IMPACT Fund – Big Idea Grants

IMPACT Fund – Big Idea Grants is sponsored by Municipal Association of South Carolina. Funds bold, creative, and forward-thinking projects that result in long-term impact for South Carolina municipalities.

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The Municipal Association of South Carolina launched the IMPACT Fund, an acronym for “Innovative Municipal Projects for Advancing Change and Transformation,” in 2025. The program is supported by the Association’s strategic partner for technology services, VC3. The Fund finances two distinct grant programs for South Carolina cities and towns: Big Idea Grants - $100,000 – Designed to fund bold, creative and forward-thinking ideas.

Projects might include technology-driven service improvements, innovative uses of public space, community-wide initiatives or any other big idea that results in long-term impact. Grant judging criteria is heavily weighted toward creativity, community impact and project readiness.

Here are the 2025 grant recipients: City of Greenville – Nicholtown Resiliency Hub Greenville will transform the Nicholtown Community Center into South Carolina’s first Resiliency Hub, a dual-purpose facility that supports daily community life and emergency preparedness.

Prompted by Hurricane Helene’s widespread impact, the hub will feature backup power, emergency supplies, reliable Wi-Fi, charging stations and year-round programming to equip residents with disaster readiness skills. Located in a historically underserved neighborhood, the hub will serve as a refuge during crises and a model for replication.

City of North Augusta – Saving Seconds, Saving Lives North Augusta will institute a citywide emergency response program to reduce deaths from sudden cardiac arrest by deploying connected AEDs and training resident responders. Using a data-driven model that incorporated 160 cardiac events recorded in the city between 2022 – 2025, the city will place smart defibrillators in high-risk neighborhoods and link them to 911 dispatch.

Volunteer Cardiac Arrest Rapid Engagement Teams will be activated to respond before EMS arrives, improving survival odds and community resilience. Town of Campobello – Municipal Facilities Master Plan Currently, the Town of Campobello is operating out of a temporary residential space, following the demolition of its former town hall after years of issues involving mold and deterioration.

Campobello will now will develop a master plan for its municipal facilities, including administration, police, fire, court and recreation. The plan will guide long-term investments to meet current and future needs. Ultimately, the new facilities project will improve service delivery, employee productivity and community quality of life, all while preserving the town’s character.

City of Chesnee – CADA Park Upgrades CADA Park in Chesnee is named for the Chesnee Area Development Association. The city will wire this park and install new electrical outlets to support seasonal decorations, food trucks and festival amusements without relying on generators. The upgrades will enhance community events and support small businesses by improving infrastructure for vendor markets and gatherings.

Town of Heath Springs – Town Park, Phase Three Heath Springs will install additional playground equipment in its Town Park, including a swing set for older children and accessory play structures for all age groups. The park has already undergone significant upgrades, but it lacks play equipment aimed at older children.

The project will enhance recreational opportunities, promote healthy lifestyles, and support community gathering in its only public park. City of Manning – Enhancing Commerce Through Improved Walkability Deteriorating infrastructure in Manning’s historic downtown poses safety risks and hinders economic activity. The city will now hire engineering consultants to assess and design sidewalk improvements in the area.

The project will support a competitive application for a Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside A grant of more than $500,000 from the SC Department of Transportation, enabling large-scale pedestrian upgrades. The project will improve Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility, reduce liability and revitalize its central business district.

Town of Pacolet – Historic Amphitheater Renovation Pacolet is planning to restore its Depression-era stone amphitheater, a long-vacant cultural landmark. The project will fund structural evaluations and construction-ready plans, enabling the town to pursue larger grants for full renovation.

This is the first step in a larger plan to revive the structure that once hosted Tracy Lawrence and Tim McGraw back into a safe, vibrant space for concerts, community events and tourism. Town of Pageland – CTE Marketplace Pageland plans to rehabilitate a downtown building to launch the CTE Marketplace, a student-run retail and training space for Chesterfield County high school students in Career and Technology Education programs.

The facility will offer hands-on experience in production, sales and customer service while revitalizing a vacant property and boosting downtown activity. The project includes roof repairs, cosmetic upgrades and electrical improvements. A formal partnership with the school district ensures long-term sustainability and educational alignment.

Town of Ruby – Building 261 Repair Ruby plans to repair the town-owned building at 261 Market St. , which houses its only restaurant, Sno-N-Go Freeze Shack. The town proactively sought out the restaurant and leased space to it to serve its residents, as no other full-service restaurants exist within several miles of the town.

The project includes constructing a new exterior wall, sealing the interior wall damaged by moisture and replacing a failing HVAC system. Town of Salley – Preservation and Repair of Historic Town Hall The historic Salley Town Hall houses essential municipal services and is showing signs of structural deterioration. The town will use its funding to restore the property.

The project includes replacing damaged wood, installing vinyl siding, repairing soffits, and applying protective sealant to preserve the building’s integrity and reduce long-term maintenance. The goal is to safeguard a vital civic hub, maintain its historical character, and ensure continued service delivery in a safe, welcoming environment.

Any city that is a member of the Municipal Association of South Carolina may submit a grant application, but each city may only apply for one of the two grant programs each year. Evaluation criteria and weighting The grant award committee will consist of current or former government professionals with local government or grant management experience, plus one representative of VC3.

Problem Solver Grants - $25,000 Category Big Idea Grants - $100,000 Category Both grant programs have a required match of 5%. Grant funds are disbursed only after the required match is invested in the project. To ensure grant funds are used according to the guidelines laid out in the awarded applications, grantees must provide documentation to the Association throughout the project’s duration and at its completion.

The Association will provide guidance on documentation at the time the grant is awarded. Association staff may conduct on-site reviews of completed projects.

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