Public news and announcements are brought to you by the Horry County Public Information Office.
On July 12, 2021 in County News
The enrollment period for the Horry County CDBG-MIT Buyout Program in the Socastee area begins today.
People in the Socastee target area that have experienced repetitive property loss from flooding are eligible to enroll in this program. The County is now accepting applications and scheduling intake appointments for collection of required documentation. The application can be downloaded at the link below.
Once you complete the enrollment form, staff from the Community Development office will contact you to set up an intake appointment. Please note, if you arrive without an appointment, you may experience a significant wait time.
Those appointments will take place every Tuesday from noon to 7 p.m. beginning tomorrow, July 13, 2021 and ending August 24, 2021. Appointments may also be scheduled at the Community Development office, located at 100 Elm Street, Conway.
Enrollment is the first step in the application process for homeowners in the Socastee target area (see the map below) that are interested in the buyout program. Due to the grant requirements of the federally-funded program, and depending on individual circumstances, eligible homeowners should expect the buyout process to take 6 to 12 months. The County is working closely with the South Carolina Office of Resilience to move applicants through the process as quickly as possible.
Whenever a new governmental assistance program is rolled out, there is always a potential for fraud, so please be aware that other groups or individuals may be providing information that is not accurate and may seek to compromise your personal information.
More information is available online at horrycounty.org/resiliencyproject. If you are interested in enrolling in the CDBG-MIT buyout program in Socastee and have questions, please contact the Horry County Office of Community Development at (843) 915-7033 or email resiliencyproject@horrycounty.org.
Who can enroll? Anyone in the Socastee target area (see the map above) that has experienced repetitive property loss from flooding.
What do you need to enroll? The first step is to complete an enrollment form*. Upon receiving a completed enrollment form, County staff will contact individuals to set up appointments to begin the intake process. Please, do not send copies of your personal information or documents via email. You will bring those documents with you for the scheduled intake appointment.
*The enrollment form is not the same as the buyout interest form that interested residents previously submitted.
What is the deadline for enrollment? Wednesday, August 25, 2021
How can I submit my enrollment form? Enrollment forms can be emailed to resiliencyproject@horrycounty.org or mailed to the Horry County Community Development Office located at 100 Elm Street, Conway, South Carolina 29526 attn: Buyout Program. In addition, the Community Development Office will be scheduling appointments at the Socastee Library every Tuesday from noon to 7 p.m. beginning July 13, 2021 and ending August 24, 2021. Appointments may also be scheduled at the Community Development office, located at 100 Elm Street, Conway. Appointments are strongly recommended. Without an appointment, you may experience a significant wait time.
Download the CDBG-MIT Buyout Program Enrollment Form
On March 9, 2021 in County News
Today, the South Carolina Disaster Recover Office SCDRO announced the approval of CDBG-mitigation funding for Horry County that will help buyout properties from flood victims in the Socastee area of Horry County. SCDRO approved $13 million in buyout funding to purchase approximately 60 homes.
In addition, this funding will cover two major mitigation projects in the Bucksport area. This community expressed interest in solutions that would allow them to stay in their homes, and we determined there were some viable projects as a part of the County’s resiliency planning process. Those projects were submitted in this application for funding, and approved.
County Councilmember Cam Crawford said, “I am very encouraged by today’s announcement. I believe this will help provide significant relief to vulnerable members of our community, including the residents of Socastee.”
“We are very thankful that the state is providing Horry County with the funds to complete this critical piece of flood protection for our community,” said Horry County Council Chairman Johnny Gardner. “I also want to thank our local delegation, the Governor, and my fellow county council members for their hard work and advocacy that helped bring us to this moment.”
Horry County submitted an application for the buyout program in December 2020 and has recently learned that a portion of that proposal has been approved through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant Mitigation Program. Horry County has been waiting for this program along with our residents for a number of years and we are prepared to expedite the program as quickly as possible in coordination with the state.
This is a voluntary program that will pay for the cost of purchasing, demolishing, and stabilizing lots for over 60 flood-prone homes along the Intracoastal Waterway in Socastee. Homes outside of the targeted area will apply directly to SCDRO—more information is available on their website at https://florence.scstormrecovery.com/.
Horry County will be hosting a virtual seminar on March 23, 2021 at 3 p.m. to provide an update to affected residents to be followed by several intake meetings in the designated areas. Anyone who filled out the interest form last year will be contacted by the County with their next steps. Even those who did not fill out the interest form last year are eligible to begin the intake process, assuming they meet the criteria.
Director of Community Development Courtney Frappaolo said, “The Community Development Office is working closely with the state to develop a smooth intake process so that we can help residents get through this program as efficiently as possible. We know that these residents have been tremendously patient and we ask that everyone continue to work together with us as we get this underway.”
Visit horrycounty.org/resiliencyproject to stay informed about these projects.
On August 28, 2020 in Closings
The Socastee branch of the Horry County Memorial Library System will be closed Thursday, September 3, 2020, and Friday, Friday, September 4, 2020, weather permitting, for parking lot maintenance.
Library patrons are encouraged to visit one of the other branches located throughout Horry County. Locations, hours, and COVID19 limitations can be found on the Horry County Memorial Library System's website.
On March 12, 2019 in County News
Conway, South Carolina-The Socastee Library, a branch of the Horry County Memorial Library System, has been awarded a $10,000 American Dream Literacy Initiative Grant by the American Library Association and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The grant will be used to establish an “English Language Learners” (ELL) program at the Socastee Library to assist various communities to learn English. The grant is one of 16 that have been awarded across the United States through a competitive, peer-reviewed application process for which 98 libraries applied.
The library will host small group instruction Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., one-on-one conversation instruction, where students will need make an appointment during library hours, and “Let’s Speak English”, a conversational session that will be held Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The grant money will be also be used to purchase technology such as iPads and a mobile Smart Board. This technology will enable staff and volunteers to interact with students while conducting the programs and will allow students to learn or improve their English speaking, reading, and writing skills.
The Socastee Library will continue to partner with Horry County Adult Education to improve lives in our community and advocate for literacy. The library is also in the planning stages of partnering with the Horry County Literacy Council to create additional support for the community and to offer tailored assistance to attendees of the offered programs.
For more information, please contact the Socastee Library at (843) 215-4700.
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Brochure #2
On May 5, 2017 in General
Conway, South Carolina – The parking lot of the Socastee branch of the Horry Memorial Library system will be repaved Monday, May 8, 2017, and Tuesday, May 9, 2017. To accomplish this, the parking lot will be closed. Signage will be in place to direct patrons of alternate parking areas. Once parked, patrons will be directed to enter the library via one of the two side entrances as the main entry will be locked.
Patrons with questions are encouraged to call the Socastee Library at 843-915-215-4700.
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