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RIA awards construction grants to upgrade critical infrastructure $23 million in grant funding
NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release
Nov. 24, 2025
RIA awards construction grants
to upgrade critical infrastructure
$23 million in grant funding awarded across South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C.— The S.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved grant assistance for 21 projects, totaling approximately $23 million, to address critical infrastructure needs related to public health, water quality and resiliency, while also improving capacity for economic opportunities. These projects will benefit more than 30,000 customers in 15 counties across the state.
“These grants will improve infrastructure that is key to ensuring affordable basic services for residents and supporting economic prosperity,” RIA Executive Director Bonnie Ammons said. “Such investments will help local communities thrive.”
All 21 grants support capital improvements that will upgrade aging or undersized water mains, rehabilitate or replace aging sewer lines, improve sewer pump stations and treatment plants and enhance or expand stormwater drains and culverts. Some are designed to enhance infrastructure capacity or facilitate job creation for new and existing businesses.
RIA collaborates with local communities and other partners to maximize the impact of state grant dollars. The RIA grant awards will be combined with more than $28 million in local and other funds to carry out the proposed water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure projects.
These state grants are generally awarded twice a year through a competitive process that considers the need for improved public health, environmental protection, community sustainability and economic development.
Applications are selected by the RIA board based on criteria including severity of the problem, expected impact and project feasibility. Recipients share in the cost of infrastructure projects by paying for non-construction or other activities and, oftentimes, providing additional funds for construction.
A list of grant recipients for the first round of competitive grants for fiscal year 2026, awarded Nov. 17, 2025, is below. The application deadline for the second grant round is March 23, 2026. To learn more about RIA or how to apply for grant assistance, visit www.ria.sc.gov.Grantee County Award Amount Allendale County Allendale $750,000 Andrews, Town of Georgetown $237,413 Belton-Honea Path Water Authority Anderson $461,250 Charleston, City of Charleston $1,500,000 Cherokee County/Goucher Water Company Cherokee $1,260,000 Clemson, City of Pickens $943,909 Darlington, City of Darlington $957,000 Elloree Water System Orangeburg $1,435,500 Georgetown, City of Georgetown $1,500,000 Goose Creek, City of Berkeley $500,000 Kershaw County and Lee County Regional Water Authority Kershaw $1,500,000 Lugoff-Elgin Water Authority Kershaw $1,500,000 Moncks Corner, Town of Berkeley $1,205,970 North Charleston Sewer District Charleston $1,500,000 Rural Community Water District of Georgetown County Georgetown $1,500,000 Society Hill, Town of Darlington $225,340 Union, City of Union $1,500,000 Ware Shoals, Town of Greenwood $1,500,000 Westminster, City of Oconee $594,000 Woodruff Roebuck Water District Spartanburg $1,500,000 York, City of York $1,141,090 
About S.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority
The S.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) was created to help communities with financing for qualified infrastructure projects. Infrastructure primarily refers to water and wastewater systems as well as stormwater drainage. Chaired by the Secretary of Commerce, the RIA is governed by a board of directors, including six members who reside in or represent distressed and/or least developed counties.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Alex Clark
Interim Director of Marketing and Communications
South Carolina Department of Commerce
(803) 737-1998
aclark@sccommerce.com
www.SCcommerce.com
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Georgetown County Government
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Jackie Broach Public Information Officer
- November 24, 2025
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