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Charleston County News Release

MEDIA CONTACT

Name:   Jennie Davis, Charleston County Public Information Officer

Phone: 843.958.4012

Email:   jdavis@charlestoncounty.org

Release Number: 2969

Date: January 30, 2009

Greenbelt Projects: Application Period Opens for Rural and Urban Grants

            Application deadline for greenbelt grant projects is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31

Charleston County’s Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan contains both an Urban Grants Program and a Rural Grants Program to distribute the greenbelt portion of the Transportation Half-Cent Sales Tax proceeds.

The purpose of the grants is to distribute funding in an equitable manner for the conservation of greenspace within Charleston County.

Applications are currently being accepted for both rural and urban greenbelt grant programs. Approximately $43 million is available for rural greenbelt projects, and approximately $13 million is available for urban greenbelt projects.

The application deadline for greenbelt grant projects for the next round of funding is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

There are three ways to request an application:

• Online through the Transportation Sales Tax Web site at http://www.smallchangeforbigchange.org/greenbelt.html

• By e-mailing the Greenbelt Programs Director at cruff@charlestoncounty.org

• By calling the Greenbelt Programs Director at (843) 202-7204

Completed applications with required attachments may be mailed or hand delivered to:

Charleston County Government

Attn: Greenbelt Programs

4045 Bridge View Drive, Suite C204

North Charleston, SC 29405

Any applications received after the deadline of 5 p.m. on March 31 will not be considered for the next round of funding. Post marks will not be considered.

A workshop will be held from 9 - 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, to review the application process and answer questions from potential applicants. The workshop will take place in County Council’s chambers on the second floor of the Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Services Building (4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston, SC, 29405).

Attendance at the workshop is not required for application submittal. However, anyone applying to either the Urban or Rural Grant Program must schedule a pre-application meeting with staff. This meeting will involve the applicant providing an overview of the proposed project followed with technical assistance by staff. Pre-application meetings may be scheduled by contacting the Greenbelt Programs Director at (843) 202-7204.

The Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan provides guidance for spending the greenbelt portion of the Transportation Half-Cent Sales Tax. The plan assigns the Greenbelt Bank Board with the responsibility of administering the Greenbelt Project’s Rural Grants Program.

The Greenbelt Bank was established by Charleston County Council to protect land and promote balanced growth in the county.

SIDEBAR

• An Eligible Greenbelt Fund Recipient means 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 Charleston County Council on a case-by-case basis.

• Greenbelt funds can be used for the acquisition of land and/or purchase of development rights.

• Greenbelt funds may also be used to support the following minor improvements that provide public access and use of conservation lands purchased with Greenbelt monies: boardwalks; unpaved roadways; foot bridges; unpaved small parking areas; and unpaved trails.

• Projects funded with Rural Grants Program monies must occur in the rural area of Charleston County defined by the County’s Comprehensive Plan as the municipalities and unincorporated areas that are located outside the Charleston County Urban Suburban Growth Boundary. These areas include:

   

  • Edisto Island

  • Portions of Johns Island, West of the Ashley and the East Cooper area

  • St. Paul’s area

  • Town of Awendaw

  • Town of Hollywood

  • Town of Meggett

  • Town of Ravenel

  • Town of Rockville

  • Town of McClellanville

  • Wadmalaw Island

  • West St. Andrews area West of the Ashley
     

• Projects funded with Urban Grants Program monies must occur in the urban area of Charleston County defined by the County’s Comprehensive Plan as the municipalities and unincorporated areas that are located within the Charleston County Urban Suburban Growth boundary. The municipalities and unincorporated lands within this boundary include:

• City of Charleston

• City of Folly Beach

• City of Isle of Palms

• City of North Charleston

• Town of James Island

• Town of Lincolnville

• Town of Mount Pleasant

• Town of Kiawah Island

• Town of Seabrook Island

• Town of Sullivan’s Island

• Unincorporated Charleston County (portions of Johns Island, West of the Ashley and the East Cooper area)