Grants Resources

A multifaceted service organization for local governments, providing public administration, planning, information systems and technology, grants, workforce development, and services for the elderly population. 

The Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with CommunityWorks has established the Bringing Back the Burg Small Business Fund to help businesses impacted by COVID-19.  This loan is designed to financially assist qualifying small businesses in the city and the county through low interest and forgivable loans.  Businesses that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and meet the criteria could be eligible for up to $10,000 with the possibility of 50% of the loan forgiven after the first year.

South Carolina employers can apply for their employees to receive a scholarship to enroll in either a 12-week A+ program or 8-week Security+ program offered through CompTIA that includes mentored learning certification preparation package, valued at over $5,000.

• For Employees of South Carolina Businesses
• Upskill employees through a scholarship opportunity
• 16 weeks of access to CompTIA learning management system and 1:1 mentor support
• Everything employees need to pass the certification examination and earn a CompTIA IT certification

LISC's approach to economic development embraces small business lending and coaching, building capacity for local partners, leadership development and deployment of AmeriCorps members with community organizations across the country.

The Charleston County Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization Microbusiness Pandemic Relief Program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 which includes help for neighborhood scale ("Mom and Pop") businesses affected by the COVID pandemic. This is a one-time relief grant intended to help mitigate past and present perils of COVID-19 on workers and businesses. The goal of this program is to support neighborhood-scale businesses by providing access to capital and facilitating capacity building through the injection of federal funds. Qualified businesses can receive up to $25,000 per business.

The program will be administered and utilized per federal guidelines.

Charleston County reserves the right to request additional information and documents as needed.

Eligible Applicants Include:

• Businesses with a primary physical location within Charleston County.
• For-profit businesses which were in operation prior to March 16, 2019.
• Businesses with 10 or fewer employees and annual revenue under $500,000 dollars.
• Businesses who have not received any previous pandemic relief assistance such as PPP.
• Businesses must remain located in the county and not sell the business for at least one year after receipt of grant funds.

Additional Requirements:

• Business must be able to provide documentation that the business' income has suffered due to COVID-19.
• Business must have all appropriate business licenses and be in good standing with Charleston County and with the Secretary of State.
• As of March 16, 2020, the business did not have any unpaid code enforcement or tax liens and was not operating in violation of any federal, state, or local laws.
• Owner/Applicant is not currently in bankruptcy and has not filed bankruptcy in the last 12 months.
• No owner, officer, partner or principal actor of the business has been convicted of financial mismanagement in the past 3 years.
• No conflict of interest exists with the County of Charleston.

Program Timeline:

• April 18^th 2022 – Application posted
• May 2^nd 2022 – Application Workshop
• May 6^th 2022 – Application closes
• May 20^th 2022 – Two week application review ends
• June 2^nd 2022 – Applications to Finance Committee for Approval
• June 7^th 2022 – Applications to Council for Approval

Richland County's Office of Small Business Opportunity (OSBO), in partnership with the County's Community Planning & Development department, will be accepting applications to the CV-19 Small Business Relief Grant program starting at 8:30am on December 1, 2021; applications close June 1, 2022.

If your business is located in Richland County, has 50 or less employees, and experienced shortfalls due to COVID-19 impacts, you can apply for up to $15,000 in reimbursable expenses.  

This grant is available first come, first served, and the application period will remain open until all grant funds have been expended.

For additional information, please contact OSBO at 803-576-1540.

A cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business which provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.

The SC Launch program provides startups with mentoring, access to a network of business experts and funding resources, including grants. This program creates the framework to fuel South Carolina’s innovation economy by helping successfully launch and grow startups.

Offers incentives to attract film production to the state

The SBA partners with state economic development organizations to provide South Carolina small businesses with assistance and further business opportunities through events, presentations and educational materials.

Connects business interests, sponsors, and partners to innovative solutions by capitalizing on the university's faculty, research facilities centers, and institutes.