnership Program funds (HOME), (4) the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing (HPRP) funds, and (5) an additional allocation to the CDBG funds named the CDBG-Recovery funds (CDBG-R) as authorized and appropriated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
WHY WE DO IT
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Through HUD, the federal government provides and establishes partnerships with states and local governments such as Charleston County to work with communities to ensure joint efforts that result in housing and community development programs and policies that benefit and serve low- and moderate-income persons.
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The County is eligible for a direct allocation from the federal government as we are classified as an Urban Entitlement community.
WHEN WE DO IT
WHERE WE DO IT
HOW WE DO IT
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A competitive and formal annual application process, the Community Development Division partners with Charleston County municipalities and local nonprofit organizations through a subrecipient agreement.
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Once agreements are executed, the subrecipient is reimbursed for eligible program activities through the County’s HUD funds that are drawn down from the federal system.
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Various reports are provided to HUD on an annual basis to ensure that all HUD funds are utilized in accordance with the program’s intent and various outreach activities are implemented to encourage citizen participation and awareness.
SUMMARY
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The Division of Community Development, through its various HUD funded grant programs, assists local municipalities, jurisdictions and local nonprofit organizations to obtain or leverage funding for a variety of community-oriented projects including housing improvements and homeownership, reduction of homelessness, community and neighborhood improvements, economic development, and improvement of infrastructure.
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In accordance with national objectives, eligible activities that must be consistent with the goals and objectives of the Charleston County Community Development Five-Year Consolidated Plan.
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Grants Administration - Grants Development and Special Projects Division
WHAT WE DO
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Seeks funding opportunities through research of available grants offered by federal, state and local organizations.
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Prepares and distributes a monthly listing of available federal, state, local and charitable funding opportunities to area nonprofits, faith-based organizations and other interested parties.
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Assists county departments and elected/appointed officials in the development of grant applications.
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Manages the Charleston Development Corporation. The Charleston Development Corporation's mission is to further human, social and economic development in Charleston County and to promote a healthier and safer community. The principal objective of the corporation is to benefit the community by fostering a positive social environment, thereby reducing the burdens of government and combating community deterioration. This includes, but is not limited to, fostering residential housing development, reducing unsanitary water and sewage conditions, encouraging existing and new industrial growth, and addressing the problems related to the use of alcohol and other drugs.
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Oversees the Medically Indigent Assistance Program (MIAP)
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Manages and implements USDA’s Housing Rehabilitation project with United Methodist Relief Center
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Manages special county projects as requested
WHY WE DO IT
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Discuss funding needs of Charleston County Government.
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The MIAP program is mandated by the State General Assembly
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USDA Housing Rehabilitation program is a one-year project that is grant-funded.
WHEN WE DO IT
WHERE WE DO IT
HOW WE DO IT
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Discuss research methods, grant development process and Council approval process
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The MIAP program is an administrative function of the Division handling indigent patients’ paperwork.
SUMMARY
The Grants Development and Special Projects Division manages the Charleston Development Corporation (CDC)-a nonprofit created to secure funding for charitable endeavors. This division actively seeks funding opportunities and then assists departments in developing compelling grant applications. In addition, this division manages the County's Medically Indigent Assistance Program, a U.S. Department of Agriculture program, and various other ongoing projects.
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