March 7, 2006 Contact: Michael Sponhour

For Immediate Release (803) 734-0632

Committee Seeks Applicants for $9.3 Million in State Grants

South Carolina local governments and non-profit organizations are invited to apply for state grants for health, environmental, economic development, travel/ tourism or other projects. A total of $9.3 million is available.

The Grants Review Committee, created pursuant to Proviso 63.49 of the 2006 Appropriations Act, will consider the grant requests. The committee has created an application form which is available at www.bcb.sc.gov. At least one legislative or gubernatorial sponsor is required to endorse the application for it to be considered.

Applications are due Monday April 10, 2006. They can be mailed to the Budget & Control Board, Office of Executive Director, P. O. Box 12444, Columbia, SC 29211, or faxed to (803) 734-2117. Applicants may call (803) 734-2320 for information.

All grants are one-time awards. Funds may be distributed to a county or municipality for allocation to the applicant. Successful applicants must submit a final report to the committee detailing the expenditure of any funds awarded.

The committee consists of five members with one member appointed by each of the following officials:  the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Senate, and the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives. The committee is chaired by Jimmy Bailey of Charleston.