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Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (SCPRT) is pleased to announce the most recent award recipients of the Undiscovered South Carolina grant program: City of Sumter, City of Fountain Inn, Town of Edgefield, City of Gaffney, and the Town of Cheraw. SCPRT is currently accepting pre-applications from local entities for the next round of grant funding.

The Undiscovered SC grant program was created to help communities in “undiscovered” parts of the Palmetto State realize their full tourism potential by supporting the development of publicly-owned tourism products and attractions. Applicants must be a county or municipal government.

Quick and easy pre-applications are due June 21 and must be submitted using SCPRT’s online Webgrants portal.

Undiscovered South Carolina grant information and eligibly criteria:

• Amount: $50,000 minimum up to $200,000
• Cash match: 1 to 1
• The applicant must be a county or municipal government with Accommodations Tax distributions of $900,000 or less, according to data released by the State Treasurer’s Office

The five recipients selected in the 2023 grant cycle will receive a total of $754,301 to complete local tourism projects.

• City of Sumter | Tuskegee Monument
  Recommended SCPRT Grant Award - $102,668
  Prepare and install two plaque walls, bonze life-size airmen statues, sidewalks, and additional site furnishings to honor the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, specifically highlighting four local pilots and ground crew members.
  
  
• City of Fountain Inn | Commerce Park Stage Cover
  Recommended SCPRT Grant Award - $200,000
  Design and install a cover over the stage at Commerce Park for events, concerts, and performances that will increase tourism-related activities.
  
  
• Town of Edgefield | Preserving Pottersville: Edgefield’s Pottery Legacy
  Recommended SCPRT Grant Award - $200,000
  Stabilize the Pottersville House to prevent further structural deterioration and install permanent interpretive and educational displays. The project is part of a future living history museum the town is working to create celebrating Edgefield pottery and artisans like famed enslaved potter, David Drake.
  
  
• City of Gaffney | Jolly Park Conference Center
  Recommended SCPRT Grant Award - $200,000

Renovate the Jolly Park Conference Center to bring it up to current codes, providing a space for conferences, festivals, and events that would increase tourism to the City.

• Town of Cheraw | Cheraw Theatre on the Green Structural & Safety Enhancements
  Recommended SCPRT Grant Award - $51,633
  Renovate the Theatre on the Green to enhance visitor safety and structural stability, and to comply with accessibility regulations. The project includes restroom renovations, ADA-accessible ramp renovations, structural enhancements, and outside brick repointing.

Quotes:

• “Tourism has an enormous impact on South Carolina’s economy, workforce, and overall quality of life. We were extremely grateful to receive an additional one-time $250,000 in our budget last year to expand our Undiscovered grant program, and it's incredible to see those dollars in action in Sumter, Fountain Inn, Edgefield, Gaffney, and Cheraw. We hope to continue to grow the Undiscovered SC program so more local economies can benefit from the jobs, economic activity, and overall positive impacts that strategically investing in tourism brings.” – Duane Parrish, Director, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
• “The City of Sumter is incredibly proud to be home to the nation's only public park featuring a full-scale model of the iconic P-51 Mustang Red Tail. This extraordinary tribute underscores our dedication to preserving military history and helps cement Sumter as a premier destination for military tourism. This grant allows us to enhance the visitor experience while sharing the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.” – Mayor David Merchant, City of Sumter
• “Our community has a long history of producing stellar events. Our events are a critical part of our town’s economic development portfolio and, more importantly, part of our intentional strategy to continue creating positive “shared experiences” for our community. By elevating the physical spaces that these events take place, whether it’s our weekly summer concerts or a wedding rental, we raise the bar on the citizen’s experience in Fountain Inn. Our new stage cover will provide greater capacity, greater functionality in all seasons, and greater appeal for those who live here, and those who visit here.” – Mayor GP McLeer, City of Fountain Inn
• “The City of Gaffney is excited about being awarded one of the 2023 Undiscovered SC grants. The city is using these funds to renovate an old general store into a conference center in our historic downtown. This conference center will be a first of its kind in our city’s historic downtown.” – Jamie Caggiano, Asst. City Administrator, City of Gaffney

These five recipients were selected based on the program’s four evaluation criteria: Project Need, Project Planning & Readiness, Scope of Work, and Strategic Impact.

Find additional award criteria and eligibility information, along with information for the next grant cycle, at scprt.com/tourism/grants/undiscovered-sc-grant. Learn more about SCPRT grant programs at scprt.com/grants.

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View photos of previous Undiscovered SC projects here.