Education and Workforce Training in South Carolina

The City of Hardeeville, South Carolina, through its nonprofit affiliate, the Hardeeville Community Transformation Foundation, offers a multi-faceted funding initiative aimed at enhancing education and workforce training in the rapidly growing Hardeeville region. As Hardeeville, Jasper County, and Beaufort County experience exponential growth, the city seeks to strategically support institutions that can contribute to educational quality and workforce readiness. In response, the Foundation administers a competitive annual grant program, capital construction contributions, and rolling sponsorship awards to assist eligible educational and workforce-related organizations. The grant program is designed to fund initiatives that align with the city’s goals of promoting quality education and preparing residents for in-demand careers. Eligible applicants include public, private, and charter K–12 schools serving Hardeeville; regional colleges and universities in Jasper and Beaufort Counties; workforce training centers; and nonprofits offering educational or workforce programming. The city emphasizes collaboration and resource sharing across institutions and industries, encouraging proposals that incorporate partnerships, innovative methodologies, infrastructure enhancements, and research-based improvements. Grants are categorized into several priority areas: educational quality (up to $10,000), expanded access to education (up to $10,000), workforce readiness (up to $10,000), collaboration promotion (up to $10,000), research and development (up to $10,000), minor capital improvements (up to $25,000), and new construction (amount determined annually by City Council, with only one such award per year). Sponsorships for qualifying events or initiatives are available year-round, with a maximum award of $5,000 per organization per year. Funding is sourced from development fees collected by the city and is allocated annually during the municipal budget process. Applications must be submitted through an online form hosted at https://form.jotform.com/242183728770159. Paper submissions are not accepted. Required documentation includes an applicant’s board list, two years of financial statements, the latest annual report, and an independent audit if available. Nonprofit organizations must also include their IRS determination letter. Capital construction applicants must additionally submit engineering estimates, project budgets, timelines, and approved capital or facilities plans. All awards are subject to review and scoring by a grants panel, with final decisions made by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The deadline for annual grant applications is September 30 of each year. Capital construction contribution requests are accepted from July 1 through December 31 annually. Sponsorship applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Grants are awarded within 45 days of the application deadline. Each grant is awarded for a one-year term, during which funds must be used as described in the approved application. Final reporting is required within one month after the contract period ends, including proof of expenditures and bank records. Any unused or undocumented funds must be returned. For questions regarding the application or program, applicants may contact Neil Parsons, Assistant City Manager for the City of Hardeeville, at 843-784-2231 or via email at nparsons@hardeevillesc.gov. This program plays a vital role in strengthening the region’s educational infrastructure and workforce preparedness in alignment with city-wide strategic priorities.