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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:
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
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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.
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Greenbelt funds can be used for the
acquisition of land and/or purchase of development rights.
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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.
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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:
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Edisto Island
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Portions of Johns Island, West of
the Ashley and the East Cooper area
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St. Paul’s area
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Town of Awendaw
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Town of Hollywood
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Town of Meggett
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Town of Ravenel
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Town of Rockville
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Town of McClellanville
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Wadmalaw Island
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West St. Andrews area West of the
Ashley
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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:
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City of
Charleston
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City of Folly
Beach
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City of Isle of
Palms
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City of North
Charleston
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Town of James
Island
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Town of
Lincolnville
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Town of Mount
Pleasant
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Town of Kiawah
Island
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Town of Seabrook
Island
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Town of
Sullivan’s Island
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Unincorporated
Charleston County (portions of Johns Island, West of the Ashley and the East
Cooper area)
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