Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.8 Million to Make Critical Infrastructure Upgrades to Protect Businesses from Flooding in Kershaw, South Carolina

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.8 million grant to the town of Kershaw, South Carolina, to make water infrastructure improvements to protect local businesses from future flood events. This EDA grant will be matched with $470,020 in local investment.

“When Hurricane Irma struck South Carolina in 2017, the Trump Administration moved rapidly to help the affected communities recover,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “The improvements made to the wastewater infrastructure system in Kershaw will increase disaster resiliency and ensure major employers remain open following severe weather events in the future.”

“When it comes to responding to and preparing for natural disasters, South Carolina takes a team-oriented approach, and we couldn’t be more grateful to count Secretary Ross and the Department of Commerce as a part of our team,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “This grant will make a real difference in Kershaw, but it also shows our entire state that our partners in the federal government are ready and willing to help.”

“I am really pleased that we are able to meet the needs of the citizens of Kershaw who were hit very hard by Hurricane Irma,” said Senator Graham. “The entire delegation worked together, and I really appreciate my colleagues, Kershaw Mayor Mark Dorman, and the Trump Administration for helping make this possible.”

“Hurricane Irma reminded all of us in South Carolina just how important our water utilities are,” said U.S. Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-5). “Specifically in the town of Kershaw, problems with water infrastructure could easily mean devastation for not only the town, but also southern parts of Lancaster County and northern areas of Kershaw County. I am thrilled that the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration has awarded the town of Kershaw this $1.8 million grant. This money will help bring the town’s wastewater systems up to today’s standards, and help protect the community’s homes and businesses from future flooding events.”

The improvements made to the wastewater system because of this project will make Kershaw more resilient to natural disasters like Hurricane Irma that caused significant damage and infiltration to the system. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Catawba Regional Council of Governments. EDA funds the Catawba Regional Council of Governments to help bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.

This project is funded under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (PL 115-123) (PDF), in which Congress appropriated to EDA $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program (PDF) funds for disaster relief and recovery as a result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, wildfires and other calendar year 2017 natural disasters under the Stafford Act.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.