The South Carolina Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is designed to provided assistance to units of general local government in improving economic opportunities and meeting community revitalization needs, particularly for persons of low and moderate income.

The CDBG program has been funded through the State since 1982 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended (Title I).

The CDBG program is governed by Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, and its implementing regulations for the State Program at 24 CFR Part 570, Subpart I. All CDBG activities must be carried out in accordance with the requirements of Title I, Subpart I, the State Consolidated Plan and this Program Description.

Grants Administration, a division of the SC Department of Commerce, administers the annual allocation from HUD for the CDBG program. Throughout this Program Description, the term "State" generally refers to the entity administering the CDBG program, i.e., Grants Administration.

In the following sections, a description of the State of South Carolina's CDBG Program is presented along with the amount of funds available and the method of distribution of those funds. Also presented are the categories of grants to be made available, selection criteria, eligible activities, and the eligibility requirements for applicants.

The state will conduct workshops to assist local governments and other interested parties in the preparation of grant applications and the administration and management of funded projects in accordance with program requirements. In addition, the State is available to provide technical assistance to local governments and non-profit organizations regarding the CDBG program. Each activity must address at least one of the three National Objectives of the CDBG program:

1) benefit low and moderate income ("LMI") persons, 2) aid in the prevention or elimination of slums and blight, and 3) meet other urgent community needs posing a serious threat to the health or welfare of the community, where other financial resources are not available to meet such needs. 

Fair Housing Act –  prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (families with children) or disability.