Eight cities and towns across the state were recently awarded a Hometown Economic Development Grant by the Municipal Association of South Carolina. The grants are to implement economic development projects that will make a positive impact on the quality of life in their communities. The grant program also promotes and recognizes innovation in economic development practices.

The Municipal Association board of directors created this grant program last year to fund projects that will produce measurable results, can be maintained over time and illustrate best practices for that can be replicated in other cities.

Beaufort, Clinton, Gaffney, Manning, Ridgeway, Walterboro, West Pelzer and Pelzer, and Williamston are this year's grant recipients. Each municipality will receive $25,000 to implement a project ranging from community master plans and retail recruitment to downtown revitalization and tourism development.

Cities and towns receiving the grant must provide matching funds. Matching amounts, determined by a city's population, will range from 5 percent to 15 percent of the grant award. Cities can use in-kind contributions or other grant funds as their match. Seventy-six municipalities applied for the grants.

An awards committee comprised of former local government and state agency professionals evaluated grant applications. Cities and towns receiving a grant must submit reports about the progress and successes of each grant-funded project and provide financial details of how the grant funds were used.

"These grants will help our cities and towns continue to strengthen their economic development efforts to attract and retain businesses to downtowns," said Miriam Hair, executive director for the Municipal Association."