FY26 Community Project Funding

Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies

Project Name: Cheraw Fire Station Replacement Project
Project Recipient: Town of Cheraw
Recipient’s Address: 200 Market Street, Cheraw, South Carolina 29520
Amount Requested: $7,000,000.00

Purpose of Project: This funding would be used for the design, engineering, and construction of a new fire station in the Town of Cheraw. The new facility will improve public safety for both residents and businesses within the town and a 5-mile service radius, including fire protection for industrial employers of 3,500 manufacturing workers. The current fire station is outdated and does not meet modern standards, forcing the town to purchase custom fire engines and limiting its ability to train personnel effectively. The new station will include properly sized bays, space for live fire and essential training, and accommodations for female firefighters. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funding because it directly enhances emergency response capacity, supports economic development, and ensures equitable, up-to-date infrastructure for first responders.

Member Signed Certification Letter

Project Name: Lake View, SC Police Department Upgrades Project
Project Recipient: Town of Lake View
Recipient’s Address: 201 N. Main Street, Lake View, South Carolina 29563
Amount Requested: $200,000.00

Purpose of Project: This funding would support critical renovations to the Lake View Police Department building to make the facility safe, functional, and habitable for law enforcement operations. The current structure suffers from water damage, mold, deteriorated ceilings, and broken security infrastructure. The project includes roof replacement, mold mitigation, replacement of damaged interior and exterior doors with steel security doors, evidence and intake room upgrades, and installation of safety/privacy glass in the public lobby. These improvements are necessary to ensure officer safety, secure evidence handling, and adequate protection for the public. This is a strong use of taxpayer funding because it ensures the Lake View Police Department can serve the community in a safe, efficient, and professional environment.

Member Signed Certification Letter

Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

Project Name: Horry County Emergency Communications Enhancements
Project Recipient: Horry County Government 
Recipient’s Address: 1301 Second Avenue, Conway, South Carolina 29526
Amount Requested: $523,740.00 

Purpose of Project: This funding will be used to facilitate the connection of the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems of multiple law enforcement agencies within four South Carolina coastal counties, enhancing emergency communications, information sharing, and situational awareness among those agencies. The deployment of CAD allows first responders to provide a more timely reaction to emergency situations, thereby supporting crisis intervention. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funding because the project would create an intergovernmental agreement between coastal communities, which provides mutual aid for emergency communications, information sharing, and operational planning. This benefits the community, public safety, and law enforcement. These public safety answering points use computer-aided dispatch to track all incidents, law enforcement response, law enforcement locations, response plans, and other information necessary to create a safe and efficient response.

Member Signed Certification Letter

Project Name: Chesterfield County Radio Improvement Project
Project Recipient: Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office
Recipient’s Address: 203 Watson Street, Chesterfield, South Carolina 29709
Amount Requested: $3,943,978.00

Purpose of Project: This funding would be used to modernize Chesterfield County’s emergency radio communications infrastructure by transitioning all county law enforcement entities to the Palmetto 800 Statewide radio network. The County is currently one of the few in South Carolina still operating on an outdated UHF system, which prevents reliable, interoperable communication with other agencies. The project includes 911 dispatch console upgrades, mobile and portable radios for the Sheriff’s Office, municipal police departments, and the Coroner’s Office, as well as prepaid service subscriptions. These upgrades are essential to ensure coordinated law enforcement response across more than 800 square miles of rural territory. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it enhances officer safety, improves multi-agency emergency response capabilities, and brings Chesterfield County in line with state and federal public safety standards.

Member Signed Certification Letter

Project Name: City of Marion Police Department Equipment Upgrade Project
Project Recipient: City of Marion
Recipient’s Address: 107 S. Main Street, Marion, South Carolina 29571
Amount Requested: $105,000.00

Purpose of Project: This funding would be used to deploy a gunshot detection system across a one-mile radius in the City of Marion. The system uses acoustic sensors to detect, locate, and alert law enforcement to the exact location of gunfire in real time. This will enable the Marion Police Department to respond to incidents of gun violence with greater speed and accuracy, similar to how fire departments respond to emergency calls. Given the City of Marion’s recent rise in gun violence, including gang-related activity and retaliatory shootings, this technology is a critical tool to enhance public safety and improve community trust. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it directly supports law enforcement efforts to reduce crime and protect residents in a community facing serious safety and economic challenges.

Member Signed Certification Letter

Project Name: Francis Marion University (FMU) Campus Police Security Improvements
Project Recipient: Francis Marion University
Recipient’s Address: 4822 East Palmetto Street, Florence, South Carolina 29506
Amount Requested: $1,509,000.00

Purpose of Project: This funding would be used to modernize the Francis Marion University Campus Police Department’s communications and surveillance infrastructure. The project includes replacing outdated handheld, vehicle, and office radios that are no longer supported, improving emergency response and ensuring interoperability with Florence County’s radio system. It also funds the replacement of aging security cameras and servers—some over 15 years old—across campus and satellite facilities in downtown Florence. Updated surveillance equipment will integrate with FMU’s new centralized monitoring platform and support interagency efforts with the City of Florence Police Department and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office. FMU officers play a vital role not only in campus safety but also in responding to emergencies and criminal activity throughout the broader community. This is a strong use of taxpayer funds because it strengthens public safety infrastructure, fosters interagency coordination, and protects students, faculty, and residents in Florence County and South Carolina’s 7th District.

Member Signed Certification Letter

Project Name: Marion County Sheriff's Office County-Wide TDMA Capable Radios
Project Recipient: Marion County Sheriff's Office
Recipient’s Address: 1811 North 501 Bypass, Marion, South Carolina 29571
Amount Requested: $567,148.00

Purpose of Project: This funding would allow the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to purchase new TDMA-capable radios, ensuring compatibility with an upcoming regional communications system upgrade. These radios will support encrypted, P25 Phase II trunking and provide seamless interoperability with local, state, and neighboring jurisdiction agencies. This upgrade is critical for real-time coordination during emergencies, natural disasters, and multi-jurisdictional operations. The project includes 40 portable radios and 76 mobile radios with full accessories, programming, encryption, and installation. By reducing response times, increasing situational awareness, and improving officer safety, this investment strengthens Marion County’s public safety infrastructure. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funding because it equips deputies with modern, secure, and interoperable communication tools necessary for high-stakes law enforcement and disaster response operations.

Member Signed Certification Letter

Project Name: Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office Technology and Equipment Upgrade Project
Project Recipient: Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office
Recipient’s Address: 239 Throop Street, Bennettsville, South Carolina 29512
Amount Requested: $1,736,080.00

Purpose of Project: This funding would be used to support a comprehensive upgrade of technology and equipment for law enforcement agencies across Marlboro County. The project includes the acquisition and implementation of a new Records Management System (RMS), Jail Management System (JMS), and Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) platform to streamline operations and improve coordination. It also includes the purchase of an emergency backup generator to ensure continuity of service during power outages, the replacement of aging police cruisers for the Sheriff’s Office and two municipal police departments, and investments in body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, and related technology infrastructure. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funding because it enhances public safety, strengthens interagency communication, and supports local efforts to combat the spread of illegal narcotics, particularly fentanyl, by improving data integration, response times, and operational readiness throughout the county.

Member Signed Certification Letter

Project Name: City of Hartsville Police Department Equipment and Vehicles
Project Recipient: City of Hartsville
Recipient’s Address: 100 E. Carolina Ave., Hartsville, South Carolina 29551
Amount Requested: $720,211.00

Purpose of Project: This funding would support the purchase of critical equipment and vehicles for the Hartsville Police Department to improve public safety, enhance officer effectiveness, and modernize aging infrastructure. The request includes police cruisers to replace outdated and unsafe vehicles currently used by School Resource Officers and investigative units, as well as radar systems essential for traffic enforcement. The project also includes secure gun safes for school-based officers, license plate recognition cameras for high-crime areas, mobile traffic trailers to deter dangerous driving and monitor vehicle activity, and public safety software to support compliance with state reporting requirements. These investments will improve officer readiness, enhance investigative capabilities, and provide better service to the Hartsville community. This is a strong use of taxpayer funding because it replaces obsolete assets with modern tools that directly contribute to the department’s ability to protect and serve the public.

Member Signed Certification Letter

Subcommittee on Homeland Security

Project Name: City of North Myrtle Beach, SC Emergency Operations Center
Project Recipient: City of North Myrtle Beach
Recipient’s Address: 1018 2nd Avenue South, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29582
Amount Requested: $7,000,000.00

Purpose of Project: This funding will allow for the construction of a comprehensive Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in North Myrtle Beach, SC to service severe weather and disaster mitigation, widely attended events, and other various incidents that require EOC activation. The center will be strategically located near the distribution of calls it receives. It will also be built on high ground to mitigate threats from tidal surges and severe wind, and to be more optimally situated during hurricanes and flooding. The project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will help coordinate communications and support to an area that is prone to natural disasters. The EOC will increase public safety during times of hurricanes and tropical storms, isolated severe weather events, and other large-scale events. This facility will serve North Myrtle Beach and the broader Horry County region of South Carolina’s Seventh Congressional District.

Member Signed Certification Letter

Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Project Name: City of Florence for Water Treatment Plant Expansion and Upgrades
Project Recipient: City of Florence
Recipient’s Address: 324 West Evans Street, Florence, South Carolina 29501
Amount Requested:  $7,250,000.00

Purpose of Project: This funding will be used for engineering and construction improvements to the Pee Dee Water Surface Treatment Plant in Florence, SC. This project will expand the capacity of the water treatment plant to accommodate present needs and address future growth. This is a good use of taxpayer funding because this project will improve water production redundancy and resilience to address severe weather events. It will also adequately maintain system pressure to supply water to critical infrastructure to avoid any interruption in service. In the past, severe weather events disrupted and even canceled some of the functions of local hospitals. This project will also maintain system supply during disruptions like those with Hurricanes Florence and Michael due to downed trees and washed-out roadways.

Member Signed Certification Letter

Project Name: Town of Pawleys Island Bird’s Nest Neighborhood Storm Drainage Improvements
Project Recipient: Town of Pawleys Island
Recipient’s Address: 323 Myrtle Avenue, Pawleys Island, South Carolina 29585
Amount Requested: $2,500,000.00

Purpose of Project: This funding would support stormwater infrastructure improvements in the Bird’s Nest neighborhood of Pawleys Island, addressing long-standing drainage issues that pose risks to road safety, pedestrian access, and environmental quality. The project will eliminate chronic flooding and standing water along key residential corridors, including Springs Avenue and Pritchard Street, by installing reinforced concrete piping, tide gates, and catch basins. These upgrades will prevent further deterioration of roadways, reduce nonpoint source pollution runoff into Pawleys Creek, an impaired shellfish harvesting waterbody, and support the Town’s long-term coastal resilience strategies. As a coastal tourism hub and historic community, Pawleys Island is committed to pioneering sustainable infrastructure solutions for the benefit of residents, visitors, and the broader Georgetown County economy. This is a responsible use of taxpayer funding that protects public infrastructure, enhances community resilience, and supports water quality improvements in an ecologically sensitive area.

Member Signed Certification Letter