Lowcountry COG outlines 2025 state CDBG funding, deadlines and priorities to Beaufort County Council

Michelle Knight, representing the Lowcountry Council of Governments (LOCOG), presented an overview of the South Carolina state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to Beaufort County Council on Feb. 10, outlining expected funding, program set-asides, application deadlines and national objectives for projects.

Key points from the presentation

- Estimated state allocation: Ms. Knight said the state expects about $19,800,000 for CDBG in 2025 (an estimate subject to confirmation by federal appropriation processes).

- Program set-asides and project caps: - Community infrastructure (spring round): roughly $9,000,000 set aside; typical project maximum $1,000,000 and minimum application $50,000 (water, sewer, drainage, roads). - Local priorities: about $1,000,000; maximum request up to $300,000 (small economic development, public health/safety, resiliency, broadband pockets). - Community enrichment (fall round): about $7,300,000; facility projects (libraries, senior centers, clinics) with project maximum $750,000 and minimum $50,000. Ready/environmental reviews and urgent projects may be funded outside normal rounds. - Business development: approximately $1,000,000 for public infrastructure to assist companies creating or retaining qualifying jobs; 51% of jobs must benefit low- or moderate-income (LMI) individuals.

- Income threshold example: Knight said a family of four in Beaufort County earning less than $80,700 would qualify for LMI benefit under current program income limits (thresholds vary by household size).

- Matching requirement and priorities: Projects normally require at least a 10% local match; matching funds increase competitiveness. Projects in opportunity zones receive competitive points.

- Deadlines and process: Spring application request and full-application deadlines were listed (March and April rounds for community infrastructure). Knight said the state action-plan/comment period runs through April and she requested comments by April 30. LOCOG will also run local pre-application assistance and a project-development meeting in May.

- National objectives and urgent need: The CDBG national objectives are LMI benefit, slum/blight elimination, and addressing urgent health threats. Urgent health threats generally relate to natural-disaster recovery.

Fair-housing and complaints

Knight noted the county’s citizen participation plan and fair-housing nondiscrimination requirements. She provided a LOCOG telephone contact (area code and number given in the presentation) for people who believe they’ve experienced housing discrimination; LOCOG will collect information and forward it to appropriate agencies.

Consortium and coordination

She also briefly reviewed the Beaufort County-led Lowcountry Regional Home Consortium’s objectives — rehabilitating substandard housing, improving accessibility, and supporting affordable housing development — and noted the consortium’s planning timetable.

Questions and next steps

Councilors asked clarifying questions and were reminded that LOCOG and the state administer program rounds, that most projects are chosen on LMI-benefit bases, and that Beaufort County will have internal ranking and prioritization exercises next month. Knight said local staff should submit action-plan comments by April 30.

Ending

Ms. Knight closed by inviting members and staff to local COG orientation and technical-assistance events and said LOCOG will follow up with application timelines and outreach materials to county staff and councils.