Education and Workforce Training Grant

The Hardeeville Community Transformation Foundation administers an annual grant, scholarship, capital contribution, and sponsorship program designed to enhance education and workforce training in and around the City of Hardeeville, South Carolina. As a response to rapid regional growth in Jasper and Beaufort Counties, the Foundation was established to bridge gaps in traditional municipal programming by advancing partnerships with educational institutions, nonprofits, and workforce training centers. The Foundation is a nonprofit entity operating under the City of Hardeeville and executes funding allocations as part of the city’s strategic development priorities, drawing resources from development fees and city council-approved budgets. This initiative supports a range of recipients including public, private, and charter K-12 schools, regional colleges and universities, vocational institutions, and nonprofits that provide educational or workforce training services to Hardeeville. The program makes funding available through a competitive grant process and periodic sponsorships. Funding categories include enhancing educational quality, expanding access to education, promoting workforce readiness, encouraging collaborative projects, supporting research and development, implementing minor capital improvements, and—in select, council-approved cases—new construction. Additionally, scholarship funds are available for qualifying students, including the Hardeeville Future Leaders Scholarship and career-readiness awards for in-demand occupations as identified by South Carolina’s career database. The grants offer financial support for a variety of projects such as integrating technology in classrooms, creating new curriculum, providing professional development for educators, and improving infrastructure in underserved areas. Workforce readiness initiatives supported include developing career pathways in collaboration with local industries, providing skills training in high-demand sectors, and fostering soft skills development. Capital funds may also be used for rehabilitation of school facilities, infrastructure upgrades for IT, safety and security improvements, and enhancements to recreational equipment. New construction awards are limited to one annually and must be approved by the City Council. Eligibility is restricted to entities directly serving Hardeeville residents. Ineligible applicants include individuals (except for qualifying students), organizations seeking funds for endowments, religious or political activities, debt service, or general operating support. All applications must be submitted online through the designated form, and printed materials are not accepted. The review process is managed by a scoring panel, with final decisions made by the Foundation’s Board. Applications are evaluated based on alignment with city priorities, completeness, and project impact. Award determinations are communicated 45 to 60 days after the deadline. The application deadline for competitive grants that enhance education and workforce training was October 30, 2025, which has passed. Sponsorship requests, however, are accepted on a rolling basis. Capital contributions for new construction were accepted through December 31, 2025. The Foundation emphasizes the importance of thorough and complete submissions. Required documents include narratives, financial statements, annual reports, and—for nonprofits—IRS determination letters. For capital projects, additional documentation such as engineering estimates and approved facilities plans are required. Recipients must execute a one-year contract and submit a final close-out report with financial documentation at the conclusion of the grant term. For additional inquiries, applicants may contact Neil Parsons, Assistant City Manager, via phone at 843-784-2231 or by email at [email protected].